Design and Construction
The hull has a fine entry and a comfortably wide transom, with a counter-moulded structure. Its appendages followed a full year of tool and mould preparation.
Beneteau’s First range of this era used latticework mouldings as a structural matrix within the hull. On the 47.7, these liners have no floors between the longitudinal and transverse members, but each element can be bonded and glassed into the hull for stiffness. The hull itself is a solid laminate combining chopped-strand mat and woven rovings.
CNC machines produced the interior joinery, while quality control was thorough at many stages of production. Every completed hull also spent time in the test pool.
On deck, excellent non-slip surfaces cover anywhere the crew might step, including the cabin sides when the boat is heeled. Other details include built-in Dorade vents in guarded blister mounts, double lifelines with gates on each side and aft, and a varnished mahogany toe rail.
Rig, Cockpit and Sailing Performance
All versions have a simple cockpit with single-wheel steering, a low pedestal and a conventional winch layout. The rig has three sets of swept-back spreaders and is described as nine-tenths fractional.
The test boat had the deep keel and standard Sparcraft rig, with triple swept-back spreaders supporting a 15/16 rig and a headstay ending just short of the masthead. The racing version stands five feet taller and adds a twin-groove headstay, a full spinnaker rig with carbon pole, a Max prop and Nitronic rigging. Cruising versions appear with a shorter mast, smaller sail plan and shallower draught.
Test sailors found the helm light and responsive, with good visibility both over the coachroof and from the lee side. As the breeze builds, the boat heels readily until the lee rail approaches the water, then stiffens. Once settled, she drives hard upwind, making eight knots in a 15-knot breeze.
She broad-reaches with her wide beam carrying a large chute easily, yet remains manageable with only a few crew aboard. Under sail, she was well balanced and forgiving. The position of the secondary winch also makes short-handed sailing a realistic proposition.
Cockpit and Deck Equipment
Period tests noted good-quality equipment throughout. Lewmar 58 primary winches and Lewmar 48 aft winches are recessed into each coaming. The cockpit also has an immense wheel, while Lewmar 44s and Spinlock stoppers serve the forward cockpit.
An electric windlass sits in the forward anchor locker, with a separate sail locker aft of it. A teak-planked, fold-down transom platform provides access to the water, though there’s no walk-through from the cockpit.
The cockpit does have some practical shortcomings. It lacks foot braces, particularly for the helmsman, and the single wheel makes it harder to move well out to weather.
Accommodation
Beneteau offered two-, three- and four-cabin layouts. The saloon is cavernous, with immense headroom and plenty of grab rails. To starboard is a dinette with a curved banquette, a smaller inboard bench and a gimbaling table. A second settee is to port, along with the navigation station, electrical panel and tool storage.
The standard L-shaped galley is aft to starboard. It has acres of counter space running from the double sink, past a roller-covered stove lid, to the refrigerator/freezer.
Just forward of the mast, the owner’s cabin spans the full beam. It contains a double berth to starboard, a settee and hanging locker to port, and a surprisingly spacious forward head and shower. A guest cabin lies aft to port, with a day head just forward of it.
Light comes from a large mid-cabin skylight, nine opening ports and two hatches. The moulded headliner and teak-ply infill panels—secured with simple Phillips screws and, in places, Velcro—reflect practical production methods rather than custom joinery.
The generous space comes with a few compromises. Although the saloon is well suited to entertaining, it could use more handholds. The floorboards also creak throughout the cabins.
Engine and Noise
The engine is beneath the cockpit floor, with no dedicated engine room. On the water, the boat was noisier under power than expected. Above six knots, noise and vibration bordered on excessive for a cruising boat. The test boat’s two-bladed MaxProp was thought to be over-pitched.
Configurations and Ownership
Beneteau offered various combinations of standard rig, keel, engine and accommodation, allowing owners to favor either racing or cruising. The builder also included full polar diagrams in the brochure.
The Verdict
The First 47.7 is a serious Farr-designed performer that trades some cruising refinement for race-bred responsiveness and interior volume. She is fast upwind and forgiving offshore, but the open cockpit and engine noise are real compromises.
Pros
- Light, responsive helm, with strong upwind and broad-reaching performance
- Cavernous multi-cabin interior with a full-beam owner’s cabin
- Variety of keel, rig and accommodation configurations for racing or cruising
Cons
- Noisy, vibration-prone engine installation beneath the cockpit floor
- No helmsman’s foot braces, while the single wheel limits the helmsman’s ability to get well out to weather
- Creaking cabin floorboards and too few saloon handholds
