Detailed sailboat specifications and datasheets since 2015
MetricSI (m)
Imperial & Metricboth
ImperialIMP (ft)

First 325 (Deep draft) vs First 325 (Shoal draft)

Main featuresFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Model
First 325
First 325
Version
Deep draft
Shoal draft
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
270
270
First built hull
1984
1984
Last built hull
1988
1988
Appendages
Keel : fin without bulb
Keel : fin without bulb
Helm
Single tiller
Single tiller
Rudder
Single spade rudder
Single spade rudder
Unsinkable
No
No
Trailerable
No
No
Former French navigation category
2
2
 
Main dimensionsFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Overall length
34’ 1”10.4 m
34’ 1”10.4 m
Hull length
32’ 6”9.9 m
32’ 6”9.9 m
Waterline length
28’ 8”8.75 m
28’ 8”8.75 m
Beam (width)
11’ 1”3.37 m
11’ 1”3.37 m
Draft
6’ 1”1.85 m
4’ 10”1.45 m
Light displacement (MLC)
9700 lb4400 kg
9700 lb4400 kg
Ballast weight
3748 lb1700 kg
3748 lb1700 kg
Ballast type
Cast iron
Cast iron
French customs tonnage
9.00 Tx
9.00 Tx
 
Rig and sailsFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Upwind sail area
624 ft²58 m²
624 ft²58 m²
Downwind sail area
1093 ft²101.5 m²
1093 ft²101.5 m²
Mainsail area
242 ft²22.5 m²
242 ft²22.5 m²
Genoa area
382 ft²35.5 m²
382 ft²35.5 m²
Jib area
242 ft²22.5 m²
242 ft²22.5 m²
Symmetric spinnaker area
850 ft²79 m²
850 ft²79 m²
I
 iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment)
40’ 4”12.28 m
40’ 4”12.28 m
J
 iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay)
11’ 11”3.63 m
11’ 11”3.63 m
P
 iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head)
34’ 10”10.61 m
34’ 10”10.61 m
E
 iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew)
11’ 6”3.51 m
11’ 6”3.51 m
Rigging type
Sloop Marconi masthead
Sloop Marconi masthead
Mast configuration
Deck stepped mast
Deck stepped mast
Rotating spars
No
No
Number of levels of spreaders
2
2
Spreaders angle
0 °
0 °
Spars construction
Aluminum spars
Aluminum spars
Standing rigging
1x19 strand wire
1x19 strand wire
 
PerformancesFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
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.
18.5
18.5
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.
233 ft²/T21.6 m²/T
233 ft²/T21.6 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.
407 ft²/T37.8 m²/T
407 ft²/T37.8 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.
186
186
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.
39 %
39 %
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.
7.18 knots
7.18 knots
 
Auxiliary engineFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Engine(s)
1 inboard engine
1 inboard engine
Engine(s) power (min./max.)
18 HP / 28 HP
18 HP / 28 HP
Fuel type
Diesel
Diesel
Fuel tank capacity
13.2 gal50 liters
13.2 gal50 liters
 
Accommodations and layoutFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Closed aft cockpit
Cabin(s)
2
2
Berth(s)
6
6
Head(s)
1
1
Freshwater tank capacity
52.8 gal200 liters
52.8 gal200 liters
Maximum headroom
6’ 4”1.93 m
6’ 4”1.93 m
 
SaloonFirst 325 Deep draftFirst 325 Shoal draft
Maximum headroom
6’1.83 m
6’1.83 m
 
Boat-Specs.com uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

Read more