Beneteau Evasion 36: Room with a good view and balcony in the used boat test
Alexander Worms
· 24.08.2024
The test was actually already done. Sail pictures, measurements, everything in the box. But then the rain came. Lots of cold rain at the beginning of November. That was the moment when the Beneteau Evasion 36 pulled its party trick out of the hat: owner Jens Termöhlen left the helm in the cockpit and went into the saloon.
You can see the steering position there, but only the heavy rain reveals what it can mean in practice. Termöhlen takes a cosy seat on the raised chair and drives the boat comfortably and dryly to its berth. At the touch of a button, the warm air heating also contributes to the feeling of well-being in the saloon and the view through the windows, which can otherwise mist up. While there were still visual doubts about the deck saloon and the many windows at first glance, these have now given way to pragmatism. Dry and warm take precedence over pretty and sleek.
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Anyone interested in a deck saloon yacht has long since made this decision. The elevated saloon offers the best view even when seated. This is an advantage that should not be underestimated in the days of the boat office, as it means that you don't have to interrupt your work below deck every time you hear a noise for a panoramic view of the harbour cinema. A room with a view. Another highlight is the wet room. It can be accessed from the saloon and from the forward cabin. Although the doors are a little narrow at just 1.60 metres high and 40 centimetres wide, the bathroom itself is spacious and easy to use. There is even a usable shower. Only the standing height of 1.72 metres is adapted to the door dimensions. Nevertheless, the wet room is a plus point.
So it's no wonder that the previous owner used the ship in Galicia in northern Spain as his home. The name Evasion, which translates as "escape" or "liberation", is also fitting. Perhaps from ordinary boat shapes or from everyday life. In any case, it has a positive connotation and is somehow coherent.
Used boat profile Beneteau Evasion 36
- Designer: Cabinet Briard
- Dimensions: 10.80 x 3.85 x 1.45 m
- Built: 1990-1994
- Quantity: approx. 50
- New price: 1990 180,000 DM
- Used price: approx. 60,000-70,000 €
After an adventurous transfer, the ship is now moored in the Netherlands, in Friesland to be precise. The low draught made possible by the wing keel comes in handy there. Today, 1.45 metres is not much for a ship of this size. This is also noticeable under sail: In 16 knots of wind, a turning angle of just under 95 degrees is possible on smooth water without a current. More is not possible if the speed is not to drop too much. This, in turn, is fine at 5.9 knots.
However, what contributes to the modest turning angle is the fact that the owner switched to a 110 per cent genoa and the genoa rail on the roof of the saloon was far too short for this. The sail is terribly upright and the leech is far too open. A different solution would have to be found if a small headsail is to be used. If this should consist of an additional rail, great care is required: the deck has a balsa wood core, which must not become damp under any circumstances, as the wood will then rot away very quickly. If fittings are retrofitted, oversized holes must first be drilled and filled with epoxy before drilling into the resin plug. In this way, the deck remains intact. If this is not done, there is a risk of a soft deck. It is important to pay very careful attention to this when buying.
Owner Termöhlen wants to switch back to a larger genoa and reef the mainsail if necessary. However, if the larger genoa also has to be furled, the problem of the genoa track being too short remains. Apart from that, the sail plan raises no questions. Top rig, two spreaders, little rig trim. To bring the cloths into shape, there is a traveller, the foot stretcher and the aforementioned genoa rails. That's enough for home use. The previous owner retrofitted an easier-to-use backstay tensioner. Although this can hardly relieve any pressure in the mainsail due to the top rigging, it is sufficient to take some slack out of the forestay and thus flatten the genoa. The movable backstay also makes it easier to set the mast, as the forestay can be hooked in more easily.
A nice improvement is the conversion of the mainsheet from the cabin superstructure to the cockpit. The traveller is still used, but the helmsman can then also access the mainsheet controls. One eye, three blocks and a new, longer sheet, and the relocation is done. Very sensible. The owner has also adapted the genoa sheet. It no longer runs to the coachroof, but to the winches on the coaming. Unfortunately, this means that the sheet runs right over the gangway board and is therefore a tripping hazard on the way forwards.
The advantage of the drums on the coachroof, which were originally designed as sheet winches, is that they are now very generous in their function as halyard winches. This makes operating the mainsail from the cockpit particularly convenient. Unfortunately, however, the sluggish steering spoils the sailing fun. Although the wheel inside is connected to the quadrant via a hydraulic system and is therefore redundant, this hydraulic system needs to be moved. This is noticeable on the wheel in the cockpit. What a pity! Owner Termöhlen is researching a way to achieve smoother steering on deck. That would be desirable.
Below deck
Below deck is not really below at all. The saloon is almost on the same level as the cockpit, separated only by the bridge deck. The galley is located on the starboard side. The galley has a really large cooling compartment and the option of wedging yourself in between the sideboard and companionway. This makes it easy to work at sea. There is a wide range of very usable stowage options throughout the ship. A lot of space has been created by raising the saloon. For example, the water tank installed there is 450 litres in size. The 170-litre diesel tank is also installed there. The space for the tanks is therefore available elsewhere as storage space.
There is a small navigation table in front of the galley, which is part of the interior driving position. The boat can be driven from here as described. However, sailing is only possible to a limited extent. The sails are of course not visible or accessible from here, but passages under engine or night watches are very easy to complete.
The large and cosy seating area is located on the port side. Two stools, which can be placed in the centre of the boat if required, allow all crew members to sit at the table. However, as a sea berth, the bench is rather short at 1.80 metres in length. If it were ten centimetres longer, it would exactly match the standing height in the boat. At 1.90 metres, this is not exactly generous from today's perspective. But that was standard back then. Great: almost all the windows can be opened. This keeps the saloon pleasant even in summer. Owner Termöhlen reports that he takes refuge here when the sun is too strong, even for steering.
Easily usable berths in the bow and aft
We enter the foredeck past the wet room. The bunk there is a pleasing 2.04 metres long and a comfortable 1.70 metres wide in the shoulder area. At the foot end, 71 centimetres remain. Unfortunately, an arch required for the structure runs over the bunk at around knee height. It is only 33 centimetres high. What a pity! In the original, the berth also lacks a corner on the starboard side. It is supposed to serve as a shelf. However, this is rather pointless. Enlarging the mattress provides a significant increase in comfort. The owner has also recognised this and has already implemented it. There is also plenty of storage space here. The cupboard, drawers and the entire volume under the berth can accommodate any amount of stowage items. Ventilation is only provided by a deck hatch.
The same dimensions as in the front can also be found in the aft berth. However, it does not get any narrower towards the foot end. Even the lowest height of 48 centimetres is perfectly acceptable. A bunk that can also be used by two people. It is also surrounded by shelves, cupboards and drawers. However, ventilation is only provided by small hatches, which may not be sufficient in summer. The division of the cushions into several sections is equally dubious. Although this makes the storage spaces underneath more accessible, it reduces sleeping comfort due to cracks and parts slipping away.
The optional gennaker winches were fitted in the cockpit on the test boat. This makes it easy to operate the deflected headsheets and mainsheet. It is easy to stand behind the wheel when the passage to the platform is folded aft. Otherwise it is a bit cramped here. The wheel can just about be reached from the coaming. The seats in the pushpit were retrofitted. They are very cosy, even if there is no control element accessible from there. At 1.97 metres, the benches are a pleasing length. Only the backrest could be a little higher for comfortable seating.
Sails not bad, but is no revelation
Large storage spaces, good berth dimensions, ample tanks and a saloon from which you can see out perfectly, even when seated: The boat is ideal for people who want to spend a lot of time on board. The shallow draught and inside steering position also allow inland passages, for example on French canals, when the mast does not have to be carried.
Like many boats of this type, the Evasion is no revelation in terms of sailing, especially due to the stiff rudder and shallow keel. But she doesn't sail badly at all, it's just that travelling is more in the foreground than pure sailing pleasure. However, the same applies to older Moody Eclipse and Sirius. If you don't want to afford them and can live with an interior from the large series, albeit from a time when real wood was still used, the Evasion 36 is a good alternative.
You should make sure that the superstructure windows are tight, the deck is still solid, especially around the fittings, and the keel bolts are intact. These have obviously been screwed into the keel, making replacement almost impossible. Unfortunately, only a few Evasion 36s were built, so it is all the more worth keeping an eye on the market, as the loss in value is likely to be low.
Model history and design
Only about 50 were built and there were no options. All boats have the wing keel and the furling mainsail. The hull was built solid. The deck is a sandwich. A battened main deck was retrofitted on the test ship
Market situation
If you're looking for a boat like this, you have to be quick. There are always some coming onto the market, but they are quickly gone. Prices are between 60,000 and 70,000 euros, depending on condition
Status 08/2024
You should pay attention to this
Pay particular attention to the rigidity of the deck when retrofitting fittings. Unfortunately, rusting washers were used for the keel. It is questionable whether the screws can be loosened and refastened to replace the washers. If the washers have rusted away, the keel is loose. Therefore, protect the discs as well as possible against corrosion. Leaks are possible at the many windows in the superstructure
The measured values for the Beneteau Evasion 36 test
The Beneteau Evasion 36 in detail
Technical data of the Beneteau Evasion 36
- Design engineer: Cabinet Briard
- Torso length: 10,60 m
- Total length: 10,80 m
- Waterline length: 9,70 m
- Width: 3,85 m
- Depth: 1,45 m
- Mast height above WL: 14,70 m
- Theoretical torso speed: 7.6 kn
- Weight: 5,5 t
- Ballast/proportion: 2,1 t/38 %
- Mainsail: 26,0 m2
- Furling genoa (150 %): 37,0 m2
- machine (Volvo P.): 25 kW/33 hp
- Fuel tank: 170 l
- Fresh water tanks: 459 l
- Holding tank: n. v.
Price and shipyard
- Base price 1990: approx. 180,000 DM
- Used price: 60.000-70.000 €
Shipyard
YACHT review of the Beneteau Evasion 36
Solid residential boat with a high level of comfort. Outstanding sailing performance was not the main focus of the design. The shallow draught opens up many sailing areas
Design and concept
- + View from deck saloon
- + Inside steering position
Sailing performance and trim
- + Only with furling mainsail
- + Large winches
- - One-handed suitability
Living and finishing quality
- + Many windows to open
- + Lots of storage space
- - Door to wet room too narrow
Equipment and technology
- + Large tanks
- + Passage to the bathing platform
- - Rudder stiff
