At 35 feet 92 inches long, with a 12-foot-33-inch beam and 15,328 pounds of displacement carried on a fin keel, the E36 is a beamy, roomy cruiser rather than a lithe racer. Even so, testers found it responsive and forgiving in light air.
Design and Construction
The E36 reflects Hunter’s standard construction practices. The hull and deck have balsa coring above the waterline with solid fiberglass below. The layup combines a modified polyester/epoxy resin with an outer vinylester layer applied throughout to guard against blisters.
A Kevlar layer runs from the stem to the keel, providing impact resistance should the boat strike anything underway. A structural grid stiffens the hull. The standard keel is iron, while the performance version substitutes a deep lead keel for greater sail-carrying ability.
The deck is through-bolted and bonded to the hull with 3M 5200 adhesive on an outward-turning flange. A rubrail running from bow to stern encases that flange. Other practical details include bulwark-like toerails and sturdy cabinhouse handrails. The stanchion bases sit atop the toerail, where water can’t pool around them and cause leaks or corrosion. A low bridgedeck at the top of the companionway helps keep water from sloshing below.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The E36 carries a backstay-free B&R fractional rig with aluminum spars and wire standing rigging. Its stainless steel cockpit arch supports the Bimini and mainsheet traveler. The standard rig flies a full-batten mainsail. The test boat carried the standard 110 percent furling headsail and the optional in-mast furling mainsail.
The Performance Package adds a large, square-top UK-Halsey carbon Tape-Drive mainsail with 12 percent more sail area. It also includes a retractable sprit for a large asymmetrical spinnaker, upgraded winches, a folding propeller, and a larger 42-inch wheel.
During testing in a steady 6 to 8 knots off Miami’s Biscayne Bay, the E36 tracked smoothly on all points of sail and tacked easily. In just over 6 knots of true wind, it made around 3.4 knots to windward at a 38-degree apparent-wind angle. Cracking off to a close reach at 45 degrees raised speed to just under 4 knots. The helm was nicely responsive, and the shoal-draft version proved very forgiving of sloppy driving.
Under power, the 29hp Yanmar drove the boat at 5.5 knots at 2,300 rpm and 7.5 knots at 3,800 rpm.
Cockpit and Swim Platform
The extended swim platform swings down to improve access to the water, but it also benefits the rest of the boat. Eliminating the usual swimstep cutout frees volume for the belowdecks layout and allows room for a larger cockpit table.
The cockpit is well proportioned. Hunter’s signature transom seats in the stern pulpit provide extra crew seating, while the sturdy table base doubles as a foot brace when the boat is heeled.
The standard e-version’s platform locks in place and deploys with a single line led through a Spinlock clutch. A gas shock slows its descent. This user-friendly arrangement reflects the attention given to small practical details throughout the boat.
The performance variant has an open transom without the swim platform, a change made to reduce weight.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon, navigation station, galley, and head lie to port of the companionway and are well executed. Portlights, overhead windows, and hull windows flood the saloon with light, while varnished cherry joinery provides an attractive finish. A sturdy handrail to port makes it easier to use the companionway steps.
The aft stateroom is the clear beneficiary of the folding-platform design. It gains extra volume and is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of hatches. The forward V-berth offers good storage, though it’s a little tight around the toes.
Known Issues
The authority review of the E36 identified no structural defects or systemic faults. Its truncated construction notes and on-water testing documented the boat’s features without flagging recurring problems. The standard iron keel and balsa coring above the waterline are stated specifications, not identified weaknesses.
Refits and Ownership
Owners considering the performance variant should note the difference between its weight-saving open transom and the standard e-version’s swing-down platform.
The standard Yanmar and available furling options make for straightforward systems. The Performance Package upgrades are factory-documented rather than aftermarket guesses.
The Verdict
The Hunter E36 is a thoughtfully detailed coastal cruiser that trades racing sharpness for living space and easy handling. Its construction is conventional for a Hunter of the period, with sensible measures for impact resistance and blister prevention. Responsive, forgiving light-air manners should make it approachable for a cruising couple.
Below, the accommodations are bright and well arranged. The aft cabin benefits most clearly from the extended-platform design.
Pros
- Swing-down swim platform frees belowdecks volume and is simple to deploy
- B&R fractional rig and cockpit arch simplify sail handling and Bimini mounting
- Good light-air performance and a forgiving helm on the shoal-draft version
- Vinylester outer layer and Kevlar impact layer address common fiberglass concerns
Cons
- Forward V-berth is tight for headroom and foot room
- Some buyers may prefer the performance version’s lead keel to the standard iron keel
- The test boat’s in-mast furling mainsail was optional, not standard
