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Islander 36

Designer: Alan P. Gurney  ·  Builder: Islander Yachts  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Islander 36

Built during the 1970s and 1980s, this classic cruising sailboat represents Islander Yachts' commitment to creating affordable, seaworthy vessels for the growing recreational sailing market. The Islander 36 gained recognition as a well-balanced coastal cruiser that offered good value for sailors seeking their first larger boat or those wanting a reliable platform for extended cruising. The design emphasizes practical sailing characteristics over pure performance, featuring a moderate displacement hull that provides stability and comfort in various sea conditions. Her spacious interior layout accommodates extended cruising with reasonable headroom and well-planned living spaces, making her particularly appealing to couples or small families planning coastal adventures or longer passages. While not designed as a racing yacht, the Islander 36 performs respectably in club racing and delivers predictable handling that builds confidence in developing sailors. Her construction quality, though varying somewhat across production years, generally reflects solid fiberglass work suitable for coastal cruising with occasional offshore passages. The boat's enduring popularity in the used market speaks to her reputation as a dependable cruiser that balances performance, comfort, and affordability—qualities that continue to attract sailors seeking a proven coastal cruising platform.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$6,900 – $34,900
typical asking price
Median $10,950  ·  18 listings used
All listings
$6,900 – $34,900 18
Rate a listing price
$
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) 36.08 ft / 11.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.25 ft / 8.61 m
Beam 11.17 ft / 3.40 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 13,450.00 lb / 6,101 kg
Ballast 5,450.00 lb / 2,472 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 576.00 ft² / 53.51 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alan P. Gurney
Builder Islander Yachts
First Built 1971
Last Built 1986
Owner Reviews

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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
144
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
16.35
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
27.3
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
1.88
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. 7.12
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
1.97
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 45.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.48
P (Mainsail Luff) 39.25
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.75
SPL/TPS 15.0
SA Fore 325.8
SA Main 250.22
How It Compares

vs. Cape Dory 36, Cavalier 36, Peterson 36, Sigma 36 Thomas, Sweden Yachts 36

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Islander 36 ★
36.1 ft
Cape Dory 36
36.1 ft
Cavalier 36
36.1 ft
Peterson 36
36.1 ft
Sigma 36 Thomas
36.0 ft
Sweden Yachts 36
36.1 ft
LWL
Islander 36 ★
28.3 ft
Cape Dory 36
27.0 ft
Cavalier 36
29.9 ft
Peterson 36
31.5 ft
Sigma 36 Thomas
28.8 ft
Sweden Yachts 36
29.5 ft
Beam
Islander 36 ★
11.2 ft
Cape Dory 36
10.7 ft
Cavalier 36
11.8 ft
Peterson 36
10.5 ft
Sigma 36 Thomas
11.5 ft
Sweden Yachts 36
12.0 ft
Displacement
Islander 36 ★
13 lbs
Cape Dory 36
16 lbs
Cavalier 36
14 lbs
Peterson 36
16 lbs
Sigma 36 Thomas
12 lbs
Sweden Yachts 36
14 lbs
Ballast
Islander 36 ★
5 lbs
Cape Dory 36
6 lbs
Cavalier 36
7 lbs
Peterson 36
6 lbs
Sigma 36 Thomas
Sweden Yachts 36
5 lbs
Sail Area
Islander 36 ★
576 sq ft
Cape Dory 36
622 sq ft
Cavalier 36
858 sq ft
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
605 sq ft
Sweden Yachts 36
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Islander 36 ★
144 s/nm
Cape Dory 36
165 s/nm
Cavalier 36
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
Sweden Yachts 36
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Islander 36 ★
16.4
Cape Dory 36
15.7
Cavalier 36
23.2
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
18.2
Sweden Yachts 36
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Islander 36 ★
Cape Dory 36
37.6 %
Cavalier 36
Peterson 36
37.5 %
Sigma 36 Thomas
Sweden Yachts 36
41.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Islander 36 ★
27.3
Cape Dory 36
35.7
Cavalier 36
26.4
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
23.9
Sweden Yachts 36
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Islander 36 ★
1.88
Cape Dory 36
1.69
Cavalier 36
1.94
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
1.99
Sweden Yachts 36
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Islander 36 ★
Cape Dory 36
365
Cavalier 36
Peterson 36
228
Sigma 36 Thomas
232
Sweden Yachts 36
248
Hull Speed
Islander 36 ★
7.1 kts
Cape Dory 36
7.0 kts
Cavalier 36
7.3 kts
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
7.2 kts
Sweden Yachts 36
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Islander 36 ★
2.0
Cape Dory 36
1.2
Cavalier 36
Peterson 36
Sigma 36 Thomas
2.5
Sweden Yachts 36
Resources & Community
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