Is this boat just too beamy?

[Trop Cher]

Last week I viewed a Jeanneau Sun Dance 36 and I am considering making an offer.
However she seems a bit beamy, length is 11m (36 ft) and beam is 3.8m (12'6" ft). Most boats of this size tend to have beams of 11'6"ft or less. The current Jeanneau 36 are a foot narrower.
I would be intested to know how this will affect sailing abilitiy and motion at sea?
Thanks,
Simon

 

[webcraft]

Last week I viewed a Jeanneau Sun Dance 36 and I am considering making an offer.
However she seems a bit beamy, length is 11m (36 ft) and beam is 3.8m (12'6" ft). Most boats of this size tend to have beams of 11'6"ft or less. The current Jeanneau 36 are a foot narrower.
I would be intested to know how this will affect sailing abilitiy and motion at sea?
Thanks,
Simon

I used to sail a Jeanneau SunShine - also 36' (although this one had a sugar scoop fitted whcih took her to 38' LOA). She had a beam of 12' 7" and was a delight to sail. Sitting out on the sloping cockpit coaming with a tiller extension fitted she was like a big dinghy.

She was OK beating into F5-6 - never had her out in anything much stronger than that, but would not have been too worried.

- W

 

[Grumpybear]

my 1999 Jeanneau SO 36.2 is 11m long and 3.75m beam. sails fine. This L:B ratio seems pretty normal for AWBs.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Last week I viewed a Jeanneau Sun Dance 36 and I am considering making an offer.
However she seems a bit beamy, length is 11m (36 ft) and beam is 3.8m (12'6" ft). Most boats of this size tend to have beams of 11'6"ft or less. The current Jeanneau 36 are a foot narrower.
I would be intested to know how this will affect sailing abilitiy and motion at sea?
Thanks,
Simon

This ratio is standard issue these days - you get form stability from the beam, and a more comfortable time in port into the bargain. Wine glass profiles are for Hollywood stars now....


PWG

 

[snowleopard]

I have 23 ft beam on 40 ft length and the motion is very comfortable.

Seriously, you'll get a lot of form stability but you do need to sail it upright or it will gripe. The down side is that a wide flat hull is likely to have a fairly low AVS (angle of vanishing stability) and be pretty stable inverted. More like a cat than a half-boat really!