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Hunter 36
Designer: John Cherubini  ·  Builder: Hunter Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1980
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Hunter 36
Photo: Ahunt / CC0
About the Hunter 36

Designed by John Cherubini and built by Hunter Marine from 1980 to 1983, this 36-footer represents an early example of Hunter's commitment to accessible coastal cruising. With its moderate displacement of 13,500 pounds and substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio, the Hunter 36 offers a reassuring blend of stability and performance for weekend cruisers and coastal sailors. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling, while the masthead sloop rig with 604 square feet of sail area delivers adequate power for most conditions. At just under 36 feet overall with an 11-foot beam, this design maximizes interior volume without sacrificing sailing characteristics—a hallmark of Cherubini's approach to cruising boat design. The boat's comfort ratio of 26.97 suggests a motion that favors seakindliness over racing performance, making extended passages more pleasant for crew and guests. With a capsize screening value of 1.86, the Hunter 36 demonstrates good stability characteristics suitable for coastal and near-offshore sailing. The hull's moderate proportions and fiberglass construction have proven durable over the decades, with many examples still actively sailing today. This model appeals to sailors seeking a capable cruiser that balances comfort, affordability, and sailing performance.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$30,000 – $91,000
typical asking price
Median $70,500  ·  6 listings used
All listings
$30,000 – $91,000 6
Rate a listing price
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About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 35.92 ft / 10.95 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
Beam 11.08 ft / 3.38 m
Max Draft 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Displacement 13,500.00 lb / 6,123 kg
Ballast 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 604.00 ft² / 56.11 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer John Cherubini
Builder Hunter Marine (USA)
First Built 1980
Last Built 1983
Related Sailboats ["Catalina 36 Mkii" · "S2 110 C" · "J36 Classic" · "Morgan 36 46" · "Bayfield 36"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Keel
The Hunter 36 uses a cast iron fin keel attached with keel bolts that are prone to weeping rust stains and corrosion, particularly where the keel meets the hull stub. The keel-to-hull joint should be closely inspected for cracks, movement, or separation, as the attachment design of this era was not as robust as later Hunter models.
High Hull/Deck
Deck hardware from this era was often through-bolted into balsa-cored deck sections without adequate backing plates or sealant, leading to water intrusion into the balsa core around chainplates, stanchion bases, and cleats. Core rot in these high-stress areas is common on surviving boats.
Medium Hull/Deck
The deck-to-hull joint on early 1980s Hunter production boats used an outward-turned flange bonded and bolted, but the joint is known to leak and allow water intrusion, particularly at the bow and stern quarters where flexing occurs.
High Rigging
The chainplate backing arrangement on the Hunter 36 routes compression loads into the deck structure rather than directly into bulkheads or floors in some configurations, leading to deck delamination and chainplate pull-through over time. Inspect the interior liner for cracking or movement around chainplate areas.
Medium Hull/Deck
The interior liner is a one-piece molded unit that is bonded to the hull, making bilge access and inspection of hull laminate, floors, and keel bolt nuts very difficult. Hidden water intrusion and structural problems are easily missed without removing portions of the liner.
Medium Accommodations
The bonded interior liner can separate from the hull over time, producing creaking and flexing sounds underway. Once separation begins, water becomes trapped between the liner and hull, accelerating any hidden deterioration.
Medium Engine
Boats of this vintage were often fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. Many have been converted to diesel but not always professionally; verify engine type, mounts, fuel system, and exhaust installation carefully if a conversion has been performed.
1980–1983 production

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 132
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.11
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 44.44
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 234.76
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 26.97
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.86
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.28 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.34
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,167.91 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.12
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 46.50 ft / 14.17 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.75 ft / 4.50 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.75 ft / 3.89 m
SA Fore 342.94 ft² / 31.86 m²
SA Main 261.38 ft² / 24.28 m²
SA Total (100%) 604.32 ft² / 56.14 m²
Est. Forestay Length 48.78 ft / 14.87 m
Mast Height (DWL) 50.50 ft / 15.39 m
How It Compares

vs. J36 Classic, Morgan 36 46, S2 110 C

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hunter 36 ★
35.9 ft
J36 Classic
36.0 ft
Morgan 36 46
36.0 ft
S2 110 C
36.0 ft
LWL
Hunter 36 ★
29.5 ft
J36 Classic
30.5 ft
Morgan 36 46
29.4 ft
S2 110 C
28.3 ft
Beam
Hunter 36 ★
11.1 ft
J36 Classic
11.8 ft
Morgan 36 46
11.8 ft
S2 110 C
11.9 ft
Displacement
Hunter 36 ★
13 lbs
J36 Classic
10 lbs
Morgan 36 46
11 lbs
S2 110 C
16 lbs
Ballast
Hunter 36 ★
6 lbs
J36 Classic
4 lbs
Morgan 36 46
4 lbs
S2 110 C
6 lbs
Sail Area
Hunter 36 ★
604 sq ft
J36 Classic
662 sq ft
Morgan 36 46
622 sq ft
S2 110 C
625 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Hunter 36 ★
17.1
J36 Classic
22.1
Morgan 36 46
19.2
S2 110 C
15.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Hunter 36 ★
44.4 %
J36 Classic
—
Morgan 36 46
33.6 %
S2 110 C
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hunter 36 ★
27.0
J36 Classic
19.1
Morgan 36 46
21.8
S2 110 C
29.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Hunter 36 ★
1.86
J36 Classic
2.15
Morgan 36 46
2.08
S2 110 C
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Hunter 36 ★
234
J36 Classic
—
Morgan 36 46
208
S2 110 C
—
Hull Speed
Hunter 36 ★
7.3 kts
J36 Classic
7.4 kts
Morgan 36 46
7.3 kts
S2 110 C
7.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Hunter 36 ★
2.3
J36 Classic
3.8
Morgan 36 46
2.8
S2 110 C
1.5
Resources & Community
⚓ Class Association Hunter Owners Association 💬 Owners Forum Owners Forum & Discussion
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