Alberg or Beneteau?

[Harry Black]

Great Lakes cruising-single handed-1972 Alberg 30 or 1985 Beneteau First 305.

Which is the better boat?

[robert sailor]

It depends on what kind of sailing and your personal idea of what a nice boat looks like. The Alberg is an old design, its skinny and a very small 30 footer but its got a wonderful reputation for taking a licking and continue ticking. The Bene is much more modern, larger, much larger and a better all around performer. Single handers don't need all that much room but if your doing mostly day sailing with the odd 2 week vaction thrown in yearly the Bene "might" be a better choice.

[TheOffice]

Old Cadillac or VW Jetta? Completely different boats. Bene First is a racing design. Light, fin keel. Alberg is heavy, full keel. "better" depends on personal preference and condition. If the Bene was raced hard it could be in need of more work than the older Alberg. Personally, I'd look at a Catalina, Pearson, Tartan, C&C as designs not at either extreme.

[ohdrinkboy]

Those are different boats. It's like asking which of these is better......all preference

[Harry Black]

Robert sailor, the office and ohdrinkboy-thank you for the info-and a special thanks to ohdrinkboy for the very excellent artwork

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Harry Black

Great Lakes cruising-single handed-1972 Alberg 30 or 1985 Beneteau First 305.

Which is the better boat?

You know, somebody really should come up with a set of "Top Trumps" cards for sailing boats!

[sabray]

No way it's more like this they have issues but they are not the same issues. Buying a boat is about how you are screwed and how secure you are while telling us about it. You guess who is bene and who us allberg

[cfarrar]

Aesthetics and mechanical condition are most important. All else being equal, I'd take the boat that sails better in light-to-medium breeze: the Beneteau.