Beneteau First 24 SE: Small cruiser with excessive sailing potential in the test
Jochen Rieker
· 07.09.2023
In 2018, global market leader Beneteau acquired a stake in the fast-growing Slovenian shipyard Seascape. The Seascape 18 and 27 have already shown that they can do something. Both were nominated for European Yacht of the Year. The 18, the brand's first model, won the title straight away in 2010. With more than 300 units sold in its first few years, it is the most successful keelboat in its class and was a favourite right from the start. Its big sister also made a big impression.
With the Seascape 24, the shipyard closed the enormous gap that existed between the 18 and 27. At the same time, it occupies a segment that had previously been neglected in the seven metre hull length class: that of the performance cruiser, which is suitable for cruising as well as speeding, for enjoying as well as gliding.
With the takeover of Seascape, Beneteau began the reorganisation of the legendary First series, which had already been decided a good two years earlier. The Seascape 14, 18, 24 and 27 were to form the basis of Beneteau's performance cruiser programme in the future, which is why the Seascape 24 is now called Beneteau First 24 SE. We tested it in 2016, even before Beneteau joined the programme.
Competitors of the Beneteau 24 First SE
The principle of simplicity
"We tried to give her the best of her two sisters," says Sam Manuard, the designer. The Frenchman lives for ocean sports like few other designers. He came second in the Transat Jacques Vabre, a double-handed Atlantic regatta, with a Class 40 he designed. He has also left his mark on the Mini-Transat. The Beneteau First 24 SE benefits from this passion and Manuard's experience at sea in both large and small ways.
The far aft rig with the powerful squarehead mainsail is just as reminiscent of modern offshore boat classes as double rudders and chines. The hull has very little draft and freeboard and - contrary to current trends - relatively little volume in the foredeck. On the other hand, the underwater hull is very flat, especially at the stern, which facilitates early planing.
The swing keel is a full 1.90 metres deep when unfurled - that's more than on most 32-foot yachts. If you crank it up using a spindle integrated in the keel box, it disappears completely into the hull, making it easy to slip off the trailer. The rudders can be removed completely. With an immersion depth of just 30 centimetres, the Beneteau First 24 SE can be anchored in shallow waters or even towed onto the beach. Think of it as a modern dinghy cruiser - only capsize-proof thanks to 36 per cent ballast in the GRP/lead keel and unsinkable thanks to three buoyancy bodies in the bow and amidships.
To reinforce the hull, Manuard and production manager Kristian Hajnsek use the solid keel box, which forms the backbone of the floor assembly, and the bases of the saloon benches as structural elements. In addition, there are strong wings and stringers at close intervals. They are laminated together with the hull in a single operation under vacuum - a process that is rarely used to this extent in series boat construction. It ensures homogeneous, highly resilient joints while keeping the weight of the sandwich construction low. The result is a displacement of just 890 kilograms - and one of the reasons for the extremely high sail load factor of 6.7.
In fact, the Beneteau First 24 SE floats high; ready to sail, but still without a crew, the stem and stern rise clearly out of the water - an indication that the designer's objectives were consistently realised during construction.
The allure of speed
When you go on deck, you can feel the lightness. The boat jiggles on the jetty, jerks into the mooring lines because the kinetic energy is not dissipated in sheer mass. The shipyard's endeavours to reduce weight are evident everywhere. Thin Dyneema lashings hold the blocks at the foot of the mast, tapered sheets guide the gennaker, the mast, boom, bowsprit and tiller are made of carbon fibre, the North sails are made of thin foil.
And that's how the Seascape 24 sailed at the time: fine. No, even better: fantastic. Although the genoa was a little too long in the lower luff, not tight enough to trim in the luff, and although the conditions on the second test day with gusts of over 30 knots would actually have made a working jib necessary, the 24 performed brilliantly in both light and strong winds.
Even clearly over-rigged at the cross, she still marched strongly heeling to where the helmsman wanted her to go. Optimally adjusted, she was a model of balance, especially in 3 to 4 Beaufort and smooth water. Even under gennaker, the boat obeys the smallest steering impulses. Only half-wind, at maximum pressure, do you have to hold back a little more energetically.
The little rocket's ability to accelerate is downright astonishing. Even a mere drop of 20 or 30 degrees under the main and genoa is met with immediate planing from 5 Beaufort. Then the log suddenly reads 8 knots instead of 6, and the wake tears off the stern.
If you add the generously dimensioned 67 square metre fractional spinnaker and sail deeper, you can easily reach double digits. In the test, the then Seascape 24 reached top speeds of up to 16.6 knots and averaged 12 to 14 knots over long distances. What it lacks is not so much the fun factor, but rather the reserves: the less customisable sail plan, the lower righting moment. In this respect, it would be a mistake to define the boat solely by its maximum performance. In fact, it provides great pleasure even in light winds - and it does so in a simple and relaxed manner.
The charm of simplicity
Despite the sparseness below deck, it is well suited for weekend cruises and holiday trips for two. The cool box, porta-potti and cooker can be stored under the companionway, provisions under the benches, clothes and odds and ends in the storage bags under the running deck, which are available at extra cost. The crew sleeps in the foredeck or separately in what would be too generously described here as the "saloon". Nothing more is needed. At least not for those who can do without headroom and veneered plywood on board.
The measured values for the test of the Beneteau First 24 SE
The Beneteau First 24 SE in detail
Technical data
- Design engineer:Sam Manuard
- CE design category:C
- Lüa (torso length):7,30 m
- Waterline length:7,25 m
- Width:2,50 m
- Draught max./min:1,90/0,30 m
- Weight:890 kg
- Ballast/proportion:320 kg/36 %
- Mainsail:25,0 m2
- Furling genoa (105 %):17,0 m2
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich. The hull and floor assembly are laminated together using the vacuum infusion process. Swivelling keel made of GRP with lead ballast
Price
- Base price ex shipyard: 71,995 euros, including 19% VAT
- Warranty/against osmosis 2/2 years
As of 09/2023, how the prices shown are defined can be found here !
Shipyard
Chantiers Beneteau, 85805 Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (France), www.beneteau.com
Distribution
Dealer network
YACHT rating
The Beneteau First 24 SE is the epitome of a multi-optional small cruiser: it is suitable for cruising as well as travelling. And anyone looking for a compact daysailer for inland waterways will undoubtedly be happy with her too
Design and concept
- + Most modern all-rounder on the market
- + Elaborate sandwich construction
- - High price
Sailing performance and trim
- + High speed potential
- + Intuitive control behaviour
- + One-handed deck layout
Living and finishing quality
- + Sufficient berth and cabin dimensions
- - Sober atmosphere below deck
Equipment and technology
- + High-quality basic equipment
- + Good trailer and slipbar
- - Sluggish keel mechanism
Video of the Beneteau First 24 SE:
This article first appeared in YACHT 08/2016 and has been updated for this online version.
