The 364 belongs to the final design group before Dufour relaunched the Gib'Sea name and folded it into its own range. It therefore marks the closing chapter of the independent Gibert lineage, rather than the comfort-oriented revival that later collaboration with J&J Design would bring.
Design and Construction
The 364 measures 36 ft 3 in overall, with a 31 ft 6 in waterline and an 11 ft 10 in beam. Displacement is 12,760 lb, while the iron ballast weighs 6,173 lb, giving a ballast-displacement ratio of 48.3 percent.
Its solid fiberglass hull has a fine underbody with a high-aspect foil, combining a deep fin keel with a spade rudder. The arrangement promised agility. Gibert Marine’s 1990s practice of building solid hull laminates with balsa-cored decks places the 364 in the same construction era as its stablemates.
The rig is a masthead sloop carrying 609 sq ft of sail. Together, the hull form and rig show that the boat was aimed at performance cruising before Dufour’s integration of the marque changed the brand’s direction.
Rig and Handling
With its lean underbody and tall 57.4 ft mast, the 364 looked likely to be quick. In practice, however, Yachting Monthly found its performance no better than average.
The 6 ft 7 in draft and high-aspect keel suggest weatherly tracking and a firm grip to windward, but the recorded performance didn’t live up to that theoretical promise. A displacement-length ratio near 183 and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 17.8 describe a moderately powered cruiser rather than a lightweight sprinter. The real-world verdict further tempers expectations of sparkling pace.
Accommodation
Below decks, the 364 disappointed reviewers in several respects. The interior was considered too basic, with light joinery, while headroom was tight at just over 6 ft.
The chart table drew specific criticism, and the galley proved more useful at anchor than at sea—a telling limitation for a boat of this size intended for offshore work. One worthwhile feature was the wet locker at the foot of the companionway, providing dedicated stowage for dripping oilskins where the crew would naturally shed them.
Verdict
The Gib'Sea 364 is a transitional design: the last Gibert-built expression of the Joubert/Nivelt cruising ethos before Dufour absorbed the brand. Its fine underbody and deep keel look the part, but sailing performance proved only mid-pack. Below, the finish is plain, headroom is limited, and the chart station is a weak point.
For buyers who value the practical wet locker and recognizable pre-Dufour pedigree more than polish, the 364 remains a coherent used cruiser. Those expecting lively performance or a refined interior should look elsewhere.
Pros
- Deep, high-aspect keel and fine underbody intended to support windward ability
- Practical wet locker at the foot of the companionway
- Part of the last independent Gibert Marine design group before Dufour integration
Cons
- Sailed no better than average despite its performance-oriented hull
- Basic interior with light joinery and a disappointing chart table
- Tight headroom of just over 6 ft
- Galley better suited to use at anchor than at sea
