Design and Construction
The M36 reads as a classic the moment you see her. She wears clean, classic lines with traditional overhangs and a low cabintrunk that preserves a sleek profile, and her timeless sheer and long graceful overhangs give her a distinct look that teak decks and perfectly varnished trim only heighten. Under that skin the hull is a cored vinylester composite with Core-Cell core, while the manufacturer describes the structure as carbon-epoxy and Kevlar, and bulkheads are structural plywood. The keel is a high-aspect-ratio fin with a bulb, paired with a carbon spade rudder, a combination the reviewers credit with maximum stability and minimum drag. Notably, Morris built her as a yacht-quality masterpiece rather than a production boat, and the absence of bow and stern pulpits, stanchions and lifelines keeps the decks uncluttered in period-correct daysailer fashion.
Rig and Handling
On the water the M36 is built for fast and nimble performance, and the hull and appendages deliver upwind and off-wind without disappointment. The fractional rig with swept-back spreaders carries a carbon-fiber mast that steps to the keel, and the builder argues the fractional layout permits a smaller headsail and a bigger main for easier handling, with the headstay not reaching the masthead. A self-tacking 100-percent jib makes for effortless sailing, and all sheets, halyards and control lines run under deck to winch pods at the helmsman's fingertips on the M36, while the only sheets above deck are for the asymmetric spinnaker, led aft to winches also at the helm. The North Sails package pairs a jib and full-batten main for 558 square feet, jiffy reefing is standard with one manual reef point, and lazyjacks tame the douse. Single-handed sailors value that she backs straight with no prop walk and turns on a dime, while the builder claims she'll still move in two knots of wind and can cruise at a sustained seven to eight knots.
Accommodations
Below, the M36 is more than a mere daysailer. The Herreshoff-style interior carries white bulkheads and solid cherry trim over marvelously varnished hull sheathing, with a teak-and-holly cabin sole and fixed portals. Twin port and starboard settees are ergonomically shaped for lounging or sleeping, and well-placed reading lights invite quiet time. Large safety glass windows and a huge foredeck hatch flood the space with natural light, while generous forepeak storage—or an alternative layout converting that space into a V-berth—extends her overnight reach; Morris will finish the V-berth as sleeping quarters as a custom option. The small galley holds a sink, refrigerator and modest Corian counter, and the enclosed head has a toilet and sink but no shower. Ventilation comes from two low-profile dorade vents, the companionway and forward hatch, with removable teak companionway doors and a safety-glass sliding hatch. Headroom limits six-footers to standing only directly below the companionway.
Known Issues
A few practical gaps show up in the record. The DC refrigerator is difficult to reach and the lid is heavy, though modifications were planned. The head lacks a shower and relies on a future solar-powered ventilator in the works. Most striking for a boat stocked with so much equipment, she has no swim ladder.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership touches on the same weak spots. The refrigerator modifications and the planned solar ventilator for the head address daily-use annoyances rather than structure. Mechanically, the boat is kind: the companionway flips up to expose the diesel's fluid sticks and filters, the engine is also reached through the cockpit lockers, and the builder notes superb access to engine, through-hulls and electrical systems—often overlooked elsewhere. The 21-horsepower three-cylinder Yanmar saildrive sips from a 20-gallon tank, and a Bruce 22-pound anchor rides in the chain locker.
The Verdict
The M36 is a singular daysailer that fuses 1930s conceptual purity with carbon-composite execution and a helm-centered control scheme no other daysailer offered at her 2004 introduction. She rewards the solo sailor with instant usability and precise close-quarters manners, yet carries real cabin comforts for day guests and occasional overnights. The omissions—no swim ladder, a cramped and heavy-lidded fridge, head without shower—are concessions to the daysailer brief rather than flaws in the yacht itself.
Pros
- Self-tacking jib and under-deck lines to helm pods enable five-minute single-handed departures
- Carbon-fiber mast, bulb fin and spade rudder give nimble, stable performance in light and fresh air
- Herreshoff interior with light-filled cabin and optional V-berth extends beyond daysailer limits
- Superb engine, through-hull and electrical access simplifies ownership
Cons
- No swim ladder as delivered
- DC refrigerator hard to reach with heavy lid
- Head has no shower and limited ventilation pending planned solar unit
- Fixed portals and low headroom restrict cabin livability for tall sailors
