MacGregor 36 Buyer's Guide
The MacGregor 36 is a rare find on the used market, a lightweight fiberglass catamaran that MacGregor Yacht Corporation built in Costa Mesa from 1977 to 1983 as one of Roger MacGregor's early multihull designs. With only about 20 to 30 produced, it remains uncommon today, and buyers should understand that this is a performance catamaran conceived as a fast, trailerable coastal cruiser and racer rather than a luxury cruiser.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every MacGregor 36 shares the same essential configuration: a 35-foot catamaran with narrow hulls and an 18-foot beam, built as an ultralight high-performer with a fractional sloop rig. The boat was conceived as a fast, trailerable—with some disassembly—coastal cruiser and racer that emphasized performance over luxury, so used examples should be judged on structural and rig condition rather than interior fit-out. The rarity means a buyer may wait for a specific example to appear.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because the MacGregor 36 emphasized performance over luxury, the meaningful equipment clusters on a used boat center on the rig and trailering readiness. The fractional sloop carries a substantial genoa plan—near 476 square feet—so check the roller furling and sheet geometry as the highest-consequence sail-handling gear. A trailer and cradle suited to a 35-foot catamaran with disassembly are essential for the boat's intended use, and any buyer should confirm the rig can be lowered and the hulls separated without damage. Navigation and comfort gear on these boats will be owner-supplied rather than factory-standard, consistent with a racer built for speed and simplicity.
What to Inspect
Confirm the boat is a genuine lightweight fiberglass catamaran with narrow hulls and the original fractional sloop rig, since the high sail area/displacement ratio is central to its performance. Verify the trailerable disassembly hardware is complete, as the boat was conceived to be broken down for transport. A survey should document the specific hull's history given the small production count.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The MacGregor 36 is rare today, with only about 20 to 30 examples ever produced, so availability is intermittent. A buyer's short checklist:
- Confirm fractional sloop rig and narrow-hull catamaran configuration
- Verify complete trailerable disassembly hardware and trailer
- Inspect genoa and mainsail plan for wear given the performance focus
- Accept minimal cruising accommodation in exchange for speed and simplicity
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the MacGregor 36. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $33,000 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountaine Pajot Mahe 36 | 36.19' | $ 195,000 | 36 | 5 |
| Beneteau First 36 | 39.33' | $ 384,461 | 26 | 2 |
| Trimaran 36 | 36' | $ 109,886 | 9 | 2 |