Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Arrow 1360 is fast, safe, and comfortable bluewater cruising. Unlike production catamarans from mainstream European builders that prioritize maximum interior volume and apartment-like living spaces at the expense of sailing dynamics, the Arrow 1360 prioritizes performance. Schionning achieved this by keeping the hulls incredibly narrow, featuring a 14.5:1 hull length-to-beam ratio. This design minimizes wave-making resistance, allowing the boat to glide effortlessly in light air and slice through chop without the jarring "hobby-horsing" or violent under-bridge slamming common in high-displacement, low-clearance cruisers.
The interior design is a direct reflection of this weight-sensitive ethos. Instead of heavy marine plywood and thick veneers, the cabinetry and structural bulkheads are built using lightweight foam-core or balsa-core composite panels, often finished with thin veneers or painted surfaces. The fit-out is clean, modern, and minimalist. The saloon and galley sit on the bridgedeck, offering excellent 360-degree visibility and a seamless transition to the cockpit. While it does not offer the cavernous staterooms of a charter-oriented catamaran, the layout provides exceptional offshore security, functional ergonomics at sea, and more than enough comfort for a live-aboard couple or family who values reaching their destination in half the time.
Variations & Configurations
Because the Arrow 1360 is built from a kit, there is no single standardized factory configuration, leading to notable variations on the brokerage market. Most hulls are constructed using DuFLEX composite panels featuring either an end-grain balsa or structural foam core, laminated with high-performance epoxy resin.
Rig configurations vary from conservative aluminum fixed masts to towering, high-modulus rotating carbon fiber rigs. The rotating carbon mast maximizes aerodynamic efficiency and sail-shape control, making it the preferred choice for performance purists, though it demands more active sheet management.
Draft is governed by high-aspect daggerboards. With the daggerboards fully retracted, the Arrow 1360 draws a mere 1.6 feet (0.5 meters), allowing it to nose into shallow sandy bays or escape strong currents. With the boards down, the draft increases to roughly 5.9 feet (1.8 meters), giving the boat superb bite when clawing to windward.
Accommodation layouts generally center around a three-stateroom owner’s configuration. This setup features two cabins spanning the forward bridgedeck area and a third private stateroom in the aft port hull, complemented by one or two heads. Some customized versions feature an "open" deck layout with a minimalist saloon, while others are fully enclosed for cold-weather cruising.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The sailing physics of the Arrow 1360 are defined by its remarkable sail area-to-displacement ratio of 29.45. Operating with a lightship displacement of just under 15,000 pounds, this ratio indicates an incredibly powerful sail plan that can easily match or exceed true wind speed in light conditions. Helmsmen report that the boat feels responsive, lively, and highly tactile, behaving more like a large racing dinghy than a cruising multihull.
In a true wind of 10 to 11 knots, the Arrow 1360 will comfortably maintain speeds of 8.5 to 9 knots on a reach. When the wind pipes up, the boat’s performance envelope expands dramatically; reaching speeds of 18 to 20 knots is a controlled, stable affair rather than a white-knuckle ride.
Crucially, the boat’s safety offshore is enhanced by its capsize screening ratio of 3.94. Thanks to its wide beam of over 24 feet and a low center of gravity, the Arrow 1360 possesses immense form stability. The generous bridgedeck clearance of 800 mm prevents waves from slamming against the underside of the saloon, ensuring a quiet, dry, and less fatiguing ride for the crew during ocean passages.
Market Snapshot & Economics
The Arrow 1360 occupies a highly specialized niche on the brokerage market. Because these boats are not mass-produced, they are rare, and finding one for sale requires patience. When they do appear, they command a premium compared to production catamarans of similar vintage, reflecting the high build cost of epoxy-infused composites, carbon fiber components, and custom engineering.
For prospective buyers, the economics of purchasing a used Arrow 1360 depend heavily on the pedigree of the builder. Boats constructed by professional boutique yards or highly skilled professional shipwrights represent the gold standard and hold their value exceptionally well. Amateur-built examples require a meticulous structural survey. A poorly finished home build can suffer from aesthetic flaws and weight creep, which degrades the boat's primary asset: its lightweight performance. Conversely, a well-built, well-maintained Arrow 1360 represents an excellent value compared to high-end, factory-built performance catamarans, offering 95% of their speed and capability at a fraction of the initial capital outlay.
Known Issues & Triage
Because the Arrow 1360 is primarily a kit-built boat, the most significant "known issues" stem from variance in builder execution rather than inherent design flaws. Buyers must conduct a thorough, professional composite survey to identify any structural anomalies.
- Secondary Bonding and Core Consolidation: On amateur-built hulls, look for areas where bulkheads connect to the hull sides. If the vacuum-bagging process was not executed perfectly or if secondary bonding lacked sufficient prep work, delamination or voids can occur under high sailing loads.
- Weight Creep: The design relies on a strict displacement budget. Some builders, tempting comfort over speed, install heavy solid-wood trim, residential appliances, or oversized gensets. This excess weight lowers the bridgedeck clearance, causes the sterns to drag, and severely dampens sailing performance.
- Daggerboard Trunk Alignment and Wear: The close tolerances of the high-aspect daggerboards require regular inspection. Misalignment during the build phase can cause the boards to bind, while worn bearing strips can lead to clacking and structural stress on the trunks when sailing hard on a breeze.
- Mast Step and Compression Post Compression: Given the immense rig tension required to keep the forestay tight on a high-performance catamaran, the mast step area and the compression post down to the bridgedeck must be inspected for any signs of cracking, crushing, or structural deflection.
Modernization & Upgrades
Owners of Arrow 1360s are typically forward-thinking, making these boats prime candidates for cutting-edge modernization.
- Electric Propulsion Conversions: Because the hull is so easily driven, the Arrow 1360 is one of the few cruising catamarans where electric propulsion is genuinely viable. Several owners have successfully fitted dual Oceanvolt electric sail drives or shaft drives. Under sail, these systems regenerate power back into the battery bank at speeds above 6 knots, making the vessel highly self-sufficient.
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery Banks: Replacing heavy lead-acid batteries with high-capacity lithium banks is a standard upgrade. This conversion saves hundreds of pounds of deadweight while providing the capacity to run high-load systems like induction cooktops and watermakers directly off the inverter, eliminating the need for a diesel generator.
- Solar Array Integration: The wide, flat bimini and deck space of the Arrow 1360 are ideal for integrating high-efficiency, walk-on solar panels. Veteran owners often maximize this real estate to generate upwards of 1.5 to 2 kW of solar power, sustaining the house loads and assisting the propulsion batteries without adding aerodynamic drag.
The Verdict
The Arrow 1360 is a masterclass in performance multihull design, offering an intoxicating blend of blistering speed, ocean-crossing safety, and modern living comfort. It is not a boat for those who want a floating condo to sit at the marina, but for the experienced sailor who views the journey as an active, joyful pursuit, few boats in the 45-foot class can match its pedigree.
Pros
- Exceptional light-wind and heavy-weather sailing speed, routinely matching or exceeding true wind speed.
- High bridgedeck clearance reduces slamming and hobby-horsing for superior offshore comfort.
- Daggerboard configuration allows for excellent windward performance and a shallow draft for exploring reef systems.
- Stiff, durable, and highly engineered epoxy-composite construction.
Cons
- Build quality and finish standards can vary widely on the brokerage market due to the kit-built nature of the design.
- Extremely sensitive to weight; performance degrades quickly if overloaded with excessive gear or heavy luxury options.
- Limited interior volume and storage compared to beamier, charter-style production catamarans.
