First 38s5 archive details - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers

Yachtsnet's archive of boat details and pictures

The following information and photographs are displayed as a service to anyone researching yacht types. Details and photographs are normally based on one specific yacht, but could be a compilation. No reliance should be placed on other yachts of the same class being identical. Where common variations exist, we have endeavoured to indicate this in these archive details. The price guide covers the normal ranges of age and condition. Exceptional boats, whether good or bad, may fall outside these guidelines.

Bènèteau First 38s5				Price Guide	£55,000 to £65,000
Builder	Bènèteau, France
Length OA	38' 4"	Sail Area	872 sq ft
Length WL	30' 25"	Rig	Sloop	Brief Notes
Beam	12' 4"	Cabins	3 or 4	The First 38s5 is one of the larger and newer of the Bènèteau First range of cruiser-racers, with the emphasis on performance, but with fully fitted cruising interiors to a high standard of fit-out. The "S" in the model designation refers to the interior design by Phillipe Starck, which is very much a 'love it or hate it' question.
.Draught	5' 1" shallow fin, 6' 3" standard fin, or 6' 10" deep fin	Berths	6/8 plus saloon settees
Displacement	14,550 lbs	Engine type	Volvo 2003 (may vary)
Ballast	4,840 lbs	Engine bhp	28
Keel type	Fin keel and spade rudder

The Bènèteau The First 38s5 was introduced in 1990 and continued in production until 1995. The design resulted from the collaboration of designers Jean Berret, who was responsible for the hull and rig, and Philippe Starck, who designed the interior. The hull of the 38s5 is constructed of solid GRP laminates with a GRP grid system bonded to the hull to withstand stresses generated by the rig and keel. The decks are composite with a variety of core materials in different areas, and the interior makes extensive use of GRP liners and pre-cut and fabricated modules.

The First 38s5 was built with three keel variations, having draughts of from 5' 2" to 6' 11". The yachts also came in "owners" or "charter" versions: the "charter" version has twin smaller aft cabins and only one heads, whilst the owners version has a single aft cabin, and a second heads aft

Yachts seen here are no longer for sale - the data is online as a free information service for buyers researching boat types

Go to our brokerage section for boats currently for sale

All halyards and sail controls are led aft to the cockpit concealed under fibreglass panels so that there is nothing to foul or trip over. The grab rails are recessed into the cabin top, giving exceptionally clean lines, although perhaps not as functional as grabrails as conventional 'handles'

The interior is in highly polished dark mahogany veneers, contrasting with polished stainless steel and aluminium fittings, and upholstery in pale peach and grey fabric. The overall effect, once you get used to the dramatic modernity of the design, is light and airy, with a good galley to port, a chart table to starboard, with swivel seat, and conventional settees either side of a drop-leaf table.

A lighter teak interior was an option, though most boats appear to have this mahogany finish

Photographs Yachtsnet

Right: Forecabin:

Below: aft cabin

Photographs Yachtsnet

The chart table (right) has an unusual sliding worktop/chart table, which probably works better as an adjunct to the galley opposite than for chartwork

	In the twin aft cabin version the two doors leading aft from the companionway each lead to a mirror-image aftcabin. In the single aft cabin version a second heads (seen left) is aft of the chart table