Beneteau 285 First, the Finot 28 Footer for Club Racing and Cruising

A 1980s Finot racer-cruiser with a sugar-scoop stern, a real chart table and a past as a match-racing boat in New York Harbor.

1985 to 1993 Discontinued Updated October 2026

For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau First 285. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source

Length: 28.2 ft8.58 m
Beam: 9.8 ft3 m
Draft: 5.3 ft1.6 m
Cabins: 2 (V-berth forward, double aft cabin)
Used price: $12K to $32K

On this page

Overview
A Beneteau 285 in New York Harbor, 1989
Jean-Marie Finot's design, light for its era
Bulb, wing or shoal, and what each rates
How the 285 is built, and where it leaks
Six berths and a proper chart table in 28 feet
Deck and rig for a small crew
An 18 hp Volvo and seven gallons of fuel
What a 1991 Beneteau First 285 costs now
Specifications
Price and value
Strengths and weaknesses
Used buyer checklist
Rivals
Our verdict
FAQ

The Beneteau First 285 is a 28 ft fractional sloop designed by Groupe Finot and built in France and the US from 1985 to 1993, with 451 hulls. Bulb or wing keel, tiller or wheel, an 18 hp Volvo diesel and a double aft cabin.

Best for

Club racers on a budget
Couples who daysail and weekend
Lake and coastal sailors

A Beneteau 285 in New York Harbor, 1989

In 1989 Beneteau built ten First 285s for the Liberty Cup, an eight-boat international match-racing event sailed in New York Harbor. When the racing was over the boats were sold, and at least one, Wings, hull number 3 of the Liberty Cup edition, still sails on Indiana's Lake Monroe with its original spinnaker, as Good Old Boat reported in 2016. It is a neat summary of what the Beneteau 285 is: a production 28 footer quick enough to race seriously, and comfortable and simple enough for a couple to keep for decades.

Beneteau built 451 of them between 1985 and 1993, in France and in the United States, according to sailboatdata and Wikipedia. Owners and listings use several names, including Beneteau 285, Beneteau 285 First and First 285, but they all describe the same Groupe Finot design. Because so many were built, a few are usually on the US market, mostly on lakes and in protected coastal waters.

Beneteau First 285 by the numbers

Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.

Sail area to displacement: 16.2Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
Displacement to length: 193Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed: 6.6 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio: 34%A typical ballast ratio for a cruising monohull.
Capsize screening: 2.14Above 2.0, so this hull leans toward coastal stability over ultimate offshore resistance.
Motion comfort ratio: 17.8A quicker motion in waves, typical of light, beamy hulls.
Length to beam ratio: 2.86 : 1A beamy hull with lots of volume for its length.

Length compared with the 69 performance sailboats we cover

Beneteau First 285

12 ft56 ft

Jean-Marie Finot's design, light for its era

Beneteau credits Jean-Marie Finot as naval designer. The 285 has sharp, wedge-shaped lines, a powerful 7/8 fractional rig, a partially balanced spade rudder and a sugar-scoop transom. Sailboatdata lists an overall length of 28 ft 2 in (8.58 m), a 24 ft 3 in (7.39 m) waterline, a 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) beam and 6,160 lb (2,794 kg) of displacement, with 2,115 lb (959 kg) of cast iron ballast.

On paper that is a lively boat. A displacement to length ratio of about 193 put it toward the lighter side for its era, and the generous beam gives good form stability. Yet the sail area to displacement ratio is a modest 16.3, and some owners who responded to Good Old Boat described performance as average and the boat as easily overpowered. The consensus is that it handles well if you reef early, and that a well-tuned rig and good sails make the difference between a mid-fleet club racer and a frustrated one.

Bulb, wing or shoal, and what each rates

Good Old Boat describes two keel options, both cast iron: a bulb keel drawing about 5 ft 3 in and a wing keel drawing about 3 ft 10 in. Sailboatdata and Wikipedia list a deep draft of 5 ft 3 in plus a 3 ft 9 in shoal version and a 3 ft 10 in wing keel, and Yachting Monthly's summary of the European market also mentions a centerboard version. For most US buyers the choice is between the bulb fin and the wing.

PHRF ratings reflect the difference. Good Old Boat quotes a base of 183 to 186 seconds per mile for the bulb keel and 192 for the wing keel, and notes that several owners found it hard to sail to those numbers. For comparison, it cited the Sabre 28 at 192 to 210 and the faster J/28 at 174. If you plan to race, buy the bulb keel and budget for sails; if your home waters are shallow, the wing keel is a reasonable compromise.

How the 285 is built, and where it leaks

Like most Beneteaus of its time, the 285 has a solid fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck. A molded interior pan with an integral grid is bonded to the hull with adhesive, stiffening the structure and forming berth flats and furniture. The hull-to-deck joint is fastened with rivets and screws rather than through-bolted. The pan saves weight and labor but condenses moisture and makes modifications harder.

The common complaints are leaking portlights and deteriorating headliners. Leaks can let water collect at the base of bulkheads and lead to plywood delamination, and the shower drains into a shallow bilge. Owners also report cracked portlights over time. None of these is unusual for a production boat of the 1980s, but a careful survey should check every portlight, the bulkhead bases and the deck core around fittings.

Six berths and a proper chart table in 28 feet

Belowdecks the 285 has more wood than its fiberglass pan suggests, including tongue-and-groove ceiling on the hull sides of the saloon. The V-berth forward is tight for two and can be closed off with bi-fold doors or a single door. The saloon has a centerline table built around the mast compression post, with settees either side; the starboard settee is long enough for a nap and its aft end doubles as the seat for a chart table, which Good Old Boat called a luxury on a 28 ft boat.

Aft of the nav desk is an enclosed head to starboard, tucked partly under the cockpit. The compact galley to port has a propane stove and oven, a deep top-loading icebox and a round stainless sink. The aft cabin has a large double berth, half of it under the cockpit with no sitting headroom, plus a seat and enough standing room to dress. Pressurized fresh water from a 10 gallon tank, a 6 gallon water heater and a 10 gallon holding tank are standard.

Deck and rig for a small crew

The deck works well. Non-skid is good, inboard shrouds leave wide side decks, and teak handrails sit in molded pockets on the cabintop. Two large Lewmar hatches, a self-draining anchor locker and four aluminum cleats complete the foredeck. The single-spreader fractional mast is deck-stepped over a compression post, and the split backstay is adjustable.

The 285 was offered with tiller or wheel steering. The mainsheet runs to a short traveler on the cabintop; headsail sheets go to Lewmar 30 self-tailing winches on the coamings, and lines from the mast lead aft to two smaller winches. Good Old Boat found the boat tracked very straight with a light helm, though the rack-and-pinion wheel steering gave little feedback. The many lines on the cabintop can roll underfoot when handling the mainsail.

An 18 hp Volvo and seven gallons of fuel

Good Old Boat's test boat had an 18 hp Volvo diesel with a folding propeller, and some owners have fitted larger three-blade feathering props for better maneuvering. With just 7 gallons in the tank, the engine will push the boat for more than 10 hours at about half a gallon per hour. Access is excellent from both sides and the front once the companionway ladder is removed.

Many original engines are now well past 30 years old. A repower with a modern small diesel is a common and sensible upgrade, and a boat that has had one is worth noticeably more. The engine control is low and out of the way, and the gauges sit at the aft end of the cockpit where they are hard to see, so rely on the alarms.

What a 1991 Beneteau First 285 costs now

Expect roughly $12,000 to $32,000 in 2026 for a First 285, with later boats such as a 1991 or 1993 hull, newer sails, a repowered engine and resealed portlights at the top. Liberty Cup boats can appeal to buyers who value the history. Parts are available through Beneteau dealers, and most hardware is common to other boats of the same era.

Annual running costs are modest: typically $3,500 to $8,000 for slip or mooring, insurance, haul-out and bottom paint, engine service and small repairs. On a lake with a mooring and DIY maintenance, it can be less.

Beneteau First 285 specifications

Length overall	28.2 ft8.58 m
Waterline length	24.3 ft7.39 m
Beam	9.8 ft3 m
Draft	5.3 ft1.6 m
Displacement	6,16 lbs2,794 kg
Ballast	2,115 lbs959 kg
Sail area	341 sq ft31.7 m²
Fuel capacity	7 gal26 L
Fresh water	1 gal38 L
Cabins	2 (V-berth forward, double aft cabin)
Berths	6
Heads	1 enclosed
Standard engines	Volvo Penta diesel, 18 hp (as described by Good Old Boat)
Maximum power	18 hp
Hull type	Fin keel monohull with partially balanced spade rudder
Keel	Cast iron bulb fin about 5 ft 3 in, or wing keel about 3 ft 10 in; sailboatdata also lists a 3 ft 9 in shoal version
Rig	7/8 fractional sloop, deck-stepped single-spreader mast, inboard shrouds, adjustable split backstay
Hull construction	Solid fiberglass hull, balsa-cored deck, cast iron keel
Builder	Beneteau, France (also built in the United States)
Naval architect	Groupe Finot (Jean-Marie Finot)
Production	1985 to 1993
Status	Discontinued

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 285 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built

Used, typical asking$12K to $32K

Yearly running costs$4K to $8K

Good Old Boat found US asking prices in 2016 ranging from $17,900 for a 1987 boat to $30,500 for a 1991 model, averaging about $20,000. Ten years on, condition matters far more than model year: an original Volvo with high hours, leaking portlights and a tired headliner can halve a boat's value, while new sails, a repowered engine and resealed hardware push it to the top.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026

Estimate your yearly cost

Purchase price Engine hours per year Slip rate per foot per month Fuel price per gallon

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

Bulb keel: About 5 ft 3 in draft, PHRF base around 183 to 186.
Wing keel: About 3 ft 10 in draft, PHRF base around 192.
Liberty Cup edition (1989): Ten boats built for the New York Harbor match-racing event, later sold privately.

Beneteau First 285 timeline

1985First 285 introduced, designed by Groupe Finot
1989Ten boats built for the Liberty Cup match race in New York Harbor
1993Production ends after 451 boats
2016Good Old Boat reviews the 285 and finds US asking prices of $17,900 to $30,500

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

Quick, light and well balanced when reefed early
Proper chart table and enclosed head in 28 feet
Bulb or wing keel options
Many built, so parts and boats are available
Very economical diesel

What to weigh up

Easily overpowered without early reefing
Leaking portlights and failing headliners are common
Small fuel and water tanks
Aft berth is cramped under the cockpit

Used Beneteau First 285 buyer checklist

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Check every portlight for leaks and cracks
Inspect bulkhead bases for plywood delamination
Check the headliner for sagging or deterioration
Inspect the keel to hull joint and keel bolts
Check deck core around fittings for moisture
Assess the engine's age, hours and service history
Check the rudder bearings and steering
Inspect sails and running rigging

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

Rivals to consider

Sabre 28

A heavier, more traditional American 28 footer that rates slower under PHRF.

J/28

Faster under PHRF but rarer and more expensive.

Catalina 28

A roomier cruiser, slower but with a large US owner base.

Compare side by side

Beneteau First 305

The bigger Berret sister from the same era, with more interior.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau First 285

The Beneteau First 285 is an affordable, lively 28 footer with a proper chart table, a double aft cabin and a history that includes match racing in New York Harbor. It rewards a crew that reefs early and keeps the rig tuned, and it asks for vigilance about portlight leaks and aging engines. For club racers on a budget or couples who want a quick, simple weekender, a well-maintained 285 is still a smart buy.