The Malo 36 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 31.0′, the Malo 36 tops out around 7.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √31.0′ LWL = 7.5 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
144s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
19.1
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
31.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.78
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
31.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.78
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Malo 36 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Hanse 385
89s/nm
Dehler 372
134s/nm
Malo 36
144s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.1 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
6.9 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.4 |
| Run150–180° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.5 kts),
SA/D (19.1), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Malo 36 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Malo 36.
|
Malo 36 |
Bavaria 370 |
Dehler 372 |
First 375 Beneteau |
Hanse 385 |
Tartan 372 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
37.2 |
37.4 |
37.1 |
37.1 |
37.4 |
37.2 |
| LWL |
31.0 |
32.5 |
28.2 |
33.2 |
34.1 |
30.8 |
| Beam |
11.4 |
12.5 |
11.3 |
12.3 |
12.7 |
12.3 |
| Displacement |
16 |
16 |
12 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
| Ballast |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
| Sail Area |
785 |
699 |
603 |
648 |
724 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
144 |
— |
134 |
— |
89 |
— |
| SA/Disp |
19.1 |
17.5 |
17.7 |
16.8 |
17.8 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
35.6 |
48.3 |
34.3 |
29.0 |
42.8 |
| Comfort |
31.1 |
25.2 |
25.2 |
24.5 |
24.9 |
— |
| Capsize |
1.78 |
1.98 |
1.94 |
1.98 |
1.99 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
7.5 |
7.6 |
7.1 |
7.7 |
7.8 |
— |