Competitive class
It's interesting to compare not only the 36, 350, and 34, but also a couple of popular competitor models, the Beneteau 361 and the Hunter 36. All of the 36-footers in this class have very similar displacements and features. As you go through each, you can find little things to quibble about for each one, but it is obvious that the manufacturers are trying very hard to achieve a very similar result here. The 350 comes the closest to the ideal boat in this size range. It has the double anchor rollers, the separate shower, the large water tank, the good galley, and the good forward berth. But it has a skewed salon floorplan that is much less attractive as a conversation circle for a small group of friends or as a TV watching area. You also have to sit at the nav station in the 350 on the edge of the settee, without a back support like you would have with a chair. For me, the salon is so problematic on the 350 that I would favor either the old Cat 36 or the Beneteau 361, but that is because the salon is the most important room on the boat to me.
It's interesting to compare not only the 36, 350, and 34, but also a couple of popular competitor models, the Beneteau 361 and the Hunter 36. All of the 36-footers in this class have very similar displacements and features. As you go through each, you can find little things to quibble about for each one, but it is obvious that the manufacturers are trying very hard to achieve a very similar result here. The 350 comes the closest to the ideal boat in this size range. It has the double anchor rollers, the separate shower, the large water tank, the good galley, and the good forward berth. But it has a skewed salon floorplan that is much less attractive as a conversation circle for a small group of friends or as a TV watching area. You also have to sit at the nav station in the 350 on the edge of the settee, without a back support like you would have with a chair. For me, the salon is so problematic on the 350 that I would favor either the old Cat 36 or the Beneteau 361, but that is because the salon is the most important room on the boat to me.
In any event, and given a lot of the repsonses, just because the two boats are only a foot (almost, I haven't checked the specs) apart, they really are two different boats, for two different tastes. As a casual racer, I understand Tom's point of view, and a few weeks ago we beat another identical boat across one leg of a course with our 110 jib and their 130. There were five other legs, and, no , we didn't. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. The good news: it's all SAILING, which is a great relaxing sport. Stu PS - hope you don't have a wireless laptop, and so can avoid this stuff when you're onboard. Buy the boat, go sailing, let us know how you like it. ENJOY