36 foot sailboat

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25 Sailboats Under 40′

• By Cruising World Staff
• Updated: March 25, 2014

Catalina 275 Sport

“This is a complete package; it’s a good sailing boat and well-thought-out. It’s definitely ready for prime time,” says Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman. Click here to read why the Catalina 275 Sport won Best Pocket Cruiser in 2014.

Beneteau First 30

As they approached the First 30 to conduct their dockside evaluation during the boat show, the BOTY judges may have been just a little skeptical of this performance-oriented 30-footer’s cruisability. But that skepticism turned into appreciation as soon as they stepped below, and they were downright enamored with how the boat sailed. Click here to read why the Beneteau First 30 won Best Small Cruiser, 20 feet and Under in 2011.

The Presto 30 is an innovative, well-built, good looking cruising boat that satisfied its stated design brief as well as any other boat the judges looked at, though it’s not what you might expect from an average cruising boat. Cruising World judges also noted that this easy-to-handle boat may attract new sailors to the sport so they can learn the ropes and then trade up to another model, an approach that’s important to the health of the entire industry. Click here to read how the Presto 30 won the Cruising Spirit Award in 2011.

Catalina 309

“I think that for the purpose it was put on the water, to be able to walk down, jump aboard, and simply go enjoy it on a weekend, the boat not only hit the price in terms of value but also hit the mark in terms of use,” remarked judge Alvah Simon, a world voyager. Click to read why the Catalina 309 won Domestic Boat of the Year for 2007 .

The J/95’s retractable centerboard and dual rudders make it possible to sail in just 3 feet of water. During our dockside visit, designer Rod Johnstone told us that he wanted to build a comfortable coastal cruiser that could keep people sailing by providing “high performance in shallow water,” and the J/95 did exactly what Rod said it would. Click here to read how it won Best Weekender and Domestic Boat of the Year for 2010.

Catalina 315

This nifty pocket cruiser raises the Catalina quality bar with more comfort and better performance. It’s the little things that make this boat special, including the tall rig, the wide cockpit, the large anchor locker, the sprit for the asymmetric kite, and the clever use of space below. Click here to read how the Catalina 315 won Best Inshore Cruiser for 2013.

The Delphia 33 is a boat that’s maximized every inch of available space, and the overall fit and finish, from the joiner work to the systems installation to the structural integrity of the boat, is well done. Click here to read why the Delphia 33 won Import Boat of the Year in 2008.

“With this introductory cruiser, Hunter is trying to bring people up through its ranks and into cruising from trailer-sailers and smaller boats,” said Alvah Simon. “And the company has done that with a 33-footer that has quality and affordability but is still manageable and unintimidating.” Click here to read why the Hunter e33 won Best Compact Cruiser for 2012.

C&C 101

The 33-foot C&C 101 boasts thoroughly modern lines and a nice turn of speed but also features a fine layout belowdecks, with cherry furniture and a teak cabin sole. Click here to read why the C&C 101 won Domestic Boat of the Year and Best Performance Cruiser in 2013.

This dual-purpose cruiser is both easy to handle and zippy on the racecourse. Click here to read why the X-34 won Best Racer-Cruiser for 2009.

Beneteau 34

This affordable performance cruiser is a blast to sail, with details often lacking on more expensive boats. Click here to read a boat review of the Beneteau 34. Click here to read why the Beneteau 34 won the award for Best Value in 2009.

Tartan 3400

The Tartan 3400, with double cabins fore and aft, was still sufficiently nimble and distinctive to cop the 2006 Boat of the Year award for Best Production Cruiser from 31 to 36 Feet. Click here to read more.

The BOTY judges found lots on which to agree as they proclaimed the Najad 355 to be the Best Small Cruiser of 2008: great sails, solid motion through the water, practical interior, well-laid-out deck. Click here to read more.

Catalina 355

Two themes—consideration and principles—epitomize the Catalina 355. Click here to read why it won Domestic Boat of the Year in 2011.

Sabre Spirit

Andrew Burton found the 36-foot Sabre Spirit boat not only easily handled and fast but also a sheer delight to sail; no wonder it won the Judges’ Choice Award in Cruising World’s 2008 Boat of the Year contest. Click here to read more .

Island Packet Estero

Comfortable surroundings are easily driven by a fully self-tending and roller-furling rig on the 36-foot Island Packet Estero. Click here to read why it won Best Midsize Cruiser Under 40 feet in 2010.

Hallberg-Rassy 37

Like the Swedes who manufacture it, the Hallberg-Rassy 37 is a hardy sailer. The boat’s seakindly performance gives the assurance that it can take you anywhere, and once you get aboard, that’s exactly where you’ll want to go. Click here to read why it won Import Boat of the Year in 2006.

Malö 37 Classic

This purpose-built craft is a dream to steer and a delight to the eyes. Click here to read how it won Import Boat of the Year for 2009. Click here to read a full boat review.

Catalina 375

Solid construction and thoughtful amenities make life onboard this boat more comfortable. Click here to read why the Catalina 375 won Best All-Purpose Cruiser, 30 to 40 Feet in 2009.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379

This midsize offering from Jeanneau has a modern look and is ready for sea. Click here to read why it won Domestic Boat of the Year and Best Midsize Cruiser for 2012.

“This very responsive sailboat scoots along quite nicely, I think as well as anything we sailed in this fleet,” says Boat of the Year judge Mark Schrader. Click here to read why the Dehler 38 won Best Cruising Sailboat Under 38 Feet in 2014.

Better-than-expected performance, good design ideas, and follow-through in their execution led to the Hunter 38 winning Best Production Cruiser Under 40 feet for 2005. Click here to read more.

Who says a cruising cat under 40 feet isn’t big enough for comfortable accommodations? The 38’s hulls are narrow where they meet the water for performance purposes but flare out to create ample interior space. Click here to read why the Leopard 38 won Import Boat of the Year in 2010.

Seawind 1160

This 38-foot cat will appeal to cruisers who want a well-built boat that can sail away in a hurry. Click here to read why the Seawind 1160 won Best Multihull Cruiser and Most Innovative Boat for 2007.

“The company is mixing traditional aesthetics with modern gear–from the carbon rudder to tweakers on the jib tracks, and it works really well,” said Boat of the Year judge Steve Callahan of the Sabre 386. Click here to read why it was named Domestic Boat of the Year for 2005.

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Moody 36 MkII: a centre-cockpit cruiser that’s practical and fun

• Duncan Kent
• June 17, 2021

The build quality, comfort and seaworthiness of the Moody 36 MkII makes her a popular family cruiser, as Duncan Kent discovers

The Moody 36's excellent balance means there is little or no weather helm. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

The Bill Dixon-designed Moody 36 combines practicality, comfort, sea kindliness and high-quality build, making her an ideal cruising yacht.

The Moody 36 MkII might be described as a family coastal cruiser, but she has a performance not previously seen in Moody’s centre-cockpit range of yachts and is easily seaworthy enough to cross oceans – as many have.

A development of his earlier 35, the Moody 36 MkII had a slightly slimmer hull and longer waterline, which resulted in a noticeably quicker and better-balanced boat.

Though most owners buy Moodys for the considerable comforts they offer, they were meticulously constructed and have excellent sea-keeping abilities too.

Design and construction of the Moody 36 MkII

The Moody 36’s near-plumb stem, attractive retroussé stern and pleasantly rising sheer line with teak-capped bulwark give her a classy, yet modern look.

She carries maximum beam a long way aft, providing sufficient internal space for her trademark roomy aftercabin and offering way more useful stowage than is available in many of today’s popular cruising yachts.

Built at Marine Projects in Plymouth (now Princess Yachts), a total of 118 Moody 36 MkIIs were constructed to Lloyd’s 100A1 yardstick.

Hulls were laid up by hand, using mat and woven rovings with waterproof isophthalic resins.

Owners of the Moody 36 MkII could choose between a bilge, shoal or deep fin keel. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

They were stiffened with balsa-cored frames and stringers, and finished with bonded floors and bulkheads for additional strength.

The deck is balsa-cored, but with hefty plywood backing plates laminated in under winches and deck gear.

Finally, the hull-deck joint was through-bolted and then bonded over, before being capped with smart teak.

A choice of bilge, shoal (bulbed) or deep-fin keels was offered and her large, semi-balanced rudder is supported by a half-skeg, making her more resistant to steering damage from floating debris and stray lines.

Some sailors like centre cockpits, some don’t.

They tend to be a little small compared to aft cockpit boats but many owners prefer being high above the sea and love the extra-large aft cabin it enables.

Downsides include more movement in rolly seas, a higher boom and centre of effort on the main, and poor visibility ahead to leeward with the genoa unfurled.

The cockpit layout is straightforward, with all sail controls led aft through clutches on the coachroof.

The genoa winches are within reach of the helm, as is the mainsheet behind, making single-handing easy.

The large sprayhood provides good protection and easy access to the winches.

Continues below…

Our verdict on the Moody 36

What’s she like to sail? These solidly built, medium-displacement cruisers are capable of a very reasonable pace in open seas,…

Moody S38: a good all-round family cruising boat

Looking for a good all-round family cruising boat with a good turn of speed, there are plenty of strong contenders,…

A split backstay and wide rail gate give good access to the transom steps, although it lacks a deeper platform for deck showering and unloading the tender.

Her decks are wide and clear thanks to inboard chain plates and coachroof-mounted genoa tracks.

The foredeck is clutter-free and includes a deep chain locker with a windlass plinth.

Six large mooring cleats are mounted on the bulwarks, making them dead easy to access when coming alongside.

The decks continue all the way aft, where two deep lazarette lockers house most of the loose deck gear.

Below decks on the Moody 36 MkII

Because of the centre cockpit, the companionway ladder is necessarily tall and steep.

The saloon is spacious, warm and cosy with plenty of nicely finished solid wood trims.

Headroom is just over 1.83m/6ft, but watch your head going aft through the corridor.

Set well forward, the saloon is slightly narrower than many, but well compensated for by placing the settees well outboard and making the overhead lockers fairly shallow.

The convertible, U-shaped port settee offers seating for six around the table while thick settee cushions and abundant teak joinery provide a luxurious ambience.

The saloon is cosy and six can eat around the table. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

The dropleaf table doesn’t have a fiddled centre, which is irritating, but does have excellent bottle and glass drawers.

A small step down improves headroom in the forecabin, which contains a decent vee berth with reasonable floor space.

There is ample stowage under the berth, as well as two hanging lockers with shelves, plus a further six lockers above the berth and a large forehatch.

Moving aft, the L-shaped galley is well-equipped, but arranged a little awkwardly.

The worktop area is generous, especially with cooker and sink covers in place, but having the cooker under the cockpit sole limits both light and ventilation.

Both the cooker and fridge are large and there’s storage galore for food, crockery and pans.

The nav station has a forward facing chart table. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

Behind the companionway steps is a central ‘pod’ that provides extra worktop and stowage, as well as housing the fuel tank, battery switches and washboards.

Opposite is a well-appointed nav station with large, forward-facing chart table, its own seat, a comprehensive electrical panel, and plenty of room for nav instruments.

Two corridors lead aft. The starboard one contains a single bunk; the port corridor houses the head, also accessible from the aft cabin.

There’s plenty of elbow room and a separate shower but headroom in the heads is only 5ft 10in.

It’s well organised with good stowage, a large hatch, and a deep sink.

The L-shaped galley has plenty of workspace. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

The spacious master suite aft has always been a popular feature with any centre-cockpit Moody.

Although only 1.83m/6ft long, the Moody 36’s centrally-mounted berth is a luxurious 1.40m/5ft 4in wide.

Headroom is limited to 1.75m/5ft 9in, but the cabin boasts a wealth of stowage plus a dressing table.

Natural light is surprisingly good, with a large overhead hatch, opening side ports and a portlight above the bed head.

Access to the 40hp Volvo diesel engine beneath the cockpit is particularly good, thanks to all-round removable panels, and the steering gear is easily reached under the aft bunk.

Both water and fuel tanks are a good size for cruising too.

Rig and sailplan

The Moody 36 MkII is masthead-rigged with a thick-sectioned, well-supported twin-spreader Seldén mast, boom and gas-sprung kicker.

A triple-reefed, semi-battened mainsail was standard, with luff and leach reefing lines for the first two leading into the cockpit.

The standard headsail was a 125% furling genoa with coachroof-mounted tracks, giving a tight sheeting angle for increased pointing ability.

With the exception, maybe, of the ‘S’ models (31S & 38S), which are reasonably swift, Dixon’s CC Moodys are steady cruisers with conservative sail plans.

All are capable of a respectable pace in open seas, however, where they offer a particularly sea-kindly motion.

Thanks to the inboard genoa tracks they are also pretty close-winded, but they will lose speed rapidly if pinched too tight.

Her fastest point of sail is 50° off the apparent wind, when she surges forward relentlessly, almost oblivious of the sea state.

Control lines on the Moody 36 MkII lead to the cockpit making sailing solo easy. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

The Moody 36 MkII is simple to sail single-handedly, with all the sail controls within easy reach of the wheel, and her excellent balance results in little or no weather helm.

She also boasts a healthy 35% ballast ratio and even with the shoal draft keel she is reassuringly stiff thanks to her weighty ballast bulb.

On a reach with a fair breeze she will easily average between 6.5-7.5 knots in all but the choppiest conditions.

Downwind, she requires a good size spinnaker or chute to keep her flying.

Moody Owners Association ( www.moodyowners.org )

The Moody Owners Association (MOA) aims to serve as custodian of technical information; provide a forum for owners’ experiences; promote social and sailing opportunities and provide a point of contact for prospective owners.

Owners experiences of the Moody 36 MkII

S/y cantata (2000).

Cantata is well equipped including new sails. Credit: Dick Holness

Dick and Angela Holness bought bilge-keeled Cantata in 2015 to replace their Moody S31, primarily for the extra accommodation.

She came pretty standard but since buying her they have carried out myriad upgrades, including new instruments, AIS, MFD, Navtex and VHF extension, now all networked via NMEA2000.

They have also added new batteries with a monitor, gas alarm, sound system, electric windlass, kicker strut, Autoprop, solar panels, electric toilet and new sails, which must make her one of the best-equipped Moody 36s around!

Asked if they’d had any problems, Dick says: ‘One fault at purchase was a leaking rudder stock housing, apparently a common problem on these boats and something I found I could largely fix myself. Also, some 36s, including mine, had a particular type of stanchion fixing through the toe rail that made them prone to leaks.’

Dick, who is co-author of the East Coast Pilot , started sailing dinghies at the age of 12 and continued to race them for nearly 50 years.

He started cruising around 25 years ago and has owned a Hunter Horizon 26, Sadler 29 and the Moody S31.

Based on the River Swale in Kent, Dick and Angela sail predominantly up the East Coast, with occasional trips across the Channel.

‘Under sail, Cantata is quite docile really and probably under-canvassed,’ says Dick.

‘She’s not good in light airs, being quite heavy, but her sea-going qualities are impressive if we get caught out in worse conditions than expected. With 15-20 knots on the beam, though, she gallops along with a smooth, easy motion.

‘Although I occasionally single-hand, Angela and I usually sail together, which is reasonably easy, although as we get creakier, I confess to doing rather more “genoa only” sailing than we used to. However, the change to a fully battened main has made life a fair bit easier. I would guess that the majority of 36s have in-mast furling and, bearing in mind our age, perhaps it might have been wiser to have found one with it. Cantata is very seaworthy and hasn’t really got any vices, although her high freeboard can catch the wind when manoeuvring in marinas.

‘She is very comfortable for long periods on board as there’s bags of space. But if we were off long term, I would probably upgrade and better insulate the fridge, plus install dinghy davits. I haven’t fitted heating yet as it’s so difficult to retrofit hot air ducting.

‘We did a long cruise down the French Channel coast a few years ago. Both crossings of the Dover Strait were wilder than expected but the boat just coped with it all. And with only 1.2m draught she’s a very capable ditch-crawler.’

S/Y Ellen Marvel (1998, HN 61)

John and Lesley Oldham regularly cruise the West Country and France. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

John and Lesley Oldham, 73, have owned the shoal-keeled Ellen Marvel for 19 years.

‘Being the show boat at Ijmuiden, she already had a high specification, including leather upholstery and extra opening portlights, but the first owner also had heating and a bow thruster installed.

‘Our first successful improvement was to remake the aft cabin berth with a deeper mattress and underlaying slats. Venturing outside to secure the gas also became tedious, so we fitted an electric valve/sensor. I also replaced the fridge with a modern 12V model and installed a holding tank. Finally, we increased the battery capacity and included a larger shore power charger, smart alternator regulator and a galvanic isolator.

‘We fitted a Bruntons Autoprop early on, which increased our sailing speed by between 0.5 to 1.0 knot. Later we added a rod kicker with the control line led aft. We also replaced the manual windlass with an electric one and moved it forward to help prevent the chain bunching up. Our most recent upgrade has been to fit dinghy davits.

‘The instrumentation has been upgraded with a Raymarine chart plotter in the cockpit, Quantum radar, AIS700, an Icom DSC VHF and an ICS Nav6plus Navtex and instrument repeater. Plus, we now have an internal Wi-Fi network with router for marina Wi-Fi.

‘We’ve had a few faults, but not many. The pressure relief valve on the hot water tank often discharged into the bilge, which we corrected by fitting an expansion tank, and a persistent leak into the forepeak underfloor was eventually diagnosed as anchor locker drain failure.

‘The original genoa was poorly cut and the positioning of the shrouds and track prevented her from being sailed close-hauled. The original sailmakers had compensated with a belly in the foot but our new sail corrected much of this with a higher-cut clew.’

John and Lesley began sailing by taking flotilla holidays in their early 40s and soon decided to get their own boat.

They bought a new Moody S31 but soon found it too small for their needs as impending retirement, with the option of longer cruises, loomed.

‘We sail regularly as a couple, though often we sail in company with friends in their own boats. We are mainly day sailors with a penchant for overnighting in marinas. With days to spare and a fair forecast, we cruise the south-west coast from our base in Plymouth. For our main holiday we prefer the Channel Islands, Western Normandy and North or South Brittany.

‘Under sail she is not the most close-winded but on a fetch or beam reach she is delightful. On a very broad reach the genoa becomes blanketed by the main so we switch to a poled-out cruising chute. Our new mainsail is fully battened, loose footed and has a decent roach, which makes it much more powerful than the original and consequently requires reefing earlier. The two of us handle her easily as the mainsheet is within reach of the helm and all lines are led back. The stack pack also helps, as does the autopilot.’

What the experts say about the Moody 36 MkII

Nick Vass B,Sc B,Ed HND FRINA MCMS DipMarSur YS, Marine Surveyor www.omega-yachtservices.co.uk

The later Moody 36, built by Marine Projects in Plymouth, is a contemporary-looking yacht that has stood the test of time.

During surveys I have found fairly large blisters on the topsides on several boats, mainly around the portside anchor locker drain but these are from delamination rather than osmosis.

I have concluded that water has entered through the drain hole and saturated the plywood stiffeners that protect the hull from the anchor chain.

The area then stays wet and might delaminate.

My advice has been to keep the anchor locker drain holes free of debris, only have chain in the locker and no other clutter, and paint the area around the drain hole with epoxy to prevent water ingress.

Keel bolts are also a concern on the Moody 36.

Moody used high-tensile steel studs, nuts and backing plates rather than stainless steel.

Although high-tensile steel is stronger than stainless, it rusts, so it’s a good idea to keep the bilge dry and paint the exposed parts of the studs, nuts and backing plates to keep them rust-free.

Rather than using real teak slats, Moody used teak veneer on plywood for deck and cockpit seat coverings, which quickly delaminated.

Fortunately, most did not have it on the decks.

Most Moody 36s I have surveyed have had Volvo Penta MD2040B engines, which are more robust than their D1-40 successor.

However, they do suffer from limescale build-up in the coolant system and their iron castings can become porous.

Check the engine for signs of overheating and get an engineer to take the cover off the heat exchanger.

The exhaust elbow will need to be replaced every 10 years or so, too, as they clog up.

The saildrive diaphragm seal will likely have been replaced several times by now, even on a late example.

Check the service history to make sure that the seal has been replaced, as it can be costly.

There should be a date stamp on the seal but it’s sometimes hard to see.

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Marine Surveyor and full member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA) www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk

I’ve surveyed many Moodys over the years and they do sell quickly on the second-hand market, but it is essential to look carefully at them before purchase.

Check the ply-faced teak in the cockpit.

This material was popular with many boat builders during the 1990s and 2000s.

On most of the boats I’ve surveyed over the last eight years, the ply-faced teak has needed replacing.

Nick mentions the keel bolts being high- tensile; I, in many ways, prefer the reliability over stainless but it is essential to keep an eye on the fastenings.

This can be difficult on the bilge-keel version due to the water tanks under the side berths!

The main cap chain plate anchorage within the saloon is impossible to inspect with the fitted internal joinery.

This is a concern especially if high moisture is identified on the side decks in that area and the covers are wet internally.

Many owners have cut small inspection hatches in the sides of the covers.

I am aware of at least two failures of the chain plates after the fastenings behind these panels failed.

The rudder is supported by a substantial skeg and I have had several experiences of very high moisture in both the blade and the skeg around the support shoe where fastenings have loosened over time.

Alternatives to the Moody 36 MkII to consider

Island packet 370.

A Yamnar 4JH3BE 56hp engine came as standard. Credit: Graham Snook/Yachting Monthly

Florida-built Island Packets were constructed to a high specification and supplied with a substantial inventory.

Although the 370 has high topsides and a tall coachroof, her pleasant sheer line lends her a well-balanced look.

Construction was meticulous, using vinylester resin infusion, tri-axial weave glass and PolyClad2 foam, finished with an ultra-high gloss Durashield gelcoat.

The hull/deck join is through-bolted and bonded and she has a full-length shallow keel with encapsulated lead ballast and a deep rudder, connected to the keel at the foot.

A deep companionway descends into a cosy, bright saloon.

The table folds away against the main bulkhead, hiding a comprehensive drinks cabinet, and all cabinetry work is top quality.

The settees make good berths, the port side converting to a double by sliding out an extension board.

Stowage is plentiful as the 600-litre freshwater tank sits beneath the saloon sole and ventilation is ample through the 11 opening portlights.

Her superb galley houses a huge fridge, full-size cooker, microwave, water filter, twin sinks and copious stowage.

The aft quarters contain an offset double berth and a nav station/chart table, with a removable bulkhead panel dividing it from the saloon.

Side decks are well protected by the high coachroof. Credit: Graham Snook/Yachting Monthly

The forecabin features a roomy island berth and en suite heads with shower stall.

The cockpit is well organised with wide coamings incorporating rope lockers.

The steering pedestal supports a table and a stout grab bar, and a high bridge deck and two 50mm/2in drains prevent water collecting.

Under the aft seats are deep stowage lockers.

Her decks are snag-free with shrouds and tracks terminating on the teak-capped bulwarks.

On the foredeck are twin rollers and chain lockers.

Her masthead rig is keel-stepped with single, straight spreaders and forward/aft lowers, with single chain plates.

The cutter-rig model has a self-tacking staysail with boom and a 110% high-cut genoa/yankee.

Although the headsail winches are near the helm, the mainsheet and all other sail controls are on the coachroof.

Under power she has plenty of grunt but like all long-keelers takes her time making directional alterations so a bow thruster is worth having.

The Maxi 1100 has a spacious and deep aft cockpit. Credit: Tom Benn/[email protected]

The Maxi 1100 superseded the 1050, giving improved sailing performance and accommodation.

Designed by ex-Olympic racing helmsman, Pelle Petterson, she has a fine entry, near-plumb stem, shallow bilge and a retroussé transom.

In addition to being quite quick, Maxis were extremely well built.

The 1100 has a carbon-reinforced floor grid that dissipates the rig and keel loads.

Above the waterline, hull and deck are a Divinycell foam sandwich, encapsulated in a vinylester resin-infused, multi-weave skin.

A deep fin keel with a 2.4-tonne lead ballast bulb or an extended shoal fin were offered, both with a deep spade rudder.

She has a tall, keel-stepped mast with twin, swept spreaders.

Shrouds lead to a single inboard chainplate each side, connected to the hull frame.

A gas-sprung kicker and powerful backstay tensioner control the main, which is slab-reefed with lazy jacks.

A deep cockpit sports a big wheel, but the helm area is spacious, with foot supports and flat coaming seats.

Sail controls are led aft.

Coachroof-mounted jib tracks keep the sidedecks clear but the handrails are too short.

Her foredeck sports a short bow-plank and a deep anchor locker with windlass.

The long, straight saloon settees provide room for six to dine comfortably around the sturdy, well-fiddled table.

Her large aft cabin has a roomy double berth, beneath which are the water tank and batteries.

The forecabin is quite spacious too.

Under sail she’s fast, stiff and easy to handle, with a light, positive helm. She tacks rapidly and effortlessly, and her large wheel enables the helm to sit out with the mainsheet to hand and a clear view forward.

The Sunbeam 37 holds it price due to its high build quality. Credit: Sunbeam Yachts

Built in Austria by Schochl Yachtbau and designed by J&J to withstand the rigours of the North and Baltic Seas, the centre cockpit Sunbeam 37 was solidly constructed to a high standard, using top- quality materials and components.

They also featured a comprehensive standard inventory, which included a 55hp Yanmar 4JH3E marine diesel engine and encapsulated lead ballast.

She has timeless looks with a positive sheer and streamline superstructure.

All had teak-capped toe rails and many also had full teak decks.

Below, the beautifully crafted, dark mahogany interior gives her a warm atmosphere without being too gloomy.

The layout is similar to the Moody 36 MkII and the proportions are equally generous, especially in the aft owner’s cabin where her huge island double berth dominates and the en suite heads are a real boon.

Duncan Kent is a technical writer for marine publications and websites

The forecabin is equally plush with plenty of stowage but has no en suite.

The later 37.1 model had an en suite head to port, in place of one of the tall hanging lockers.

She has a longitudinal galley, running aft along the corridor, that is well-equipped with bags of easily accessible stowage although, like the Moody, the far end is a little dark.

The forward-facing nav station has plenty of chart and instrument stowage.

Under sail, she is a powerful performer thanks to her generous sail plan.

With her deep, lead-ballasted fin keel and large, semi-balanced rudder she is stiff, quick and easy to manoeuvre, well-balanced and light on the helm.

The Sunbeam 37 tends to hold her price on the used boat market, easily as well as the most popular Swedish-built yachts.

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Beneteau First 36, Sailing World 2023 Boat of the Year

• By Dave Reed
• December 16, 2022

Sailing World Magazine’s  annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year’s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here’s the best of the best from our  2023 Boat of the Year nominees »

The Total Package

• Beneteau First 36 2023 Boat of the Year
• Stated purpose: Shorthanded racing, club racing, coastal cruising
• Crew: Solo to six
• Praise for: Build quality, deck layout, versatility
• Est. price as sailed: $345,000

Like a runaway, the Beneteau First 36 careens across a westerly-whipped Chesapeake Bay. The boat’s big-shouldered spinnaker and mainsail are silhouetted in the early October morning light. It’s making trees on the Eastern Shore as we peg the throttle down to keep chase in a 19-foot RIB. The four crewmembers on board are having a casual conversation—like no big deal—when a cold and meaty gust fills the spinnaker. The leech flickers, and the boat surges forward onto plane. Twin rudders zipper the slick streaming out from the transom as the helmsman, hands at 10 and 2 on the carbon steering wheel, effortlessly weaves the boat across waves tops. The boat is, as the saying goes, on rails.

“Wicked,” is how senior Boat of the Year judge Chuck Allen summarizes his experience when he steps off. “That boat is going to be hard to beat.”

Three days and 10 boats later, nothing comes close to usurping the Beneteau First 36 as the obvious and unanimous Boat of the Year, a boat that has been a long time coming and overdue. It’s a boat that will serve many masters.

Beneteau initiated its First 36 project in 2019 by surveying a broad focus group of First “Point 7” owners and dealers about what they wanted in the marketplace, and the takeaways were: 1) Not another ­displacement boat—it had to plane. 2) They wanted a lounge, not a dining room. 3) They wanted their nav station back, and 4) for that, they were OK with having a smaller head.

Given the boat was to meet all three of its club racing, shorthanded and cruising demands, the brain trust assembled inside and outside of Beneteau focused on No. 1—keeping it light and fast. Naval architect Samuel Manuard, the new hot talent of the IMOCA 60 and Class 40 scenes, did the hull, keel and rig. Pure Structural Engineering took care of the structure, and the weight-obsessed glass slingers at Seascape’s factory in Slovenia ensured the boat came in at not a pound more than 10,580. At that weight, of course it’s going to plane.

The entire boat is ­vacuum-infused with CoreCell (hull) and PVC (bulkheads) from the deck down, inside and out, and everything, except the fridge, is somehow a piece of the structure puzzle.

“We are saving big weight there, as furniture is also part of the structure, and all of it glued together makes the boat extremely stiff and very light,” says Beneteau’s Tit Plevnik. “What is special is how calculated it is. In mass-production building, you can’t rely on precision, but we do. The boat is built to the same standard as a pure ­racing boat.”

“The moment I saw it, I knew it would be good. It’s a great-looking boat at the dock and even better with the sails up.” —Greg Stewart

Built like a race boat, the judges all agree it sure sails like one. “It’s a big 36-footer,” says veteran BOTY judge and naval architect Greg Stewart. “It’s a full-ended boat that has a hint of a scow-type bow with a lot of buoyancy forward. Looking at the numbers, what they achieved with the weight and its placement is impressive—10,000 pounds for a 36-foot waterline length is a very good number. I could tell the minute we put the spinnaker up it was a slippery boat.”

Stewart set the day’s top speed at a tick over 18 knots and says: “I remember feeling the puff hit and load the rig, and the boat just scooted off with really nice steering. It felt like a Laser when you get it in that groove and it just levitates. With the dual rudders, which are pretty long, the boat has more of a power-steering feel upwind, so it lets you do a lot of things. There’s so much control, which is a good thing because you can drive out of situations, but at the same time, it’s easy to oversteer.”

Multiple cockpit mock-ups done at ­different heel angles produced a workspace that the judges could find no flaw with. “It’s all legit, easy and clean in the pit,” Allen says. “With the four of us in the ­cockpit, we had plenty of space to move around and were never into each other.

“I was doing a lot of trimming downwind,” Allen adds. “You can feel the boat take off. It was really stable and easy to handle. The thing is light and fast, and we did push it to try and wipe it out, but it was hard to do.”

All the judges praised the clever location of the primary winches on sloped coamings, which were easier to trim from than a traditional winch-on-the-coaming setup. “They’re at the perfect height,” says judge Dave Powlison, “and with them angled like that, you don’t have to crane your neck to see the sail, and the lead is virtually override-proof.”

Also noteworthy is the generous space between the high carbon wheels and the cockpit walls that allow the helmsman to slide forward without having to step up and around the wheel. The jib trimmer has easy access to the three-dimensional clue adjustment systems, and for the pit, there’s plenty of clutches, redirects and cleats to keep everything sorted and tidy.

The standard spar, and that on the demo boat, is a deck-stepped Z Spars aluminum section with Dyform wire rigging that carries 860 square feet of upwind sail area, which Stewart says is considerable for the displacement of the boat. The mast is well aft, which really stretches out the J dimension and opens the foredeck for a quiver of headsails—for this, you’ll find two tack points on the foredeck. There are four halyards total: one for a masthead gennaker, a 2-to-1 for a code sail, a fractional gennaker, and a 2-to-1 staysail. Allen, a semi-retired sailmaker, put an estimate for a complete race inventory at $60,000, which would put the boat on the racecourse for roughly $400,000. (Base boat is priced at $345,000.)

When the race is done, however, how about that interior?

Step down the wide companionway steps into a space of design simplicity and efficiency, some of which makes you say, “Duh, of course.”

For example, there’s no ­traditional L-shaped galley to port or starboard. There is, however, a tall and slender fridge smack in the middle of the boat (that you connect to the galley with a removable cutting board to complete the L). Walk on either side of it to get forward, past the proper nav station, the fold-down dinette table in the middle with roomy 6-foot berths on both sides, a jetliner-size head with a stowaway sink to starboard, and then a gigantic V-berth that benefits from all that volume in the bow. Back aft, under the cockpit, are large quarter berths as well that easily cruise-convert into storage space for water toys, like kites, wings and foils, all of which takes us back to survey result No. 2. This is where the post-race party begins and ends.

With the usual supply-chain delays, compounded with the build and design team’s obsessive and calculated approach to getting the Beneteau First 36 perfect at Hull No. 1, its debut got off to a later start than hoped. But with early boats landing at eager dealers worldwide, Plevnik says the goal is 32 boats per year for the next two years. The BOTY judges assure us it’ll be worth the wait and give you plenty of time to start planning what you can and will do with it.

• More: 2023 Boat of the Year , Beneteau , Boat of the Year , Print Winter 2023 , Sailboats
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Catalina 36 MK II

This recent update of an extraordinarily popular 18-year-old design is a good all-around boat. owners’ main complaint is with interior woodwork..

Now the largest manufacturer of sailboats in the US, Catalina Yachts was formed in 1970, two years after founder Frank Butler was fired by the company to which he sold his first boatbuilding business.

Butler was the owner of a machine shop that provided parts for the aircraft industry when he began sailing at age 30. In 1961 he got the boatbuilding bug and formed Wesco Marine, soon changing the name to Coronado Yachts.

He successfully introduced the Coronado 25 in 1964, and sold the company to the Whitaker Corp. in 1968. A year later he was unemployed, and prohibited by a no-compete agreement from forming another company for two years.

With the expiration of the agreement in 1970 he established Catalina Yachts; introduced the Catalina 22, of which more than 15,500 have been sold; and began a steady ascent to the top of the industry.

The company’s 700 employees occupy more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space at two plants in California, and a third in Florida, purchased from Morgan Yachts. Butler still manages the daily affairs of the company, and continues to act as “warranty coordinator.” He is assisted by chief designer and engineer Gerry Douglas, and Sharon Day, director of marketing, both of whom are now co-owners.

Catalina’s model lines range from the 8-foot Sabot to a well-developed line of Catalina and Expedition daysailers to boats with cabins that run the gamut from the Capri 22 to the Catalina 470. The company also builds Nacra catamarans.

Design Like most of the company’s boats, the Catalina 36 was designed by the in-house design team under the direction of Douglas.

“The target market for the 36 is couples and families who primarily weekend and vacation cruise but may be planning some extended cruising,” said Douglas. “They want a boat that is comfortable, offers reasonable performance, and is stable and predicable to handle. The boat suits their budget, and they can add gear for bluewater cruising.”

Like most modern production boats, the 36MKII has a fairly flat sheer, low-profile cabin and short overhangs. Beam is carried well aft to accommodate the double berth in the aft cabin.

“The hull shape has remained the same, since a basic tenet was that the boat would sail in a one-design fleet,” Douglas said. As a consequence, changes to appendages have had little affect on the PHRF rating, which is 140-150, depending upon local fleet handicappers.

The standard fin keel is the same design as on hull #1, though two shoal draft keels have been offered. An optional Scheel keel, which enjoyed limited success, has been replaced by a shoal draft wing keel. On new boats the rudder has been reconfigured as a semi-elliptical blade.

Three different decks have been manufactured but, as Douglas said, “most of the changes are cosmetic or ergonomic and have gone unnoticed. Maybe a customer said that a radius needed to be softened or I noticed things on my boat that I wanted to change.”

The MKII was introduced in August 1994 with hull #1368. Hull #2038 was launched last March.

Construction Catalinas are assembled from three principal moldings—the hull, deck and an interior liner that incorporates the cabin sole and much of the “furniture.” Butler was an early (possibly the first in the US) proponent of this time-saving method.

The hand-laid hull is solid fiberglass. Vinylester resin is used on the outer plies, underneath the gelcoat, because it better resists osmotic blistering than polyester. The balance of the laminate consists of alternating layers of 7.5-ounce cloth, 24-ounce roving and 1.5-ounce chopped strand mat (CSM).

“There’s more knitted than woven roving in current models,” Douglas said, adding that this improves structural integrity.

Hull thickness is 1″ at the centerline and 5/8″ on bottom panels.

The liner is bonded to the hull at all intersections using X-mat tape. Bulkheads are bedded in 3M 5200 and bolted or screwed to the liner.

The hand-laid deck is cored with Baltec AL 600 end-grain balsa; decks on earlier versions were cored with plywood.

The hull/deck joint is an overlapping flange bonded with a fiberglass-reinforced polyester mix and secured with 1/4″ bolts on 6″ centers.

The loads from the lower shrouds are transferred to the hull via tie rods fastened to the chainplates on top and to reinforced areas of the hull at bottom. A common complaint among owners responding to a PS survey is that chainplates leak and require annual inspection or rebedding.

Deck hardware is fastened with machine screws to drilled and tapped aluminum plates bedded in the deck laminate. This method produces a secure fit and avoids dimples on the ceiling of the interior.

The keel is lead with 2% antimony and installed with type 316 stainless steel keel bolts. The fin weighs 6,042 pounds, the wing keel 6,670 pounds.

On Deck Because the 36MKII was designed for cruising by couples and families with children, the deck layout is organized for shorthanded sailing.

The anodized mast is manufactured by Catalina. A Schaeffer 2100 furler is standard. The solid vang and most deck hardware are made by Garhauer Marine. Lewmar winches and hatches are standard. These lower-priced products are fine for their intended use.

The wire upper shrouds and stays are 5/16″; lower shrouds are 1/4″. A split backstay is equipped with adjustable turnbuckles. We would consider adding a backstay adjuster, which would have eliminated headstay sag on our test boat.

Standard running rigging on the boat is Dacron, strong enough and suitable for most owners, but we would consider switching to low-stretch rope.

Primary winches are self-tailing, chromed-bronze Lewmar 48s; halyard winches are self-tailing Lewmar 30s. Both were large enough for the heavy loads we encountered during our test sail.

The tracks for jib and genoa cars are located inboard, near the cabin sides, and outboard on the toerail. During our test sail we found the inboard track to be at least 1′ too short for sailing hard on the breeze with a double reef in the main and shortened headsail.

Standing rigging is led out of the way to the base of the cabin trunk, easing maneuvering along the 17″-wide decks. Coupled with a 1-1/2″ high toerail, and a stainless steel handrail running the length of the cabintop, we always found a handhold. However, stanchions are only 24″ high, 5″ lower than we prefer on an oceangoing yacht. Similarly, the mast pulpit is only 25″ tall.

A taller rig designed to improve performance in light air adds 24″ to the 44′ 9″ standard spar height and $860 to the purchase price, including the cost of larger sails — a deal worth grabbing, we think.

The anchor locker houses two 35-pound anchors and rode, and is designed for installation of a saltwater washdown hose. A Maxwell windlass mounted in the anchor locker is optional.

Ten-inch mooring cleats are located at the bow and stern.

We found the 8′ 8″ cockpit comfortable under sail and at dockside. Seats are 17″ wide and have comfortable 13″ backrests. Though a 42″-diameter destroyer wheel eases steering in heavy winds and seas, it impedes movement forward to the jib sheet or mainsail controls when singlehanding.

When the combination of wind and heel resulted in cushions being tossed around the cockpit, we stowed them below, only to discover that wet, slick cockpit seats make tending sail controls difficult when heeled more than 10°. A better non-skid surface would be safer.

Light and ventilation belowdecks are provided by Lewmar hatches located on the bow, amidships, and over the galley and nav station. The large hatch that vents the aft stateroom is covered by a hinged cockpit seat.

One old 36 we inspected had windows screwed to the outside of the cabin side. We prefer the current method of bedding ports in the cabin sides. However, the windows overlap the fiberglass to which they are bonded by 1-1/2 inches, and few owners reported leaks on newer boats.

A storage area spans the stern and provides access to the steering gear. A propane locker is located in the stern and vented overboard. The port lazarette has adequate space for the storage of deck gear, dock lines and, if properly stowed, an inflatable dinghy.

Belowdecks The accommodation plan is nearly 20 years old and is essentially unchanged, except for “minor changes in storage areas, especially where batteries are located,” Douglas said.

The saloon measures 13′ 4″ long from the companionway to the forward stateroom, and maximum headroom is 6′ 5″. The combination of light- colored composite countertops and wood cabinetry, opening ports and hatches, and two portlights in the hull contribute to a sense of spaciousness.

The galley is located to port at the foot of the companionway, aft of a U-shaped dinette that seats four. (An L-shaped dinette with fold-down table also is available.) Forward to port is the head, which can be accessed from the saloon or the forward stateroom. The V-berth measures 90″ wide at the head and 84″ on centerline.

A second stateroom below the cockpit is accessed from a door in the port quarter. The nav station sits opposite the galley, aft of two heavily cushioned seats located to either side of a 25″ x 30″ game table that can double as a dining table or be converted to a 6′ 2″ long berth. Each chair has storage in its base.

“That table has been part of the design since hull #1, and was the first of its type in the industry,” said Douglas. “It’s still a good use of the space.”

One owner complained that the dining table mounting bracket is so far off the center of the table that a large person thrown onto the inboard edge could break the table. Another owner added a hinged second leg.

A common complaint among owners concerns interior woodwork. Said one owner, “The joinery is only average, but this isn’t a Hinckley; it’s a production boat.” Cabinet corners frequently do not fit squarely, and one owner reported having to plane drawers until they fit properly.

The galley is an L-shaped affair with a Seaward two-burner propane stove. The counter is 60″ long and 18″ wide when wooden panels are placed over the double sinks. A 22″ deep dry locker would benefit from the addition of a shelf and storage containers.

The 22″ x 26″ chart table is too small for full-sized NOAA charts but suitable for folded charts or chart kits.

The owner of our test boat echoed two common complaints about the heavily upholstered nav station chair, which is mounted on a swinging stainless steel bracket.

“The lock doesn’t always hold the chair securely under the table on a starboard tack,” he said, “and the chair blocks access to the aft stateroom and also intrudes into the passageway when occupied.”

“The nav station chair has been changed as a result of complaints about the stability of early models,” Douglas said. “Current boats have a bronze bearing on the seat swivel, and a stronger spring. And the backrest can be easily removed by those who are unhappy with the space it takes amidships.”

The nav station bulkhead is large enough for mounting a VHF radio, GPS, stereo and instruments. The switch panel is hinged; wires are easily accessible and color-coded.

Newer boats have a second electrical panel located at the nav station, equipped with a Perko master switch for the engine and DC power.

Headroom at the forward end of the aft stateroom is 5′ 10″, and elbow room is adequate. The stern bunk is a whopping 78″ wide and 80″ long. However, there’s minimal clearance betweenthe bunk cushions and the bottom of the cockpit—only 16”. A hanging locker is wide enough for four sets of clothes, and storage is in four tiny drawers.

The head is essentially unchanged from early models, other than the addition of a sump in the shower. It measures 50″ x 36″ and is furnished with a large cabinet and mirror. A shower seat is forward of the sink.

The diesel engine is accessed by removing the companionway steps and panels in the aft stateroom. Reaching the port side of the engine is a difficult chore. The fuel tank is under the aft berth. All of the tanks have inspection ports.

Performance We tested a three-year-old MKII with a tall rig on a blustery winter day on Puget Sound, and were impressed with its performance in winds of 15-30 knots.

The standard-issue sails showed signs of use, since this owner sails 60-70 days a year. The test boat was also loaded for cruising with two kayaks lashed atop the cabin, a towed dinghy, barbeque, propane tank, and outboard motor mounted on the stern rail.

In wind speeds of 16 knots true and a one-foot chop on the quarter, we sailed at 5.7 knots under full main alone. This was good speed, with a tacking angle of about 110°.

Then, sailing upwind with the full main and 135% genoa, boatspeed varied between 5.5 and 6 knots. When we reefed the main she flattened out to approximately 15° of heel, her best attitude, and speed increased to 6.2 knots. Our tacking angle with the genoa up was about 100° —not stellar, but not abnormal, either.

Next we tucked in a second reef in the main, shortened the jib to 105%, and with water coming over the bow we watched speed increase to 7.1 knots. At one point the speedo recorded 7.6 knots on the beat. She slowed to 6.2 knots when we pinched her closer to 40°. Footing off to a broad reach, our speed increased to 8-8.5 knots, a knot faster than theoretical hull speed.

With sails balanced, we also tested the Autohelm 4000 on a reach in 20-25 knots of wind and found that the boat tracks well.

The 36 MKII performs as well as owners say, but could be improved with better-cut standard sails and a backstay adjuster.

The standard engine is a four-cylinder Universal 35B diesel. Fuel consumption is estimated to be 0.8 gallons per hour at 2200 RPM. When we doused sails in 25-knot gusts the diesel easily held the boat into the wind. The boat responds quickly to the wheel under power, as we discovered while poking in and out of fingers docks in a marina.

Conclusions Based on input received from more than 60 Catalina 36 owners who responded to a PS survey circulated by Phil Herring at Catalinaowners.com, we consider them a savvy bunch who understand the strengths and shortcomings of their boats.

These owners consider their boats to be structurally sound, seaworthy, and “fast enough.” They don’t suffer from expectations of Hinckley quality. We note that three 36 owners have circumnavigated the world, without incident according to the company.

“They don’t mind not having that extra layer of varnish or wood plugs in holes,” as Douglas says, “and they like to tinker on their boats. I like to think that we’ve given them a stable platform on which they can safely sail.”

Our test boat gets more-than-average use by a family that includes three teenagers, and it still looks fit. The boat also suffers some of the shortcomings of joinery assembled in a large manufacturing facility.

An excellent 78-page owner’s manual includes schematics of all of the boat’s operating systems, locations of through-hulls, a complete parts list, even a section on cleaning stains on the upholstery. From an owner’s perspective, this makes working on the boat easier. From Catalina’s perspective, it reduces the number of telephone calls to the customer service department.

The warranty is five years on the structure, and five years for blisters with a depreciating schedule that reduces to 50% in the final year.

Considering the number of 36s built during its 18-year run, and the number of repeat customers among Catalina owners, we think buyers looking for a moderately priced production boat should definitely check out this retooled version.

Also With This Article Click here to view “Owner Comments.”

Contact- Catalina Yachts, 21200 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367; 818/884-7700; www.catalinayachts.com .

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Modern classic.

Sailing Simplicity at its Finest

Long time single handed sailors love the M36 because within 5 minutes they can be off the dock and sailing. Beginners are equally as enthralled because the M36 is simple to sail, simple to learn on and immediately rewarding with her straightforward sail handling and control lines that are lead under deck to electric winches at the helmsman’s fingertips. In addition, all instruments are intelligently arrayed to quickly provide all the information you need.

More Than a Daysailer

Take her overnight! The elegantly appointed optional V-berth, standard fridge and enclosed head make her far more versatile than a mere daysailer. The M36 also has a deep, safe and comfortable cockpit which accommodates six adults allowing you to safely entertain your guests.

Beautifully Appointed Interior

No detail inside her cabin is overlooked. Large safety glass windows and a huge foredeck hatch flood the interior with natural light. The Herreshoff style interior is finished elegantly with white bulkheads, solid cherry trim and marvelously varnished hull sheathing. Twin port and starboard settees are ergonomically designed for comfortable lounging (or sleeping), and well placed reading lights invite you to enjoy the morning paper or catch up on some afternoon reading. Generous storage can be found in the forepeak. An alternative layout converts the forepeak space into a beautiful and functional V-Berth for overnight stays.

Remarkably Simple to Dock

The M36 does exactly what you tell her to do. She backs straight (no prop walk), turns on a dime and docks like a pro. In short, she maneuvers under power as responsively as she does under sail making her a pleasure to both sail and to bring back to port. Even the fenders are just a ‘clip’ away; pad eyes and stainless steel rub rails are placed on deck for ‘clip-on’ polar-fleece-covered fenders. What could be easier!

Perfectly Engineered

At Morris Yachts we’re not just boat builders; we’re sailors and boat owners too. Perhaps this is the reason the M36 is so intuitively designed with the owner in mind. Often overlooked by other builders, access to the engine, through-hulls and electrical systems is superb.

As with all sailing boats built by Morris Yachts, the M36 offers peace of mind. You are onboard one of the most seaworthy boats in the world. Setting the industry standard, Morris Yachts’ level of engineering, fit and finish sets the benchmark by which other builders measure themselves. Morris craftsmen and engineers demand only the finest equipment and use the most modern techniques and technology during the boat building process, proving that the beauty of a Morris is not only skin deep but integrated throughout all facets of the vessel.

Images and media on this page may represent optional equipment or previous specifications. Specifications and equipment are subject to change.

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36 Sport Power Catamaran

The Aquila 36 Sport is a totally innovative approach to having fun on the water. An outboard propelled power catamaran that can day boat with a multitude of revelers and all their water-toys or provide complete privacy for two couples on an adventure to newfound destinations, all with a multitude of options that support everything from invigorating watersports to sportfishing.

Available with a sport windscreen, full windscreen to the hardtop or fully enclosed helm deck with air conditioning (cruiser package option), the Aquila 36 Sport can accommodate most conditions.

The controls are strategically positioned to give the operator complete command of the vessel and the Mercury Joystick Piloting option makes docking and close-in maneuvering intuitively simple. Easily operated and safely able to manage open seas, the Aquila 36 Sport is in a class of its own.

Read on for details on cruiser package option and the fishing/diving version.

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Plenty of Liveaboard Space

Aquila 36 Sport VIDEO – FEATURING Hydro Glide Foil System™

Want to see the Aquila 36 Sport  with Hydro Glide Foil System ™ in action? Check out the full performance evaluation and walkthrough by BoatTEST as they put this model and innovation to the test.

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Now Available as a Cruiser

Enjoy maximum comfort and control with the new cruiser package option. Featuring an aft 3-panel tempered glass sliding door which can be locked into place, the cruiser package option allows you the ability to close off the entire salon and galley for increased privacy, security, and relaxation. In addition to the improved climate control and aesthetics, the Aquila 36 Sport cruiser option offers accent wood in the salon, and Infinity carpet throughout the salon and galley. The already stellar Aquila 36 Sport now provides more luxury than ever before.

Fishing and Diving Version

Hydro Glide Foil System

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BoatTEST – Featuring Hydro Glide Foil System™

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A Legendary 36-Foot Cigarette Powerboat Is Heading to Auction This Summer

The meticulously maintained 36 gladiator could fetch up to $127,000 at iconic auctioneers this june., rachel cormack.

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Seafarers hungry for a tasty powerboat will be satiated this summer. 

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Cigarettes are famous the world over for their sleek lines and streamlined silhouettes. Aronow christened his first boat the Cigarette as he thought the long, thin body resembled a cigarette, according to the auction house. Monster Munch is a fabulous example of a 36 Gladiator model, featuring a racing hull, twin “Richie Zul” V-8s capable of 775 hp, and IMCO Bravo surface drives with five-blade Hering propellors. The speedster can reach a blistering 108 mph all out. It also showcases a purple and yellow body reminiscent of the Monster Munch chip packet. 

Monster Munch was delivered to its first owner in 2004 before it was later sold to the current owner. The second yachter, who Iconic says has several other vessels, has carefully stored the boat indoors in Mallorca. They also instructed Nigel Figgins of NJF Marine to “maintain the boat regardless of cost.” Invoices covering maintenance total some $139,000 (€128,000), Iconic says. This work included an overhaul of both engines by Richie Zul and a rebuild of the drivetrain. In addition, new batteries and a fresh seawater pump were fitted in 2023. With only 236 engine hours clocked and a complete service history, the boat is in “turn-key” condition and ready to tear across the seas. 

Click here to see all the photos of Monster Munch.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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