Beneteau First 36 SE Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau First 36 SE is the Seascape Edition of an already race-proven 36-foot monohull, built for performance-minded sailors who want a boat that planes in as little as 12 knots and rates well under ORC. On the used market it is a young design with ex-charter examples common. The SE trims 400 kilograms from the standard First 36 and shortens wetted surface by nearly 30 square feet, with a carbon rig, tiller helm, and twin rudders as standard sporting equipment.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available. The boat keeps the same spacious three-cabin arrangement, salon, and living areas as the standard First 36, with lightweight carbon companionway stairs, carbon fiddles in place of wood, and removable crew bags instead of lockers. Lee cloth nets are fitted for sleeping safely under sail. Ex-charter hulls will likely show more cabin wear and a higher hours count on the 29-horsepower Yanmar diesel than privately owned boats.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A used First 36 SE often carries an asymmetric spinnaker, AIS, autopilot, and chartplotter as fitted equipment, with lithium batteries a frequent owner upgrade for those running electronics and deck gear without the engine. The Seanapps onboard unit and phone app, where present, let an owner check battery charge and tank levels remotely. None of these are structural, but a functioning lithium bank and spinnaker gear speak to how seriously a prior owner raced the boat.
What to Inspect
The First 36 SE is constructed with a fully cored, vacuum-infused hull, deck, bulkheads, and interior components, and is exceptionally light and stiff. Check the tiller and twin-rudder bearings for play or uneven wear from high-speed reaching, and confirm the carbon rig shows no delamination at chainplates or spreader roots. Inspect the flush racing hardware and soft cockpit deck grip for UV or impact damage, since replacement is specialist work. Verify the removable crew bags and carbon fiddles are complete, as missing race-fit items are costly to source.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, Italy, United Kingdom, and Austria. For a buyer, the priorities are simple:
- Confirm the three-cabin layout matches your cruising or race plans
- Verify lithium batteries and spinnaker gear are present and serviced
- Check rudder bearings and carbon rig for racing wear
- Test the Seanapps system if fitted for tank and battery monitoring
- Inspect cockpit foam and flush hardware for UV or impact damage
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 36 SE. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $287,817 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $343,944 | +19.5% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $417,675 | +21.4% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 36 SE listings appear across 3 countries. Austria has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by United Kingdom and Italy.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | $343,944 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| United Kingdom | $417,675 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Italy | $287,817 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 36 | 39.33' | $ 378,980 | 27 | 3 |
| Dehler 36 | 35.92' | $ 90,659 | 17 | 3 |
| Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 | 36.91' | $ 173,768 | 16 | 0 |
| Beneteau 34.7 | 33.66' | $ 86,004 | 16 | 4 |
| Saffier SE 37 | 39.37' | $ 387,502 | 7 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 36 SEYou are here | — | $ 343,944 | 3 | 0 |