First 36

Ultimate planing cruiser

From 248 450€ (VAT excluded)

The First 36 was built for one simple reason: joy in planing.

Not just for weekend escapes, but also for family holidays, club races and every moment in between.

She is the first mainstream planing cruiser where onboard comfort and high-performance sailing no longer require compromise — they are one and the same. With vacuum-infused construction and an innovative design, her deck and interior bring the best of grand prix racing within reach of true sailors like you.

Once the hull lifts and the wake stretches cleanly behind you, you will feel the joy and remember why you sail in the first place.

She is our ultimate planing cruiser and the European Yacht of the Year 2023.

NAVAL ARCHITECT : Samuel Manuard
Design : Lorenzo Argento
Structural engineering : Pure Design & Engineering
Innovation and research : Sito

Awards

First 36 - Voilier de l'année 2023
Cruising World's 2023 Boat of the Year Awards first 36
British Award 2022 Winner
Boat of the year 2023 - Sailing World - First36
Best Boats winners - Top 10
European Yacht of the Year 2023 - Winner

THE FIRST 36 IN NAVIGATION

SAILING EXPERIENCE

The moment the First 36 starts to plane, everything changes. Double-digit boat speeds are easy to achieve, always with complete control. This is not a performance reserved for professionals. This is Joy in Planing — accessible, real, and addictive.

The key elements that make this possible are the boat’s light weight and the world-class nautical design of Sam Manuard. An ergonomic and extremely precise steering system is also vital. Race-grade rudder blades and an ergonomic steering system keep the wheels light and direct — downwind at speed, at higher heeling angles, in conditions that would unsettle a heavier boat. Planing is not just fast. On the First 36, it is effortless.

To stay true to its 40 years of Beneteau FIRST heritage, she excels in everything — relaxed family cruising, shorthanded sailing and fully crewed club racing. Cockpit ergonomics was a major focus of the design process. The raised wheel position gives the helmsman direct access to the mainsail winch — a small detail that makes a big difference when you are sailing shorthanded.

Joy in Planing. In complete control.

LIVING ONBOARD

The First 36 features a traditional three-cabin layout. To maximize living space in the saloon, the bathroom footprint is minimized, using an innovative foldable sink. The extra space makes room for a navigation table/onboard office.

Another innovation standing out in the saloon is the standalone fridge island. A removable cutting board can significantly extend the working surface of the standard L-shape galley and make it the largest kitchen area in the class.

High-quality wooden details, in combination with minimalistic GRP, provide a modern, elegant living space below deck.

WHY FIRST 36 ?

First 36

Joy in Planing Made easy

When the First 36 starts to plane in 14 knots of wind, the joy is not something you plan for. It just happens. And when sailing makes you feel alive, you simply want to sail more.

THE DESIGN TEAM

Our designers are not only world-class names from the nautical industry but also passionate sailors and friends. In this project, they found a common goal of designing a true sailing boat for the coming age.

MORE THAN JUST 36 FEET

A modern hull design brings about an extensive interior volume. This allows for an interior with the size and comfort of a 40-footer from the previous generation.

INDUSTRIALIZED HIGH-TECH

The hull, deck, bulkheads and interior components are fully cored and vacuum infused. Everything contributes to structural strength. To date, this building technique has only been used in racing or expensive niche brands. The result is a very stiff boat, weighing only 4.800 kg.

VARIABLE COCKPIT

The cockpit is modular, as it needs to address a wide variety of setups. Removable bench extensions transform the cockpit area into a comfortable cruising lounge.
When extensions are removed, the cockpit has an ergonomic and efficient racing/shorthanded setup.

A connected boat

The mobile application, Seanapps, and its onboard unit lets you view the status of the boat's various systems (battery charge, fuel or water tank levels, maintenance scheduling) via your smartphone, as well as planning your route or reviewing your sailing status using your mobile phone.

Virtual tour

Specifications

Length Overall

36'0"

10.97 m

Beam overall

12'6''

3.8 m

Lightship Displacement

10,580 lbs

4 800 kg

Draught Min

7'5''

2.25 m

Cabin Number

3

Profile

profile-FIRST-36-no-sail

Layouts

Deck plan
Interior layout
FIRST-36-deck-layout

Deck plan

FIRST-36-interior-layout

Interior layout

Press Reviews

Yachting World

Beneteau First 36 review: Is this the best First yacht in years? - Read the article

Sail world

First 36 has her first test in Denmark Read the article

News

News

Beneteau services

With teams for sea trials, financing, customization, events, an after-sales service, and a network of dealers worldwide, BENETEAU delivers the help and expertise every boat owner needs throughout his boating life maintaining an enduring customer relationship.