Beneteau First Class 7.5 Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau First Class 7.5 is a 7.49 m one-design sports monotype that Jean-Marie Finot drew for Beneteau as the successor to the First Class 8, first prototyped at the 2004 Paris Boat Show. On the used market it presents as a light, trailerable racer-trainer with a hydraulically folding keel and a fractional rig built around club and match racing rather than cruising. A buyer is really shopping a strict one-design shell, so the value lies in class-compliant condition and the completeness of the sailing package.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example follows the same one-design layout: a small cuddy cabin forward of the mast for dry storage and keel hydraulics, and a broad cockpit aft sized for six adults. There is no cruising interior to compare across listings. The central cockpit locker over the keel is where a fitted outboard stows for racing, so check whether that locker and its lid are present and undamaged.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A short-handed setup is commonly fitted, which on this design means the standard fractional rig with small furler, swept-back spreaders, and spinnaker pole track already in place for easy symmetrical-kite retro-fit. The optional symmetrical spinnaker was popular new, and the interior carbon bowsprit, deep rudder, and Harken 16 primaries are part of the core sailing gear rather than upgrades. Buyers should confirm the optional outboard bracket and trailer came with the boat, since both were extra and matter for a trailerable one-design.
What to Inspect
Testers noted the cockpit has no surrounding storage, so look for improvised bags or chafed coamings where owners added their own. Some deck fittings look light for blustery conditions; pull-test stanchion bases and winch bolts and check for cracked backing plates. Because the boat needs added cleats, jammers, and sheet bags to stay tidy, verify any owner-added hardware is through-bolted and not self-tapped into the balsa deck. For younger trainees a second lifeline is required — inspect the existing lifeline gates and see whether a second line was ever fitted.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, Belgium, and Switzerland. Before you commit, run through this short list:
- Confirm the folding keel hydraulics and cuddy housing are sound.
- Check the balsa deck around added cleats for compression.
- Verify the small furler and Harken 16 winches operate cleanly.
- Look for a second lifeline if juniors will sail.
- Match the trailer and outboard bracket to the sale.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First Class 7.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $9,900 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $12,162 | +22.8% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $11,102 | -8.7% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $12,162 | +9.5% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First Class 7.5 listings appear across 3 countries. Belgium has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by Switzerland and United States.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | $12,162 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Switzerland | $12,304 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| United States | $9,900 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 24 | 24.61' | $ 17,374 | 28 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 27 SE | 26.21' | $ 114,382 | 16 | 5 |
| Beneteau First 25 | 24.61' | $ 8,861 | 10 | 2 |
| Beneteau First Class 7.5You are here | — | $ 12,162 | 3 | 0 |
| J Boats J/7 | 23.11' | $ 55,950 | 1 | 0 |