Atlantic Clipper 36 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for an Atlantic Clipper 36 means taking on a 1968 Maurice Griffiths design with a long-keel-and-centreboard hull and a centre-cockpit layout beneath a galleon-style poop deck. The Dartmouth, England, firm Philip and Son Ltd. built it in fibreglass and also offered it as full kits, and these boats reward the buyer who wants a heavy-displacement cruiser with shallow-draft flexibility rather than a modern performance profile.
Layouts on the Used Market
The defining used-market layout is the centre cockpit leading to a huge aftercabin, with a big galley and six berths throughout. Because the class was available as full kits, some boats were finished by their original owners and may show bespoke joinery or non-standard cabin detailing, while factory-finished hulls will follow Griffiths' plan more closely. The poop deck gives the stern volume that sets the Clipper 36 apart from flatter-transom cruisers of the same length.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Given the ketch rig and centreboard, the most consequential buyer-side upgrades tend to cluster around sail-handling and ground-tackle systems rather than interior gadgets. A retrofit windlass and upgraded sheet-winches ease anchoring and centreboard work in shallow coves, while a modern autopilot paired with the ketch's divided sail plan supports shorthanded voyaging. Buyers should confirm the centreboard pennant and trunk are serviceable, as that mechanism is central to the boat's draft range.
What to Inspect
The hull is solid fibreglass with a long keel and centreboard and the draft ranges from about 6 ft 3 in loaded to 3 ft 2 in with the board raised anchor. On any example, inspect the centreboard trunk and hull penetrations for past water ingress, and verify the immersion rate of 845 lb per inch has not been exceeded by unreported ballast or tank additions that strain the hull. The wetted surface of about 258 ft² should be checked for osmotic blistering consistent with a solid fibreglass hull of this vintage.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Buyers should treat the search as a broad, patience-based hunt rather than a local shop. For a purchaser, the short checklist is: confirm whether the boat is kit- or factory-finished, test the centreboard operation, survey the aftercabin for moisture, and assess the ketch rig's age. The Clipper 36 suits a cruiser who wants a steady, shallow-draft-capable ketch with a real aft cabin, not a quick modern racer-cruiser.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Atlantic Clipper 36. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $20,398 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gozzard 36 | 36' | $ 65,000 | 33 | 4 |
| Bowman 36 | 36' | $ 37,506 | 15 | 2 |
| Ericson 36 C | 36' | $ 35,000 | 13 | 1 |
| Cape George 36 | 36' | $ 112,250 | 12 | 5 |