What new sailboat to buy as a first purchase? Expert advice and selection of the best models in 2025
Choosing the Right Sailboat for Beginners
How do you choose the right sailboat to start with, without making a mistake? Size, hull type, equipment, new or used – let’s break it down with a selection of suitable models for a first purchase.
The Basics: How to Choose Your First Sailboat
Before even comparing models, you need to define your personal requirements. What will this boat be used for? What kind of sailing, on what body of water, with what crew? These questions will determine the size, draft, type of rigging, and sail plan.
Between 8 and 11 meters is often the ideal size for a first purchase. It offers good habitability for coastal cruising (or even more), without becoming too demanding in terms of maneuvers or budget. Monohulls are still largely the majority for beginners: their marine behavior is predictable, and they are often more affordable to buy, maintain, and moor than multihulls.
Fixed or lifting keels, twin keels, or even centerboards are options to consider depending on your sailing area. In certain coastal regions, a shallow draft or the ability to run aground are real assets.
Finally, the level of equipment should be reasonable. A GPS plotter, autopilot, electric windlass, sails in good condition, and simple rigging remain priorities. High-end electronics or maximum comfort (air conditioning, watermaker) can wait.
New Sailboats: A Selection Designed for First-Time Buyers
Bénéteau Oceanis 30.1 – The Accessible Reference
The Oceanis 30.1 remains the ideal sailboat for beginners. Compact (9.53 m), but well thought out, it offers two comfortable cabins, a protected cockpit, and a balanced sail plan, easy to maneuver solo or in pairs. Offered with a lifting or twin keel, it is perfectly suited to coastal sailing.
Its value for money makes it a bestseller: solid construction, modern finishes, and safe marine behavior.
Price: from approximately €122,000 (standard version)
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319 – Reliable and Proven Entry-Level
This 9.80 m model remains in the Jeanneau catalog for a simple reason: it is reliable, well built, and perfectly suited for family or couple use. Its stable hull, protective cockpit, and functional interior make it an excellent sailboat for starting out safely.
It is often chosen by sailing schools and rental companies for its robustness and simplicity. In twin-keel or dinghy version, it appeals to coastal sailors in tidal areas.
Price: approximately €90,000 depending on options
Dufour 37 – Larger, but Very Well Designed for Progress
The Dufour 37 quickly became one of the most popular sailboats for owners who want to take it to the next level. With its 10.77 m, it remains maneuverable with a small crew, but offers a real leap in comfort: generous interior volume, very spacious cockpit, and interesting sailing performance, especially in its “Easy” version with a classic mast.
The hull is modern and offers a beautiful glide. This sailboat is designed for fast cruising. It is suitable for ambitious first-time buyers or those who already have some experience in rental or club sailing.
Price: from €188,000
OVNI 370 – The Call of the Open Sea… From the First Boat
This is a more atypical choice for a first sailboat, but it is increasingly common among new sailors with serious projects. The OVNI 370 is an integral centerboard aluminum sailboat, perfect for those who already dream of distant voyages or semi-offshore sailing with maximum freedom.
Its aluminum construction makes it a very robust, safe, and recyclable boat. The deck plan is clear, the helm station protected, and the interior fittings are simple but effective. It can run aground without stress and can go south or north without changing boats.
Price: from €270,000 depending on configurations
The Used Market: Opportunity or Trap?
With the continuous increase in prices on new boats, the used market has become a real alternative. It accounts for more than two-thirds of sailboat transactions.
The advantages are numerous:
- A lower purchase cost, with sailboats often better equipped than basic new models. For example, a Sun Odyssey 32i can be found for around €45,000 with autopilot, complete electronics, and recent sails.
- No delivery delays, which allows you to sail as soon as the good weather arrives.
- Proven models, whose qualities and defects are known through feedback, forums, and specialized articles.
But beware of the pitfalls: many used sailboats on the market are more than 15 years old, which means that they may require structural work: replacement of standing rigging (every 10 to 12 years), engine overhaul, electronics to be redone, or even osmosis treatment for certain poorly maintained polyester hulls.
In addition, technical standards are evolving. A sailboat may sail perfectly well, but will no longer meet current requirements, particularly in terms of offshore safety.
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