New Beneteau First 36
- Thread starter Swimsailor
- Start date
Amazingly light and smooth, lots of response and feel, and it was very light wind.
Also very balanced
rasher
New member
I agree on all points. The way sailing is marketed in the US is IMO embarrassing and detrimental to the SPORT. Most people I know think of sailing as "yachting" and are not interested. But it's the videos of Melges 15s and Seascape 27s (for instance) that spark interest.
I have one memory that stands out as THE ONE that changed my future sailing plans:
My friends and I were anchored in Coral Bay St John on a charter Beneteau 48- nice, big, luxury cruiser with all the goodies and toys, and sailed like a dog. Next to us was a young couple (maybe early 30s) on a newish Elan E3 with a hailing port in Europe (I can't recall where) and no cruising crap. They hand hoisted the sails, pulled up the anchor, and SAILED out of the mooring field. The idea that a a couple younger than me could take a small fast boat across the Atlantic and enjoy cruising the Virgin Islands just as much (and maybe more than) me - it was a game changer.
This First 36 checks every box for me. I would love to take one with my race friends up to Bayfield Race Week, then load all the cruising crap back on for a week or two with non-sailing pals around the Apostle Islands, then maybe think about giving the Chi-Mac a try. This is the type of boat that is (almost) affordable and that will let me do everything I want with big-boat sailing.
If I had one or two partners as fired up as me, in a similar financial position (comfortable, not rich) and I'd order one today. Maybe next year if 2022 business is good.
floater
Super Duper Anarchist
saw this somewhere: "a sportier version with a tiller should also be offered.."
Kristian Seascape
Member
- 223
- 283
as they say, if you make them love sailing, they will never have money for drugs...
According to Beneteau America “Latest News” email:
She'll make her U.S. debut at the2023 Newport Boat Show, followed by the Annapolis Boat Show, where she will be the star of an all-star lineup.
The following U.S. dealers have a FIRST 36 on order: Annapolis Yacht Sales, NAOS Yachtsin L.A., RCR Yachts in Buffalo, NY, Passage Nautical in San Francisco, Anchor Yachts in Toronto, Canada and Sail Place on Lake Michigan.
She'll make her U.S. debut at the2023 Newport Boat Show, followed by the Annapolis Boat Show, where she will be the star of an all-star lineup.
The following U.S. dealers have a FIRST 36 on order: Annapolis Yacht Sales, NAOS Yachtsin L.A., RCR Yachts in Buffalo, NY, Passage Nautical in San Francisco, Anchor Yachts in Toronto, Canada and Sail Place on Lake Michigan.
floater
Super Duper Anarchist
my goodness. I wonder how long the line is now?
canstead
Anarchist
- 906
- 47
So I had the pleasure of a test sail this weekend. My summary:
The designs and build quality of this boat is something else. Everything is coherent. The pictures don’t do justice to how simple and clean this boat is.
it’s big. You need to stop thinking this as a 36 and think of it as a short 40.
im trying to place it and it’s a strange one. It’s using top end race boat design and construction to create a cruising boat. It’s not really a race boat, although it’s definitely fast. There’s a full length toe rail, and the factory sails are panel cuts and frankly looked like a sack of spuds.
It was really nice to talk to a team so invested in what they’ve produced.
all in all a great boat.
The designs and build quality of this boat is something else. Everything is coherent. The pictures don’t do justice to how simple and clean this boat is.
it’s big. You need to stop thinking this as a 36 and think of it as a short 40.
im trying to place it and it’s a strange one. It’s using top end race boat design and construction to create a cruising boat. It’s not really a race boat, although it’s definitely fast. There’s a full length toe rail, and the factory sails are panel cuts and frankly looked like a sack of spuds.
It was really nice to talk to a team so invested in what they’ve produced.
all in all a great boat.
floater
Super Duper Anarchist
lol. from what I can see - hull #1 is still flying the swan 36 asymm?
here is another article I found. better than most. although what we are really after here is somebody racing this thing around fastnet rock and then reporting back..
float magazine (no relation): https://floatmagazin.de/boote/test-beneteau-first-36-seascape-first/
Matagi
Super Antichrist
So the first large magazine review is in, as far as I can see.
Rave review regarding sailing, as expected, planing from 8 knots in 12 knots wind, 4 knots speed in 5 knots wind, goes like a train, very easy to steer.
OK'ish regarding the rest (nice finish, lacking storage (for YACHT, there is almost never enough), engine a bit too noisy and the infamous tiny toilet are basically the remarks.
Calculated price is 317,000 € per their definition (ca. 343,000 USD), carbon mast another 33,000 €. That is enough for them to call it pricey, but mid-field when compared to other options.
A comparison to other 36ft yachts was announced, will come soon.
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Epi-sailor
Member
Only reason I work on my very limited German is to read/understand this mags/ video content info. And I love when they get hug up on some quirky average detail and club the baby seal over and over again. Regardless some of the better retail consumer facing sail content available.
Movable Ballast
Anarchist
That's a fair bit more than the price listed ($198,000 USD) in earlier publications. Is that all up? sails and electronics and such?
Matagi
Super Antichrist
Yes, that's what YACHT magazine calculates as sailaway price all things included that you would probably get anyway.
floater
Super Duper Anarchist
that's kind of the thing. they are supposed to be small enough to wedge yourself in.
speaking of, I wonder if they tested the sink at the boats normal degree of heel..
speaking of, I wonder if they tested the sink at the boats normal degree of heel..
Always the way! It's safe to add at least 50% to most manufacturers' quoted prices when you include tax, transportation and a reasonable level of options.
Gone Ballistic
Member
Don't know about you guys, but who has ever trusted or tried to use the sink in the head underway while heeled? Every boat I ever owned would slop/spill if you ran water into it when heeled. That's what the sink in the galley is for :lol:
floater
Super Duper Anarchist
see? you're still thinking crude plastic boat. this is new shiny new boat. so what about that "engineered" sink. anybody who has been aboard a typical plastic 30ish' whatever understands exactly what you are talking about. but, for example, take the Dehler 34. has anyone but me witnessed that revolutionary disaster - a sliding sink in the head? that eventually just won't slide. just makes a big mess and, well. doesn't end well. from what I can tell.
PS: this is what happens when big B doesn't feed the animals enough fresh steak. they start beating baby seals..
PS: this is what happens when big B doesn't feed the animals enough fresh steak. they start beating baby seals..
