Best performance cruiser 2023 - Onboard the Beneteau First 36. Is First back to its best?

[@toddscaturro8526]

I have been dreaming of this boat ever since its’ release. Thank you for bringing it to life!

[@ianscott3180]

25+ years ago I bought the only new boat I have had. A 37ft Beneteau, not a good year for them and it all neary ended up in court. Osmosis in the second season, re-gel coated, dreid out then more osmsosis and on it went. I eventually settled and stangely enough bought another Beneteau with a friend. An ex charter First 501 in Saint Martin. We brought he back to the uk and after a lot of refitting had 20 odd years of fun on the South Coast of the UK, France and the Med. At seventy I day sail a Contess 26, just to keep me on the water. Mixed feelings about Beneteau for sure.

[@takatustew9823]

great to see a review of this new yacht, done a lot within a a practical size to own for racing and cruising

[@xianstuff2910]

I have a 1981 First 35. It's great to see a few little resemblances remain.

[@deepeddysf]

I’ve had a 1987 First 305 for 15 years. Great sailing, solid little boat. This new 36 looks like a nice design and a decent quality build. Would love to see Beneteau bump up the build quality and durability, maybe using epoxy resin instead of vinylester while staying competitive on price through volume.

[@deepeddysf]

@@ThaiLifeAmerican very interesting! I would have thought the change would have engineering impacts as well...but maybe its just stronger so nothing to change.

[@otellofabiani1607]

Great tour Toby of what I think is a great boat. I wish Beneteau success for aiming to get people fall in love with sailing, for the pure fun of it!

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you - remembering the fun of our sport is key!

[@fabienh3943]

The fun or the money?

[@Muratshayev]

I have been waiting for this review for a long time. Thanks Toby)

[@yachtingworld]

You're welcome!

[@ColinHarvey78]

What a fantastic boat! Great performance, lots of seamanlike features and designs! If you like a sporty boat that can do cruising too, this is on the money!

[@BoatLife_DansBoatLife]

I'm taking this for a sail in a few weeks so will try get the 25kts and swell for you.

[@farrellko]

Had a 40.7 years ago (2003 ish). This looks like more fun. I remember the First line from the 80's and 90's - great boats and got so many people out sailing on a saturday afternoon. Interesting to see roller furling genor and lazybag on the main - these wouldn't have been anywhere near a race boat 10 years ago. Cruiser racer is back.

[@edster1000]

I wondered when this video was going to be made!

[@philipadastra]

Are we gonna get any coverage of the Dusseldorf boat show from you guys this year? :)

[@yachtingworld]

Yes here at Dusseldorf now Philip. I've done some videos of the latest yachts making their debuts at the show and we'll be releasing one or two a week - as well as videos for the rest of these yachts I sailed for the European Yacht of the Year competition - so stay tuned!

[@mosca3289]

Bless you, Toby.

[@tsjiller]

21:47 is the aluminium rod connected to the rudder cracked?

[@yachtingworld]

Pretty sure that's just some lagging secured with hose clips

[@metegokce697]

Beneteau being Beneteau!

[@tsjiller]

@@yachtingworld I think you are looking at the wrong one. Look at the horizontal "square" one.

[@raymondpepi4315]

Looks suspicious for sure

[@Mars21681]

that bathroom door needs to be a slider ether within a slot or folding. both are possible if they agreed to do it.. no way a swinging door on that rig. otherwise a phenom of a boat design and execution, the price is on point, it's no wonder they have a quite a backlog on order, and it's a good thing for them to consider some minor custom worx.

[@peterb9038]

I notice the throttle was set into reverse while under sail, is that to stop prop spin?

[@benbrown7708]

Alot of modern props will fold when put in reverse and not under load. Reduces drag

[@atakd]

But you shouldn't leave it in reverse as it causes premature clutch wear.

[@wckoek]

I wondered if Beneteau is still using balsa core in this boat while Jenneau and Bavaria have moved on to infusion. The very expensive First yacht and Yacht 62 still using that method, and I am concern with their practice of having the rudder attachment in a box of some sort. Hope that those flaws are improved in this new model. I still hope that they make a cruiser racer boat out of the Figaro hull design like what they did with Figaro 1 to First 300, 31.7

[@rainmaker3700]

Everyday is a good day at your office Toby!!

[@RichieKeane]

Welcome back and belated HNY Toby, been waiting for this one for a while. Do you think she would make a decent solo fast long distance cruiser or is she too light at 4t? Pricy v the oceanis 34/38 What’s the CE rating?

[@kkklllaaa1234]

Thanks Toby. Great review of a great boat!

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you!

[@johnhopkins6731]

This is the First 36 I've gotten excited about. See what I did there? Nice boat.

[@BigRedNZ1]

I’m confused… it’s only January. Are there going to be no better boats this year

[@yachtingworld]

Ha! Yes, understood. We test these boats in the autumn, but because the awards are given out in January at the start of the Dusseldorf show, it makes sense to be labelled of the current year. Let's see if we have some challengers this year... Toby

[@scottlomas5509]

I love it I think she looks fabulous 😍

[@scottlomas5509]

Wow 30 a year that's really good production .

[@kisero2222]

The only two points I see here are the heads (dangerous and small) and the trim position .. single handed I have no clue how to sit and control helm , traveler and jib. Perhaps with a stick it would work.

[@Metal_Auditor]

Am I right in understanding that with Beneteau, the Oceanis boats are more geared toward comfort and the First boats are more geared toward performance?

[@bernardlanguillier7970]

yes

[@vorda400]

Nice boat, great use of space EXCEPT for the head/shower part, ok, I understand, more attention was paid to performance, but again, I don't like doors that open inward anywhere, because what if the person inside gets sick and falls unconscious, it's practically impossible to get that person out It is the only detail on an otherwise beautiful and functional boat

[@enigmacode_1]

Bucket-listed: No 1 - First 36 ... No 2 - Linjett 39

[@teekanne15]

Seems like they invested in the right areas without adding expensive but less useful features.

[@bobbob6472]

That is 99.9% perfect. Shame they used a direct main sheet instead of a true german one, so now that extra drag of the sheet having to travel through the blocks when you need to move the traveller can be a real pain in the bee hind. Other than that, sign me up.

[@teddyhansen5008]

Another excellent video. This content needs S M Zeus!

[@briansparks4926]

Looks to be a fun little boat to sail. Unfortunately the wife won't go for the wet head.

[@metegokce697]

Come on! I am sure it is in the constitution that using the words `Beneteau` and `best` in the same sentence is a criminal act! With the exception when used in `Beneteau is best in loosing keels'.