Beneteau First 29 vs Hunter 212 — Comparison
Hunter 212
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 29 | Hunter 212 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 2003–2008 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Bruce Farr | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.90 m (29.2 ft) | 6.35 m (20.8 ft) |
| LWL | 7.95 m (26.1 ft) | 5.56 m (18.2 ft) |
| Beam | 2.95 m (9.7 ft) | 2.26 m (7.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) | 0.99 m (3.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) | 680 kg (1,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) | 168 kg (370 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 39.5 m² (425 ft²) | 16.0 m² (172 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Centerboard |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 4 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 L (13.2 gal) | — |
| Water Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 15 L (4.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 3 |
| Cabins | 1 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 29 and Hunter 212 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 29 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 212 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 29 was penned by Bruce Farr. The Hunter 212 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 29 measures 8.90m (29.2ft) overall with a beam of 2.95m, compared to the Hunter 212 at 6.35m (20.8ft) with a 2.26m beam. The Beneteau First 29 is 2.55m longer than the Hunter 212. The Beneteau First 29 displaces approximately 356% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 29 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.88 and 39.5 m² of sail area. The Hunter 212, with an SA/D of 21.04 and 16.0 m² of canvas, offers generous sail power for spirited sailing. The Hunter 212 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 29 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.6) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.81). The Hunter 212 has a comfort ratio of 10.5 and a capsize screening value of 1.03. The ballast ratios are 34.8% for the Beneteau First 29 and 24.7% for the Hunter 212, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 29 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 80L of water capacity and 50L of fuel. The Hunter 212 offers 3 berths in 1 cabin with 15L water and unspecified fuel.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 29 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 Hunter 212 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Beneteau First 29 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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