The Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 vs Beneteau First 31.7 1997 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 31.7 1997 at 31,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 tips the scales at 8 995 lbs - 728 lbs more than the Beneteau First 31.7 1997 at 8 267 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 20 hp for the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 and 21 hp for the Beneteau First 31.7 1997. 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 31.7 1997 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 31.7 1997 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 8 267 lbs for the Beneteau First 31.7 1997. 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 6,2 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 7,2 knots for the Beneteau First 31.7 1997 and 6,8 knots for the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Beneteau First 31.7 1997 carries 42 gallons versus 24 gallons on the Beneteau First 30 Fin keel 1977 - a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.