Hello, I just bought and received my first sailboat--a 1988 Beneteau First 285! The downside is after transport, I could use some help with re-rigging her. I've searched desperately for a copy of the owner's manual and come up empty-handed as it appears others have here previously. I thought I would give it one last try here and see if anybody has a pdf copy available. Thanks in advance! -Lars
Beneteau First 285 Owners Manual
- Thread starter lars77
- Start date
Nice boat.
Rigging is actually rather straight-forward. The 285's fractional rig uses a simple single set of aft-swept spreaders. This means a cap shroud and a lower diagonal pretty much hold the rig up and back against the pull of the forestay. That backstay adds additional tension.
Tuning and rigging is explained here. You rig on page 42
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ilab8s9lqta2mjv/Selden Hints and Advice.pdf?dl=0
Rigging is actually rather straight-forward. The 285's fractional rig uses a simple single set of aft-swept spreaders. This means a cap shroud and a lower diagonal pretty much hold the rig up and back against the pull of the forestay. That backstay adds additional tension.
Tuning and rigging is explained here. You rig on page 42
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ilab8s9lqta2mjv/Selden Hints and Advice.pdf?dl=0
Lars, I sent you a PM with an attachment.
Jackdaw, I have a document with dimensions and diagrams, specs, deck layout, etc.. It was kind of my 'manual' on our First 285. I'm kind of rushing around here, or I'd do a little more legwork of my own, what's your opinion on the best way to share this info for someone like Lars, looking for this particular info, in the future? A dropbox account like yours? I'm open to anything, I'd like to be able to share it, if it will help someone out.
Jackdaw, I have a document with dimensions and diagrams, specs, deck layout, etc.. It was kind of my 'manual' on our First 285. I'm kind of rushing around here, or I'd do a little more legwork of my own, what's your opinion on the best way to share this info for someone like Lars, looking for this particular info, in the future? A dropbox account like yours? I'm open to anything, I'd like to be able to share it, if it will help someone out.
DropBox works great, the file will always be there. Anyone with the URL can have it. One time thing just email it, or a file sending app. I used dropbox because the file was already in my dropbox.
Thank you both very much! SoSound— I think this is gonna help me sort out where the bag full of sheets/halyards belong a little easier. The marina stepped the
mast, but the rest is up to me.
mast, but the rest is up to me.
It'll give you a starting point. One thing that I learned is that there is no such thing as 'standard'. It's like the Liberty Mutual commercial, everything can and will be customized. Start with whatever you can make work, given the 'standard' documentation, and then (as you learn the boat) work on setting it up the way that you want it to be. That'll be one of the great things about the First 285... once you get it set up the way that you want it, it just keeps paying you back in smiles! 
And, let's try Dropbox, then!
If anyone else is watching this thread, or comes across it, try this link for a copy of what I had called 'specs' when the file was named. But, it's a basic manual for a First 285...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cwqzxiis3916fz/first285specs.pdf?dl=0
If anyone else is watching this thread, or comes across it, try this link for a copy of what I had called 'specs' when the file was named. But, it's a basic manual for a First 285...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cwqzxiis3916fz/first285specs.pdf?dl=0
I'm currently looking at buying a First 285 and came across your post in my research. How are you going with it? Have you come across any problems yet? I'm looking at working up to coastal cruising - up the Queensland coast inside the Barrier Reef from Hervey Bay - with two of us on board for a month or so.