Description

First Impulse is the Wing Keel version of the popular BENETEAU FIRST 285 racing coastal cruiser.

The design of the First 285 reflects the style and innovation of its era, combining moderate displacement with a relatively wide beam and a fin keel with spade rudder for improved performance. The hull, built from fiberglass (GRP), offers solid construction with an emphasis on weight distribution and structural integrity. The rig is a masthead sloop - traditional yet efficient - providing a straightforward sail plan that’s easy to handle.

The deck layout is clean, and the cockpit is ergonomically designed for both racing and cruising comfort. Below deck, Beneteau made effective use of the boat’s beam to create a surprisingly spacious and inviting interior for a boat under 29 feet. The finish is a combination of molded liners and wood trim, reflecting a pragmatic but warm aesthetic.

With c. £26k spent on her in the last 4 years alone First Impulse comes with recently replaced mast, boom, standing and running rigging, sails, canvass work, keel work, electrical work and replacement soft furnishings.

Many 'mods' have been made to make her comfortable to stay on board and a fast safe boat for short crewed and single handed sailing. She will be an exceptionally low maintenance boat for her new owner.

First Impulse is currently in the water, freshly hard antifouled and completely ready to sail, at Gosport UK, and is available for any inspection, including sea trials, by arrangement.

Please feel free to contact me at any reasonable hour.

Paperwork Currently Held Includes:

Bill of Sale to current owner (purchased 2016)
Bill of Sale to previous owner (purchased 2009)
Bill of Sale to previous owner (purchased 1991)
VAT exemption letter from HM Customs and Excise (satisfied)
Original VAT Invoices (staged payments) to first owner 1987
SSR Certificate (expired)
RYA Offshore Sail Number Certificate (GBR2551L)
Previous survey 2016
Previous survey 2009
Various user guides for electronics, furler, winches, plotter etc.

Service and Maintenance Invoices held Includes:

Batteries Replaced (Nov 24)
Engine service (Jan 2024)
Wind instrument (NMEA multiplexer) checked and issues fixed, general electrics all checked (Jan 24)
New propeller shaft made to fit new coupling; new bearing fitted (Dec 2023)
New spray hood, stack-pack covers and tiller cover (Aug 2023)
Hull scraped back to gelcoat, primed and hard antifouled (May 25)
Keel bolts inspected (tightened), resealed keel to boat (Aug 2023)
Keel epoxied, primed, and antifouled (May 25)
Top sides polished and waxed Aug 2023)
Racing stripe, bootline and top line writing checked & topped up (May 25)
New hand basin and waste pipes fitted (Jul 2023)
New Jabsco water pressure pump (Feb 2023)
Genoa checked, repaired where necessary and laundered (June 2022)
New fwd cabin cushions, saloon cushions, head rests and cockpit cushions (May 2022)
New curtains with hatch cover & blackout (May 2022)
Gas: new regulator, gas locker hose, cooker hose, gas isolation & pressure test point plus certificate (Jul 2021)
New Z-Spars Z351 Mast and boom fitted, inc. new LED light, new VHF aerial & steaming flood light (Jul 2021)
All standing and running rigging renewed (Jul 2021)
New manual Twist ‘n’ Lock toilet (Apr 2021)
New shaft stripper, 2-blade, rope cutter (May 2019)
New RCD and consumer unit, plus new battery charger and two new batteries (Aug 2016)
*More service and maintenance history going back to 1988.

Specifications

Accommodation

Below deck, the First 285 offers one of the more livable interiors in its class. It features a forward V-berth, an aft double cabin, and two settees in the main saloon that can double as single berths, sleeping 4 to 5 adults comfortably. The galley is functional with a two-burner stove with oven, sink, and reasonable storage for weekend cruising. Opposite, a compact but serviceable nav station sits beside the enclosed head.

Headroom is just under six feet, which is quite acceptable for a boat of this size and age. Ventilation is good thanks to opening hatches and portlights. Overall, the space feels well-thought-out for extended weekends and short coastal trips, balancing comfort with the limitations of hull volume.

Salon:

A previous owner fitted out the usually total waste of space saloon side walls with custom storage units; An incredibly useful mix of shelving, racks, cubby holes and cupboards, as shown in photos.
Starboard side of saloon table has been modified with a 3rd leg which sets the leaf on a tilt to transform it into a very comfortable workstation when using laptops and the like.
Garmin Echomap CHiRP 9” plotter mount and USB ports added to map table.
Saloon centre light upgraded to very powerful and dimmable LED type.
LED light, wired in, fitted above cooker.

Salon Soft Furnishings:

2022 – New seat cushions, seat backs, hanging head-rests and curtains throughout.

The cushion sets are designed to increase the ‘bum width’ of the bench to a more comfortable size without interfering with cabin doors and to allow easier access to the storage areas underneath.

The materials used all being ‘wipe clean’ so as a day of wet crew using the cabin for respite doesn’t mean wet seating for that night.

Aft Cabin:

This is currently used for storage on the underdeck ‘coffin’ side and arranged so it is easy to make an emergency single berth on the outer side when and as required.

Original headlining has been stripped out and the entire inside surface cleaned up ready for new headlining or painting of the new owner’s preference to be carried out, or not, as/if they may prefer.
A full headlining template set, complete with photos of where each piece goes in order, is included in this sale.

Fore Cabin, V-Berth:

2022 – New 3 piece mattress set and interior hatch shade fitted to match the saloon theme.
2022 – Side linings all replaced with new foam back.

Again, materials used are all wipe clean type. That so the cabin can be used for sail dumping during a day out ‘flying the kites’ without that meaning a soggy wet cabin for the night.

Heads:

2021 – Headlining replaced with new foam back type throughout.
2021 – All wiring re routed to outside of liner and conduit-ed for easier maintenance access.
2021 – Entire new larger seat/bowl size JABSCO Sea Toilet fitted
2023 – Factory fit basin replaced with larger SS type and matching SS tap.
2023 – New pressurised water system fitted.
Decent size storage locker to rear of head
Decent size under basin storage area
Over basin shelving.
Lift top storage area in counter top.
Good size mirror fitted.
Ful bathroom accessories set (toothbrush, soap, towel and toilet roll holders) included

Construction

The hull, built from fiberglass (GRP), offers solid construction with an emphasis on weight distribution and structural integrity. The rig is a masthead sloop — traditional yet efficient — providing a straightforward sail plan that’s easy to handle.

Latched anchor locker (standard for model) at bow.

Lazarette, lockable:

BF285 lazarettes are huge being almost full cockpit length and full depth from coaming height to bilge level.

Lazarette houses manual bilge pump and shore power socket and is fitted out with a hanging rack arrangement used for storage of warps and lines.

Equipment

All 4 winches upgraded to self-tailers (2019)
Auxiliary winch fitted to port coaming as replacement for original furler line jammer
45lb plough anchor, chain and rode contained in locker
Deck fitting centre/aft of anchor locker. Used for mounting bow sprit and spinnaker pole control line
Deck mounted bulls-eye fittings used for guiding spinnaker control line back to cockpit
2 X 5-6 line deck organisers leading lines back to cockpit
Cam cleat fitted port side for cockpit control of cruising chute downhaul line
Factory fitted traveller track and car at companion way entrance
Swim ladder fitted to stern.

Navigation Equipment

Wired for Garmin echoMAP 95sv chart plotter, 9” (mounts located in cockpit and at map table)
Plastimo compass with back light
Clipper speed and distance log
Clipper depth sounder
Clipper wind speed and direction.

Engine(s)

Volvo Penta 2002, 18HP.
Service history
New water pump fitted 2024
New prop shaft & coupling fitted and engine professionally aligned 2024

Gas, Electric & Water:

70l fresh water tank located under starboard saloon sofa
Pressurised water to basin in head and to sink in galley.
Gas system uses ‘Camping Gaz’ 4.5 ltr bottles
Gas bottle storage compartment mounted in stern transom
Solenoid gas isolator fitted in gas storage compartment and operated by switch in aft cabin
2 X full size batteries located in heads locker

Aft cabin has all wiring needed to replace existing batteries with low profile type under floor as/if required.
Plastimo battery switch located in aft cabin.

Engine Salon View

Engine Aft View

Engine Coupling & Shaft

Sails & Spars

Mast, Boom & Rigging – All renewed 2021*

New mast step
Z-Spars Z351 mast with modifications as detailed on invoice
Z-Spars Z202 boom set up for led back to cockpit single line reefing
Seldon 104 Furlex with link plate and adjuster
New rigid boom vang
Barton T-Track 1800mm spinnaker pole track with ‘plunger car’ fitted to mast
All standing rigging renewed in 19mm SS wire
All running rigging replaced with braids of appropriate sizes for purposes
Adjustable back-stay with 8:1 tensioner
Mainsheet has been modified so it can be used for lifting heavy objects on/of board and as an MoB recovery aid

Mast Electronics – All new 2021*

Tri-white LED light
Hawk VFH aerial
Deck flood steaming light
Radar reflector
Wind Vane


Sails

Fully battened mainsail with 2 single line reefs + Cunningham + storage bag
Genoa with UV strip and ‘foam luff’ + storage bag

Note: Cockpit coamings have been fitted with mini-jammers and a ‘continuous’ line with blocks made up to allow safer single/short-handed control of the spinnaker pole from cockpit

Canvass Work – All new 2023:

New ‘maximum height’ spray hood
New Stack-Pack sail cover with lazy jacks and separate hood for mast end
New side dodgers with boat name
New detachable halyard bags X 2
New Tiller Cover
New cockpit seat cushions

Additional Canvass:

Covers for all winches
Cockpit Sun Canopy

Safety Equipment

2 x Fire extinguishers
Extinguisher port to engine compartment
1 x Fire blanket
Gas isolator solenoid fitted in gas compartment
Various harnesses, tethers and buoyancy aids
2 x webbing jack lines
Safety netting fitted from bow end back to shrouds
High purchase MoB recovery modification made to boom and mainsheet