Menhir Information, Review, Specs

The story of the Menhir begins in 1969 with its initial production by Lanaverre, a builder renowned for its significant contributions to fiberglass boat construction. Lanaverre, under the influence of Christian Maury, was at the forefront of adopting Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) for boat building, a revolutionary shift that allowed for more consistent performance, reduced maintenance, and broader accessibility to sailing. The Menhir, like many of Lanaverre's successful models, embodies this ethos of practical and robust construction. Designed by Christian Maury, who also penned other notable Lanaverre boats like the iconic 420 dinghy, the Menhir was conceived as a cabin cruiser, offering a degree of shelter within its compact form. A key design feature is its centerboard keel, allowing for an exceptionally shallow minimum draft of just under a foot (0.98 ft), which greatly enhances its ability to navigate shallow waters and provides the convenience of beaching.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Given its modest length overall of 15.58 feet, the Lanaverre Menhir is best understood as a highly maneuverable day sailer with limited cruising aspirations, rather than a performance-oriented racer where traditional sailing ratios would apply. Rigged as a fractional sloop, the Menhir is designed for straightforward handling and responsiveness. Its light displacement of 617 pounds, coupled with the ability to reduce its draft to less than a foot by raising the centerboard, makes it particularly adept at exploring shallow anchorages and coastal areas. While specific anecdotal descriptions of its behavior in various sea states are not widely documented, its design as a fractional sloop with a centerboard suggests it would be nimble and forgiving, well-suited to the light to moderate conditions typically encountered during day sailing and short coastal excursions.

Accommodations and Layout

Despite being classified as a "cabin cruiser," the Lanaverre Menhir's interior accommodations are necessarily spartan due to its compact 15.58-foot length. Detailed descriptions or diagrams of the interior layout are scarce in readily available information. However, given its designation, it would typically offer a very basic enclosed space designed to provide shelter from the elements or allow for rudimentary overnighting. This would likely consist of a V-berth or simple seating arrangement in the bow, potentially with some under-berth storage. The emphasis would be on maximizing usable space within its limited dimensions, providing a cozy, albeit minimal, retreat.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of the Lanaverre Menhir generally appreciate its compact nature and ease of handling, highlighting its suitability for coastal cruising and day sailing. While detailed individual reviews are not extensively documented, collective sentiments indicate satisfaction with its fundamental characteristics. The ability to explore shallow waters due to its centerboard design is a frequently lauded attribute, offering access to areas inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels. Owners typically value the Menhir for its simplicity and the low maintenance associated with its fiberglass construction. Its modest size translates to straightforward trailering and launching, further enhancing its appeal as an accessible sailboat.