Back to Search
Lacoste 36
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Yachting France (Fra)  ·  First built: 1985
+ Add to Compare
About the Lacoste 36

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens naval architecture firm, this French-built cruiser represents classic offshore sailing design from the mid-1980s. Built by Yachting France starting in 1985, the Lacoste 36 embodies the traditional S&S philosophy of seaworthy, well-balanced sailboats capable of handling serious offshore conditions. With a displacement of 15,910 pounds and substantial ballast of 6,075 pounds, this masthead sloop offers the stability and sea-kindly motion that made Sparkman & Stephens designs famous among blue-water cruisers. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides excellent directional stability while maintaining good maneuverability. Her moderate sail area of 644 square feet and SA/Displacement ratio of 16.35 deliver respectable performance without sacrificing the boat's cruising character. The comfort ratio of 27.34 indicates a motion that favors long-distance cruising over racing, while the capsize screening formula of 1.94 suggests good stability for offshore work. Her 12.17-foot beam provides comfortable interior volume, and the 6.50-foot draft offers access to most harbors while ensuring adequate performance to windward. This is a boat built for serious coastal and offshore cruising, appealing to sailors who prioritize seaworthiness and comfort over pure speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 12.17 ft / 3.71 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 15,910.00 lb / 7,217 kg
Ballast 6,075.00 lb / 2,756 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 644.00 ft² / 59.83 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Yachting France (FRA)
First Built 1985
Related Sailboats ["Cc 38 3" · "Ericson 381" · "Cc 37" · "Pearson 37 2" · "Morris 38"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
 16.35
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
 38.18
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
 263.06
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
 27.34
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
 1.94
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. 7.34 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
 1.99
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. 1,304.54 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. 16.34
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.90 ft / 14.90 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.10 ft / 4.60 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.90 ft / 13.08 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.80 ft / 3.90 m
SA Fore 369.20 ft² / 34.30 m²
SA Main 274.56 ft² / 25.51 m²
SA Total (100%) 643.76 ft² / 59.81 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.18 ft / 15.60 m
How It Compares

vs. Cc 37, Ericson 381, Pearson 37 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lacoste 36 ★
37.5 ft
Cc 37
37.6 ft
Ericson 381
37.5 ft
Pearson 37 2
37.4 ft
LWL
Lacoste 36 ★
30.0 ft
Cc 37
28.8 ft
Ericson 381
30.5 ft
Pearson 37 2
29.6 ft
Beam
Lacoste 36 ★
12.2 ft
Cc 37
11.7 ft
Ericson 381
12.0 ft
Pearson 37 2
12.3 ft
Displacement
Lacoste 36 ★
15 lbs
Cc 37
14 lbs
Ericson 381
14 lbs
Pearson 37 2
16 lbs
Ballast
Lacoste 36 ★
6 lbs
Cc 37
6 lbs
Ericson 381
6 lbs
Pearson 37 2
6 lbs
Sail Area
Lacoste 36 ★
644 sq ft
Cc 37
670 sq ft
Ericson 381
678 sq ft
Pearson 37 2
661 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Lacoste 36 ★
132 s/nm
Cc 37
—
Ericson 381
114 s/nm
Pearson 37 2
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lacoste 36 ★
16.4
Cc 37
18.3
Ericson 381
18.4
Pearson 37 2
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lacoste 36 ★
38.2 %
Cc 37
42.0 %
Ericson 381
43.8 %
Pearson 37 2
37.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lacoste 36 ★
27.3
Cc 37
26.7
Ericson 381
24.9
Pearson 37 2
27.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lacoste 36 ★
1.94
Cc 37
1.93
Ericson 381
1.98
Pearson 37 2
1.96
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lacoste 36 ★
263
Cc 37
268
Ericson 381
226
Pearson 37 2
275
Hull Speed
Lacoste 36 ★
7.3 kts
Cc 37
7.2 kts
Ericson 381
7.4 kts
Pearson 37 2
7.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lacoste 36 ★
2.0
Cc 37
2.1
Ericson 381
2.6
Pearson 37 2
1.9
Find a Lacoste 36 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace