Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Nonsuch 36 was to provide the comfort and living space of a typical forty-foot cruising yacht in a highly manageable thirty-six-foot package. Mark Ellis took full advantage of the boat's incredible beam—carried nearly all the way from the midsection to the transom—to maximize interior volume. This design choice resulted in a vessel with immense form stability, allowing it to stand up to a stiff breeze without the need for an overly deep, heavy keel. When compared directly to contemporary cruisers of its era, such as the Catalina 36, the Nonsuch 36 boasted significantly more beam, a longer waterline, and a taller rig.
Step below, and the quality of Hinterhoeller's craftsmanship is immediately apparent. Rather than utilizing cheap, drop-in fiberglass liners that restrict modification and isolate the hull, Hinterhoeller employed a traditional cabinetry approach. The cabin is lined with rich, satin-finished solid teak and teak veneers, accented by varnished cedar strapping along the hull sides. High-end hardware was standard, including robust Atkins & Hoyle aluminum opening ports and hatches, and Marelon through-hull valves. The resulting interior feels solid, warm, and highly traditional, presenting a stark contrast to the sterile, high-production fiberglass interiors of competitors from the same era.
Variations & Configurations
While smaller siblings in the Nonsuch range, such as the 26 and 30, were offered in Classic and Ultra layouts that shifted the galley and stateroom configurations, the Nonsuch 36 standardized on a highly mature, three-cabin layout that represented the peak evolution of the line. The design features a private forward stateroom with a large double berth offset to the port side, complete with its own private vanity, sink, and storage drawers. Moving aft, the main salon offers an L-shaped settee to port and a straight settee to starboard, centered around a massive, double-drop-leaf teak table. A fully equipped, U-shaped galley sits to starboard of the companionway, while a spacious head with a genuine stall shower lies to port. Finally, a private aft stateroom with a double berth is situated to port, opposing a dedicated, forward-facing navigation station to starboard.
Under the water, buyers could choose between two draft configurations to suit their local cruising grounds. The standard deep-draft fin keel draws five and a half feet, optimizing windward performance and lift. For those cruising the shallow bays of the East Coast, the Florida Keys, or the Bahamas, Hinterhoeller offered a shoal-draft option drawing just four and a half feet. Because the hull relies heavily on its wide beam for initial stability, the shoal-draft version sacrifices very little comfort or safety, making it a highly sought-after configuration on the secondary market.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under sail, the Nonsuch 36 is an eye-opening performer, challenging the assumptions of those accustomed to stayed, multi-sail sloops. With a sail area to displacement ratio of 18.02 and a displacement to length ratio of 197.41, the boat is moderately light and highly powered. Because all 742 square feet of sail area is concentrated in a single, massive mainsail, the sailplan is exceptionally efficient, especially on a reach or downwind. Tacking is entirely effortless: the helmsman simply turns the wheel, and the wishbone boom swings across the cabin top without a single sheet to winch or grind.
At the helm, the boat feels remarkably light and balanced, thanks to its partially balanced spade rudder and long waterline. In heavy air, the unstayed aluminum mast is designed to bend at the tip, naturally flattening the sail and spilling excess wind to depower the boat 4. This built-in safety valve means the skipper can delay reefing longer than on a stiffly stayed sloop. Downwind, the wishbone boom can be squared out to nearly ninety degrees, allowing the boat to sail exceptionally deep angles.
However, the rig presents its own unique handling considerations. Raising the massive mainsail is a serious physical chore, making a high-quality electric winch at the companionway virtually essential for most owners. Additionally, because there is no standing rigging to dampen lateral motion, the boat can experience a rhythmic rolling sensation when running directly downwind in a swell, a behavior that requires careful helmsmanship or sailing slightly hotter angles to stabilize.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Decades after the last hull left the St. Catharines factory, the Nonsuch 36 continues to command a significant premium on the brokerage market compared to mainstream production sloops of similar vintage. Its enduring value is sustained by a fiercely loyal owner's group, the International Nonsuch Association, which provides unparalleled parts support and technical wisdom. Because only about seventy hulls were built, they are relatively scarce, often trading quickly when a well-maintained example becomes available.
Prospects should approach the purchase with an understanding of the boat's unique refit economics. While a Nonsuch 36 represents an exceptional value in terms of interior volume per foot, deferred maintenance on the rig can quickly eclipse the initial purchase price. The lack of traditional standing rigging means there are no shrouds or stays to replace every decade, which represents a massive long-term saving. However, if the specialized unstayed mast or wishbone boom requires replacement, the engineering and fabrication costs are highly specialized. Prospective owners should budget for high-quality sails, as the performance of the entire boat hinges on a single piece of canvas, making sails of premium laminates or heavy-duty Dacron a worthy investment.
Known Issues & Triage
The most critical area of concern for any prospective Nonsuch 36 buyer lies in the hull and deck construction. Unlike some smaller models in the line, the 36 features a balsa-cored laminate in both the deck and the hull sides. Over time, moisture can compromise the balsa core if deck fittings, stanchions, or through-hulls are not meticulously re-bedded. Wet core in the hull sides is a complex, labor-intensive structural failure that requires professional repair. A thorough moisture-meter survey and sounding with a phenolic hammer are non-negotiable during pre-purchase inspections.
The unstayed, keel-stepped mast also demands close scrutiny. Because the entire load of the rig is concentrated at the partners (where the mast passes through the deck) and the keel step, these areas are subject to immense stress. Original aluminum masts can develop fatigue cracks at the deck level or experience galvanic corrosion around the stainless steel hardware and mast collar. Any signs of stress cracking or internal structural pitting require immediate engineering triage.
Additionally, the original aluminum water and waste tanks, nestled under the cabin sole and settees, are prone to crevice corrosion and pinhole leaks. Replacing these tanks is a notorious rite of passage for Nonsuch owners, though the owner's association has designed drop-in, heavy-walled polyethylene replacements that solve the issue permanently. Mechanically, the original Westerbeke diesel is coupled to a V-drive transmission. Because of the engine's placement and the specific angle of the V-drive, repowering the vessel is a tight fit. Standard straight-shaft diesels will not fit, and converting to a modern engine requires precise, custom fabrication of the engine beds and exhaust system.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners have developed several highly successful upgrade paths to address the inherent challenges of the large cat rig. To alleviate the physical strain of hoisting the mainsail, the installation of a low-friction mast track, such as those made by Tides Marine, is highly recommended. Coupled with a heavy-duty electric winch on the coachroof, this modification transforms sail handling, allowing the massive sail to be raised or dropped in seconds.
In terms of structural upgrades, some owners facing mast fatigue have retrofitted modern carbon fiber masts. Engineered by specialized composite builders, a carbon fiber mast is significantly lighter and stiffer than the original aluminum tube, drastically reducing pitching moment and improving the boat's motion in a seaway. Designer Mark Ellis himself noted that replacing the original aluminum wishbone boom with a carbon fiber version is one of the most effective upgrades available, as it minimizes the weight of the spar swinging across the deck during tacks and jibes.
Finally, the electrical systems of these boats are prime candidates for modernization. Given the high power demands of electric halyard winches and modern refrigeration, many owners are retrofitting lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) house banks. This upgrade, combined with high-output alternators or solar arrays integrated onto biminis, provides the robust energy reserve needed for extended, off-grid cruising.
The Verdict
The Hinterhoeller Nonsuch 36 remains a triumph of marine architecture, offering a brilliantly realized compromise between sailing simplicity and luxurious living space. For the shorthanded coastal cruiser or the retired couple looking to downsize their physical workload without sacrificing comfort, it has few equals. Its high-quality Canadian construction ensures that well-maintained hulls remain structurally sound, and its unique design continues to turn heads in every harbor.
Pros:
- Unmatched interior volume and headroom, comparable to many forty-foot sloops.
- Exceptional ease of handling with a self-tacking, single-sail cat rig.
- Excellent form stability and a sea-kindly motion under most conditions.
- Superior build quality with robust teak joinery and high-end fittings.
- Active and supportive owner's association providing parts and technical support.
- High physical effort required to raise the massive mainsail without electric winches.
- Balsa-cored hull sides require rigorous inspection and maintenance to prevent rot.
- Aluminum mast and partners are subject to high point-loads and require careful monitoring.
- Downwind rolling in heavy swells can be pronounced due to the lack of stayed rigging.
- Repowering is complicated by the tight constraints of the V-drive engine configuration.
