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A Sailnet Article concerning the 361
Author: Micca Hutchins
Date Published: 10/08/1999
The Beneteau 361
Argh, Matey! Enough already. Let's be honest. Who enjoys
sailing with the boat on her beam ends? Who likes not being able to shower
for a week. Eating cold, soggy sandwiches is better than salt cod and
hard tack, but not much.
The high-production boatbuilders, while seeking to penetrate current markets
and differentiate new markets, have been leaders in pushing the positive
to grow the market. Companies like Beneteau learn quickly what might keep
a person from buying a sailboat and what would make them think investing
in sailing has strong rewards.
So Beneteau's boats, like a number of other production
builders' lines, have created a new sailing experience on the water.
While sailors from the generations of sailboats of the 80s and 70s
might be still happy to put up with a little discomfort, the "reality
boats" of the Marion, SC, manufacturer reflect a new perspective
of where sailing fun can go.
An interesting boat of the Beneteau line was introduced last April
at the Pacific SailExpo. While others of the French-designed line
have featured commodious interiors and a sweeping array of incrementalized
upgrades, improvements on cabin and deck features, none has come as
far as the Beneteau 361. This 36' 5", five-foot draft sloop presents
the greatest commitment seen thus far to making a boat comfortable
for its sailors. |
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The single greatest feature of this 12,790-pound displacing
sloop is its amazing head compartment. Some boats have walk-through heads
that have larger, separate stall showers. The 361 features a head compartment
that is larger than most ever seen for a boat this size. Even more surprising
is the fact that it is set right off the companionway steps for easy access.
The modular unit includes a shower with slatted teak seat in the separate
shower stall. The 361 comes with beefed up water tankage of 100 gallons.
"We talk to our dealers and buyers all the time," said Rachel
Broadhead, marketing manager of Beneteau. Their market, according to the
Charleston-based US office, wants less sailing discomfort and more value.
Where the value begins the amenity-filled reaches should bring additional
enrichment. The $110,500 sticker price includes these on-board features:
roller-furling mainsail (in addition to headsail), 12-volt, front-loading
refrigerator (in addition to icebox), double stainless steel galley sinks,
optional two or three-cabin interior, and a special "Mellinnium Package"
of gear. This includes Autohelm Tridata speed, depth, sea temp; Standard
Horizon VHF; sternrail seats; stereo with twin cockpit and saloon speakers;
and hot and cold cockpit shower. But Beneteau has cleverly straddled boat
genres with the 361. It is no less passager than daysailer.
Designed by J. Berret-Racoupeau, this moderately proportioned masthead
cruiser sports the short-end look that is in vogue, with straight sheer
and tastefully incorporated ports. The boottop and cove-stripe treatment
underplay the height of the topsides, while the sculpting of the cabin
has a nice way of blending the composite. Not modest by any means, its
12'6" beam swells amidships and tucks in only slightly aft, where
the volume of this cruiser is really attained below.
But as much as the 351 seems interior-driven in it configuration, the
well-designed deck plan reveals the experience Beneteau has in perfecting
the package. The cockpit, with its standard leather-covered 42-inch wheel
and integral drop-leaf wooden cockpit table, is really designed for shorthanded
sailing. The controls lead there, while the cockpit winches are indeed
easily reached from the helm. A special feature of the 361 is its high
boom. While the 361 is a bit Plain Jane in it paucity of wood trim, the
French giant of sailboat production knows what touches of wood to add
and where. Teak is used for the cockpit seats, the swim platform and the
transom skirt, which, by the way, gets a handy rubber rubrail to boot.
Beneteau takes leads from the car builders too, and behold the arrival
of drink holders to the cockpit.
The interior, largely finished in cherry wood, features
the open-layout approach. One of the nicest features of the boat is
the keyhole galley. Tweaking living areas here and there, Beneteau
has done an excellent job of creating what appears to be a highly
well-organized space that will be a dream to operate in. Notice the
clever notched-out sink area by which extra floor space was gained
without losing counter space.
Another notable feature is the forward-facing nav-center. It's small
but purpose-designed for navigating by electronics - today's norm.
Lastly, the fore and aft cabins, as featured on the two-cabin layout,
are remarkable spaces with a 6'7" by 6'7" berth in the aft
cabin and a 6'7" by 5'7" berth in the forward berth. Headroom
is 6'4" throughout the boat with the exception of the forward
cabin where it is 6'3".
Some other treatments worth noting are: the 361 comes with special
sheet-lead tracks alongside the coachroof for easier moving about;
there is a foot brace in the middle of the cockpit; there are halyard
stoppers on the cabintop, it has a full length perforated aluminum
toerail; there is cockpit life-raft locker and separate lazarette
stowage areas. |
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The new Beneteau 361 will be on display at the fall boat
shows.
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