Reviewers describe the Freeport 36 as blue-water capable, with traditional looks, sound sailing manners, and a roomy interior. It shouldn’t be confused with the unrelated Islander 36 from the same builder, or with the later Freeport 38C, which used the Freeport 36 hull beneath a redesigned deck and cabin trunk.
Design and Construction
The Freeport 36 measures 35.75 feet on deck and has a 12-foot beam. She draws 5.25 feet with her fin keel and displaces 17,000 pounds, with 6,300 pounds of ballast. Those figures put her firmly in the moderate-displacement cruiser class. Her beam also provides the interior volume that Perry’s raised-coachroof profile makes good use of.
In keeping with the builder’s long-standing practice, the hull is solid fiberglass. The deck and cabin top are cored fiberglass to reduce weight overhead. An owner’s examination of a 1978 example found an insulated hull and a zippered headliner beneath the deck, allowing access to deck hardware without removing fixed panels.
The engine is reached through the saloon sole. That owner found the panels easy to lift and the working space genuinely good—an arrangement seldom handled so neatly on a 36-footer of this era.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Freeport 36 is a masthead sloop. Its I dimension is 46.75 feet and J is 16.75 feet, while P and E measure 42 feet and 12.75 feet, respectively.
The standard mainsail is 273 square feet, paired with a 383-square-foot working jib. The broader sail inventory includes genoas ranging from a 524-square-foot 135-percent overlap to a 593-square-foot 150-percent overlap, plus a 608-square-foot drifter for light air. A 1,008-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker covers the offwind end of the range, while a 137-square-foot storm jib serves for heavy weather. Double-speed self-tailing winches handle the sheets.
A sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.95 indicates moderate power. The capsize screening value is 1.87, placing the boat in conventional offshore-cruiser territory.
Accommodations and Storage
Perry gave the Freeport 36 a deck saloon beneath a raised coachroof. Its large fixed portlights do not open.
The popular “plan B” layout uses the aft port side for a generous owner’s cabin, with a double berth and drawer storage underneath. To starboard are two cedar-lined hanging lockers, one deeper than the other because of the hull shape, with a bureau of drawers between them.
A fold-down dining table serves the main saloon. Forward, the entire bow is devoted to the head compartment, with the shower set into the open floor space.
The galley includes a pull-out cutting board, a built-in slot for a small trash bag beside the sink, and dedicated dishware stowage. Outside, four lazarettes provide storage, with one arranged as a propane locker. At the stern, a fold-down swim step also serves as a steering bench for the helmsman.
Known Issues
The main accommodation quirk is ventilation. Because the large saloon portlights are fixed, they can’t be opened to bring air through the deck saloon. Buyers shouldn’t expect to crack a window for airflow in the main living space.
The insulated hull and zippered headliner noted above were observed by an owner on one boat; they weren’t identified as problems.
The Verdict
The Islander Freeport 36 is a thoughtfully laid-out Perry cruiser that makes unusually good use of its 36-foot length. Its raised-trunk deck saloon and aft owner’s cabin offer space associated with larger boats. The solid-fiberglass hull, good engine access, and versatile sail range make it a credible candidate for coastal or blue-water cruising, provided its fixed portlights suit the buyer’s expectations for ventilation.
Pros
- Robert Perry design with traditional lines and reported blue-water capability
- Raised deck saloon, large owner’s cabin, and four lazarettes
- Excellent engine access through easily removed saloon-sole panels
- Insulated hull and zippered headliner observed on one 1978 example
- Broad sail inventory, from a 137-square-foot storm jib to a 1,008-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker
Cons
- Large saloon portlights are fixed and don’t open
- Often confused with the unrelated Islander 36 and the later Freeport 38C
