Beneteau First 50 Sailboats for Sale

The hull is solid fiberglass with an internal reinforcing grid, while the deck carries a balsa core. Philippe Briand gave this boat proper racing foils — a deep, narrow-chord keel with a pronounced T-bulb and a semi-elliptical rudder that would not look out of place on a dedicated one-design. The tall, three-spreader, tapered aluminum rig contributes to a generous upwind sail area, and rod rigging was standard, though some owners have transitioned to high-modulus fibre standing rigging over the years. The in-mast furling mainsail deserves particular attention from any buyer: it simplifies sailing significantly but represents a reefing system with its own long-term maintenance considerations and limitations on sail shape.

Layouts on the Used Market

The First 50 was built primarily around one interior arrangement — one forward owner's cabin with an ensuite head, and two aft double cabins sharing a single head and shower. The forward queen berth is on centerline and accessible from both sides. Used examples overwhelmingly reflect this three-cabin, two-head layout, and charter-configured boats with this arrangement are commonly encountered alongside privately owned examples. The aft cabins work well for couples or guests but share their single head, a consideration for buyers planning to host more than one couple simultaneously. A small number of lightly used examples have found their way to the market with the interior in near-original condition; others show the wear of active charter programmes, with softened upholstery and scuffed soles worth factoring into any refit budget.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used First 50s arrive very well equipped as a rule. Teak decks, bow thrusters, and autopilots are commonly fitted across the market, as are chartplotters, AIS, life rafts, and electric winches. Air conditioning is standard on most examples, reflecting their prevalence in warm-water markets, and hot water systems, cockpit showers, and biminis are almost universally present. Spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker inventories are frequently included, underscoring the boat's racing heritage and the inclination of her owners to use her downwind capability.

Solar panels and radar appear on many boats, often as owner-added upgrades during the first few years of service. Heating systems, while less universal, are a frequent addition on boats that have spent time in northern European or North American waters. Freezers are commonly fitted, though their condition varies considerably with age. Among the less universal but worthwhile additions to look for: an inverter, a dodger for offshore comfort, a gennaker to supplement the spinnaker wardrobe, and a stern swim platform or extended sugar scoop modification. An EPIRB is present on many but not all used examples, and its registration and hydrostatic release validity should be confirmed at time of purchase.

What to Inspect

The balsa-cored deck requires careful surveying throughout. Pay particular attention to the area around deck fittings, stanchion bases, and the mast step, where water ingress can compromise balsa cores and progress silently for years. Moisture readings should be taken systematically rather than assumed from topside appearance. The hull-to-deck joint and coring should be professionally assessed given the age range now common on the used market.

The in-mast furling mainsail is the system most likely to have received varying levels of maintenance from owner to owner. Inspect the foil extrusion, the drive mechanism, and the sail itself for UV degradation along the leech, which is the only portion exposed when furled. The rod rigging, where still fitted, warrants close inspection at terminal fittings and swage points for signs of fatigue or corrosion, particularly on boats used in salt water. Standing rigging life expectancy means some boats in this age range will already be on their second rig; confirm what has been replaced and when.

The Yanmar turbocharged diesel and saildrive should be evaluated by a qualified marine mechanic. Saildrives on production boats of this generation are known to require periodic bellows inspection and replacement, and the cost of deferred saildrive maintenance can be significant. Check the oil, inspect the bellows, and verify service records. If a generator is fitted — and it commonly is — confirm it runs under load and that the hours are consistent with overall boat usage.

Belowdecks, the Alpi wood veneers and cherry parquet sole are attractive when maintained but show neglect quickly. Water intrusion through portlights or deck hardware should be ruled out, as any moisture finding its way below can compromise the joinery and underlayment. The forward head folding shower door is an elegant detail that occasionally requires attention to its track system.

Finally, examine the retractable anchor roller and bow sprit mechanism carefully. The mechanism is clever and adds to the boat's clean foredeck profile, but it is a moving part in an exposed location, and wear or corrosion in the lifting hardware is worth budgeting for.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The First 50 circulates most actively in the Mediterranean — particularly Greece and Spain — and across North American markets, with additional supply visible in Scandinavia, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Her charter-market history in Greece and the broader Med means a meaningful proportion of available boats have accumulated significant hours in commercial service, which affects interior condition more than structural integrity but is worth confirming through logs and survey. North American examples tend to have lower overall hours and more frequent one-owner histories.

The boat's combination of performance, size, and production provenance keeps her in demand among buyers who want genuine offshore capability without bespoke pricing. That same demand supports values and means poorly maintained examples are unlikely to represent bargains — any significant deferred maintenance on rig, saildrive, or deck should be treated as a negotiating point backed by written estimates rather than a reason to walk away from an otherwise sound hull.

Before committing, run through this checklist:

• Full moisture survey of the balsa deck, focusing on fittings, stanchion bases, and mast area
• Standing rigging inspection with confirmation of age and replacement history; examine rod terminals if original
• In-mast furling mainsail condition: foil, drive mechanism, leech UV wear
• Saildrive bellows inspection and complete service records for the Yanmar
• Generator function test under load and hour-meter review
• All portlights and deck hardware for signs of below-deck moisture ingress
• Retractable bowsprit and anchor roller mechanism for wear and corrosion
• Life raft service date and hydrostatic release validity
• EPIRB registration and release mechanism condition
• Air conditioning and refrigeration system function
• Full inventory of sails, including spinnaker and asymmetric condition