The Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 vs Beneteau First 30E 1981 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 at 29,5 ft versus Beneteau First 30E 1981 at 31,1 ft. At 8 995 lbs and 8 929 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 20 hp for the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 and 15 hp for the Beneteau First 30E 1981. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 8 gal and 8 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau First 30E 1981 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau First 30E 1981 could be the deciding factor.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 8 995 lbs for the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 and 8 929 lbs for the Beneteau First 30E 1981. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.

Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,8 ft and 5,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 uses Sloop rigging.

Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 and 6,7 knots for the Beneteau First 30E 1981.