Beneteau First 27 vs Hanse 342 — Comparison
Hanse 342
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 27 | Hanse 342 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hanse |
| Year | 1990–1994 | 2006–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Germany |
| Designer | Jean Berret | judel/vrolijk & co |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.19 m (26.9 ft) | 10.30 m (33.8 ft) |
| LWL | 7.21 m (23.7 ft) | 9.20 m (30.2 ft) |
| Beam | 2.79 m (9.2 ft) | 3.40 m (11.2 ft) |
| Draft | 1.55 m (5.1 ft) | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 5,300 kg (11,684 lbs) |
| Ballast | 850 kg (1,874 lbs) | 1,650 kg (3,638 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 35.0 m² (377 ft²) | 52.0 m² (560 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 9 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 40 L (10.6 gal) | 100 L (26.4 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 70 L (18.5 gal) | 180 L (47.6 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 6 |
| Cabins | 1 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 27 and Hanse 342 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 27 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hanse 342 is a 2000s offering from Hanse from Germany. The Beneteau First 27 was penned by Jean Berret. The Hanse 342 was designed by judel/vrolijk & co.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 27 measures 8.19m (26.9ft) overall with a beam of 2.79m, compared to the Hanse 342 at 10.30m (33.8ft) with a 3.40m beam. The Hanse 342 is 2.11m longer than the Beneteau First 27. The Hanse 342 displaces approximately 121% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 27 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.84 and 35.0 m² of sail area. The Hanse 342, with an SA/D of 17.38 and 52.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 27 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 27 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.83). The Hanse 342 has a comfort ratio of 17.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 35.4% for the Beneteau First 27 and 31.1% for the Hanse 342, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 27 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 70L of water capacity and 40L of fuel. The Hanse 342 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 180L water and 100L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hanse 342 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Beneteau First 27 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Hanse 342 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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