Sadly due to family commitments we are selling our amazing Beneteau First 285. We have had two and a half wonderful years on the beautiful Beaulieu River sailing around the Solent. Rocket is the swing keel version of this very popular yacht. She is really well sorted, with brand new standing rigging and a new Doyle fully battened tri-radial DCX-L high performance laminate mainsail. She has a full suite of laminate headsails ready for club racing if desired. The First 285 was well ahead of its time with the twin rudders, wide beam, large cockpit, three cabin layout and full headroom. Rocket is a very strong yacht, built in 1988 with a heavy GRP hull and deck. The twin rudders and stub iron keel means that she dries out upright, and the rudders are so strong they can take the weight. The 0.8m shallow draft is ideal for the shallows in Newtown Creek or Keyhaven. With the keel down she points really well with much reduced leeway.
Vessel type: | Sailing Yacht |
Builder: | Beneteau |
Make: | Beneteau |
Model: | First 285 |
Constructed: | 1988 |
Sail number: | GBR4095L |
Registration: | SSR23242 |
Berths: | 6 |
No. of engines: | 1 |
Engine model: | Volvo 2002 |
Engine power: | 18 |
Fuel type: | Diesel |
Drive type: | Shaft drive |
Length over all: | 8.58m |
Length at waterline: | 7.39m |
Beam: | 3m |
Hull material: | Glass Fibre |
Keel type: | Retractable Keel |
Fuel capacity: | 25 Litres |
Water capacity: | 80 Litres |
Three cabin layout, with double rear cabin, vee-berth double front cabin, single with lee-cloth in main saloon, and single berth on sofa. Full head height in main saloon.
SALOON
Gimbled 2 burner gas stove, grill and oven
Waeco 12V compressor fridge with ice box
Deep insulated cold store/coolbox
Stainless steel sink (hot & cold water)
Navigation table (lift top)
Clothes/jacket hanging locker
Folding saloon table
Single berth with lee cloth
Infill panel for wider 2nd saloon berth
Brass clock and barometer
Swing keel raise/lower mechanism
Engine access under companionway stairs
Headlining in excellent condition
REAR CABIN
Large Double berth extending across the centreline. Hanging locker and open storage shelf alongside berth. Opening portlight to cockpit and fixed hull port to transom.
Batteries (under berth)
Engine, gearbox and stern gland access.
Battery selector switches
Main electrical isolator switches and overloads.
Headlining renewed in 2019
FORWARD CABIN
Double V-berth
Storage under berth
Windlass
Open shelf storage along each side of the berth.
HEADS
Dedicated heads compartment on starboard side of companionway.
Jabsco sea toilet
Stainless steel basin (hot & cold water)
Storage
Battery charger, tools and spares storage.
TACKLE
Windlass (forepeak) with foot operated raise/lower switches (cockpit remote control also provided loose)
10kg Delta anchor & swivel shackle
15metres of 8mm chain and 30metres warp
DECK
Lewmar 8 halyard winches
Lewmar 30 self-tailing sheet winches
Spinlock deck clutches (halyards, reefing lines, topping lift)
Lewmar mainsheet traveller
All lines lead to cockpit for safe short-handed sailing.
Spray hood (dodgers available)
Bimini (folding)
Tiller steering + extension
“gin seats” for steering with great visibility
Sugar scoop stern with swim ladder, aft self-draining cockpit
Teak slatted cockpit seating
Pressurised hot and cold water (heads, galley and cockpit shower)
80 litre cold water tank (under port settee)
30 litre? hot water calorifier (in cockpit locker) heated via engine or electric immersion
Hot water shower in cockpit.
ELECTRICS
2 No. 90Ah batteries individual or paired
12v internal lighting
240vac lights and sockets fed from shore power
Battery charger and immersion heater fed from shore power
Waeco 12v compressor Fridge
12v charger and USB points
ICOM IC-M411 DSC VHF Radio (GPS)
Main switchboard
folio size aft facing chart table with internal storage
Volt meter and 12v socket at chart table
Depth
Speed/log
Wind speed/direction
Steering compass
Autohelm ST1000 Tiller Pilot
Volvo Penta 2002 – 18HP
Gori 2-blade folding propellor
Recent oil and filter change
Smooth and quiet running
5.5 knots at 2000rpm – 1 to 1.5 l/h consumption
25 litre diesel tank
Cutlass bearing changed November 2022
RIGGING
Fitted new by Ocean Rigging Ltd (Lymington) in 2023
New Furlex 100S furler
New Standing Rigging
Running rigging in good condition
Adjustable backstay
SAILS
New Mainsail by Doyle Sails Ltd
Fully battened Tri-radial mainsail from Dimension-Polyant DCX-L high performance laminate material.
Full suite of headsails by One Sails Ltd in excellent condition.
• No.1
• No.2
• No.3
Plus one spinnaker and pole.
The bolt ropes on No1 and No3 will need to be changed from 6mm to 5mm to fit the new Furlex 100S furler.
The No.2 headsail is “kept” on the furler for cruising the solent.
High quality headsail cover offers better protection than UV strip.
Horse shoe lifebuoy on pushpit
Flare pack & Emergency knife in companionway
Foghorn
2 x fire extinguishers
1 x fire blanket
Portable anchor light
Anchor ball
Electric bilge pump
Note: Indicated location is approximate general area only.