2001 Beneteau Oceanis 361

The 2001 Beneteau Oceanis 361 is a 36-foot fiberglass cruising sailboat powered by a 30-horsepower Nanni diesel engine. This model is recognized as one of the most successful mid-sized cruisers produced, with over 500 built between 1999 and 2004. The design balances comfort for extended cruising with handling characteristics that make it responsive and manageable for small crews. The hull features a moderate entry that widens toward the beam, providing good stability. A shoal-draft keel of approximately 5 feet makes this boat suitable for shallow-water cruising in areas like the Chesapeake and Bahamas. The deck is balsa-cored for insulation and low weight.

The interior offers exceptional volume for its size, with 6 feet 4 inches of headroom throughout the main salon. Large forward-facing windows and opening ports flood the cabin with natural light. The two-cabin layout includes an aft cabin with a transverse double berth and a forward V-berth. To starboard, the head features a separate walk-in shower with teak seat—an uncommon amenity for this size. The galley to port is laid out in a C-shape with generous counter space, a top-loading freezer, and a separate front-loading refrigerator.

The boat is rigged as a masthead sloop with double aft-swept spreaders and in-mast furling, with all control lines led aft to the cockpit for ease of handling. The balanced spade rudder provides responsive steering and good tracking. In typical conditions of 12 to 15 knots, the boat achieves cruising speeds in the 6.5 to 7-knot range, with best performance on a reach.

Recent work includes a new engine, new transmission, new batteries, new Bimini and dodger, and a new smart battery monitor. The boat is currently on the hard in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.