Beneteau First 42s7

The Beneteau First 42s7is a very good sailing boat. In addition to the straight cruising version that we tested, she is offered in a racing version with a larger mainsail, a more flexible mast for mainsail shape control, and additional racing gear. I understand that she has been successful on the IMS cruiser/racer circuit. She is well built, has nice cruising accommodations for two couples and is easy to handle. She also represents good value at under $200,000.

Cockpit and Deck
The 42s7 features an aft cockpit layout, which many cruisers and pretty much all racers prefer over the midship cockpit configuration. The cockpit is compact but very comfortable, with good foot bracing for the crew when the boat heels. Lewmar 52 self-tailing primary sheet winches are located well forward on the cockpit coamings, which renders them operable by the crew though not conveniently from the helm. The mainsheet and traveler, plus all halyards and reefing lines, run through stoppers to Lewmar 44 self-tailers on the aft end of the cabin. Sitting at the helm is comfortable from windward or leeward, either when level or heeled. The cockpit lockers are very large, offering more than ample storage for sails, rubber boats and other bulky or dirty gear. Beneteau’s excellent no-snag cockpit locker latches lock automatically upon closing, enhancing convenience and safety under way. They are designed not to catch lines and may be operated from the inside by pulling the plunger directly. The white deck non-skid is terrific, though it might fare better slightly tinted because white is so harsh on the eyes in bright sunlight. The flush anchor locker on the foredeck encloses a manual anchor winch and provides access to the under-deck roller furler. Cabin top handrails are stainless for low maintenance, but unfortunately they do not extend forward of the mast. The deckhouse sides and cockpit coamings slope gently. This, combined with a little extra deck camber, is likely the result of styling considerations but the trade-off is that getting around ends up more difficult than necessary, especially on the leeward gangway. Generally I like the styling of Beneteaus, specifically boats of theirs such as the Oceanis 400, but to my eye the Beneteau stylists let their pen get away from them on the exterior of the 42s7, avoiding somewhat the principle that form should follow function.

Despite this the boat has many good safety features. For instance, she is one of the few boats we sailed in 1995 that included as standard equipment jack-line-attachment pad eyes on the foredeck and side decks aft; unfortunately safety harness pad eyes in the cockpit were not provided. Any serious offshore vessel should be fitted with strong pad eyes low in the cockpit and close to the centerline, at least one by the companionway and one by the wheel, and it is best to fit these during the manufacturing process because so many new owners are loath to drill holes in a brand-new boat for that purpose; worse yet, they may drill in the wrong place. The mast is an aluminum Blue Label by Sparcraft, featuring slightly swept-back double spreaders and discontinuous rod rigging. It is stepped through the deck for extra stiffness and security. The cruising mast is stiff enough to make runners unnecessary. The full-battened mainsail is fit with conventional slides but still it hoists easily. For ease of handling, the mainsail is equipped with lazy jacks and the jib is on a manual-control furler. Beneteau has done an excellent job of color-coding control lines -- black jib sheets and halyard; white mainsheet and main halyard; red and green mainsail reefs; blue traveler and jib-lead control lines.

Underbody and Construction
The 42s7 is available with either a 7’7" draft performance keel or a 5’8" shoal-draft keel. One of the boat’s rudder bearings is fit into the bottom of the boat. The other bearing is mounted in the top of a large fiberglass cone that is built up from the boat’s bottom. I would prefer to see the upper rudder bearing mounted in the deck or under the helmsman’s seat for better support and to increase the effective distance between rudder bearings, but the cone bearing condition does include a wide base at the hull interface and a thoroughly substantial lay-up schedule throughout its breadth. The 42s7 subscribes typically to Beneteau construction ideology with both hull and deck reinforced structurally by interior fiberglass liners. Bulkheads are slotted and glued into grooves molded into the deck liner.

Interior
Going below, the ladder descends at a user-friendly 30-degree angle, and the edges of the steps are curved up to 27 degrees at each edge to keep one’s foot from sliding off when heeled. Access to the engine is quite straightforward, accomplished by lifting the stairs or unhinging additional access doors in the after cabin enclosures.

The airy interior features double staterooms fore and aft, each with a dedicated head. Aluminum handrails along the interior cabin sides are well placed. Ventilation occurs by way of two Dorade boxes, four opening Lewmar hatches and four large opening portlights on each side of the cabin. To my mind the Beneteau stylists again promoted form over function; the ports open outboard so that lines and feet are apt to catch on them when they are deployed under way.

The galley benefits from excellent execution with lots of counter space. The icebox is notably large, the propane stove easily gimbals to 40 degrees on either tack and its recess is fit with a stove protection bar for the cook’s safety.

Even with its subdued cruising rig, this boat sailed better than many of the "cruising" boats we tried in the 1995 Boat Of The Year competition. For those who like the unique styling of an upscale European production boat combined with good sailing qualities and solid construction, this one deserves serious consideration.

Notes and Observations
I love the look of traditional boats, but I am very glad that there are successful companies out there that offer modern styles from which cruisers in recreational sailing of all ilks can choose. Style can vary,as long as structural integrity and safety are not compromised. After all, even schooners were modern once upon a time. What I do like about Beneteau is the notion that the company understands how to build cost-effective boats with modern composite technology both inside and out. Their efficient methods guarantee a product of consistent quality. I also admire boats that sail well and minimize maintenance demands. Boat owners are hard pressed already to find enough precious time to enjoy their sport -- which should be sailing, not hanging at the dock maintaining their craft.

The Beneteau 42s7 is a cruising boat with terrific performance potential. In a moderate breeze on the September day we tested the boat, the Bruce Farr-designed hull slipped easily through the water and responded beautifully to the helm. In 10 to 15 knots of wind, driven by a full main and #1 genoa, we coaxed the boat into trucking along at seven knots at 20- to 25-degrees of heel without a lot of effort. We sailed the cruising version with the standard rig that carries 771 square feet of sail area (conventional main and 100-percent jib) and drags the 5’11" iron wing keel. For those who are uncomfortable with iron keels, a lead shoal-draft keel is available in a 5’8" version. The racing 42s7, which only a few owners have selected since the model was introduced in 1994, carries about 85 square feet of additional mainsail, the same foretriangle, a spinnaker package and a lead bulb keel that draws 7’6".

Beneteau also offers two interior plans for this boat -- both styled by Philippe Starck -- finished with ample varnished pearwood molded into the curves that typify modern French production interiors. The "owner’s" version has a double stateroom aft with an adjoining head, and a double forward with its own private head. In this version, the galley is beside the engine compartment and is U-shaped, an arrangement preferred by a majority of American sailors. In the "three-cabin" version, two aft cabins share a head; the third cabin and another head is forward. The galley is opposite the dining area.

Beneteau’s Marion, South Carolina, plant has built more than 30 of these 42-footers, most to the owner’s plan. The base price as of September 1995 was $172,900, which corresponds to a boat quite thoroughly outfitted. A new boat can be delivered within two to three months following placement of an order. In all, the 42s7 is a spirited performer and a good production boat deal.

Beneteau First 42s7 Specifications:
* LOA 42’6" (13.0 m.)
* LWL 35’9" (10.9 m.)
* Beam 13’6" (4.1 m.)
* Draft (deep/lead) 7’7" (2.3 m.)
* Draft (wing/iron) 5’11" (1.8 m.)
* Draft (shoal/lead) 5’8" (1.7 m.)
* Ballast (lead) 6,283 lbs. (2,850 kgs.)
* Ballast (iron) 5,840 lbs. (2,649 kgs.)
* Disp 18,220 lbs. (8,265 kgs.)
* Sail area (std) 771 sq.ft. (71.6 sq.m.)
* Sail area (race) 845 sq.ft. (78.5 sq.m.)
* Mast above water
* Ballast/Disp (lead) .35
* Disp/Length 178
* SA/Disp (std) 17.8
* SA/Disp (race) 19.5
* Fuel tankage 40 gal. (151 l.)
* Water tankage 160 gal. (606 l.)
* Auxiliary Yanmar 4JH2E 48-hp diesel
* Cabin headroom
* Designer Bruce Farr w/Philippe Starck

Beneteau USA, Inc.
8720 Red Oak Blvd.
Suite 102
Charlotte, NC 28217
803-805-5000
Fax: 803-805-5010