This is a thoroughly modern folding trimaran with genuine 20-knot performance, but its fixed centerboard trunk and bulkheads leave little room for interior customization. The result is a boat that puts sailing performance and its folding structure ahead of layout flexibility and stowage.
Design and Construction
The Dragonfly 36 measures 37 feet 10 inches overall, with a 35-foot 9-inch waterline and a light displacement of 9,925 pounds. Its sailing beam of 26 feet 8 inches folds to just over 12 feet for docking and trailering.
The main departure from earlier Dragonfly models is the all-composite Swing Wing folding system. Previous boats used beefy stainless steel brackets to articulate the floats. On the 36, those fittings give way to a seamless, CNC-cut composite structure, with the beam join engineered for 25 tonnes of compression.
X-Yachts in Poland builds the main hull and deck from vinylester, Divinycell foam core, and GRP. The floats are vacuum-infused at Dragonfly’s own shop using the same core materials, with a hand-laid inner liner. Carbon reinforces the main bulkheads and other load points.
For the first time on a Dragonfly, the main hull has an inverted bow to complement the wave-piercing outrigger bows. The asymmetric floats sit 70 centimeters forward of the main hull to aid directional stability. Closed-cell foam-cored construction renders the boat unsinkable, while four stainless deck eyes allow it to be craned anywhere.
Rig and Handling
The 36 has a deck-stepped, rotating carbon mast. Tall carbon masts have been standard at the yard since the early 1990s. The performance version’s mast stands 60 feet 8 inches, while the touring version uses a 54-foot 1-inch mast.
All spars and rigging—including the mast base and head fittings—are custom-built in-house from industrial carbon tube sections joined by carbon inserts and stainless sleeves. Sail-control lines run cleanly under the deck to powered Andersen winches within reach of the twin helms. A 4:1 single-point mainsheet leads through the cockpit floor, while a block-and-tackle boom vang takes the place of a traveler. Inboard genoa tracks keep the sheets tight.
The buoyant, foam-cored centerboard gives a draft of 6 feet 7 inches when lowered for upwind sailing and 2 feet 2 inches when raised for beaching. The single carbon rudder, built by Marstrom, kicks up and has a curved profile intended to resist cavitation at speed. Steering is by Jefa.
A 30-horsepower Yanmar drives a folding GORI propeller through a saildrive mounted between the helms. Under power, the boat cruises at nearly 6.5 knots at 2,500 rpm.
Sailing Performance
The Dragonfly 36 is capable of cruising at 10–15 knots, with a stated top speed of 23 knots. Test sailors recorded 20.5 knots on flat water, while the polars suggested around 24 knots in those conditions.
It also proved lively in lighter air. Testers recorded 8.5 knots at 40 degrees to a true wind averaging 7–13 knots. Under a Code 0, the boat made the same speed in 7 knots true at 45 degrees apparent.
The 36 can sail wing on wing with a Code sail and the mainsail. The snub bowsprit houses the Code sail’s furler.
Accommodation
Below deck, the Dragonfly 36 sleeps six and provides two meters of headroom. There are no alternative layouts because the centerboard trunk and bulkheads are fixed.
The well-appointed galley is to port and includes an 85-liter Isotherm refrigerator at counter level. Aft, a wide double cabin serves as the owner’s berth, though it’s short on stowage. The dining table lowers to create another double berth.
Forward, a sliding door gives the V-berth some privacy, but reaching it means climbing through a ring frame. A small wet head lies forward to port; occupants sit on the toilet while showering. Opposite is the boat’s only hanging locker, a half-height double. Hand-built elm or ash joinery adds warmth to the interior.
Known Issues and Compromises
On the water, testers found that the boat needed a light guiding hand on port tack. Dragonfly attributes this to a possible centerplate alignment issue that the builder is working to resolve.
The compact interior and restricted access to the forward cabin aren’t defects, but inherent compromises of the fixed-trunk design. The same structure also limits stowage and rules out alternative interior arrangements.
The Verdict
The Dragonfly 36 replaces the metal folding hardware of its predecessors with a lighter, all-composite Swing Wing system. It combines genuine 20-knot performance with a platform that folds to marina-friendly dimensions for docking and trailering.
The fixed interior layout, awkward access to the forward berth, and modest stowage are the price of that structure. Even so, the build quality and sailing envelope are exceptional for a boat of this size.
Pros
- All-composite folding system reduces weight and simplifies maintenance
- Cruising speeds of 10–15 knots, with bursts above 20 knots
- Folds to a beam of just over 12 feet for easier docking and trailering
- Custom carbon rig and kick-up rudder built in-house
Cons
- No alternative interior layouts because of the fixed centerboard trunk and bulkheads
- Limited stowage and only a half-height hanging locker
- Possible centerplate alignment issue on port tack remains under review by the builder
