More than 750 boats were built between 1971 and 1985, although sources differ on the exact number and some place the beginning of production as late as 1973. Relatively little changed between the first and last boats. The marque closed in 1986, bringing the run to an end.
Design and Construction
The Islander 36 has a flattish but concave sheerline and a solid-glass hull made in four pieces: two hull halves, the deck, and the liner. One reviewer compared this method with the port-and-starboard construction of a Swan. Each boat took roughly 700 hours to complete.
The through-bolted, plywood-cored deck is topped by an alloy toe rail. Most boats have lead ballast in a modified fin keel and a full-skeg rudder, though some early boats are said to have had iron in the keel. The moderate beam carries well aft, providing fairly good hull volume aft without the distorted stern sections adopted by the rule-beaters of the era.
Both deep- and shoal-draft keels were available, though most boats received the deep keel. The shoal version carries an extra 150 pounds of ballast to compensate for its higher center of gravity and gives up about six seconds per mile to the deep-keel boat.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The Islander 36 carries a simple, untapered aluminum mast stepped through the deck. Its high-aspect rig has two sets of spreaders, double lower shrouds, and shrouds set well inboard. Genoa tracks run just outboard of the cabin trunk for tight sheeting angles, and the original sail plan specified genoa overlaps of up to 180 percent.
The mainsheet traveler sits at the forward end of the companionway hatch, with the sheet attached almost at mid-boom. Late boats gained a small molded breakwater aft of the traveler, allowing a dodger to be fitted.
Under sail, the boat is well balanced, fast, and stiff. In winds of 20 to 30 knots, she’ll make eight knots and practically steer herself without becoming overpowered, though she can feel slightly sluggish in light air. With good sails and a clean bottom, she remains a reasonably competitive PHRF club racer.
Several Islander 36s have raced from California to Hawaii or completed circumnavigations. Even so, reviewers wouldn’t choose the design for extended offshore voyaging.
Accommodations
The forward cabin has a sizeable V-berth, with drawers beneath it, a combined head and shower to port, and a narrow hanging locker to starboard. Headroom of more than six feet extends all the way forward.
In the saloon, two straight settees flank a table that folds against the bulkhead. The starboard settee converts into a double berth. Late models added lockers and drawers outboard of the port settee, along with a ventilation hatch amidships.
The L-shaped galley to starboard includes a double sink and a three-burner LPG stove. However, the original sloping cabin sole makes working at the sink and icebox awkward, and galley ventilation comes solely from the companionway.
To port, the navigation station stands ahead of a quarterberth tucked fully beneath the cockpit. The berth’s lack of ventilation is a drawback in warm climates. Owners describe the boat as comfortable, stable, quick, and roomy enough for a couple to live aboard, though some criticize the small navigation seat and poorly functioning galley.
Known Issues
Several recurring problems stem from the boat’s construction and period systems. Most 1970s hulls have experienced mast-step corrosion, often requiring the Kenyon spar to be removed and trimmed. A few mid-1970s boats have also shown gelcoat blistering.
Owners have reported an aluminum holding-tank failure, localized gelcoat crazing, and, on one 1980 boat, an intermediate and lower shroud chainplate pulling out of the bulkhead. The original foam-and-vinyl headliners have zippered openings for access to fittings, but those zippers tend to corrode shut.
The cockpit sole is flush with the companionway sill. Given the small drains and lack of a bridgedeck, one owner considered this arrangement unseaworthy for offshore use.
Ventilation is the most frequently cited complaint. It affects the quarterberth, the galley, and the boat as a whole.
Engines, Steering, and Ownership
Gurney drew the design with a tiller, but most original boats used Edson chain-and-sprocket cable steering connected to a quadrant. Most owners have since retrofitted wheel steering.
The original engine was an Atomic Four gasoline unit. Other installations included the undersized Palmer P-60; optional Perkins 4-108 and Westerbeke L-25 diesels; a later Pathfinder 42-horse Volkswagen diesel; and, finally, a 30-horse Yanmar. Replacement Yanmars of 30 to 37 horsepower now predominate. With a 2:1 reduction gear and a 13-inch, three-blade fixed propeller, the boat can approach 7 knots in flat water.
A large and very active owners association supports the class. With modern sail-handling equipment, the Islander 36 is also easy to manage short-handed. One owner sails single-handed with an autopilot, while another uses self-tailing winches.
The Verdict
The Islander 36 is a well-mannered, fast-sailing boat that’s at her best in a breeze. She combines comfortable cruising accommodations with genuine club-racing pace, all in a forgiving, undistorted hull.
She isn’t a dedicated offshore voyager, and her ventilation and a few structural decay points warrant a buyer’s attention. Still, her production numbers, active class association, and adaptable rig make her a durable choice for a coastal-cruising couple or a daysailer.
Pros
- Undistorted hull with near-ideal racer-cruiser proportions and good volume aft
- Fast, stiff, and nearly self-steering in winds of 20–30 knots
- Competitive under PHRF
- Large owners association
- Straightforward short-handed handling with modern equipment
- Long production run with few changes
- Numerous engine and steering upgrade paths
Cons
- Mast-step corrosion is common on 1970s boats
- Some mid-1970s boats have suffered blistering
- Poor ventilation throughout, especially in the quarterberth and galley
- Cockpit sole is flush with the companionway sill, with small drains and no bridgedeck
- Sloping galley sole and small navigation station limit the interior’s practical function
