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Sun Shine 36 Jeanneau
Designer: Tony Castro  ·  Builder: Jeanneau  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Sun Shine 36 Jeanneau

Designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro and built by French manufacturer Jeanneau starting in 1982, this 36-footer represents solid European cruising boat engineering from the early 1980s. The Sun Shine 36 features a modern fin keel with spade rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling and good windward performance, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages. With a displacement of 11,872 pounds and generous beam of 12.63 feet, the boat offers substantial interior volume while maintaining seaworthy stability. The masthead sloop rig carries 610 square feet of sail area, providing adequate power for spirited sailing without being overly demanding for a small crew. Castro's design philosophy emphasized practical cruising capabilities, and this shows in the boat's moderate proportions and balanced sail plan. The comfort ratio of 19.33 indicates a relatively lightweight design that should provide lively sailing characteristics, while the capsize screening formula of 2.22 suggests reasonable offshore capability for experienced sailors. The fiberglass construction typical of Jeanneau's quality standards from this era has proven durable over decades. Hull speed calculations indicate the boat will cruise comfortably at around 7.4 knots, making it suitable for extended coastal cruising and weekend sailing adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.42 ft / 11.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.67 ft / 9.35 m
Beam 12.63 ft / 3.85 m
Max Draft 6.30 ft / 1.92 m
Displacement 11,872.00 lb / 5,385 kg
Ballast 4,850.00 lb / 2,200 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 610.00 ft² / 56.67 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Tony Castro
Builder Jeanneau
First Built 1982
Associations Jeanneau Owners Network
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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
 18.82
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
 40.85
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
 183.71
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
 19.33
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
 2.22
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. 7.42 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
 3.13
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. 1,384.09 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. 18.83
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 46.30 ft / 14.11 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.70 ft / 4.48 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
SA Fore 340.31 ft² / 31.62 m²
SA Main 270.00 ft² / 25.08 m²
SA Total (100%) 610.31 ft² / 56.70 m²
Est. Forestay Length 48.58 ft / 14.81 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 22 gals / 83 L
Water Capacity 53 gals / 201 L
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