Hunter E36 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Most E36 boats you encounter will be the standard "e" version with the swing-down extended swim platform that locks in place and retracts on a single line through a Spinlock clutch, dampened by a gas shock. That platform eliminates a swimstep cutout and frees volume for a larger aft stateroom and cockpit table. A smaller slice of the market will be the Performance Package boats: these drop the swim platform for an open transom in the interest of weight reduction and add a deep lead keel, square-top carbon main, retractable sprit, winch upgrade, folding propeller, and 42-inch wheel. Below, the standard layout places saloon, nav station, galley, and head to port, with the bright saloon finished in varnished cherry and the forward V-berth offering storage if not lavish foot room.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, solar, Bimini, dodger, furling main, dinghy davits, and radar are commonly fitted, so most boats will already carry the canvas and basic power kit a cruiser wants. Often-seen additions include electric winches, a freezer, a swim platform (standard on the e, but a notable feature on any boat), and a chartplotter. For buyer consequence, prioritize the energy side: solar paired with a freezer and electric winches signals a boat set up for extended anchoring. The factory Performance Package's winch upgrade and folding propeller are worth confirming on performance variants, as is the retractable sprit for the asymmetrical spinnaker. Navigation-wise, a chartplotter and radar are frequent; comfort clusters around the Bimini, dodger, and the signature transom seats.

What to Inspect

The E36 layup uses balsa coring above the waterline with solid glass below and a vinylester outer layer intended to prevent blisters, so check hull gelcoat and any repaired osmosis carefully despite the preventive design. The Kevlar layer runs stem to keel for impact resistance; inspect the bow and forefoot for collision damage. The deck is bonded with 3M 5200 on an outward flange and through-bolted, so examine the rubrail and fasteners for deck-hull separation. Stanchion bases sit atop the toerail to avoid pooling, but confirm no prior leaks at toe rail or handrail mounts. The low bridgedeck should be sound to keep water out below. On performance boats, verify the open-transom structure and deep lead keel attachment; on standard boats, exercise the swim platform and its gas shock.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The E36 typically appears in the United States and France. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm which version (standard e with platform or performance with open transom and lead keel), verify the B&R rig and furling gear, inspect the balsa-cored topsides and vinyl-ester hull for blister work, and check the deck joint and swim-platform mechanism. A well-kept example rewards with a light, bright cruiser that is easy to handle and genuinely thoughtful in its small details.