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Island Spirit 37
Designer: Phil Southwell  ·  Builder: Fortuna Catamarans (South Africa)  ·  First built: 1998
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About the Island Spirit 37

Designed by Phil Southwell and built by Fortuna Catamarans in South Africa from 1998 to 2005, this 36-foot catamaran represents solid value in the performance cruising multihull market. The twin-keel hull configuration and shallow 3.6-foot draft make her particularly well-suited for exploring shallow anchorages and beachable destinations that deeper-draft monohulls cannot access. With her fractional sloop rig carrying 908 square feet of sail area and a favorable sail area to displacement ratio of 23.75, the Island Spirit 37 delivers respectable performance while maintaining cruising comfort. The generous 22-foot beam provides exceptional interior volume and stability, accommodating spacious living quarters typical of catamarans in this size range. Twin 18-horsepower engines offer reliable auxiliary power and excellent maneuverability in tight quarters. The GRP construction ensures durability for extended coastal cruising, while the moderate displacement of 15,212 pounds strikes a reasonable balance between carrying capacity and sailing performance. This catamaran excels at coastal and island-hopping adventures, particularly in areas where shallow draft is advantageous. While not designed for serious offshore passages or racing, she offers comfortable family cruising with the inherent stability and space advantages that make catamarans popular among recreational sailors seeking room to spread out.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.08 ft / 11.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 35.75 ft / 10.90 m
Beam 22.08 ft / 6.73 m
Max Draft 3.60 ft / 1.10 m
Displacement 15,212.00 lb / 6,900 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 908.00 ft² / 84.36 m²
Headroom 6.17 ft / 1.88 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction GRP
Designer Phil Southwell
Builder Fortuna Catamarans (South Africa)
First Built 1998
Last Built 2005
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
10.55
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
3.57
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. 8.01 kn
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. 16.91 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 2x 18
Fuel Capacity 79 gals / 300 L
Water Capacity 145 gals / 550 L
KSP 0.73
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