Design and Construction
The hull is single-skin fiberglass laid up by conventional roving-and-mat hand methods, while the horizontal deck areas are balsa-cored with plywood inserts wherever deck gear mounts. A long keel forms a direct extension of the hull molding, into which a cast-lead ballast insert is lowered; atop that ballast sits an enormous sump holding the stainless steel fuel and water tanks. The hull-to-deck joint is bolted through an ordinary perforated toe-rail, and chainplates sit a short distance inboard, tied to the main bulkhead or to stubs glassed to the hull. Rigidity comes not from a single liner trick but from an unusually large number of full and partial bulkheads glassed to the hull, complemented by a glassed-in structural hull liner and a fiberglass head liner, with ridges on the liner picking up teak-strip inner liners in the sleeping cabins.
Rig and Handling
She carries a cutter rig on Isomat spars, with the mast keel-stepped literally atop the internal ballast casting. Three two-speed Lewmar 16 halyard winches are mounted on the mast, and outhaul plus slab reefing are worked at the mast base with a small winch below the gooseneck and integral lock-offs at the boom front. On deck, four Lewmar 40 two-speed primaries, two number 16 mainsheet winches on the cabintop, and twin Harken mainsheet tackles with ratchet blocks give a crew plenty of purchase. A low angled bulwark and sand mixed into the deck gelcoat instead of a molded pattern give secure footing and grip underfoot. The sail plan totals 738 square feet in the standard cutter configuration, or 870 square feet across three working sails.
Accommodations
Below, the space is divided into a number of cosy compartments rather than one large central saloon, and the traditional atmosphere is carried by turned teak posts and louvred doors over good-quality, nicely finished joinery. The main saloon has a half dinette to port, and two well-isolated enclosed sleeping cabins each hold a double berth, dressing space, and a hanging locker, with a larger hanging locker by the nav station. The galley sits adjacent to the companionway with a good-size cold box and standard 12-volt refrigeration, plus a two-burner Origo alcohol stove with oven — a unit many buyers replace with propane against Bayfield's advice. Plumbing runs a marine toilet with holding tank and pressure hot-and-cold water to galley, head sink, and a shower/bathtub, with a bronze hand pump for lake water at the galley and a substantial manual bilge pump supplied.
Machinery and Systems
A Yanmar 4JHE 44-horsepower four-cylinder diesel is well mounted and smooth running; no sound insulation is fitted, yet the engine ran quietly in review. Bronze thru-hulls are used throughout, and the electrical and plumbing layouts reflect a production boat built for extended cruising rather than weekend racing.
Known Issues
The long-keel construction that gives the Bayfield her sea-kindly profile can cause problems if water enters a porous region between the outer skin and the lead following grounding damage. Buyers and surveyors should treat any history of grounding as a prompt for close inspection of that interface rather than a cosmetic concern alone.
The Verdict
The Bayfield 36 is a thoughtfully modern interpretation of a traditional cruiser: her hand-laid hull, glassed bulkhead network, and keel-stepped mast speak to structural seriousness, while the compartmented interior and well-equipped deck make her a comfortable liveaboard for two with occasional guests. The principal cautions are the keel-to-lead water ingress path after grounding and the common but builder-discouraged stove substitution.
Pros
- Long-keel lead ballast with sump-mounted tanks and a keel-stepped mast for structural continuity
- Numerous glassed bulkheads and liners producing a stiff, quiet hull
- Comprehensive winch package and mast-base reefing for manageable short-handed cruising
- Traditional compartmented interior with two enclosed double cabins and finished teak joinery
Cons
- Porous skin-to-lead interface can admit water after grounding damage
- Standard alcohol stove frequently replaced with propane against the builder's advice
