Beneteau conceived the boat to deliver the feel of a fast, balanced racer while remaining elegant, comfortable, and welcoming below. Although positioned as a racer-cruiser, its emphasis leaned more toward cruising than the racecourse.
Design and Construction
The First 36 S7 measures 35 feet 9 inches overall, with a 31-foot waterline. It displaces 11,684 pounds and carries 3,650 pounds of iron ballast, giving it a ballast-displacement ratio of 31 percent. The result is a moderately lightweight hull intended to perform without punishing its crew. Period reviews described it as a moderately lightweight boat that performs well enough under sail to make the sailing fun.
The hull is relatively light and full in the ends, with a wide stern that provides volume aft. One owner had feared this shape might rob the rudder of authority when the boat heeled, but the spade rudder maintained good control even when the boat was laid over. That same hull form also tended to sail around at anchor more than some skippers liked.
A transom extension added by one owner was described as an invaluable improvement.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 660 square feet of sail area, including a notably large mainsail with slab reefing. Owners found the First 36 S7 a pretty good upwind performer, although many passages to weather were made under motor-sail. A three-bladed feathering prop earned its keep on long windward slogs.
The boat also sails well under mainsail alone with the apparent wind at 40 degrees or more, and owners often used this mode. In light upwind conditions, the wheel could be locked and the boat would sail for miles with only occasional adjustments to the traveler.
Across the conditions encountered, the First 36 S7 handled well. It reached and ran with a good turn of speed while remaining balanced and easy to steer.
Cockpit and Interior
The cockpit works well for a crew of two, but it becomes tight with four or more aboard.
Below, Starck’s interior follows the boat’s elegant, welcoming brief. Owners particularly praised the large drop-leaf saloon table, which includes built-in wine storage. An auxiliary wine locker sits above the port settee.
The galley has a two-burner stove judged adequate for normal cooking. The icebox includes a freezer compartment that proved reliable enough to make two trays of ice cubes.
The hot-water heater uses engine cooling water to warm freshwater. It’s mounted under the quarterberth, where the heat it radiates can make that berth uncomfortably warm in hot weather.
Tankage and Other Limitations
The 24-gallon fuel tank proved adequate for local cruising but short for longer passages. The quarterberth heater placement can compromise that berth in warm conditions, while the light, full-ended hull tends to swing at anchor more than some skippers prefer.
Verdict
The First 36 S7 is a Berret-Starck interpretation of the cruiser-racer: light enough to feel like a racer, styled and arranged to welcome a cruising couple, and balanced enough to steer itself in light upwind air.
It’s neither a stripped-out racer nor a heavy-displacement cruiser. Instead, it’s a well-mannered 36-foot sloop that rewards short-handed sailing and looks the part at the dock.
Pros
- Fast, balanced handling, with a self-steering tendency in light upwind air and a good turn of speed when reaching and running
- Large mainsail and fractional rig make mainsail-only sailing practical at 40 degrees apparent
- Elegant Starck interior with clever wine storage and a large drop-leaf table
- Wide stern and full ends provide volume without compromising rudder control
Cons
- Cockpit becomes tight with more than four aboard
- 24-gallon fuel capacity limits passage range
- Quarterberth heater placement warms the berth in hot weather
- Light, full-ended hull tends to swing at anchor
