Design and Construction
The Cascade 36 has a 28-foot-10-inch waterline and displaces 12,500 pounds. Smith’s hull is a hand-laid, solid-fiberglass shell made from woven roving and mat, with no core material in the laminate. Internal stringers and bulkheads provide reinforcement, and an epoxy barrier coat protects against osmosis.
The deck is a balsa-cored fiberglass molding, adding stiffness and insulation, with a non-skid surface. Two large hatches, four opening ports, and six fixed ports bring light and ventilation below. Deck hardware includes stainless steel stanchions, lifelines, a pulpit, stern rail, cleats, chocks, and handrails.
The lead fin keel is bolted through the hull with stainless steel fastenings. The foam-cored fiberglass rudder blade has a stainless steel stock and hangs from a skeg on stainless pintles and gudgeons. Its balanced shape reduces helm pressure and sharpens steering response. Together, the fin profile and rudder give the boat good maneuverability and stability underfoot.
Rig and Handling
Although conceived as a masthead cutter with a fin keel and spade rudder, the Cascade 36 was offered with either a masthead sloop or masthead cutter rig. Earlier sloops were built without a bowsprit; the cutter variant was added to the line later.
The deck-stepped aluminum mast is supported by a compression post and rises 46 feet above the waterline. It has two sets of swept-back spreaders, internal halyards, an external mainsail track, and an internal wiring conduit. The aluminum boom contains an internal mainsail reefing system.
Standing rigging consists of stainless steel wire with swaged terminals and turnbuckles. On the cutter, a roller-furling genoa sets on the forestay and a staysail sets on an inner stay.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.6, the design will approach her maximum hull speed readily in the right conditions. A displacement-length ratio of 232 identifies her as a moderate-displacement cruiser able to carry cruising gear. Steering is by a single wheel in the aft cockpit, which provides generous seating and stowage.
Accommodations
The Cascade 36 sleeps up to six in two cabins and the main saloon. The forward cabin has a V-berth with storage beneath and a hanging locker. The aft cabin provides a double berth, similar stowage, and its own locker.
In the saloon, a U-shaped dinette converts into a double berth, while a settee serves as a single berth. The table folds down when it isn’t needed. A chart table and electrical panel make up the navigation station.
The galley includes a stove, oven, sink, refrigerator, ample counter space, and storage. The single head has a marine toilet, sink, and shower.
Versions and Ownership
The design was sold in several configurations. These included an owner’s version with a larger aft cabin, a charter version with additional berths, and custom builds.
The ballast-displacement ratio is 35.5, which means the hull tends to heel excessively in a gust unless ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the keel foot. Because the Cascade 36 has a bolted lead fin rather than a bulb keel, sailors should expect lively angles off the wind.
Ted Brewer’s Comfort Ratio of 29.1 puts her seaway motion in the range of a moderate-stability coastal cruiser. A Capsize Screening Formula of 1.7 marks her as a safer choice for an ocean passage than a comparable boat with a figure above 2.0.
The Verdict
The Cascade 36 is a thoughtfully engineered Smith cruiser, combining a solid-fiberglass hull, balsa-cored deck, balanced spade rudder, and a cutter rig that can drive the moderate-displacement hull toward hull speed without fuss. Her accommodations are practical for a couple or small crew, and her stability figures suggest bluewater capability within a coastal-cruiser comfort band.
The chief caveats are her tendency to heel readily with non-bulb ballast and the age-related scrutiny that any 156-boat series built from 1967 onward demands. The deck core, fastenings, and rigging warrant age-related scrutiny.
Pros
- Hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull with an epoxy barrier coat for osmosis protection
- Balanced spade rudder and fin keel provide maneuverability and stability
- Cutter rig with roller-furling genoa and inner staysail
- Accommodation for six, with a dedicated navigation station and full galley
- Capsize screening and comfort ratios suited to passage-making
Cons
- Ballast ratio suggests brisk heeling without a bulb keel
- Balsa-cored deck requires inspection for moisture
- Earlier sloop versions lack the cutter’s bowsprit and inner stay
