Beneteau First 30 (Juan K.) Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Kouyoumdjian’s hand is unmistakable in the contemporary hull form and sailplan anchor. Maximum beam sits well aft, feeding a pronounced chine that runs along the topsides just above the waterline and a very wide transom fitted with outboard twin rudders anchor. Below the waterline, the thin blade keel stands vertical with a very long torpedo bulb at its foot, while the lead ballast of 2,403 pounds is carried in that bulb to keep the center of gravity low without adding freeboard. The hull itself is solid fiberglass set in polyester, and the deck is an injection-molded, balsa-cored panel—a construction approach that keeps the topsides stiff and reasonably quiet without bloating displacement, which the builder lists at 8,267 pounds. A stable and rigid stainless-steel tiller gives the helmsman a direct, unmediated link to those corner rudders.

Rig and Handling

The rig is a fractional sloop with a square-top mainsail whose shape and area are freed from any backstay or runner constraints anchor. The standard spar is aluminum, though a carbon rig was offered as an option for owners chasing every tenth of a knot. Wide swept-back spreaders preclude a big genoa, but the mast is set well aft, and the boom end hangs right over the transom to sheet to a traveler spanning the full width of the stern anchor. That traveler, paired with the buried chine and twin rudders, gave test sailors a quite stable helm; even with an asymmetrical spinnaker flying, the boat tracked well enough that the tiller could be let go without an instant course change. Test sailors found her quick and fond of reaching and running, topping 7 knots on a close reach with the A-sail up, yet noted her big tacking angle of considerably more than 100 degrees as a downside close-hauled. Under power, the 20-horsepower Yanmar diesel with sail drive moved her at 7 knots in calm water at 3,000 rpm, and the twin rudders made backing down in a straight line easy—though because those rudders sit far from the centerline sail drive, engine thrust can’t help pivot the stern.

Accommodations

Below, the saloon holds two three-seater settees facing a drop-leaf table substantial enough to be useful at anchor yet easily removed and left ashore for racing. The settees fall just short of letting a six-footer stretch out, and the forward V-berth has a pinched foot, while the aft double looks vast but has a shoulder cut out that can make it feel tight when shared. Headroom is about six feet. The galley is light and pleasant with a pair of gimbaled burners and a considerably sized fridge, but storage is minimal and there is no room for a full-size oven. The head has a forward-facing toilet with good bracing for heeled sailing and enough room to suit up in foul weather gear. A huge starboard locker swallows a folded inflatable tender, a small outboard, sails, and fenders, and the fresh water tank—160 liters—sits forward to favor trim.

Equipment and Seaworthiness Details

Practical features abound for a boat this size. Forward there is a dedicated anchor well, and to port in the cockpit a dedicated liferaft locker. The bilge pump intake strainer sits on a length of hose so it can be shifted to leeward when heeled, a smart touch for clearing water on a listed boat. The electrical system is a pair of 70-ampere-hour batteries, and the CE certification covers B6, C8, and D10 categories.

The Verdict

The First 30 (Juan K.) is a purposeful 32-foot performer that translates offshore-race thinking into a coastal package. She is quick, tractable under twin rudders, and cleverly detailed below, but her accommodations favor the short-handed racer-cruiser more than the long-term liveaboard.

Pros

Contemporary Juan K hull with chine and twin rudders for stable, gripe-free helm
Square-top main and full-width traveler deliver strong reaching and running speed
Thoughtful race-cruise compromises: removable saloon table, leeward bilge-pump pickup, dedicated liferaft stowage

Cons