The Beneteau First 310 1990 vs Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 measures 36,0 feet overall (2020), giving it roughly 4,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Beneteau First 310 1990 at 31,1 feet (1990). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 tips the scales at 16 027 lbs — 7 870 lbs less than the Beneteau First 310 1990 at 8 157 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Beneteau First 310 1990 carries a rated maximum of 18 hp. Engine data for the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Beneteau First 310 1990 carries 17 gallons versus 1 gallons in the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Beneteau First 310 1990 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 displaces 16 027 lbs — a 7 870-lb difference over the Beneteau First 310 1990 at 8 157 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Beneteau First 310 1990 draws 6,0 ft, compared to 3,3 ft for the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020. That 2,8-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Beneteau First 310 1990 uses Sloop rigging. The Beneteau First 310 1990 has a documented auxiliary engine of 18 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 37,2 knots for the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 and 7,2 knots for the Beneteau First 310 1990.
Bottom line: The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB Outboard 2020 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 16 027 lbs displacement and 36 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Beneteau First 310 1990 at 8 157 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.