C&C 36-1 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used C&C 36-1 means chasing a 1977–1982 Cuthbertson & Cassian design built in Canada as a racer-cruiser first. She is a 35'7" masthead sloop on a fin keel and spade rudder, balsa-cored through hull and deck, with a 45.5 percent lead-ballast ratio that still makes her point like a scalpel. The boat rewards an active helm and suits coastal hopping and offshore club racing more than floating-cottage living, so the right buyer is a sailor who values the passage over the penthouse.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 36-1 Classic is identified by its wraparound portlight and a technical, functional interior rather than a big-boat apartment. The U-shaped galley sits to starboard of the companionway—secure at sea but short on refrigeration volume—and a forward-facing navigation desk stands out for paper-chart work. Tankage is modest at roughly 30 gallons of fuel and 38 of water, which places her as a coastal and offshore cruiser rather than a trans-oceanic liveaboard. Most boats carried a deep fin keel near 6'6" draft, with rare shoal versions for thin water, and most were fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 petrol engine or a Westerbeke or Yanmar diesel.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market the C&C 36-1 commonly carries a dodger, chartplotter, bimini, and autopilot as standard cruising kit. Often-seen additions include cabin heating, radar, and AIS for colder or more navigationally busy waters. Less common owner upgrades that matter to a buyer include solar for anchor independence, a code zero for light-air reaching, electric winches to tame the large period headsails, a freezer for longer trips, and dinghy davits or a short-handed sail-handling setup. A diesel repower is a notable value-add where the original petrol Atomic 4 survives. The large masthead headsails are a handful in a blow without a modern furling system, so furling converts deserve a close look.
What to Inspect
The balsa-cored hull and deck make moisture the silent killer, so a professional moisture survey should condition any purchase anchor. Run a meter around all deck fittings and chainplates, as soft deck spots are common where re-bedding was skipped, and check the chainplate-to-deck junctions on rod-rigging boats since leaks there rot bulkheads. That keel-stepped mast bears on a steel or aluminium beam which bilge water routinely attacks with corrosion that can undermine rig tension. Look for the "C&C Smile," a horizontal crack at the front of the keel-hull joint that is often cosmetic fairing failure but can show the keel working or grid fatigue, and inspect the spade rudder bearing for play in the post given its lack of skeg protection anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
C&C 36-1s typically turn up in the United States, Canada, Guatemala, and Australia. For a buyer, the short list is: confirm a clean moisture survey on the balsa core; check the keel-step beam and chainplate bedding for corrosion and rot; read the keel-hull "smile" for structural movement; verify rudder-post play; and favour a diesel repower and modern headsail furling for easier short-handed sailing. She is a sailor's boat—keep the core dry and the rig honest, and she will reward the active hand.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the C&C 36-1. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $19,990 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $20,000 | +0.1% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $21,500 | +7.5% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $24,900 | +15.8% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $29,900 | +20.1% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $30,000 | +0.3% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $21,483 | -28.4% |
| Mar 26 | 4 | $10,000 | -53.5% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $18,391 | +83.9% |
| May 26 | 2 | $18,914 | +2.8% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $24,999 | +32.2% |
Where they're listed
C&C 36-1 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 6 (50.0%), followed by Canada and Australia.
Country view
12 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $12,500 | 6 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Canada | $18,914 | 4 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Australia | $21,483 | 1 | 0 | 8.3% |
| Guatemala | $21,000 | 1 | 0 | 8.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islander 36 | 36.08' | $ 23,307 | 33 | 10 |
| C&C Yachts 34 | 33.5' | $ 16,450 | 30 | 15 |
| C&C 37 | 37.58' | $ 35,035 | 16 | 5 |
| C&C Yachts 36-1You are here | — | $ 18,464 | 12 | 1 |
| Elan 36 | 36.09' | $ 57,416 | 11 | 3 |