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Sun Dance 36 Jeanneau
Designer: Groupe Finot  ·  Builder: Jeanneau (Fra)  ·  First built: 1988
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About the Sun Dance 36 Jeanneau

Launched during Jeanneau's prolific period of sailboat development, this 36-foot cruiser represents the French builder's commitment to creating accessible sailing vessels for coastal and moderate offshore adventures. The Sun Dance 36 emerged when Jeanneau was establishing its reputation for producing well-built cruising sailboats that balanced performance with comfort and affordability. Built with Jeanneau's characteristic attention to interior volume and livability, the Sun Dance 36 offers a practical layout that maximizes accommodation within its moderate length. The design philosophy emphasizes ease of handling and comfortable cruising rather than pure racing performance, making it well-suited for couples or small families exploring coastal waters and making occasional offshore passages. Like many Jeanneau designs from this era, the Sun Dance 36 features a moderate fin keel and spade rudder configuration that provides predictable handling characteristics. The boat's construction reflects French boatbuilding traditions with solid fiberglass lay-up and practical rigging arrangements that prioritize reliability over cutting-edge performance. For sailors seeking a proven coastal cruiser with enough capability for extended voyages, the Sun Dance 36 offers the dependable sailing characteristics and thoughtful accommodation that have made Jeanneau a respected name in cruising sailboats worldwide.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 35.76 ft / 10.90 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.84 ft / 9.40 m
Beam 12.14 ft / 3.70 m
Max Draft 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement 12,566 lb / 5,700 kg
Ballast 4,630 lb / 2,100 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 570 ft² / 52.95 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Groupe Finot
Builder Jeanneau (FRA)
First Built 1988
Last Built 1993
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Performance Ratios
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
16.84
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
36.85
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
191.25
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. 8.02 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.55
P (Mainsail Luff) 575.00 ft² / 53.42 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Yanmar
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 27
Fuel Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
Water Capacity 98 gals / 371 L
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