Design and Construction
Brennan's 36 is a fiberglass hull with a fin keel and a partial skeg-hung rudder, the latter described in some reports as having semi-balanced spade-like elements partial skeg-hung rudder with semi-balanced elements. The 29.66 ballast-displacement ratio and 311.26 displacement-length ratio place her among moderately loaded cruisers rather than light racers, and the moderate-heavy displacement was intended for stability and motion comfort. Easterly Yachts built the boats in Pearlington until the yard closed around 1980, and the quantity manufactured is low and undocumented precisely, likely no more than low hundreds given the short production window.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop, the Easterly 36 carries a 44.5-foot I and 15.3-foot J foretriangle with a 37.5-foot P and 13.5-foot E mainsail plan, the working sail area totaling roughly 594 square feet when combining the 261-square-foot main with the 331-square-foot jib. A 115-percent jib and a 135-percent genoa of 448 square feet were part of the sail range, and an asymmetrical spinnaker of 878 square feet extends the offwind inventory. On the water she earned a PHRF around 153 and was noted for good upwind ability and balance, traits consistent with the fin-keel and skeg-rudder configuration.
Accommodations
Most examples are aft-cockpit, though a center-cockpit sloop configuration appears in some boats. Interiors vary depending on build year and owner completion, so the buyer should expect wide variation in cabin trim rather than a single standard fit-out.
Known Issues
The Easterly 36's brief production and low unit count mean that surviving boats are few and that yard-original finishing varied widely, leaving many interiors dependent on later owner completion rather than factory standardization. The rudder's semi-balanced spade-like elements, reported on some boats, deserve a close look for bearing wear or hull-to-skeg joint fatigue given the partial skeg-hung arrangement. The combination of a short builder lifespan and undocumented total production argues for individual survey over assumed fleet knowledge.
The Verdict
The Easterly 36 is a Brennan-designed, Mississippi-built cruiser with bluewater orientation and a moderate-heavy displacement hull that sails with good upwind balance. Her low production numbers and the yard's early closure make any purchase a case-by-case assessment, but the underlying design is coherent and the sail plan versatile.
Pros
- Good upwind ability and balance with a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder
- Moderate-heavy displacement for stability and motion comfort
- Versatile masthead sloop rig with genoa and asymmetrical spinnaker options
Cons
- Low, undocumented production leaves little fleet knowledge
- Interior finish varies widely from basic to finished
- Rudder configuration reported with semi-balanced elements needing inspection
