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Lancer 36
Designer: Bill Lee/Bruce King  ·  Builder: Lancer Yacht Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Lancer 36

Designed by the renowned duo of Bill Lee and Bruce King, this mid-1970s performance cruiser represents a compelling blend of racing heritage and cruising capability. Built by Lancer Yacht Corp from 1973 to 1985, the Lancer 36 emerged during sailing's transitional period when designers were pushing beyond traditional heavy displacement concepts toward more spirited designs. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, combined with a relatively light 10,500-pound displacement, delivers responsive handling and respectable performance. With 4,000 pounds of ballast and a sail area of 558 square feet, the design strikes a balance between stability and speed. The comfortable 19.57 comfort ratio suggests decent motion characteristics for extended passages, while the capsize screening value of 2.15 indicates reasonable offshore capability. This masthead sloop configuration appeals to sailors seeking a boat that can handle both spirited day sailing and coastal cruising adventures. The Lee/King pedigree brings racing-influenced lines that enhance performance without sacrificing the practical layout needed for comfortable cruising. Hull speed reaches 7.22 knots, making this an engaging boat for sailors who appreciate responsive handling and the ability to keep pace with modern designs while enjoying the character of a classic 1970s yacht.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$12,000 – $25,000
typical asking price
Median $19,000  ·  5 listings used
All listings
$12,000 – $25,000 5
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) 36.17 ft / 11.02 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
Beam 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 10,500.00 lb / 4,763 kg
Ballast 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 558.00 ft² / 51.84 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bill Lee/Bruce King
Builder Lancer Yacht Corp. (USA)
First Built 1973
Last Built 1985
Associations Boatbrochure.com (orig. brochures and manuals)
Related Sailboats ["J/36" · "Peterson 36" · "Farr 36 1990" · "First 345 Beneteau" · "Norlin 37"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 131
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
 18.68
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
 38.1
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
 192.2
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
 19.57
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
 2.15
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. 7.22 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
 3
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. 1,217.54 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. 18.68
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 336.00 ft² / 31.22 m²
SA Main 222.00 ft² / 20.62 m²
SA Total (100%) 558.00 ft² / 51.84 m²
Est. Forestay Length 44.94 ft / 13.70 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 27
Fuel Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
Water Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
How It Compares

vs. Farr 36 1990, First 345 Beneteau, Peterson 36

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lancer 36 ★
36.2 ft
Farr 36 1990
36.1 ft
First 345 Beneteau
36.1 ft
Peterson 36
36.1 ft
LWL
Lancer 36 ★
29.0 ft
Farr 36 1990
28.9 ft
First 345 Beneteau
29.2 ft
Peterson 36
31.5 ft
Beam
Lancer 36 ★
11.8 ft
Farr 36 1990
11.3 ft
First 345 Beneteau
11.5 ft
Peterson 36
10.5 ft
Displacement
Lancer 36 ★
10 lbs
Farr 36 1990
8 lbs
First 345 Beneteau
12 lbs
Peterson 36
16 lbs
Ballast
Lancer 36 ★
4 lbs
Farr 36 1990
4 lbs
First 345 Beneteau
4 lbs
Peterson 36
6 lbs
Sail Area
Lancer 36 ★
558 sq ft
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
688 sq ft
Peterson 36
—
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lancer 36 ★
18.7
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
21.0
Peterson 36
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lancer 36 ★
38.1 %
Farr 36 1990
49.7 %
First 345 Beneteau
36.4 %
Peterson 36
37.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lancer 36 ★
19.6
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
23.2
Peterson 36
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lancer 36 ★
2.15
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
2.00
Peterson 36
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lancer 36 ★
192
Farr 36 1990
153
First 345 Beneteau
217
Peterson 36
228
Hull Speed
Lancer 36 ★
7.2 kts
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
7.2 kts
Peterson 36
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lancer 36 ★
3.0
Farr 36 1990
—
First 345 Beneteau
2.4
Peterson 36
—
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