Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 Review

Motor yachts measuring 12-13 meters always attract a lot of attention and Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is no exception. The topRik team showcases the benefits of this impressive yacht, illustrating the review with a large number of photos.

Traditionally in the article: video reviews to give you an idea of how the yacht will feel in motion, plus quotes from and links to Gran Turismo 36 reviews from other yachtsmen writing for leading yachting media.

The Beneteau’s 12-meter motorboat Gran Turismo 36 in terms of its parameters belongs to the so-called one-day yachts, but in terms of its cost, it stands out in a pleasant way in this segment.

One-day boats are designed for short cruises, but if desired, they can also be used for travelling in short passages. Gran Turismo 36’s design is certified class B (sea) for 8 passengers on board and class C (coastal) for 11 passengers, including crew members of course.

There is no need to hire a skipper to steer the boat – Gran Turismo 36 is equipped with convenient and accessible control systems that any boat owner can easily handle.

The GT 36 is available with either twin outboards or transom inboards, with a total power output of up to 700 HP. In the version with suspended engines, the swim platform is divided into two parts.

Zipwake ship stabilization system is installed here - it functions like an adaptive car suspension based on interceptor principle.

There are only two visible parts of this system, and overall, you get a control panel, interceptors and several indicators on the hull. Only the control panel (mounted on the helm console) and the equipment on the transom (instead of transom plates) are visible from the outside. Sensors are needed to monitor the horizontal position of the boat - both for roll and running trim of the hull.

From the moment of activation, the system works automatically - it determines the position of the ship’s hull and takes measures to reduce roll and running trim. But its qualitative difference from transom plates lies in the speed of response - 5 times faster and significantly more efficient. With the Zipwake system, the boat's hull will be parallel to the surface of the water almost always when moving straight. And the energy consumption for this system is very modest too.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 with hardtop and semi-enclosed saloon was announced at the European premiere in Cannes in 2020. The boat show was cancelled, but topRik experts were able to test the boat later.

Features

Maximum Speed and Fuel Consumption

Review of Beneteau GT 36 by topRik Team

We have already repeatedly admitted our commitment to the Beneteau brand - it is no coincidence that almost the entire sailing part of our fleet consists of Beneteau Oceanis models. Therefore, when a company needed a compact and comfortable motor yacht to move between our marinas in Croatia and Montenegro, we turned our attention to one-day cruisers from this French shipyard.

Actually, we decided on our choice even before Beneteau announced the presentation of the GT 36 for European sailors at the boat show in Cannes (before that the boat was available only on the US market).

First Look

Just a heads up, we researched the twin inboard transom version because we wanted a full swim platform rather than one separated by outboards.

In addition to the cabin, the roof of the hardtop partially covers the cockpit. In the photo above you see that it is possible to even more reliably close off the cockpit from the outside world if it tries to rain on you or burn you with excessively scorching rays.

The large windshield, sharply curved side windows and sunroof provide plenty of light and a feeling of spaciousness.

Along the perimeter of the side decks there is a reliable and fairly high stainless-steel railing. As we walked further along the main deck, we saw similar handrails (not as bulky, of course) placed throughout the helm station, cockpit, swim platform and hardtop.

The large glass area along the sides promises a lot of natural light in the cabins. And the height of the cabin and sides leaves hope that a person above average height will be able to move around on the main and lower decks without bowing his head. It remains to check this in practice.

In the photo above, looking at the transom, you can see the Zipwake system spoilers. The spoiler blades are lowered down, depending on the model, by 2-3 cm to create resistance to the water flow emerging from under the bottom of the yacht. We will dwell on this in more detail below where the topRik team, based on practical tests, compares this system and transom plates.

The large swimming platform consists of two parts, so the view from the large sofa-lounger turned towards it is pretty much a view of the terrace going down to the sea. The platform is equipped with a swim ladder. It can carry an inflatable dinghy or water toys like surfboards or kayaks.

The base of this large sun lounger, as well as the side of the galley, make up what is called the transom wall in a classic motor yacht.

The entrance to the cockpit is on the starboard side, on the left side there is a ladder to the side deck.

In the Cockpit

Division of space to the cockpit, saloon and wheelhouse is very conditional on a motor yacht like Beneteau Gran Turismo 36, since all these areas are not only located on the main deck, but also located on the same level, unlike a classic single-hull sailing boat, where the cockpit is clearly distinguished both in terms of level and purpose.

On Gran Turismo 36 you can walk from the platform all the way to the cabins entrance without encountering a single step along the way. And the purpose of the cockpit here is to provide maximum comfort.

That is why, in addition to the bathing platform and a huge sun lounger for 2-3 people, there is a galley with an electric grill, a refrigerator and a freezer with an ice maker. And look how much space is left for walkways and ladders to the side decks!

By the way, a strong recommendation from the topRik team: always remember that the indicated yacht size of 12.42 m is overall length, together with the platform and a rather elongated bow, and the “useful” dimensions do not even reach 12 m. And at the same time, the volume and comfort of interior space can compete with much larger yachts.

In the Saloon… and Cockpit, and Wheelhouse

Since we have accepted the terminology of a sailing ship, it should be noted that the space of the upper deck, which we would call the saloon with the wheelhouse, is divided into two zones: social and working.

The social area is an extension of the cockpit lounging area, as its large dinette table and sofas on three sides around it rely on the supply of goods from the galley.

Opposite this dinette, to starboard is a soft L-shaped sofa. It is enough to look at the layout schematic below to understand that all this furniture can easily be assembled into a large, comfortable double bed. You just need to unfold and lower the table, move the sofa next to it and put mattresses on top.

Since the roof of the hardtop extends even beyond the border of the cockpit, as can be seen below, those sleeping on this improvised bed are not in danger of getting soaked in rain, especially if the curtains are drawn along the eaves protruding above the cockpit, as is demonstrated in the very first photo of the article.

The helm station is equipped with two comfortable bench seats with excellent sea views, so the thrill of navigation can be enjoyed by four people, including the helmsman.

The helmsman's seat can be adjusted to your needs, and the seat can also be folded if you want to steer the boat while standing. Sometimes you have to resort to this if you need to see the space in front of the very bow of the yacht.

The helm panel is huge and well equipped. There are two marine multifunction display screens, a thruster joystick, all navigation equipment, an engine control handle, communications equipment and all the indicators for all the equipment on board. The Zipwake system is also accessible from here, which we will describe in detail below, in the section on Gran Turismo 36 tests at sea. Now it's time to visit the bow of the cruiser.

On the Foredeck

The terminology of this part of the yacht is taken from the classical layouts and fully corresponds to it, since in the bow of the Gran Turismo 36 has a recessed niche with a large sunbathing area for two people built in.

Vacationers and the sunbeds are protected by the sides during waves. Between the sunbeds there is a small tabletop with recesses for glasses and bottles. The hatch, which is located below the table top, opens into the forward cabin, which is entirely made for the owner and his other half. It's time to see what it looks like.

To get to the cabins, you need to go down the ladder, which is located near the control station. And here is the time to study the layout of the lower deck before you go down there.

On the Lower Deck – Cabins and More of the Saloon

Did you think that the saloon was completely moved to the main deck, since the galley is there? Not really. Here in the lower deck saloon, the galley is even better equipped and designed for those who are ready to create culinary masterpieces using the stove, oven and microwave. Here you have at your disposal a large refrigerator, a freezer, a lot of other modern kitchen equipment and storage space for dishes.

But in general, the interior looks like in the photo below, if you look at it from the ladder. A table with rounded corners of different radii can be lowered to the level of the sofa... well, you already guessed that this is another additional sleeping place if you fill the table with pillows or cover it with a mattress. So, we count: 2 additional berths on the main deck, 2 additional berths in the lower deck saloon, but where are the main ones?

Of course, where they should be - in the cabins. The master cabin takes over the entire bow from side to side. Here you can sit comfortably on a king-size double bed. There are portholes along the sides of the bed, and an opening ceiling hatch above the headboard. This abundance of natural light and fresh air is not usually found on yachts of this size.

The second double cabin also occupies the full beam amidships, but due to the design the ceiling above the head is much lower than in the rest of cabins. At the head and on the other side there are large portholes with opening fragments, which provide an influx of fresh air and a sufficient level of natural light. If it is not enough due to cloudy weather, you can always use lamps.

A large bed and plenty of storage in closets and shelves are a feature of the cabins in this little boat.

Another definite plus of this configuration is a full bathroom with an isolated shower behind a matte partition. It closes with a magnetic lock - and water does not get into the adjacent compartment with the washbasin and toilet.

This shared bathroom is equipped with cabinets and shelves for storing towels and toiletries, as well as mirrors. The entrance to this space is from the guest cabin and from the saloon.

Returning from the saloon to the main deck, it is impossible not to notice the electrical panel due to how well it is hidden. This arrangement eliminates accidental impact on it due to a push. At the same time, the skipper, being here in the dining area, can monitor the status of the equipment using the indicators displayed here.

At the Sea

Drive a cruiser Gran Turismo 36 is a pleasure. In part, this is a memory of childhood, when most of our experts mastered computer games with a joystick. This device is located right next to the helm, just like the thruster. Combined with dual chartplotter screens that feed camera images, docking and sailing the GT 36 is child's play.

The vessel has 2 Zipwake system interceptors, which we mentioned above, and they effectively provide comfort when moving. How they differ from using transom plates is discussed below.

It is no secret that the hull of any vessel has limits on engine power. Increasing power to increase speed is an obvious way, but ineffective. For example, if you install an engine twice as powerful, you cannot expect the speed of the boat to double, but fuel consumption will immediately increase. It is systems like Zipwake that allow you to squeeze the maximum possible out of the engine, at the same time increasing comfort for everyone on board.

As a result, being on a moving boat will become much more comfortable, and the ship will obey controls more as expected. You can forget about the constant change in roll - it will not disappear, but it will become much weaker. Diving on the wave will also stop. In this way, Zipwake compensates for unevenness, and therefore the body deviates less in any direction. And fewer deviations mean higher speed plus fuel economy. The increase in speed is more difficult to estimate, but the savings are estimated at approximately 10% - very good for long routes.

We described and showed the principle of operation and its images above, when we talked about the first look at the GT 36, noticing the spoiler drive.

Tests show that this method of trim adjustment achieves positive results 5-10 times faster than traditional transom plates with a larger drag surface, which ultimately means even better fuel efficiency. Additionally, due to the fast response time of the Zipwake interceptors, engineers were able to create a self-leveling system that automatically adjusts roll on board, providing the opportunity to improve comfort on the boat while underway.

After the handling tests, we carried out speed tests and fuel consumption tests.

At average cruising speed, which the manufacturer determined to be 21 knots, our instruments showed fuel consumption of 106 liters per hour. We would recommend going on a long cruise at a speed of 16 knots - then fuel consumption will be quite acceptable: 84.20 liters per hour.

Let’s be honest, we didn’t check the manufacturer’s stated maximum speed of 35 knots, because already at 34 knots the fuel consumption reached 178 liters per hour, and we were so carried away by testing maneuvering with the new system that it seems that we didn’t even account for the 10% power reserve.

Advantages

The main advantage of the GT 36 is its affordable price with such a high level of comfort, which not every 40-foot yacht provides. The price-seaworthiness ratio is also good compared to other sports cruisers.

We also considered the ability to choose the type of engines based on their location - stationary in the engine compartment or outboard.

We remind you that the meaning of the expression “comfort on board” is not only considered by topRik experts for the softness of the sofas and beautiful finishes. First of all, this is the safety of people and ease of management. In terms of these qualities Gran Turismo 36 fully meets the definition of a comfortable yacht.

During testing, we could not even deliberately (within reason, of course) create a situation for the boat to dangerously sway, heel, dive, or jump through the waves with sound.

For coastal sailing with family or a small group of good friends, this is the best choice.

Reviews of Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 from Professionals

The review in Boating Magazine is especially interesting because it was written by John Page Williams who tested Gran Turismo 36 with outboard motors. At the end of the review, he posted a detailed table showing the behavior of the yacht at different speeds, in particular, fuel consumption. And you can compare it with the table from the review by the following author - Tim van Duyl from TradeaBoat, who tested the GT 36 with inboard engines and also compared it with the GT 41.

John Page Williams Article

In addition to testing for speed and fuel consumption, as well as recording the results in a table John described his feelings about life on board. Don't be surprised that in a 2019 study, the author claims that Beneteau built the GT 36 in the US for the North American market: for European sailors it was introduced a year later, when it had already been tested in American waters.

John defined Gran Turismo 36’s mission as recreational and occasional full-day cruises for four passengers, although the testing that the author describes involved 7 people, and everyone still did well. After all, just in front of the helm panel there are four comfortable seats. There is also a transom lounger, two large sofas in the cockpit and a huge mattress in the bow. This does not include the saloon and two cabins on the lower deck.

The author also describes how the boat with two outboards and Zipwake Interceptor system behaves on the water.

Tim van Duyl Article

The author in the beginning goes into the history of GT model range, indicating the differences between these models, which are characterized as sports cruisers, despite their significantly greater weight compared to other brands. The entire line is based on the shipyard's patented Air Step hull idea.

Each yacht was tested separately, of course, but Tim van Duyl interestingly combined them in one review, constantly comparing and identifying the relationship between speed, dimensions, engine power and features of other equipment that affect the seaworthiness of boats.

Of course, the author could not ignore the comparison of comfort on boats of different lengths, which he describes in sufficient detail and with his characteristic sense of humor.

The result of the review was the table that we have already mentioned. We highly recommend that you read this review, written by a professional – both sailor and journalist.

Video Reviews of Beneteau GT 36

As promised, some video footage of the boat’s performance on the water and inside space.

First, a beautiful teaser from Beneteau:

Quick montage of yacht in motion and main interior elements:

Extensive walkthrough of GT 36’s interiors:

BoatTest provides another stellar review with lots of useful information on various features:

Another in-depth walkthrough of Grant Turismo 36:

Conclusion

Motor yacht Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is created primarily for the owner. First of all, we imagine an experienced sailor who is a little tired of sailing, but cannot live without the sea, or generally wants to live at sea as many days a year as possible. But nevertheless, he is used to feeling the wind in his hair - and the sporty Gran Turismo 36 will provide this without issues, because its maximum speed is 33-35 knots per hour.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is clearly your boat if you, in addition to the above:

• want to provide your family with safety and maximum comfort on a cruise;
• love to be at sea completely alone;
• want to go on a cruise with your loved one, without being particularly distracted by the controls;
• if your other half loves the sea, but doesn’t like it when you devote yourself entirely to sails.

Of course, this is a wonderful yacht with a self-draining cockpit which, if necessary, can be protected from rain and splashes, and also can be used to transport passengers with luggage, say, to a superyacht anchored at the pier. You can even rent it out - it is not too expensive for these purposes, and is always attractive for a small group of close friends or family.

Where to Buy Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 at a Bargain Price

We are sure that now you know exactly the answer to the question. Additional to best price, you get a bonus from the topRik marketplace: the consultations are free. And here is the second bonus - a free configuration calculator, which you can access even without registering on the website.

After you are done with configuring your version, we will make sure that your Gran Turismo 36 purchase becomes a pleasant event for you: just entrust the solution of all technical and legal issues to our experts and be free until the yacht arrives at your berth.

You can always contact our team by phone indicated on the page, message us through the website’s feedback system or send a message to [email protected] - all the issues will be resolved in short time.