Beneteau -S. Manuard First 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Beneteau First 30 (S. Manuard) means looking at a 30-foot 8-inch planing cruiser developed by the Seascape team and built in Slovenia, with a fully cored vacuum-infused hull and a 35 percent ballast ratio. These are modern boats conceived as performance cruisers with genuine overnight accommodation, and the used fleet reflects that dual character.
Layouts on the Used Market
The First 30 carries a two-cabin interior sleeping four, with a generous forward double and a more constricted aft cabin where the inboard berth sits below the cockpit with little headroom. The saloon has two-meter settees with folding backrests and a table for six, and the galley steps down for a two-burner hob, sink, and fold-down board. Buyers will find either the cruising cockpit with a clean main bridle and German sheeting or the racing layout with a traveller and fine-tune mainsheet; both use direct tiller steering with foot braces. Standing headroom reaches 1.81 meters at the companionway, and the minimalist painted interior keeps weight down.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on the used market includes heating, a self-tacking jib, an asymmetric spinnaker, hot water, teak decks, and a chartplotter. For buyer consequence, the self-tacking jib and asymmetric spinnaker define the boat’s easy-handling or downwind-racing intent, while hot water and heating speak to cruising use. Teak decks and a chartplotter are typical comfort and navigation items. The Seanapps system with its onboard unit lets an owner check battery, fuel, and water remotely, a useful standard on a techy design.
What to Inspect
Used buyers should confirm machinery access: the companionway steps lift 90 degrees to reach oil, impeller, and belt, but with no other panels, gearbox oil and filter changes can be awkward companionway steps lift 90º to access engine essentials. Check the small aft hatches in the cockpit stowage and the port aft berth for tight reach to the steering gear on both sides small aft hatches give tight reach to steering gear. Note the minimal finish in places and limited interior stowage as inherent traits rather than deferred maintenance.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the First 30 are Italy and Switzerland. For a buyer, the checklist is short: verify which cockpit layout is fitted, confirm the self-tacking jib or spinnaker inventory, test the companionway step lift for engine reach, and inspect the aft steering panels. Choose the boat that matches your cruising or racing bias and accept the aft-cabin compromise as part of the planing-cruiser formula.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau -S. Manuard First 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $146,798 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $147,603 | +0.5% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau -S. Manuard First 30 listings appear across 2 countries. Italy has the most listings with 2 (66.7%), followed by Switzerland.
Country view
3 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | $146,798 | 2 | 0 | 66.7% |
| Switzerland | $147,603 | 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
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 79,758 | 44 | 13 |
| Beneteau First 36 | 39.33' | $ 384,461 | 26 | 2 |
| Beneteau 34.7 | 33.66' | $ 85,985 | 16 | 4 |
| Ovington 30 | 30.9' | $ 37,632 | 14 | 2 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |
| Beneteau First 30 (S. Manuard)You are here | — | $ 147,603 | 3 | 0 |