Cheoy Lee Shipyard built the boat in fiberglass after the yard had moved beyond its teak era and into molded GRP construction. Luders drew the lines for the broader Clipper series, which ranged from 33 to 48 feet. The Clipper 36 measures 35 feet 7.5 inches overall, with a 25-foot waterline, a 10-foot 9-inch beam, and a 5-foot 3-inch draft. Below the waterline, she has a long keel and attached rudder.
Design and Construction
The Clipper 36’s most recognizable feature is her pronounced clipper bow. Its reverse curvature is worked into the stem and hull rather than added as a bolted-on false nose.
The hull is solid fiberglass and was built to Lloyd’s 100A1 specifications. Company literature gives laminate thicknesses of about 7/16 inch at the sheer to 1 inch at the keel. The 5,375 pounds of cast-iron ballast is externally fitted to the keel. Displacement is a moderately high 16,250 pounds, producing a displacement-to-length ratio of 464.
The fiberglass decks usually have a teak overlay, and the bulkheads are tabbed to the hull. The spars are Sitka spruce or another wood, a period detail that reinforces the boat’s traditional appearance.
Rig and Handling
The Clipper 36 came as a ketch or schooner rig. In practice, most boats are cutter-ketches carrying a Yankee, staysail, main, and mizzen, with wooden spars and bowsprits. The mainsail uses roller reefing rather than the jiffy reefing common on later boats.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.8 and a full-keel, attached-rudder hull, the Clipper sails best on a reach. She’s a little tender at first, but stiffens nicely once her shoulders are in the water. Most owners rate her balance as above average. The ketch rig compromises upwind performance, however, and the boat doesn’t excel either going to weather or sailing off the wind.
Under power, Practical Sailor reports the expected six knots at 1600 rpm. Like other full-keel boats with attached rudders and aperture-mounted propellers, the Clipper doesn’t back down well.
Accommodations and Tankage
The Clipper 36’s interior is finished throughout in wood; the original brochure described it as a lavish teak interior. Two floor plans were offered. The berths had foam-rubber cushions with vinyl covers, while the galley and head used Formica countertops and stainless-steel sinks. The original toilet was a Wilcox-Crittenden Imperial.
Ventilation comes from a teak-and-Plexiglas skylight, a forward hatch, four cowl vents, and two Dorades. A 100-gallon fiberglass water tank and a 60-gallon fiberglass fuel tank reflect the boat’s cruising intent rather than a daysailer’s compromises.
Engines and Steering
According to the brochure, power was originally a choice of diesel or gasoline. Owner records list Westerbeke 4-107 and Perkins 4-108 diesels, while some hulls have Atomic 4 gasoline engines. At least one owner’s boat carries the 37 HP Westerbeke 4-107. Cable-quadrant steering is standard.
Ownership Considerations
On some boats, there was no provision for an emergency rudder, an issue Practical Sailor raised in light of the boat’s offshore intent. Otherwise, the solid hull, tabbed bulkheads, and Lloyd’s-specification build characterize her construction.
Owners and prospective buyers should allow for the upkeep required by the wooden spars. Those who want modern, shorthanded reefing may also need to plan around the roller-reefing mainsail.
The Verdict
The Cheoy Lee Clipper 36 is an exceptionally good-looking boat from one of the finer designers of her generation. Built to Lloyd’s 100A1 specifications, she combines a heavy-displacement, full-keel hull with a traditional, wood-sparred ketch rig. That package rewards reaching and steady cruising more than tactical upwind work.
Although initially tender, she stiffens into a well-balanced platform as she heels. Her teak-rich interior remains a strong attraction for sailors drawn to classic cruising boats.
Pros
- Built to Lloyd’s 100A1 specifications, with a solid fiberglass hull and tabbed bulkheads
- Pronounced clipper bow and lavish teak interior
- Strong ventilation
- Above-average balance according to most owners
- Comfortable on a reach
Cons
- Ketch rig compromises upwind performance
- Tender initially
- Doesn’t back down well under power
- Some hulls lack provision for an emergency rudder
- Wooden spars require regular care
