Blue Water - Beneteau 36.7?

[Ducati]

One day we would like to do extended sailing/ocean passages. For now we are happy to coastal cruise and club race on our Beneteau 36.7. We are suspect of the handling of our race cruiser on big water and may consider a different vessel when that time comes. We would like to hear any comments from anyone who has taken one of these boats "out there" especially in heavy sea conditions. Our boat is rock solid and has superb speed especially if we have to "out-run" bad weather however we are more concerned about very heavy seas where pitching/rolling and boat handling becomes tricky. A wider profile keel design may be a better option verses the skinny blade on our boat.

Comments

 

[tommays]

Beneteau 36.7 "Tenacious" wins Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy at the Newport to Bermuda Race!
Tenacious was the smallest boat in the Gibbs Hill Division, and with only one pro aboard, took on 14 fully professional, traditional keelboats and won against the likes of the 90-foot Rambler. Check out the race Here.

That being said they had to put a 1" shoe between the keel and hull to meet the stabilty requirment and a bunch of other things

 

[Ross]

Have you been paying attention to the hurrycanes this year? They have been three hundred miles wide and moving at 14 knots. You can't outrun one, you must simply be in another part of the ocean before they become a threat to you.

 

[Ducati]

Thanks Ross

Please re-read my post as it was more about boat stability in heavy seas and not the weather.

Looking forward to hearing back from you with your wealth of experience and knowledge.

Cheers

 

[Rick Sylvester]

Well, I read your post

and you did make the comment that your "boat is rock solid and has superb speed especially if we have to "out-run" bad weather" and I imagine that's what he was responding to. Actually, that's the first thing I thought too. Unless you can maintain 20 knots you're not going to "out-run" weather and even then it's not a given.

I'm a firm believer in a skipper's ability to make good decisions being far more important than the type of boat (within reason) to keep your ass out of a sling. Making unrealistic expectations (like outrunning weather) of any boat is a serious problem.

Having said all that, I'd suggest doing your own homework on keel/hull/rig/displacement/scantling characteristics where it applies to motion, strength and comfort. There's tons of stuff on the web by top naval architects. I could tell you what I think but I'm not really qualified.

Good luck.

 

[Ross]

. We are suspect of the handling of our race cruiser on big water and may consider a different vessel when that time comes. We would like to hear any comments from anyone who has taken one of these boats "out there" especially in heavy sea conditions. Our boat is rock solid and has superb speed especially if we have to "out-run" bad weather however we are more concerned about very heavy seas where pitching/rolling athe skinny blade on our boat.

Comments

Selectively this is what you wrote. The swells from a tropical storm preceed the storm by several hundred miles. knowing the probable track of a storm and getting yourself out of harms way very early is far more important than good boat speed. I would sail hundreds of miles off my course at the first sign of an impending storm rather than trying to turn tail and run at the last day.

 

[RichH]

Id choose (chose actually) a less 'flat bottomed' boat as WHEN you get into heavy weather it will tend to 'pound' way more than a vee-form with slack bilges.
Do websearch for 'motion comfort' and 'sea kindliness'. The 36.7 has a 'motion comfort' factor of about 24 ... meaning the boat will be VERY tiring for long trips as it will tend to 'snap-roll'/pound rather than 'slow-roll'.
If you mean 'island hopping' then a 36.7 would be 'ideal' except that the stowage is very limited.

Outrunning storms, etc. .... you can get some nasty short-period swells HUNDREDS of miles from a storm center.

 

[Ducati]

Thanks Rich H.

That is the kind of information that I am looking for. I was thinking that our narrow fin keel design may also add to driver fatigue. It may point well in a race in perfect conditions however in steep swells there may be the tendency to pivot thus requiring constant correction and over correction.

That may lead to a further discussion about having a good capsize ratio.

Regards,

 

[RichH]

"in steep swells there may be the tendency to pivot thus requiring constant correction and over correction"
..... that's not what I mean; most Beneteau's, and most fin keelers can and do hold a straight course well when properly balanced by sail trim. What I refer to is the 'snap rolling' and 'pounding' due to the wide beam and flat bottom. Yes a heavy 'crab-crusher' with a deep full keel will be like sailing on steel rails but so too a 'heavy' will tend to slow-roll as compared to a boat whose motion is 'fast and furious'. I guess so too is the choice of either power-puking and getting beat-up on a fast-motion boat or one that is more 'gentle' or more comfortable with its motion - 'seakindliness'.

The B's are quite good for passages of a few hundred miles; but, I dont want to be on one for long passages that are 'many weeks'.