Any 361 owners... I am looking at a 2000 361, and had a chance to sail it this past weekend. I was a little disappointed in the performance, and am looking for some comparisons. Overall, we had 10-15 knots of breeze, and 1.5-2 foot Lake Erie seas. On a dead beam reach in 12 knots of breeze (apparent), I could only get an average of 5 knots, max about 5.2. That seemed a little slow to me, but then motoring in I noticed the GPS was averaging .8-1 knot higher than the ship's knotmeter (no current where we were), so that might account for some of it. Still, I expected closer to 7 knots on a reach with a decent breeze. Any thoughts or comparisons? Motoring, at 3000 RPM, the GPS would read mid 6's. With a hull speed of about 7.5 knots, and the factory 3-blade fixed prop, I expected at least 7. Again, any comparisons out there? I do think the bottom is somewhat fouled, but not sure how much until they haul her. The other thing I noticed was the tendancy for the boat to hobby-horse A LOT going into the seas close hauled. Is this typical of the boat, or only in the short-frequency seas? Lastly, the autohelm did not work properly (ST4000+) as it kept giving an intermittant "no data" error, and the digital compass reading was off by up to 60 degrees at times. Fluxgate bad, or seatalk cable?? Anyone had this problem? Thanks for any input, Tim
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Tim
Something's Up
Tim- Something's up with that sailing performance. I find that the conditions that you describe are ideal for my 361 and you should've been able to make at closer to seven. If it was blowing 15, you definately could make hull speed no problem. It does sound like the boat you're looking at has some problems with its electonics, so it's very likely that the knotmeter is mis-calibrated. That being said, you can tell the difference between 5 knots and 7! As far as powering, I have been a little disapointed in the powering performace with the factory 3 blade. Even then at 3K RPM, you should be going close to seven knots. (I have the Yanmar which maxes at 3600 so I "cruise" is at 2700 at @ 6.2 knots). I haven't noticed any problem with hobby horsing, and I sail on the Chesapeake which definately has very short frequency seas. That being said, my last boast was 28', and as such the 36' seems much more stable. Maybe I'm "hobby horsing" and I just don't know it because its still better than what I'm used to... Best of luck. And also, I'm very happy with my 361!
Tim- Something's up with that sailing performance. I find that the conditions that you describe are ideal for my 361 and you should've been able to make at closer to seven. If it was blowing 15, you definately could make hull speed no problem. It does sound like the boat you're looking at has some problems with its electonics, so it's very likely that the knotmeter is mis-calibrated. That being said, you can tell the difference between 5 knots and 7! As far as powering, I have been a little disapointed in the powering performace with the factory 3 blade. Even then at 3K RPM, you should be going close to seven knots. (I have the Yanmar which maxes at 3600 so I "cruise" is at 2700 at @ 6.2 knots). I haven't noticed any problem with hobby horsing, and I sail on the Chesapeake which definately has very short frequency seas. That being said, my last boast was 28', and as such the 36' seems much more stable. Maybe I'm "hobby horsing" and I just don't know it because its still better than what I'm used to... Best of luck. And also, I'm very happy with my 361!
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Tim Porter
Good info, thanks!
Tim, Thanks for the input. This boat also has the Yanmar, and at 2700 RPM there's no way it did 6.5 knots. I was at 3000 and GPS was saying 6.3 to 6.5 or so. The bottom must really be fouled (it hasn't sailed much this year from what I understand). I assume you have the Raytheon Tridata system as well? Can the knotmeter be calibrated to read true boatspeed? As far as the hobby-horsing, this was upwind and it just didn't seem like the boat was powering through the seas very well. Again, probably due to a fouled bottom I guess. Its good to hear the boat can reach hull speed easily, as you mentioned. I am hopeful that it truly is the bottom as we really like everything else about her!
Tim, Thanks for the input. This boat also has the Yanmar, and at 2700 RPM there's no way it did 6.5 knots. I was at 3000 and GPS was saying 6.3 to 6.5 or so. The bottom must really be fouled (it hasn't sailed much this year from what I understand). I assume you have the Raytheon Tridata system as well? Can the knotmeter be calibrated to read true boatspeed? As far as the hobby-horsing, this was upwind and it just didn't seem like the boat was powering through the seas very well. Again, probably due to a fouled bottom I guess. Its good to hear the boat can reach hull speed easily, as you mentioned. I am hopeful that it truly is the bottom as we really like everything else about her!
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Tim
More on 361
Yes, I do have the Raymarine Tridata, and yes, it can be easily calibrated to match the SOG coming from the GPS via SeaTalk (assuming that the GPS is on SeaTalk). It's done in the calibration mode with the push of a few buttons. If the boat doesn't come with the calibration "cheat sheets" for the system, I'm sure you can downlaod them from raymarine's website. Again, with the caveat of my limited experience on other 36 footers, I'd still say that the 361 has no problem slicing through chop upwind. I spend most of my time sailing upwind becuase the wind always has this wonderful tendancy to blow directly from my destination, even if just to turn 180 degrees for my return trip!
Yes, I do have the Raymarine Tridata, and yes, it can be easily calibrated to match the SOG coming from the GPS via SeaTalk (assuming that the GPS is on SeaTalk). It's done in the calibration mode with the push of a few buttons. If the boat doesn't come with the calibration "cheat sheets" for the system, I'm sure you can downlaod them from raymarine's website. Again, with the caveat of my limited experience on other 36 footers, I'd still say that the 361 has no problem slicing through chop upwind. I spend most of my time sailing upwind becuase the wind always has this wonderful tendancy to blow directly from my destination, even if just to turn 180 degrees for my return trip!
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Jose Venegas
I agree with Tim
I would add that the 3-blade fix prop can reduce the boat speed as much as one kt under 10 kt winds. In my boat I changed it for a Gori 3-blade folding prop and have noted great improvement. It would be unrealistic to expect that a cruising boat would match the speed of racing boats but for that reason there is PHRF rating. I had the chance to participate on a chase race against 12 boats in a class where my 361 had the highest PHRF rating of the group (165 given by New England PHRF). In spite of the fact that the wind virtually died during the first 10 minutes of the race, and thus eliminated most of our handicap advantage, we finished 3rd, beating more racy boats like the J30’s. Thus, I don’t have much to complain about 361 sailing performance. As to the closed hauled hobbie-horsing, my recent experience in 25 kt. 9 ft waves weather was very favorable. Using a double reefed main and shortened genoa she handled it very well.
I would add that the 3-blade fix prop can reduce the boat speed as much as one kt under 10 kt winds. In my boat I changed it for a Gori 3-blade folding prop and have noted great improvement. It would be unrealistic to expect that a cruising boat would match the speed of racing boats but for that reason there is PHRF rating. I had the chance to participate on a chase race against 12 boats in a class where my 361 had the highest PHRF rating of the group (165 given by New England PHRF). In spite of the fact that the wind virtually died during the first 10 minutes of the race, and thus eliminated most of our handicap advantage, we finished 3rd, beating more racy boats like the J30’s. Thus, I don’t have much to complain about 361 sailing performance. As to the closed hauled hobbie-horsing, my recent experience in 25 kt. 9 ft waves weather was very favorable. Using a double reefed main and shortened genoa she handled it very well.
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Stephen Hinkle
It will perform better than that
I have only sailed my 361 with a max prop and a clean bottom, but under the conditions you describe I would be doing mid 7's. The prop is worth perhaps 3/4 of a knot and the bottom may account for the rest. Also, it took some experimenting to get the best out of the RF main. We went from about 50% of apparent to 60% and now up into 70% of apparent in flat seas by playing with the looseness of the foot, the tightness of the leech, and the traveler.
I have only sailed my 361 with a max prop and a clean bottom, but under the conditions you describe I would be doing mid 7's. The prop is worth perhaps 3/4 of a knot and the bottom may account for the rest. Also, it took some experimenting to get the best out of the RF main. We went from about 50% of apparent to 60% and now up into 70% of apparent in flat seas by playing with the looseness of the foot, the tightness of the leech, and the traveler.
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Tim Porter
Sounds like I found the problem!
Thanks All! I should have mentioned, this boat did have the classic main, so there was no problem with sail trim. I can't wait to see just how bad the bottom is when they haul her out! Tim
Thanks All! I should have mentioned, this boat did have the classic main, so there was no problem with sail trim. I can't wait to see just how bad the bottom is when they haul her out! Tim
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Derek Sample
361 is not a slow boat
I owned a 361 for a year and a half and the only complaint I had was the small fuel tank. The boat sailed quickly and turned on a dime. After racing other people's boats for years and wanting a nicer cruising boat of my own, I went for the 361 due to Beneteau's reputation for sailing. I was not disappointed. Although I recently traded up to a 411LE, I would thoroughly recommend the 361 to any practical as well as experienced sailor. Again, it is not a slow boat by any means.
I owned a 361 for a year and a half and the only complaint I had was the small fuel tank. The boat sailed quickly and turned on a dime. After racing other people's boats for years and wanting a nicer cruising boat of my own, I went for the 361 due to Beneteau's reputation for sailing. I was not disappointed. Although I recently traded up to a 411LE, I would thoroughly recommend the 361 to any practical as well as experienced sailor. Again, it is not a slow boat by any means.
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John W
Tim. I have just completed my first season with my 361.I find she performs very well in 12plus knots and will reach and run faster than local C&C 35's and CS36's, though on the wind both will be faster and point c5 Degrees higher. I raced with a unmeasured PHRF of 136, if I had had a 165 PHRF I would have seen a few first place finishes. Prop drag is high with the factory 3 blade.I installed a Flex o Fold 3 bladed folding prop and the performance improvement is very noticable. There was less vibration and I gained .9 of a knot improvement under power and in flat conditions I cruise at 7 knots at 2500 rpm.
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John W
Tim. I have just completed my first season with my 361.I find she performs very well in 12plus knots and will reach and run faster than local C&C 35's and CS36's, though on the wind both will be faster and point c5 Degrees higher. I raced with a unmeasured PHRF of 136, if I had had a 165 PHRF I would have seen a few first place finishes. Prop drag is high with the factory 3 blade.I installed a Flex o Fold 3 bladed folding prop and the performance improvement is very noticable. There was less vibration and I gained .9 of a knot improvement under power and in flat conditions I cruise at 7 knots at 2500 rpm.
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