With its aluminium hull, ballasted centreboard, electric drive, and protected pilothouse, the Bestevaer 36 is a modern take on the shoal-draught explorer. It is intended for everything from world circumnavigation to cruising local wetlands.
Design and Construction
Aluminium defines the Bestevaer 36. It is used for both the hull and deck, continuing the structural and visual approach of the brand’s larger yachts. The first boat was built with 70% recycled metal, while the yard quotes 60% recycled content in its specification. Insulation is described as recycled cork and mineral wool.
There is no paint system. Instead, the standard specification pairs the bare-metal finish with an antifouling wrap. Watertight fore and aft bulkheads provide substantial internal subdivision, and crew protection was central to the design from the outset.
A plumb bow, deep bulwarks, and thick bottom plating allow the yacht to dry out safely on a beach or shoal, while also contributing to crew protection. With the centreboard fully retracted, it leaves a flat surface on the hull’s thick plating.
Rig, Centreboard, and Handling
The Bestevaer 36 has a cutter rig with Seldén rigging and Nitronic rod. Its large rig was specified to provide good performance on all points of sail, including when close-hauled and when sailing in light airs. Dykstra describes it as a high-performance little yacht that is very easy to sail and versatile—capable of circling the globe, but equally at home in local wetlands.
All control lines lead aft for straightforward singlehanded operation. Sail-plan options include a 95% jib on a Hoyt boom and a square-top mainsail with 14% more area than the standard pinhead version.
The 2-tonne ballasted centreboard lowers to give a draught of 2.4m. It retracts fully into the canoe body, reducing draught to just 0.7m. The generous 3.80m beam contributes form stability and increases accommodation volume.
Pilothouse and Accommodation
The pilothouse forms the social and navigational heart of the boat. It provides a 360-degree view, with seating on each side. The coachroof extends aft over the cockpit, creating an extremely sheltered area—a defining feature for cold-weather or exposed cruising.
Below, the interior has a flexible, semi-open layout and is available in three different style options. Overhead hatches and substantial hull portlights bring in natural light. The galley is to port of the companionway, while the heads and diesel heater are to starboard.
The standard specification includes a traditional-style floor made from thermally modified European timber, along with heating from a Dickinson Alaska diesel heater. At 35ft 11in overall, the boat is also compact enough to fit easily into small harbours and marinas.
Electric Drive and Sustainability
The Bestevaer 36 is a hybrid yacht with a 15kW OceanVolt electric drive. Its battery capacity provides four hours of autonomy under power. The batteries can be recharged through regeneration while sailing and by a large solar-panel array on the pilothouse roof; solar panels are included as standard.
The yard’s first boat also used environmentally friendly and largely recycled interior materials, reinforcing the model’s role as a case study in lower-impact yachtbuilding.
Verdict
The Bestevaer 36 distills the protective, go-anywhere character of the larger aluminium Bestevaers into a 36-foot package. It can dry out on a shoal, make its way into a small harbour, and still cross an ocean.
Its ballasted centreboard makes it beachable, while the pilothouse and lines led aft support genuine singlehanded use. The electric drive and recycled-content construction mark a deliberate move toward more sustainable cruising without giving up the rugged subdivision provided by watertight bulkheads.
Pros
- Aluminium hull with watertight fore and aft bulkheads
- Thick bottom plating for safe drying out
- 2-tonne ballasted centreboard, giving a draught range of 0.7m–2.4m and retracting fully into the canoe body
- Protected pilothouse with a 360-degree view
- Coachroof extending over an extremely sheltered cockpit
- Control lines led aft for singlehanded sailing
- Optional square-top mainsail and 95% jib on a Hoyt boom
- 15kW OceanVolt electric drive with regeneration and a solar array as standard
Cons
- Published battery autonomy is limited to four hours under electric power
- With no paint system, care of the bare-aluminium finish is an integral part of ownership
- As the smallest and newest model, it post-dates the longer-established, larger Bestevaer cruisers
