Design and Construction
Far East Yachts built the Mariner 36 as a heavy, solid yacht, in keeping with the builder’s broader approach to sturdy cruising boats. She has a solid fiberglass hull and deck, along with a long-keel configuration and a moderate five-foot draft.
The hull measures 27 feet 11 inches at the waterline and has an 11-foot-6-inch beam, although the opening specifications give the beam as 11 feet. These proportions provide the form-stability foundation that the designers intended for a family-oriented coastal and bluewater cruiser.
Her ballast ratio is on the light side for a boat of this displacement. Even so, the substantial 21,000-pound displacement gives the hull its reassuring mass.
Rig and Handling
The Mariner 36 carries a ketch rig with a modest total sail area of 698 square feet. A period assessment described her sail-area-to-displacement ratio as modest and the boat as somewhat under-canvassed. The same review argued that she could comfortably carry another 60 to 70 square feet of canvas without strain.
What the light sail plan costs in acceleration, the boat returns in composure. Her heavy displacement produces a motion-comfort figure approaching that of larger cruisers, including the Whitby 42. The long waterline and moderate draft contribute to predictable, forgiving behavior under way rather than sparkling speed.
Accommodations and Cruising Role
The Mariner 36’s proportions reflect her intended role as a safe, comfortable family passage-maker. The designers conceived these yachts for coastal and bluewater cruising, and a comfort ratio close to that of much larger boats underscores the priority placed on ride quality rather than racing performance.
Tankage is generous for extended cruising: 120 gallons of water and 70 gallons of diesel. That capacity reduces the need to seek resupply as frequently as crews aboard smaller vessels might.
The Verdict
The Mariner 36 is a sober, well-built cruising ketch whose main virtues are endurance, comfort, and the quiet confidence of a heavy, solid hull. She won’t win a buoy race, but with a knowledgeable skipper and crew, she is capable of cruising the seven seas in safety and comfort.
Buyers looking for lively light-air performance should look elsewhere. Those who want a steady offshore home will find much to respect.
Pros
- Heavy, solid fiberglass construction by Far East Yachts
- Exceptional motion comfort for her size, approaching that of larger cruisers
- Long waterline and moderate draft well suited to passage-making
- Generous tankage for extended cruising
Cons
- Light ballast ratio
- Somewhat under-canvassed as delivered
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
