Beneteau Gran Turismo 35: Express Yourself
Beneteau Power sets its eyes on the competitive American express boat market.
October 11, 2014
A lot of folks would scratch their heads if you started talking about Beneteau powerboats, such as the Barracuda 9 or Swift Trawler 44. That’s because most American boaters know little about Beneteau, aside from its extensive sailboat heritage. But over the last four years it's become difficult to dispute the French company's serious powerboat credentials, especially when you look at its current lineup of flybridge yachts, trawlers, fishing boats, and express cruisers.
Watch our Beneteau Gran Turismo 35: Video Boat Review
Sleek, elegant lines mixed with an aggressive stance give the Beneteau Gran Turismo 35 a slick European look.
Enhancing that lineup and brand-new for 2014 is the Gran Turismo 35. It’s an express cruiser set to do battle with fast and agile boats such as Sea Ray’s Sundancer 350, Rinker’s Express Cruiser 340, and Cruisers Yachts 350 Express. And it's around 15 percent less than some these popular models it's likely to be shopped against, like the aforementioned Sea Ray Sundancer 350. These are boats designed for day tripping, entertaining, and weekend overnighting, but with a bit speed and performance baked in, too.
The Gran Turismo 35 is built at Beneteau’s South American plant in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. Throughout I found an incredible attention to detail, from the way the stainless-steel railings were installed, down to the solid feel of how the cabinetry opened and closed. The hull and decks are cored with balsa, except in places that require extra strength, such as where through-hulls are installed, or where railings or deck fittings are attached. Those areas are built up with added solid fiberglass. Polyester resin is used in all the lamination schedules, except for the hull, which has a thick coat of vinylester added to prevent osmotic blistering.
The design is Euro-inspired, with a touch of Mediterranean flair. There’s a hint of reverse sheer, and the swooping cockpit windows give the boat a feel of motion, even when it’s sitting still. Three round ports punctuate the hull to provide a ship-like feel to the design, while a sturdy radar arch creates an aggressive stance. The Gran Turismo 35 features Beneteau’s Air Step system, which introduces a layer of air under the hull by actively venting it from the outside, improving both efficiency and performance.
Beautiful teak decks, an expansive swim platform, and a large, comfortable cockpit make the Gran Turismo 35 an outdoor entertaining machine.
Speaking of performance, acceleration is impressive with twin 300-horsepower, 5.7-liter Volvo Penta engines, and stern drives tipped with Duoprops. And let me tell you, those two V8s sing a harmonious tune when you stoke the fire. Unfortunately, however, the Gran Turismo 35 had an uncomfortable amount of bow rise that blocked my view from the helm when I pushed the throttles forward hard. I tried this maneuver a few times at varying levels of trim, with the same results. Once up on a level plane, top speed with these silky-smooth beasts was 43 mph, with a good cruise settling in around 25 mph to 30 mph.
Something you’ll notice at most any speed is how easy it is for the cockpit occupants to carry on a conversation. At 30 mph I could easily talk with the other two people aboard (one behind me, and one farther aft at the dinette) without yelling. That’s a nice entertaining feature. Tracking and turning was precise and without any noticeable slipping, and docking maneuvers were made unbelievably easy with the Volvo Penta Sterndrive Joystick system. In fact, we were able to make this 35-footer walk completely sideways, which resulted in "oohs and aahs" from the fuel dock staff when we pulled in to gas up. They were even more surprised when they found out the boat was equipped with stern drives.
Lay the hammer down and the Gran Turismo 35 can accelerate past 40 mph.
Every time I get on a boat with full teak decking I think to myself, “This is how every boat deck should be finished.” When I come back to reality, I realize that it’s great for a boat like the Beneteau Gran Turismo 35, and I’m glad that they included as standard from the swim platform all the way through the cockpit to the companionway. It’s something that’s difficult to find on other boats of this class, even as an option. It not only improves traction, it just plain feels good underfoot.
The deck layout is fairly similar to most express boats of this size. The swim platform is h-u-g-e huge, with enough room for an integral electric barbecue grill and sink. Cockpit access is through a transom door at the stern, and immediately to port on entry is a C-shaped seating area with sturdy teak table big enough for at least six people. To starboard is a nice chaise lounge; some might find it a bit narrow because of the way it tapers down at the feet. Farther forward to port is a wet bar with a large sink, wine rack, trash bin, and a deep integral ice box that’s big enough to swallow up at least three cases of sodas or adult beverages.
The interior layout on the Gran Turismo 35 is open and airy. That's because Beneteau decided to forego an enclosed forward stateroom in favor of a large dinette that can be converted to a sleeping berth.
The helm features a two-person bench that seemed a little too high (I have average-length legs and they couldn't reach the cockpit sole), but the placement of the wheel, engine controls, instruments, switches, and electronics was perfect. The windshield appeared to be installed at too low an angle at first, but it proved itself by to deflecting every bit of wind from my face when I was in a seated position underway. That low windshield means visibility forward is top-notch.
Twin molded fiberglass steps lead to the foredeck from the cockpit through a hinged opening in the windshield. The foredeck has a large sun pad/lounge and access to the anchor windlass and locker is easy. I really liked the sturdiness and height of the welded stainless-steel bow railing; it gives a secure feeling when you’re up on the foredeck.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 37'7" |
| Beam | 11'1" |
| Draft | 2'9" |
| Deadrise | N/A |
| Displacement | 11,177 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 129 gal. |
| Water capacity | 42 gal. |
Below-deck accommodations are one place where express boat designs can fall short of the mark, but not so with the Gran Turismo 35. In lieu of an enclosed master stateroom in the bow, Beneteau placed a large seating area with dinette there instead. That opens up the layout for more people to enjoy. The dinette table can be lowered to form a large berth. In case you are looking for a private space, a large, enclosed, under-deck stateroom is situated aft, to starboard. It’s a bit tight in the headroom department (as are most amidships cabins of this type), but there is a dressing area with standing headroom.
Aft to port is an enclosed head that doubles as a shower. The starboard galley has a sink, two-burner electric cooktop, mini fridge/freezer, and plenty of stowage in rich wood cabinetry. As with most small galleys of this type, think Hamburger Helper, not beef Wellington. All in all, the Gran Turismo 35 is comfy, open, and well-ventilated below. That makes it a candidate for weekend overnighters or entertaining when the weather is less than ideal.
Some folks like gunkholing and weekend overnighters in marinas, while others might prefer fast evening trips to a dockside restaurant. Maybe your idea of fun is an evening sundowner cruise with ten of your friends. However you choose to express yourself on the water, this capable express boat from Beneteau nails the landing.
Other Choices: For express boats with outboard power in this size range, check out the Sea Ray 370 Venture or Pursuit SC 365i. The Regal 38 Express is a good choice for those seeking an express boat with diesel power.
Watch our Beneteau Gran Turismo 35: Video Boat Review
See all listings for Beneteau Gran Turismo 35s.
For more information, visit Beneteau Powerboats.
