Beneteau First 285 sloop

KATE’S KABOOSE is a stunning 1988 29 ft. Beneteau First 285 fractional rig sloop powered with the 18 hp Volvo 2002 diesel for sale in Brockville, Ontario.

The first 285 is nice sailing yacht with a traditional aft cockpit with excellent room and a hefty sail locker to starboard. The fractional rig is tall for a 29-footer, but easily handled with a CDI roller furler and all halyards and sheets lead aft. The winged keel and skeg rudder are nicely balanced to give additional lift to windward, where this boat out shines most others. Downwind the shallow bilges and light weight delivers thoroughbred performance. Her coach roof and foredeck are clear and clean, including a sensible self-draining anchor locker, a Stainless Steel bow pulpit with anchor roller, and sturdy life lines leading all the way aft to the Stainless Steel stern pulpits. An innovation you do not often see on smaller sailing yachts, but just as you would expect from Beneteau, there is a convenient swim platform molded into the transom, with, of course, a swim ladder.

Below is where the French influence is most prevalent. In this 28-foot boat there is 6’ 2” headroom and luxurious sleeping accommodation for two in the forward cabin, closed off with a solid privacy door, and two in the very spacious after stateroom also closed off with a solid privacy door. An additional two adults can sleep on the very adequate saloon settees. Beautifully paneled is a light wood, teak and soles, wood paneled soles and two cabin hatches as well as opening ports, the interior is light and airy, a comfortable living space even on the occasion dark and dreary day. The compact galley is to port with a proper sink, pressure hot and cold water, a manual raw water pump, open counter space, top loading icebox, and a propane stove and oven (not installed as the owners prefer to use their portable butane cooktop). Opposite to port is a navigation center with the traditional chart top. The drop leaf table is centerline with comfortable settee/berths to either side. Forward to port is the compact head with electric marine head and a telephone shower head. Opposite is a good sized hanging locker. The forward v-berths fills in for a traditional double berth, two cabin hatches and opening ports provide plenty of ventilation.

The engine is a 2002B Volvo 18 hp diesel mounted under the bridge deck and enjoys easy access to all sides and ends through removable panels. Sipping fuel, less than ½ gallon per hour, she easily makes 5 knots in most conditions.

KATE’S KABOOSE is in really excellent condition after nearly 35 years of service, a true testament to the Beneteau ship yards and owners who have had her since new.  She boasts a full cockpit enclosure, custom winter cover, “still crispy” sails from 2013…a furling jib and a full-battened loose-footed main. She was refitted in 2016 by Custom Yacht Builders in Whitby, Ontario. They removed all fittings and sprayed Awlgrip on her hull and decks, epoxy barrier coated her undersides and replaced the liners in her head, v-berth and aft cabin.

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.