Beneteau First 36.7

A Lot Faster

After the experience with the Cal 33-2 offshore, I felt it was time to level up a bit on performance and offshore racing design characteristics. The Jeanneau Fast 3600 seemed attractive, the lack of interior comfort - plus the cost of a new boat - turned me to something that still had a modestly cruisable layout below. It's the first boat we've ever owned that was designed and built in the 21st century.

The Boat

The Beneteau First 36.7 is from the design office of Bruce Farr. It was a design evolution from the successful First 40.7 model. It is not designed to a particular rule, just to do well in most conditions. It was originally promoted as a one design, but like all one-designs, enthusiasm has faded.

Here are the specifications.

Length:

36 ft.

Waterline Length:

30.25 ft.

Beam:

11.3 ft.

Draft:

7.2 ft.

Displacement:

12939 lbs.

Ballast:

3847 lbs.

Sail Area:

656 sq. ft.

We found this 2002 model in Vermont. Thus became

Melantho