Design and Construction
Jackett’s hull retains the flat sheer and deck camber associated with earlier C&C boats, but adds a finer entry and a flatter run aft. Moderate deadrise gives the hull a stiffer form that is less prone to heeling, while slightly higher freeboard answers a perceived need for more interior volume.
Below the waterline, the keels use high-lift, low-drag foil sections optimized at NASA’s Lewis Space Center. A bulb tip lowers the center of gravity and increases stability. Buyers could choose from three keels, with drafts ranging from 4′10″ to 7′3″.
The hull and deck are vacuum-bagged with vinylester resin throughout, using light bi-directional E-glass and Kevlar. Both are cored with Core-Cell structural foam meeting ABS and Lloyds standards. Kevlar strips run the length of the boat along the centerline and athwartships to reinforce the chainplate areas.
Unlike the Tartans, the 110 uses a fiberglass interior pan bonded with Core-Bond adhesive to eliminate voids where water could collect. The bulkheads are glued with Plexis 320 rather than tabbed with fiberglass. The hull-deck joint follows a C&C pattern used for 25 years: the deck overlaps a hull flange, with an aluminum bar sandwiched between them. The joint is bonded with 3M 5200 and fastened with 1/4″ stainless steel on 9″ centers.
Below, the cabinetry is built from cored fiberglass panels faced with varnished cherry. Color-coded wiring runs through PVC conduit along the hull, providing excellent access.
Rig, Deck, and Cockpit
The triple-spreader mast comes from Offshore Spars, has an Awlgrip finish, and carries Navtec rod rigging as standard. The Offshore boom contains a concealed 4:1 outhaul and reef line, and it is internally stiffened for a vang lug.
All lines lead aft to the cockpit, where rope clutches and Lewmar self-tailers sit near the companionway. The standard traveler is mounted on the coachroof, with the mainsheet led forward to the mast and then back to a stopper. Options included a 48″ bridgedeck traveler or a singlehanded arrangement with the traveler forward of the pedestal.
The Furlex 200S furler has its drum recessed below deck. About half of the boats were ordered with a retractable carbon-fiber sprit extending into the bow.
The wide, T-shaped cockpit seats six. Its settees measure 60″ x 19″, and a footbrace is molded into the sole. The standard 48″ Edson wheel will suit most helmspeople, although shorter skippers may prefer the optional 54″ or 55″ wheel. The engine controls flank the wheel and can be confusing until the skipper becomes familiar with them.
Sailing and Motoring Performance
The builder’s polar predictions put the boat’s best upwind speed at 7.25 knots in 20 knots of wind, sailing 36°–38° off true wind. In the same breeze, predicted downwind speed exceeds 10 knots at 135°.
After hull #1 was launched in San Francisco, Jackett reported speeds of 6.7–7 knots in 8–12 knots of wind, rising to 7.8 knots when the breeze increased to 16 knots. Owner John Dodge reported 6.5–7 knots in winds under 20 knots and 8 knots under genoa alone on a broad reach in 25 knots.
The auxiliary is a 28-hp Volvo Penta MD2030. Test sailors found the engine quiet and unobtrusive, with good close-quarters control. It drove the boat at 6.5 knots at 2,800 rpm, and the boat could cruise all day at 7.5 knots at 2,900 rpm.
Accommodations
Varnished cherry and light colors give the interior the feel of a sailboat rather than a condominium. Production finish is exceptional, extending to details such as dovetailed drawers. Headroom is 72″.
The saloon has a dinette to port and a berth to starboard, with a folding table. The bench seats also serve as sea berths. Aft of the port berth, the angled navigation station includes a hinged electrical panel and tubular chart stowage. A clever stainless-steel backrest hinges over the bunk, although there is no bookshelf near the table.
At the foot of the companionway, the galley is to starboard. It includes a double sink with a cutting board, an inboard icebox or optional refrigerator, and a gimbaled two-burner oven stove. An optional microwave can be fitted above. Opposite the galley, the head is large for a 36-footer and includes a Plexiglas-enclosed shower.
The aft cabin, off the galley, has an athwartships double berth with cockpit ports. Forward, the conventional V-berth is surrounded by high lockers and a clothes locker to port. Its top hinges open on a hydraulic cylinder to reveal mesh provision bins.
Stowage and Known Issues
The self-draining anchor locker is large enough for a 35-lb anchor. One owner, however, found that water migrated from the locker through a hull joint and into the bilge. That report underscores the need for sound sealing at the locker’s forward boundary.
The stern lazarettes span the full beam and are 45″ deep. Despite that capacity, they are narrow, making stored gear awkward to reach.
The Verdict
The C&C 110 is a state-of-the-art 36-footer that combines Jackett’s race-bred hull design with a warm, thoughtfully arranged interior and a deck plan suited to short-handed control. Its NASA-derived foils, Kevlar-reinforced core, and documented speed range establish it as a genuine cruiser-racer. Cherry joinery and convertible berths help it meet the needs of a family crew.
Pros
- Stiff, quick hull with a fine entry and NASA-optimized bulbed keels
- Cored hull and deck, with Kevlar reinforcement around the chainplates
- All lines led aft, with multiple traveler and rig arrangements for racing or singlehanding
- Light, airy cherry interior with practical storage in the V-berth and aft cabin
Cons
- One owner reported a leak from the anchor locker into the bilge
- Full-width stern lazarettes are difficult to access
- Engine controls flanking the wheel can be confusing until learned
