Beneteau First 31.7

Bénéteau First 31.7 : The benchmark racing-cruising yacht, featuring a premium wardrobe and a retrievable marina berth

The First 31.7 is a 9.50 m racing-cruising yacht known for its versatility in both regatta sailing and cruising, with a draft of 1.90 m. In its classic version, this unit is laid out with two double cabins, a symmetrical saloon, and a shower room with a marine WC. After a first life in charter management, the boat has been used exclusively for private sailing since 2018.

The rigging workstation was fully renewed in May 2018: Sparcraft S180 aluminum mast, standing rigging and new turnbuckles (a key point for the vessel's insurability). The wardrobe consists of a 3-batten, 26 m² semi-lattened mainsail in composite Flex Ultra Polyester / Dyneema (2019) and a 25.50 m² tri-radial genoa in DCX sandwich laminate (2020), mounted on a Facnor RX130 furling system from the same year. For downwind sailing, the boat is equipped with a 60 m² tri-radial gennaker, Code Zéro type, on anti-torsion cable (2019), hanked to a removable Seldén aluminum bowsprit, as well as the original symmetrical spinnaker.

On-board electronics include a Raymarine ST6002 Smartpilot autopilot with remote control, a Raymarine A65 chart plotter at the chart table, a Garmin 158i GPS in the cockpit, a Raymarine Tridata repeater, a Navicom RT750 VHF with AIS receiver, and a WiFi network for remote navigation on a tablet. The Sea-Talk network also includes an Aragon Technologie interface that replaces the hull log sensor with GPS bottom speed (SOG) from the Garmin 158i, preventing turbine blockages and ensuring more reliable calculation of true wind. Electrical autonomy is provided by two flexible 180 W solar panels, a set of three lead-acid batteries (1 x 50 Ah engine and 2 x 85 Ah service) and a Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart controller installed in 2021.

Inside, you will find Bénéteau woodwork, a chart table oriented in the direction of travel, and an L-shaped galley equipped with a two-burner stove, a sink, and a refrigerator, with the 12V electrical circuit and the circuit breaker redone in 2021.

Engine power is provided by a 21 hp Yanmar 3YM20 inboard, totaling about 2,210 hours. Mechanical servicing has been handled by professionals: cleaning the heat exchanger and replacing the stainless steel exhaust elbow in 2021, along with annual revisions kept up to date (latest in May 2025). On the Saildrive SD20, the saildrive shaft seals, O-rings, and the garboard trim were replaced in 2022 and then redone as a preventive measure in June 2025 (the hull membrane remains original). Under the waterline, the keel seal was redone with primer and Sikaflex in 2023. The antifouling treatment and the Seajet Peller Clean propeller treatment are scheduled for spring 2026. Visible at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, this First 31.7 also benefits from a retrievable marina berth.