Beneteau Gran Turismo-36 GT

By Chris Kourtakis

Boat Test #1656

Over the past couple of years, I have had the privilege of reviewing and testing out Beneteau’s Gran Turismo line that ranges from 32-50 feet.  No matter which model I test, I continue to fall in love with their boats over and over.
Every time I step foot on one, I find something new to love about the brand.  Whether it is a redesigned helm or a new cabin layout, the Gran Turismo line up is sleek and sexy.  The 36’ is not different, well except for the twin outboards on the back.  This was a surprise when I walked up to the dock.  I was excited to see this all new layout and couldn’t wait to get her out on the water to see what a cruiser would do and how she would perform with a pair of Mercury 300’s here in Cadillac Michigan.
On the water she reached just over 41.3 mph at 5,700 rpms and was burning 48 gallons per hour. Ideal cruising speed seems to be around 5,000 rpms where she was burning 39 gallons per hour at 34 mph with 100 gallons of fuel and 3 passengers. This is comparable to inboard gas set up. The 5.0 second hole shot was impressive as she will get up and run.  We reached 30 mph in 23 seconds. The turns were solid, and I did not experience any blow out from either motor. Trimming the boat was easy and she sliced through the waves effortlessly as the motors were being raised. You can definitely notice the spray working its way back on the hull as the motors continued to be raised to optimal and peak performance.
One thing to note about this model is that Beneteau did not just put a pair of outboards on their existing model. They created a new mold and an all-new running surface for the back third of the boat. The forward two thirds is the exact same. This allows for the boat to truly perform the way that she was designed to perform. The optional joystick docking came in handy around the docks, but isn’t necessary on this size boat.
With a draft of just over 3 feet and less with the motors trimmed all the way up, she is a perfect weekender for island hopping near Tobemory or the 1,000 islands near Alexandria Bay. Adding the optional genset allows you to enjoy the finer places on the great lakes without worrying about being at the harbour.  The 36 GT is truly a great mid-sized cruiser for any getaway.

Specifications
Length overall: 37’11”
Hull Length: 37’
Hull Beam: 11’4”
Light displacement: 16,036 lbs
Fuel tank capacity: 2 x 100 US Gal
Fresh water capacity: 40 US Gal
Engine Power (Hp): 2 x 350 HP
MSRP: approx. $340,000  USD
For more information:   www.beneteau.com