There is a disclaimer worth making upfront: I live aboard a French production yacht, and the boat I call home is a Beneteau sibling to the Jeanneau. Both come from the same group, shaped by the same philosophy of practicality, comfort, and safety. You will not break any speed records in one, but you will sail with confidence, live well aboard, and arrive at your destination without drama. These are boats designed for people who genuinely spend time on the water.
That personal context matters here, because when I say the First 44 currently listed by 36 Degrees Brokerage in Auckland is one of the finest buying opportunities I have encountered in the New Zealand market, it is not a salesperson speaking. I have no stake in this transaction whatsoever.
My wife and I went through this process ourselves, with three children in tow and a firm checklist in mind. We needed a high standard of living aboard, a practical interior layout, genuine cruising comfort, and the ability to give kids their own space. We ended up in a four-cabin Jeanneau. The First 44 ticks so many of the same boxes that it is a boat I am genuinely pleased to recommend.
The asking price is $895,000, which represents a saving of more than $500,000 off the original list price. This is a brand-new vessel, already in New Zealand, commissioned and ready to sail. Its owner simply needs to step aboard.
[gallery td_gallery_title_input="Under sail" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="185848,185847"]
This First 44 was set up as a New Zealand demonstrator, which accounts for both its specification level and its immediate availability. All freight costs, commissioning expenses, and GST have already been settled. There is no waitlist to join, no shipping timeline to worry about, and no commissioning process to wait out. The sails go up and you leave.
[gallery td_gallery_title_input="Cockpit" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="185844,185845"]
The specification fitted to this boat is exceptional. Teak cockpit decks, a Luxe Trim pack, a North Sails mainsail, genoa, and gennaker, a full Garmin offshore electronics suite, a hydraulic backstay, upgraded winches, and an upgraded deck traveller all feature. Anyone who has spent real time on a well-set-up cruising yacht will appreciate that traveller upgrade in particular. Extensive factory and dealer upgrades are also included, and sea trials are available. The boat carries three double cabins, a 57hp Yanmar engine, 200 litres of fuel capacity, a 4.25-metre beam, 2.15-metre draft, and a LOA of 14.15 metres.
[gallery td_gallery_title_input="Wonderfully appointed galley and saloon, as well as the owners cabin with ensuite" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="185841,185842,185843,185840,185839"]
The First 44 has earned strong reviews both internationally and from Boating NZ, recognised for bridging the gap between a capable performance cruiser and a comfortable family yacht. This example sits among the best-specified versions available anywhere.
A brand-new, fully commissioned, tax-paid boat already on New Zealand soil, offered at this level of saving, is not the kind of listing that lingers. Contact Conrad Gair or Nicholas Glanfield at 36 Degrees Brokerage on +64 9 903 1001, or email or .
