About the Hughes Columbia 36
Designed by the renowned William Tripp Jr. and built by Hughes Boat Works in Canada starting in 1979, this 36-footer represents a well-balanced approach to cruising sailboat design from the late 1970s era. The fiberglass construction features a fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration, providing good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability.
With a masthead ketch rig and moderate displacement of 15,000 pounds, the Columbia 36 offers versatility for both coastal cruising and extended passages. The substantial ballast ratio, achieved through 6,300 pounds of ballast, contributes to confident sailing characteristics and good stability. Her comfort ratio of 34.78 suggests she'll provide a relatively easy motion in seaway conditions, while the capsize screening formula of 1.65 indicates reasonable offshore capability for experienced sailors.
The boat's proportions, including a waterline length of 28 feet and beam of 10.17 feet, create a spacious interior while maintaining good sailing performance. Her moderate draft of 4 feet allows access to many harbors while providing adequate sailing ability. This Hughes-built version of the Columbia 36 appeals to sailors seeking a sturdy, traditionally-configured cruising boat capable of handling extended coastal voyages and occasional offshore passages with confidence.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
35.83 ft / 10.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
28.00 ft / 8.53 m
Beam
10.17 ft / 3.10 m
Max Draft
4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement
15,000.00 lb / 6,804 kg
Ballast
6,300.00 lb / 2,858 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
525.00 ft² / 48.77 m²
Known Issues & What to Watch For
No known issues documented for this model yet.
Own or have surveyed a Hughes Columbia 36?
Submit a known issue
How It Compares
vs. Caliber 35, Columbia 36, Freeport 36 Islander, Hunter 36, Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
This boat
Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
35.8 ft
Freeport 36 Islander
35.8 ft
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
35.8 ft
LWL
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
28.0 ft
Freeport 36 Islander
27.5 ft
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
28.0 ft
Beam
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
10.2 ft
Freeport 36 Islander
12.0 ft
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
11.4 ft
Displacement
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
15 lbs
Freeport 36 Islander
17 lbs
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
16 lbs
Ballast
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
6 lbs
Freeport 36 Islander
7 lbs
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
7 lbs
Sail Area
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
525 sq ft
Freeport 36 Islander
659 sq ft
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
591 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
—
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
13.9
Freeport 36 Islander
16.0
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
15.0
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
42.0 %
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
—
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
34.8
Freeport 36 Islander
32.0
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
31.8
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
1.65
Freeport 36 Islander
1.87
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
1.82
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
—
Hull Speed
Hughes Columbia 36 ★
7.1 kts
Freeport 36 Islander
7.0 kts
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
7.1 kts
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Morgan Out Island 36 Ketch
1.2