Beneteau First 18

The First 18 is a French trailerable sailboat that was designed by Groupe Finot as a Micro Class racer-cruiser and day sailer and first built in 1978.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Beneteau First 18
Development
DesignerGroupe Finot
LocationFrance
Year1978
No. built1065
Builder(s)Beneteau
RoleMicro Class racer-cruiser and day sailer
NameBeneteau First 18
Boat
Displacement1,389 lb (630 kg)
Draft3.61 ft (1.10 m) with keel down
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionglassfibre
LOA18.04 ft (5.50 m)
LWL16.57 ft (5.05 m)
Beam7.87 ft (2.40 m)
Engine typeoutboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeSwing keel
Ballast397 lb (180 kg)
Rudder(s)Transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height22.57 ft (6.88 m)
J foretriangle base6.46 ft (1.97 m)
P mainsail luff22.47 ft (6.85 m)
E mainsail foot8.53 ft (2.60 m)
Sails
Sailplan7/8 Fractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area108 sq ft (10.0 m2)
Jib/genoa area81 sq ft (7.5 m2)
Spinnaker area199 sq ft (18.5 m2)
Other sailsstorm jib: 22 sq ft (2.0 m2)
Upwind sail area189 sq ft (17.6 m2)
Downwind sail area307 sq ft (28.5 m2)

The design is sometimes confused with the much later Beneteau First 18 SE which was introduced in 2008 as the Seascape 18 and then sold as the Beneteau First 18 from 2018 to 2020. From 2021 it has been sold as the First 18 SE.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Production

The design was built by Beneteau in France, from 1978 to 1981, with 1065 boats completed, but it is now out of production. Production time was 150 hours per boat.[1][2][3][4][5][18][19][20][21]

Design

The First 18 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of glassfibre, with wood trim. The hull is solid fibreglass and the deck is balsa-cored. It has a 7/8 fractional sloop rig, with a deck-stepped mast, one set of swept spreaders and aluminium spars with continuous stainless steel wire standing rigging. The hull has a raked stem, a reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel or optional swing keel. It displaces 1,389 lb (630 kg) and carries 397 lb (180 kg) of cast iron ballast.[1][2][3][4][5]

The keel-equipped version of the boat has a draft of 2.58 ft (0.79 m), while the swing keel-equipped version has a draft of 3.61 ft (1.10 m) with the keel extended and 1.83 ft (0.56 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water, beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1][2][3][4][5]

The boat is normally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[4][5]

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth berth in the bow and two quarter berths under the cockpit, plus a folding table. The galley consists of a fold down stove, located on the starboard side. Cabin headroom is 4.42 in (11 cm).[1][2][3][4][5][22]

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker of 199 sq ft (18.5 m2). The boat has a hull speed of 5.45 kn (10.09 km/h).[1][2][3][4][5]

Operational history

The boat is supported by an active class club that organizes racing events, the International Micro Cupper Class Association.[23][24]

In a 2022 review, Emmanuel Van Deth wrote, "the First 18, in the pocket cruiser category, is certainly one of the best choices. It opens all kinds of programs: day trips, regattas, cabotage... and why not bigger trips. A perfect support for those who have sailing ambitions inversely proportional to their budget."[22]

See also

References
  1. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "First 18 (Beneteau)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  2. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau First 18". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. Ulladulla. "First 18 Beneteau". Sailboat Lab. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. "First 18 Fin keel Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  5. "First 18 Swing keel Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  6. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  7. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  8. "Finot Conq Architectes Sailboat designer". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  9. Beneteau. "First 18". beneteau.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  10. Beneteau. "Bénéteau First 18" (PDF). beneteau.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  11. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "First 18 SE (Beneteau)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  12. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Seascape 18". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  13. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "First 18-2 (Beneteau)". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  14. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Seascape 18". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  15. "First 18 - 2018 Standard Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  16. "First 18 - 2018 Shoal draft Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  17. "Seascape 18 Standard Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  18. Lesure, Marie (November 1985). "The Boatbuilders of France, Special Report: Part I". Cruising World. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  19. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Beneteau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  20. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  21. "Bénéteau Sailboat builder". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  22. Van Deth, Emmanuel (9 September 2022). "Test / First 18: he has everything of a big, the smallest First!". Sailboats News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  23. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Micro Class (IMCCA)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  24. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Micro Class (IMCCA)". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
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