Design and Construction
Roger MacGregor designed a boat that broke from the marque's monohull roots: a lightweight fiberglass catamaran with narrow hulls, built as an ultralight high-performer rather than a comfort cruiser. The 35-foot length and 18-foot beam gave the platform a broad stance on the water while keeping each hull slim, a choice that served the stated goal of speed over accommodation. As one of MacGregor's early multihull efforts, the 36 was conceived from the outset as a coastal racer that could be dismantled for trailering, not a bluewater liveaboard.
Rig and Handling
The MacGregor 36 carries a fractional sloop rig and pairs it with a high sail area/displacement ratio, the combination that lets the ultralight hulls plane in moderate winds rather than merely heel and slog. Period specifications show a mainsail of roughly 265 square feet with a 37-foot luff and a genoa near 476 square feet on a 42-foot luff, a substantial foresail plan that explains the boat's reputation for excelling in upwind racing. The emphasis on performance over luxury is physically expressed in those numbers: the sail plan drives a light catamaran hull instead of feeding a heavy interior.
Performance Character
This is an ultralight high-performer built to race coastal courses, and the narrow hulls keep wetted surface in check while the rig pushes the boat past displacement speed. The capability to plane in moderate winds, paired with strong upwind ability, made the 36 a specialist's catamaran rather than a general-purpose cruiser. MacGregor's brief was speed and simplicity, and the design delivers that brief without pretension to creature comfort.
Accommodations
The MacGregor 36 was conceived as a fast, trailerable coastal cruiser and racer that emphasized performance over luxury. What the boat offers is the speed and simplicity that multihull enthusiasts prize, not the amenities of a heavier cruising catamaran.
The Verdict
The MacGregor 36 is a rare, purpose-built racing cruiser that captured MacGregor's early multihull ambition in a trailerable, ultralight catamaran form. Its value lies in outright speed and simplicity rather than accommodation or cruising equipment.
Pros
- Ultralight catamaran hulls with narrow profile for performance
- High sail area/displacement ratio enables planing in moderate winds
- Strong upwind racing capability
- Trailerable with disassembly for a 35-foot catamaran
- Rare and prized by multihull enthusiasts
Cons
- Performance prioritized over luxury; minimal cruising accommodation
- Only 20–30 built, making it hard to find
