Beneteau Sport Yachts & Express Cruisers

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 Review, the Michigan-Built GT

The first Gran Turismo designed with Beneteau's US team and built in Cadillac, Michigan, with twin sterndrives or outboards and a two-cabin layout.

2020 to 2024 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
37.9 ft11.56 m
Beam
11.5 ft3.51 m
Cruise
21.1 kn
Cabins
2 (forward owner's cabin, aft guest cabin)
Used price
$240K to $380K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Why the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is different
  3. Boating's test with twin 6.2 liter V8s
  4. A cockpit lounge built around conversation
  5. Two cabins and a head that beats its class
  6. Sterndrive or outboard, and the numbers that change
  7. What it costs to keep one
  8. Values, rivals and what replaced it
  9. Specifications
  10. Price and value
  11. Strengths and weaknesses
  12. Used buyer checklist
  13. Rivals
  14. Our verdict
  15. FAQ

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 (GT36) is a 37 ft 11 in hardtop express cruiser built in Cadillac, Michigan from the 2020 model year to 2024, with twin Mercury sterndrives or outboards, two cabins and a separate shower.

Best for
  • Entertaining on lakes, rivers and coastal bays
  • Two couples weekending
  • Buyers who want a European-styled boat with US build and support
  • Owners stepping up from a large bowrider or center console

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 by the numbers

LOA 37' 11" / 11.56 mBeam 11' 6" / 3.51 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Speed to length ratio at cruise
3.67A planing cruise. Fast passages in exchange for much higher fuel burn per mile.
Estimated range at cruise
160 nmUsing 90 percent of tank capacity at the cruise speed and fuel burn listed on this page.
Fuel economy at cruise
0.89 nmpgNautical miles per gallon at cruise, both engines combined.
Horsepower per ton
101 hpVery high power to weight, built for speed.
Length to beam ratio
3.30 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 118 sport yachts & express cruisers we cover

18 ft92 ft

Why the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is different

Most Beneteau powerboats are designed and built in France. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is the exception: Beneteau describes it as the first Gran Turismo developed with its product design team in the USA and built in Cadillac, Michigan, for the rivers, lakes and coasts of North America. It was also the first GT offered with an outboard engine package, at a time when American buyers were moving to outboards at every size.

It arrived for the 2020 model year as the second boat in the 2018 to 2024 Gran Turismo generation, after the GT32, and Boating described it as wider, longer and roomier than the earlier GT35 of 2014 to 2016. It carries European CE certification as well as ABYC and NMMA certification, and YachtBuyer notes it was a Best of Boats finalist in the Best for Family category in 2021.

Boating's test with twin 6.2 liter V8s

Boating tested an inboard GT36 on the Chesapeake with twin MerCruiser 6.2 liter V8s turning Bravo Three sterndrives with 21 inch pitch stainless propsets. Top speed was 33.7 knots at 5,400 rpm burning 44.2 gallons per hour. The most economical cruise came at 4,000 rpm, 21.1 knots on 23.8 gph, for a range of about 160 nautical miles. At 4,500 rpm the boat ran 26.7 knots on 30.3 gph, and at 5,000 rpm 31.1 knots on 37.1 gph.

The tester liked how the boat accelerated even with seven people aboard, and found it soft and dry in the upper 20s and low 30s. Zipwake interceptor trim tabs linked to GPS handled fore and aft and lateral trim automatically, and the joystick made docking simple. Beneteau's own literature claims up to 40 mph, about 35 knots, with 600 or 700 hp.

A cockpit lounge built around conversation

Under the hardtop and its electric moonroof, the helm and companion seats are both double benches with flip-down bolsters, so four people can sit forward. Behind them, a U-shaped lounge to port faces an L-shaped lounge to starboard around a solid wood table, seating about seven, and Boating noted that helm-deck air conditioning keeps the area usable in August. Aft are a two-person sun pad, a summer galley to starboard with an optional electric grill and a gate to an 8 ft 6 in by 2 ft 9 in swim platform with ladder and shower.

The sun pad and the aft part of the port lounge rise together on electric rams to open the engine compartment, which on outboard boats becomes a huge storage area. Steps lead up to side decks with tall rails and a two-person bow lounge with headrests, armrests and speakers, with an optional sun awning. Outboard boats lose some platform to the engines but gain side extensions.

Two cabins and a head that beats its class

Below, Beneteau's equipment list gives 6 ft 5 in of headroom in the salon and galley and 6 ft 6 in in the owner's cabin and head. The forward owner's cabin has an island double of 2.00 by 1.40 m, hanging lockers and bookshelves; the aft guest cabin has two 0.70 m singles that convert to a double, with sitting headroom over the berth and a stand-up dressing area inside the door. The head splits the shower, behind a translucent door, from the toilet and vanity, which Beneteau called best in class for the size.

Opposite a three-person settee, the galley has two electric burners recessed under a countertop lid that cuts power when closed, a feature Boating singled out, along with a 65 liter fridge. Venetian blinds on stainless cables cover the hull windows, a 5 kW gasoline generator and air conditioning cool both cabins and the salon, and a 7 gallon water heater runs off the generator or shore power.

Sterndrive or outboard, and the numbers that change

The two versions differ more than the badge suggests. Beneteau's December 2023 North American list gives an inboard light displacement of 7,215 kg (15,906 lb) and a 1.15 m (3 ft 9 in) draft, against 7,276 kg (16,036 lb) for the outboard boat with engines and 1.02 m with the motors down. Length is 37 ft 11 in on the standard platform and up to 40 ft 9 in with the extended one, and both carry two 380 liter fuel tanks, 200 gallons in total, plus 40 gallons of water.

Early boats paired the inboard version with twin 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2 V8 sterndrives and offered twin 350 hp outboards; the late equipment list shows twin Mercury V10 Verado outboards of 350 or 400 hp with joystick. Gasoline power keeps purchase price down but makes the GT36 a thirsty boat; at its economical cruise it still burns close to 24 gallons an hour.

What it costs to keep one

With twin gasoline engines, a generator and air conditioning, budget roughly $22,000 to $42,000 a year in the US excluding depreciation, driven mainly by fuel and storage. A season of 100 engine hours at a 21 knot cruise burns around 2,400 gallons. Sterndrive boats need regular bellows, gimbal and anode attention, while outboard boats are simpler to service and repower.

Boating noted one practical irritation: salon sole service panels fit so precisely that putting them back requires patience. It is a small point, but it tells you access below is tight, so check that previous owners have not damaged panels or edges.

Values, rivals and what replaced it

As a US-built boat, the GT36 is easier to find and service in America than its French siblings. YachtBuyer recently tracked a 2023 example at about $330,000, European listings span roughly 274,500 to 360,000 euros, and Boating's test boat was $412,000 new with options. We estimate $240,000 to $380,000 depending on year, engines and equipment, with Boating citing Sea Ray's Sundancer 350 Coupe at $451,953 as the obvious domestic comparison.

Beneteau ended the 2018 to 2024 Gran Turismo generation in 2024 and launched an all-new range in 2025. Its closest replacement is the outboard-only Gran Turismo 35 shown at Cannes that year. If you want range rather than speed, Boating's advice still applies: look at the Swift Trawler 35 instead.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 specifications

Length overall37.9 ft11.56 m
Beam11.5 ft3.51 m
Draft3.8 ft1.15 m
Air draft13.6 ft4.14 m
Displacement15,906 lbs7,215 kg
Fuel capacity2 gal76 L
Fresh water4 gal15 L
Cabins2 (forward owner's cabin, aft guest cabin)
Berths4
Heads1, with separate shower and toilet spaces
Maximum persons10
Standard enginesInboard version: twin MerCruiser 6.2L 300 hp V8 sterndrives with Bravo Three drives and joystick
Optional enginesOutboard version: twin Mercury 350 hp; late equipment lists show twin Mercury V10 350 or 400 Verado outboards
Maximum power800 hp
Cruise speed21.1 knots
Top speed33.7 knots
Range160 nm
Hull typePlaning V hull with 17 degrees of transom deadrise
Hull constructionGRP
CE design categoryB (8 people) / C (10 people)
BuilderBeneteau (Beneteau Group plant, Cadillac, Michigan), USA
Naval architectBeneteau Powerboats
Other design creditsStyle & Design (exterior and interior); Andreani Design credited on Beneteau's model page
Production2020 to 2024
StatusDiscontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

Performance data

RPMSpeed (kn)Fuel (gph)Range (nm)
10004.23.6209
20007.77.2193
300010.515.2125
350016.120.6141
400021.123.8160
450026.730.3159
500031.137.1151
540033.744.2137

Boating magazine test on Chesapeake Bay, twin MerCruiser 6.2 liter 300 hp V8s with Bravo Three sterndrives. Range as published by Boating.

How much does a Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$240K to $380K
Yearly running costs$22K to $42K

Boating's sterndrive test boat was priced at $412,000 with a generator and three-zone air conditioning. YachtBuyer recently tracked a 2023 boat at about $330,000, and European listings for 2021 to 2024 boats run from about 274,500 to 360,000 euros. Outboard boats with the V10 Verados and low hours command the top of the range, and a working generator and air conditioning are worth paying for in the South.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$250K$300K$350K20202020, $240,000 to $290,00020212021, $255,000 to $305,00020222022, $270,000 to $325,00020232023, $290,000 to $350,00020242024, $310,000 to $380,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

Gran Turismo 36 Inboard
Twin MerCruiser 6.2L 300 hp V8 sterndrives with joystick, full-width swim platform, 7,215 kg light, 3 ft 9 in draft.
Gran Turismo 36 Outboard
Twin Mercury outboards (350 hp at launch, V10 350 or 400 Verado in late lists), split platform with side extensions, 7,276 kg with engines.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 timeline

  1. 2019Beneteau announces a Gran Turismo 36 to follow the GT32
  2. 2020GT36 introduced, built in Cadillac, Michigan, with inboard and outboard versions
  3. 2021Best of Boats finalist in the Best for Family category
  4. 2023December North American equipment list shows twin Mercury V10 Verado outboard options
  5. 2025New Gran Turismo range launches with the GT35 and GT40

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Built in the US with ABYC certification and easier domestic support
  • Choice of sterndrive or outboard power
  • Sociable cockpit lounge for seven with air conditioning
  • 6 ft 5 in or more headroom below and a separate shower
  • Joystick and Zipwake automatic trim make it easy to handle
  • Huge storage in the outboard version's engine space

What to weigh up

  • Gasoline power burns about 24 gph even at economical cruise
  • Only 40 gallons of fresh water
  • Guest cabin has sitting headroom only over the berth
  • Tight-fitting salon service panels
  • Discontinued after a short production run

Used Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Sea Ray Sundancer 350

Boating's comparison, heavier and pricier with more berths but a smaller salon entertaining area.

Compare side by side

Cruisers Yachts 35 Express

Wisconsin-built express with a strong US dealer network.

Compare side by side

Regal 36 XO

US-built outboard crossover cruiser with a similar entertaining focus.

Compare side by side

Bavaria S36

German open sportscruiser, roomier below with a more traditional cockpit.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is a well-judged American express cruiser with French design manners. Its cockpit is genuinely sociable, the head and headroom below are better than most rivals, and building it in Michigan gives US owners easier support than other Beneteau powerboats. The catch is fuel: gasoline engines make it thirsty, so it is best for owners who entertain more than they travel. Buy a late boat with the joystick, Zipwake and a healthy generator, and choose outboards if you want simpler maintenance and that cavernous engine-space storage.

Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 questions answered

Where was the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 built?

In Beneteau's plant in Cadillac, Michigan. It was the first Gran Turismo developed with the US design team for North America.

How fast is the Gran Turismo 36?

Boating measured 33.7 knots with twin MerCruiser 6.2 liter sterndrives, with an economical cruise of 21.1 knots at 23.8 gallons per hour.

Does the Beneteau 36 Gran Turismo come with outboards?

Yes. It was the first GT offered with an outboard package, and late North American lists show twin Mercury V10 Verados of 350 or 400 hp.

How many cabins does the GT36 have?

Two, a forward owner's cabin with an island double and an aft guest cabin with two singles that convert to a double, plus a head with separate shower.

What does a used Gran Turismo 36 cost?

We estimate $240,000 to $380,000 depending on year and engines. Boating's test boat listed at $412,000 new.

What replaced the Gran Turismo 36?

The 2018 to 2024 GT range ended in 2024, and the closest replacement is the new outboard-only Gran Turismo 35 launched in 2025.

More sport yachts & express cruisers to explore

Other Beneteau models

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