Islander Yachts 36

BoatsIslander Yachts 36

See her sail

The Islander Yachts 36, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 27 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 27

CoastalBluewater

1.88 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.88

LightHeavy

266 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 266

EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4

TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Islander Yachts 36, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Islander Yachts 36 is a Masthead Sloop designed by Alan P. Gurney, built by Islander Yachts from 1971 to 1986, with nearly 800 units produced. This 11.0 m LOA sailboat features a fin keel with a rudder on skeg, a 3.4 m beam, and a 1.8 m draft, displacing 6100 kg. It was offered with various engines, including Universal Atomic 4, Palmer P-60, Perkins 4-108, Westerbeke L-25, Pathfinder, and Yanmar.17:39 A shoal keel option reduced the draft to 1.45m, and a tall rig option was also available.9:14 Lady K Sailing identifies the Islander 36 as a suitable budget-friendly option for cruising, including Gulf Stream crossings, recommending a purchase price that allows for essential upgrades like a Beta Marine diesel engine replacement, electrical system improvements, and navigation equipment.7:28

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale

1channel weighed buying one

US$15,000Median asking

A specific boat listed for $15,000, noted as being dirty on the top side which could lead to a lower price
from Lady K Sailingseen July 20238:24

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

40.5%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

16.4

Displacement / length

266.3

Comfort ratio

27.3

Capsize screening

1.88

Hull speed

7.1 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

1128

Hull

Hull type

Fin with rudder on skeg

Construction

Fiberglass

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

1971–1986

Units built

770

Designer

Alan P. Gurney

Builder

Islander Yachts, Tradewind Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Pearson Yachts 3611.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William H. Shaw-designed masthead sloop built for the IOR One Ton rule, featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder

We're Cutting Off our Keel (Part 3 of 4) | Step 4505:02 from Sailing Uma

Hunter Marine 3610.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a 44% ballast ratio, designed for stable coastal cruising during a short early-eighties production run

#47 Investments to improve our life aboard!0:52 from Sail Vessel Khalifa

Sabre Yachts 3610.97 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1985-1990 production cruiser with a 41% ballast ratio and a 1.93-metre draft for deep-water coastal performance

Stop Waiting — These Sailboats Are a STEAL!1:34 from Lady K Sailing

Columbia Yachts 3610.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1967-era masthead sloop with a 41% ballast ratio, designed for a balance of stability and coastal performance

Moody 36S10.97 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn aft-cockpit variation of the Moody 36, featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for balanced coastal cruising

Helicopter Rescue2:23 from Sailing Gently

Hallberg-Rassy 3511.13 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA shallow-draught fin-keeler with a 1.3-metre draught, built for coastal cruising and ease of access to shoal anchorages

30] Should We Trade For This Sailboat +$30,000? | Abandon Comfort – Sailing The World7:39 from Abandon Comfort

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Islander Yachts 37A 1966 Bruce King design featuring a masthead rig and a 35% ballast ratio for balanced coastal performance Islander 34A masthead sloop featuring a rudder profile inspired by the 1964 America's Cup defender Constellation Islander 32A J.H. McGlasson-designed masthead sloop that served as the foundational hull for the later Islander 33 and 34 models Islander Yachts 40A Doug Peterson-designed masthead sloop built for performance with a deep fin keel and a balanced spade rudder Islander Yachts 41 (Gurney)An Alan Gurney-designed masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder, distinct from the Lapworth-designed 41 Islander 33A raised-deck masthead sloop with a 1.37-metre draft, built between 1964 and 1971 for coastal cruising

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Islander Yachts 36, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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