| Main features | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Model | First 235 | First 235 |
Version | Fin keel | Swing keel |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Cruiser-racer sailboat | Cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Bénéteau | Bénéteau |
Sailboat designer | ||
Sailboat range | ||
Country | France | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester |
Number of hulls built | 680 | 680 |
First built hull | 1986 | 1986 |
Last built hull | 1994 | 1994 |
Appendages | Keel : fin without bulb | Lifting keel : swing keel |
Helm | Single tiller | Single tiller |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No |
Trailerable | Yes | Yes |
Former French navigation category | 3 | 3 |
| Main dimensions | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Overall length | 23’ 5”7.14 m | 23’ 5”7.14 m |
Hull length | 21’ 7”6.57 m | 21’ 7”6.57 m |
Waterline length | 20’ 11”6.36 m | 20’ 11”6.36 m |
Beam (width) | 8’ 2”2.5 m | 8’ 2”2.5 m |
Waterline beam (width) | 6’ 10”2.06 m | 6’ 10”2.06 m |
Draft | 3’ 10”1.15 m | 5’ 8”1.75 m |
Draft when appendages up | 2’ 2”0.66 m | |
Mast height from DWL | 34’ 7”10.56 m | 34’ 7”10.56 m |
Fore freeboard | 3’ 1”0.94 m | 3’ 1”0.94 m |
Mid-ship freeboard | 2’ 8”0.82 m | 2’ 8”0.82 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 3064 lb1390 kg | 3064 lb1390 kg |
Maximum displacement (MLDC) | 4034 lb1830 kg | 4034 lb1830 kg |
Ballast weight | 794 lb360 kg | 794 lb360 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron | Cast iron |
French customs tonnage | 4.20 Tx | 4.20 Tx |
| Rig and sails | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Upwind sail area | 346 ft²32.18 m² | 346 ft²32.18 m² |
Downwind sail area | 549 ft²50.99 m² | 549 ft²50.99 m² |
Mainsail area | 158 ft²14.69 m² | 158 ft²14.69 m² |
Genoa area | 188 ft²17.49 m² | 188 ft²17.49 m² |
Jib area | 82 ft²7.6 m² | 82 ft²7.6 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 391 ft²36.3 m² | 391 ft²36.3 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 27’ 10”8.46 m | 27’ 10”8.46 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 7’ 11”2.4 m | 7’ 11”2.4 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 26’ 7”8.1 m | 26’ 7”8.1 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 10’ 4”3.15 m | 10’ 4”3.15 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi 7/8 | Sloop Marconi 7/8 |
Mast configuration | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 1 | 1 |
Spreaders angle | Swept-back | Swept-back |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire continuous | 1x19 strand wire continuous |
| Performances | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
HN (French rating) iHN or "Handicap Nationale" is an empirical rating system used in France allowing various monohulls, of different sizes and designs, to race each other fairly. It is particularly suitable for cruiser and cruiser-racer. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats. | 12.0 | 12.0 |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 278 ft²/T25.84 m²/T | 278 ft²/T25.84 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 441 ft²/T40.94 m²/T | 441 ft²/T40.94 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 153 | 153 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 26 % | 26 % |
Wetted area | 128 ft²11.91 m² | 128 ft²11.91 m² |
Righting moment @ 1° iThe righting moment is a moment (torque) that tends to restore a boat to its previous position after heeling. Its value corresponds to the torque needed to heel the boat for this angle.Higher the righting moment is for an angle, greater is the stability. | 180 lb.ft25 kg.m | 180 lb.ft25 kg.m |
Maximum transverse section | 6 ft²0.56 m² | 6 ft²0.56 m² |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 6.12 knots | 6.12 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Engine(s) | 1 outboard engine | 1 outboard engine |
Engine(s) power | 10 HP | 10 HP |
Fuel type | Gas | Gas |
| Accommodations and layout | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) | 1 | 1 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
Head(s) | 1 | 1 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 13.2 gal50 liters | 13.2 gal50 liters |
Maximum headroom | 5’ 6”1.69 m | 5’ 6”1.69 m |
Galley headroom | 5’ 5”1.64 m | 5’ 5”1.64 m |
| Saloon | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Maximum headroom | 5’ 2”1.57 m | 5’ 2”1.57 m |
Saloon table length | 3’ 2”0.97 m | 3’ 2”0.97 m |
Saloon table width (min./max.) | 1’ 4”0.4 m / 2’0.6 m | 1’ 4”0.4 m / 2’0.6 m |
Berth length | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m |
Chart table | 2’ 2”0.66 m x 2’ 1”0.65 m | 2’ 2”0.66 m x 2’ 1”0.65 m |
Berth width (head/feet) | 5’ 2”1.6 m / 1’ 7”0.5 m | 5’ 2”1.6 m / 1’ 7”0.5 m |
| Aft cabin | First 235 Fin keel | First 235 Swing keel |
Berth length | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m |
Berth width (head/feet) | 4’ 1”1.24 m / 2’ 10”0.84 m | 4’ 1”1.24 m / 2’ 10”0.84 m |