The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 vs Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 measures 30,0 feet overall (1989), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 at 21,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 tips the scales at 5 291 lbs — 2 546 lbs less than the Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 at 2 745 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 carries a rated maximum of 11 hp. Engine data for the Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 displaces 5 291 lbs — a 2 546-lb difference over the Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 at 2 745 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 is rigged as a Sloop while the Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 carries Fractional Sloop rigging — a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably. The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 has a documented auxiliary engine of 11 hp.
The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 is trailerable, giving it a significant lifestyle advantage for sailors who want to move between lakes, rivers, and coastal waters without committing to a marina slip.
Bottom line: The Beneteau First Class Challange 1989 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 5 291 lbs displacement and 30 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Beneteau First 21.7 Swing keel 2004 at 2 745 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option and is trailerable — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.