CY reviews GT 36
Jan 23, 2020
The newest member of Beneteau’s Gran Turismo line is the GT 36 and this yacht brings the style and features of the GT line to a more accessible size. In fact, the GT 36 creates an ideal mix of virtues that should appeal to many buyers in this price range.
The GT 36 is the first U.S. built Gran Turismo model and it is built in Beneteau’s Cadillac, Michigan facility, but it uses many of the same materials and techniques as other Beneteau models. This does save duty for Canadian buyers because the boat will be coming from the United States.
Overall, the GT 36 is an express hard top design with a massive sliding electric sunroof, lots of side glass and an open cockpit lounge space leading to a huge swim platform. The versatile sun pad convertible seat is a highlight of this out- door living area.
Also available in an outboard version, our test boat had inboards; twin MerCruiser 6.2 litre sterndrives with 300 hp V8 engines and Bravo Three drives. The test boat also included a Westerbeke 7.5 kW generator that runs on gasoline as do the MerCruiser engines, so you don’t need to keep two different fuel types. Not only were the engines all quite accessible when we lifted the aft seat, but so were the batteries and other mechanical systems.
Overall, this is a very contemporary, spacious and sexy 36-footer that runs and feels like it should cost a lot more. Look for the GT 36 at the boat shows this winter!
You can read, Canadian Yachting’s full review of the GT36 in our February issue.
