Beneteau First 47.7 vs 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 — Comparison
1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 47.7 | 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hallberg-Rassy |
| Year | 2003–2008 | 1999–2005 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Sweden |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | German Frers |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.69 m (48.2 ft) | 16.80 m (55.1 ft) |
| LWL | 12.90 m (42.3 ft) | 14.00 m (45.9 ft) |
| Beam | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) | 4.65 m (15.3 ft) |
| Draft | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) | 2.35 m (7.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 20,000 kg (44,092 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 7,500 kg (16,535 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 105.0 m² (1,130 ft²) | 125.0 m² (1,346 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 150 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 600 L (158.5 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 900 L (237.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 47.7 and 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 47.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 is a 1990s offering from Hallberg-Rassy from Sweden. The Beneteau First 47.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 was designed by German Frers.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 47.7 measures 14.69m (48.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.30m, compared to the 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 at 16.80m (55.1ft) with a 4.65m beam. The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 is 2.11m longer than the Beneteau First 47.7. The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 displaces approximately 74% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 47.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.93 and 105.0 m² of sail area. The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55, with an SA/D of 17.23 and 125.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 47.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 47.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 has a comfort ratio of 18.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 36.5% for the Beneteau First 47.7 and 37.5% for the 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 47.7 provides 10 berths in 3 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 offers 8 berths in 4 cabins with 900L water and 600L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 55 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 47.7 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 47.7 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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