Beneteau Performance Sailboats

Beneteau 18 Guide, the First 18 SE, Seascape 18 and the 1978 First 18

An 18-foot planing keelboat with twin rudders, a carbon mast and a swing keel, designed by Sam Manuard and built in Slovenia under the Beneteau First name.

2008 to present In production Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau First 18 SE. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
18.2 ft5.55 m
Beam
7.8 ft2.38 m
Draft
4.9 ft1.5 m
Cabins
1 small V-berth cuddy
Used price
$15K to $38K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Which Beneteau 18 are you looking at?
  3. Sam Manuard's idea of a small keelboat
  4. Carbon mast, square-top main and a snuffer
  5. Sea camping, not cruising
  6. Towing, rigging and launching
  7. Class racing and the SE community
  8. Buying a used Seascape 18 or First 18
  9. The original 1978 Beneteau First 18
  10. Specifications
  11. Price and value
  12. Strengths and weaknesses
  13. Used buyer checklist
  14. Rivals
  15. Our verdict
  16. FAQ

The Beneteau First 18 SE began in 2008 as the Seascape 18, became the Beneteau First 18 after Beneteau bought a controlling stake in Seascape in 2018, and was renamed First 18 SE in 2021. It is 18 ft 3 in long, weighs 500 kg and is still in production.

Best for
  • Sailors moving up from dinghies
  • Double-handed one-design racing
  • Adventurous beach-camping trips
  • Families who want a stable, fast day boat

Beneteau First 18 SE by the numbers

LOA 18' 3" / 5.55 mBeam 7' 10" / 2.38 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Sail area to displacement
39.7Racing level power, needs active reefing as the breeze builds.
Displacement to length
124Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed
5.3 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio
25%Relatively low ballast, form stability does more of the work.
Capsize screening
3.02Above 2.0, so this hull leans toward coastal stability over ultimate offshore resistance.
Motion comfort ratio
6.7A quicker motion in waves, typical of light, beamy hulls.
Length to beam ratio
2.33 : 1A beamy hull with lots of volume for its length.

Length compared with the 69 performance sailboats we cover

12 ft56 ft

Which Beneteau 18 are you looking at?

Searches for a Beneteau 18 land on two boats that share nothing but a length. The one most buyers mean today is the Beneteau First 18 SE, a modern planing keelboat designed by Sam Manuard and built in Slovenia. It started life in 2008 as the Seascape 18, was sold as the Beneteau First 18 from 2018 to 2020 after Beneteau bought a controlling interest in Seascape, and has been called the First 18 SE, for Seascape Edition, since 2021.

The other is the original Beneteau First 18 of 1978 to 1981, a Groupe Finot swing keel pocket cruiser designed to the French Micro Class rule. Sailboatdata records 1,065 of those built. It is a different hull, a different era and a different kind of sailing, and it is covered at the end of this page so you can tell them apart in listings.

Sam Manuard's idea of a small keelboat

Manuard came to the 18 from offshore racing. In a SAIL feature on the Seascape-derived First models, he describes the brand's DNA as fast, fun and hassle-free boats, and credits his experience in Mini 6.50s, Figaro Beneteaus and Class 40s with shaping them. The First 18 SE applies those ideas at dinghy scale: a wide, flat hull with powerful sections aft, twin rudders for grip when heeled, and a ballasted swing keel that keeps the boat upright in a way a dinghy cannot.

Beneteau describes the result as a dinghy-like sailing experience on a safer and more stable platform. The twin rudders, it says, keep the boat under control even when planing at double-digit speeds. Buoyancy chambers make the hull unsinkable, and the swinging keel kicks up instead of transferring a shock into the structure if you hit something.

Carbon mast, square-top main and a snuffer

The rig is a 7/8 fractional sloop on a deck-stepped carbon mast with no backstay and, according to Wikipedia's class article, no spreaders, held by 1x19 stainless wire. Without a backstay the mainsail can carry a big square top, which is what powers the boat in light air. The jib furls, and downwind a gennaker of 32 m2 flies from a 1.40 m retractable bowsprit with a snuffer, so a single sailor can hoist and drop it without leaving the cockpit. A code zero of about 19 m2 is another option.

Beneteau stresses that deck controls are minimized and that the open cockpit allows the boat to be sailed solo, double-handed or with three crew, while SAIL's launch piece for the First 18 said four people fit without anyone being left out. In practice, two is the racing number and three or four is a relaxed day sail.

Sea camping, not cruising

The cabin is honest about its size. Beneteau's own wording is that the V-berth can accommodate two adults in sea-camping fashion, with crew bags for personal gear and storage under the cockpit for technical equipment. An optional boom tent turns the cockpit into extra sleeping space, and the SAIL launch article mentions a sun lounger on the foredeck. The engine mount sits on the starboard side of the transom for easy reach.

What makes the camping practical is the draft. With the keel retracted the boat draws only 0.18 m, the rudder blades come out, and you can nose into beaches and shallow bays. Wikipedia's class article recounts a young Austrian couple who sailed a Seascape 18 down the Danube, across the Black Sea, through the Greek islands and home via the Adriatic, which says a lot about what a determined crew can do with a small, trailerable boat.

Towing, rigging and launching

At 500 kg dry, the First 18 SE is light enough for most SUVs and many cars to tow, even with a trailer and gear. Beneteau describes it as easily dismantled and trailered, with a retractable keel, removable rudders and a light carbon mast making it practical to launch at ordinary ramps and travel to regattas. That portability is a big part of its appeal in North America, where the best sailing is often a drive away.

Practice the rig-up routine before you need it at a busy ramp. Check that the keel lifting system runs freely, that the rudder cassettes lock positively and that the mast foot and partners are free of cracks. A carbon mast is light and stiff but does not forgive a hard drop onto a trailer or a concrete ramp.

Class racing and the SE community

Beneteau sells the First 18 SE partly on its one-design class and community, from windward-leeward regattas to long-distance double-handed and solo challenges. The class has been strongest in central Europe. Wikipedia records European championships in Portoroz, Slovenia in 2019 with 25 boats from eight countries and again in 2022, and on Lake Traunsee in Austria in 2023 with 35 teams from seven countries. More than 500 boats had been delivered by 2023.

The boat also picked up attention in the US: it was a nominee for Sailing World's 2016 Boat of the Year, and Wikipedia's class article lists a European Yacht of the Year title in 2010 and a SAIL Best Boats win in 2016. US fleets are smaller than in Europe, so if racing matters, check where the nearest active group sails before you buy.

Buying a used Seascape 18 or First 18

Used boats split into Seascape 18s built before 2018, First 18s of 2018 to 2020 and First 18 SEs since 2021. They share the Manuard hull concept, but specifications vary a little: sailboatdata lists the Seascape 18 at 5.50 m and 567 kg and the First 18 SE at 5.55 m and 500 kg. Compare the actual boat, its sails and its trailer rather than the badge.

Asking prices we found in Europe were about 15,000 euros for a 2011 Seascape 18 and 32,000 to 34,000 euros for 2023 boats. Ownership is cheap: no inboard, no tankage, simple systems and dry storage on a trailer. Budget about $1,500 to $4,500 a year for insurance, trailer upkeep, outboard service, sail replacement over time and regatta fees.

The original 1978 Beneteau First 18

Beneteau's heritage archive lists the original First 18 in its first generation of First yachts, 1977 to 1983, credits Groupe Finot with the design and stresses its robust construction. Sailboatdata gives it an 18.04 ft length, a 7.87 ft beam, 630 kg displacement, 180 kg of ballast, a swing keel drawing 0.55 to 1.10 m and a 7/8 fractional rig, built from 1978 to 1981 to the Micro Class rule. It has a single transom-hung rudder and a small cruising cabin.

It is a sturdy little pocket cruiser rather than a planing sport boat, and examples on the used market are inexpensive. If a listing shows a 1970s or early 1980s boat with a single rudder and a conventional aluminum mast, it is the Finot First 18, not the Manuard design described above.

Beneteau First 18 SE specifications

Length overall18.2 ft5.55 m
Beam7.8 ft2.38 m
Draft4.9 ft1.5 m
Air draft28 ft8.52 m
Displacement1,102 lbs5 kg
Ballast276 lbs125 kg
Sail area265 sq ft24.6 m²
Cabins1 small V-berth cuddy
Berths2 adults below, more with the optional cockpit tent
HeadsNone fitted; portable toilet if desired
Maximum persons4
Standard enginesSmall outboard on a starboard transom bracket
Hull typeWide, flat-bottomed planing monohull with twin transom-hung rudders
KeelBallasted swing keel retracting from 1.50 m to 0.18 m; optional shoal swing keel of 1.09 m with 145 kg ballast
Rig7/8 fractional sloop, carbon deck-stepped mast without backstay or spreaders, square-top main, furling jib, 1.40 m retractable bowsprit with 32 m2 gennaker
Hull constructionPolyester and glass fiber sandwich with buoyancy chambers that make the boat unsinkable
CE design categoryC (4 people)
BuilderSeascape (Slovenia), part of Groupe Beneteau since 2018, Slovenia
Naval architectSamuel Manuard
Other design creditsGigodesign (industrial design of the Seascape 18); EP Studio (First 18 SE interior)
Production2008 to present
StatusIn production

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

How much does a Beneteau First 18 SE cost?

New, typical sail-away$35K to $45K
Used, typical asking$15K to $38K
Yearly running costs$2K to $5K

A new First 18 SE was recently advertised in Europe at 27,100 euros before options; by the time a US buyer adds sails, a trailer, freight and dealer prep, our estimate is about $35,000 to $45,000. Late-model used boats with trailer and sails ask roughly 32,000 to 34,000 euros in Europe, while an early Seascape 18 can be found near 15,000 euros. Racing-ready boats with good sails and a road trailer hold value best.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$10K$20K$30K20102010, $15,000 to $22,00020142014, $18,000 to $26,00020182018, $22,000 to $30,00020212021, $27,000 to $35,00020232023, $30,000 to $38,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

Seascape 18 (2008 to 2018)
Original Slovenian-built version; sailboatdata lists 5.50 m, 567 kg and 23.7 m2 upwind sail.
Beneteau First 18 (2018 to 2020)
Same boat sold under the First name after Beneteau's 2018 investment in Seascape.
Beneteau First 18 SE (2021 onward)
Seascape Edition, 5.55 m and 500 kg, interior by EP Studio, still in production.
Shoal keel option
Swing keel drawing 0.30 to 1.09 m with 145 kg of ballast.
Beneteau First 18 (1978 to 1981)
Unrelated Groupe Finot Micro Class pocket cruiser, 1,065 built.

Beneteau First 18 SE timeline

  1. 1978Original Groupe Finot First 18 launched; 1,065 built to 1981
  2. 2008Sam Manuard's Seascape 18 first built in Slovenia
  3. 2018Beneteau takes a controlling stake in Seascape; boat becomes the First 18
  4. 2019First 18 shown at the Miami boat show; European championship in Portoroz with 25 boats
  5. 2021Renamed First 18 SE (Seascape Edition)
  6. 2023More than 500 delivered; 35 teams at the European championship in Austria

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Planes readily yet stays stable thanks to a ballasted swing keel
  • Twin rudders keep control downwind
  • Unsinkable hull with buoyancy chambers
  • Light enough to tow behind most SUVs
  • Retractable keel and removable rudders for beaching
  • Active one-design class in Europe

What to weigh up

  • Cabin is for sea camping only
  • Small US fleets compared with Europe
  • Carbon mast needs careful handling
  • New price is high for an 18-footer
  • No inboard systems or real galley

Used Beneteau First 18 SE buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Beneteau First 24

The bigger Manuard-designed First with a real cabin, for when the 18 starts to feel small.

Compare side by side

J/70

The dominant 22-foot sportboat class in the US, heavier, pricier and more crew-intensive.

Compare side by side

Beneteau First 20

Older 21-foot Beneteau trailer sailer with four berths, slower but better for overnighting.

Compare side by side

Catalina 22

The classic American swing keel trailer sailer, roomier and cheaper but far less lively.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau First 18 SE

The First 18 SE is one of the most enjoyable small keelboats on the market: it planes like a dinghy, forgives like a keelboat, fits on a light trailer and has a real one-design scene in Europe. It is not a cruiser, and the price of a new one is steep for 18 feet, but a used Seascape 18 or First 18 with good sails is a lot of fun for the money. Just make sure you know which Beneteau 18 a listing describes, because the 1978 First 18 is a completely different boat.

Beneteau First 18 SE questions answered

Is the Beneteau First 18 SE the same as the Seascape 18?

Yes. It was built as the Seascape 18 from 2008, sold as the Beneteau First 18 from 2018 to 2020 and renamed First 18 SE in 2021.

What does SE stand for in First 18 SE?

Seascape Edition, referring to the Slovenian builder Seascape that Beneteau took control of in 2018.

How heavy is the Beneteau 18?

Beneteau lists the First 18 SE at 500 kg (1,102 lb) dry, light enough for most SUVs to tow.

Can you sleep aboard a First 18 SE?

Two adults can sleep in the V-berth in sea-camping style, and an optional cockpit tent adds space.

How much is a Beneteau 18 for sale?

Used boats in Europe range from about 15,000 euros for an early Seascape 18 to about 34,000 euros for a 2023 boat; a new one in the US is likely $35,000 to $45,000 with trailer and sails.

Who designed the old Beneteau First 18?

The 1978 First 18 was designed by Groupe Finot as a Micro Class boat; 1,065 were built to 1981.

More performance sailboats to explore

Other Beneteau models

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