The stepped hull measures 11.25 m overall and displaces 4,700–4,950 kg. Writing in boats.com, reviewers noted that the strong, light design incorporates a large amount of new thinking in design terms.
Design and Construction
The Sun Fast 3600 is entirely constructed by infusion moulding, a process that gives the structure resistance and rigidity. A full collision bulkhead closes off the forepeak.
Clearly defined chines run along much of the hull and continue all the way to the bow, where they add volume forward. At the stern they sit high. The hull also has ample fore-and-aft rocker and a more radiused transom than the 3200.
Yachting World found that these aggressive chines form the starting point for a refined hull shape intended to generate more power without increasing drag. When the boat heels, they help move the centre of buoyancy farther outboard, increasing the stability generated by the hull itself. A heavy, deep lead-bulb keel, with a draught of 2.13 m and a substantial 45 per cent ballast ratio, adds to that form stability.
Compared with the 3200, the 3600 has proportionately less wetted surface area. Together with the rocker and radiused sections aft, this makes the 3600 more slippery in light winds and quicker in light airs than its predecessor.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
The standard rig is an aluminium, deck-stepped, double-spreader 19/20th fractional rig. A carbon rig is optional.
Sheet leads can be adapted to suit different crew configurations. Fully crewed racing boats can be specified with a German mainsheet system. Short-handed crews can fit turning blocks for the jib sheets just abaft the primary winches, facilitating cross-winching.
Asymmetric spinnakers fly from a choice of 0.45 m or 0.88 m sprits. Neat rollers built into the pulpit legs handle the tack line.
The ergonomic cockpit is arranged for easy, efficient handling. The traveller and coarse- and fine-tune mainsheet controls sit just forward of the helm. Short seats with coamings occupy the forward part of the cockpit, while the after section is more open. Most boats to date have been set up with twin tillers, although twin wheels are optional.
Twin rudders provide surefooted handling downwind. Upwind, the helm remains light and responsive, making the boat feel nimble rather than burdened by the sluggish sensation sometimes associated with twin rudders.
Accommodation
Below decks, the Sun Fast 3600 has much less volume than a modern cruising yacht of the same length, reflecting the effort made to minimize weight. Even so, the layout accommodates six people.
There are two large, comfortable double quarter cabins. In the bright, well-arranged saloon, a pair of settees provide additional berths and also work well as sea berths. A large central table has folding leaves.
The basic but adequate galley is to starboard, opposite a decent navigation station with deep fiddles. A separate heads compartment with a shower occupies the forepeak, along with sail stowage.
Useful details include a seat on each side immediately inside the companionway. Substantial foot chocks are positioned where crew can brace themselves when the boat is well heeled.
High freeboard forward helps keep water off the decks. The boat’s light displacement also tends to carry it over waves, keeping it generally dry.
Verdict
The Sun Fast 3600 is a thoughtfully developed racer-cruiser. Its aggressive chines and pronounced rocker translate into genuine offshore and inshore performance without giving up basic livability. It’s a serious short-handed or fully crewed race boat that a family can still cruise, with a rigid infused structure and a forward collision bulkhead.
Pros
- Light, infusion-moulded hull with good resistance and rigidity
- Chines and lead-bulb keel provide strong form and ballast stability when heeled
- Twin rudders deliver downwind surefootedness without sacrificing a light, nimble helm
- Configurable sheet leads and rig options suit solo, short-handed, and fully crewed racing
- Full bow collision bulkhead and a dry-riding light hull for offshore use
Cons
- Less below-decks volume than a cruising yacht of the same length
- Basic galley
- Most boats have tillers rather than wheel steering
