OUR VERDICT
What’s she like to sail?
The helmsman has a commanding view from his eyrie atop the ‘layer cake’ style coachroof, with excellent vision forward. She can easily be sailed solo with the sheet winches to hand and the mainsheet sheeted to the aft end of the cockpit.
Her wheel steering is light and easy and she responds well, yet is not skittish – you can leave the helm, at least briefly to check all is clear to leeward behind the genoa – and she will not run off wildly.
So far so good. However in heavy seas and high winds I think the Beneteau Oceanis 36cc Clipper would be a handful with her relatively small keel for such a bulk of topsides and coachroof. It may not matter much if you're sailing downwind, but it will when going to windward.
Every good yacht is a compromise and in this one, which offers both a slippery hull and spacious accommodation, the trade-off is likely to be relatively poor upwind performance in heavy weather.
What’s she like in port and at anchor?
Her 5ft draught is moderate and will get you to places that deeper keels can't reach. She should be able to dry out against a wall if you need to. The original 16 kg Danforth anchor is a touch on the light side for her, and she would be better suited to a new generation anchor. I'd also want to fit a double bow roller so I could easily pick up moorings.
Her galley is one of her great assets: for preparing and cooking food, there is more room available in the Oceanis 36cc Clipper than in most boats of this size that I've sailed. The sea-cook can prepare dishes without interruption, as anyone wishing to access the aft cabin while cooking is under way can do so via the walk-through heads, which has doors into both the saloon and the aft cabin.
For living aboard, away from the easy facilities of a marina, again this boat scores highly. In her super-sized heads and ‘wet room’, you'll find more than 2.0m (6ft 7in) headroom. Her sugar-scoop stern is handy for stern-to mooring and offers an easy transfer from tender to deck. With a sturdy bathing ladder, a family crew will find it ideal for sea-bathing and crabbing.
Would she suit you and your crew?
With her big double forecabin and a spacious double cabin aft, too, there is room for two couples or a family to go off cruising together without getting on each other’s nerves. And there’s also the saloon, which has a single settee berth and room for a double on the port side. That said, stowage space is limited, due to the trade-off in favour of the galley and walk-through heads.
Her cockpit is deep and safe, while the sail controls, if not to hand, are close by. Her fixed screen offers protection from any spray which manages to fly that high, and it shelters the crew from the wind very effectively.
She's not the fastest boat to windward, but (unless it's heavy weather) she'll get you there in comfort and you'll be able to eat well en route, too.