The Beneteau First 305 1984 vs Beneteau First 345 1983 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 345 1983 measures 36,1 feet overall (1983), giving it roughly 3,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Beneteau First 305 1984 at 32,2 feet (1984). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau First 345 1983 tips the scales at 11 244 lbs - 1 985 lbs less than the Beneteau First 305 1984 at 9 259 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 - 18 hp for the Beneteau First 305 1984 and 18 hp for the Beneteau First 345 1983. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Beneteau First 345 1983 carries 23 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Beneteau First 305 1984. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau First 345 1983 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Beneteau First 305 1984 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau First 345 1983 could be the deciding factor.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket - 9 259 lbs for the Beneteau First 305 1984 and 11 244 lbs for the Beneteau First 345 1983. 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 305 1984 is rigged as a Sloop while the Beneteau First 345 1983 carries fractional_rig_sloop rigging - a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably.

Hull speed is rated at 7,2 knots for the Beneteau First 345 1983 and 6,9 knots for the Beneteau First 305 1984. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Beneteau First 345 1983 carries 106 gallons versus 26 gallons on the Beneteau First 305 1984 - a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.