Design and Construction
The 362 keeps the solid fiberglass hull and deck of the Sigma 36, a straightforward GRP laminate with no core in the hull itself. At a length overall of 36 feet on a 28-foot waterline, a beam of 11.5 feet gives a length-to-beam ratio of 3.13, and the boat carries 5,160 pounds of lead ballast at a 42 percent ballast ratio against a 12,400-pound displacement. The fin keel draws about 6.1 to 6.4 feet depending on load, and a spade rudder completes the underwater profile. The hull's displacement-length ratio of 240 and a wetted surface near 35 square meters place her in the territory of a moderately heavy, easily driven cruiser rather than an ultralight racer, while the 1.97 capsize screening value and 24.5 motion comfort ratio describe a boat with reasonable offshore manners for her size.
Rig and Handling
Where the 362 diverges from the 36 is above the deck: a masthead sloop rig and a revised coachroof define her. With a reference sail plan of 594 square feet for mainsail and jib, her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.3, rising to 20.6 with a 135 percent genoa, and the yachtdatabase review notes she carries more rig than 62 percent of comparable sailboats, marking her as slightly overrigged. That bias toward canvas, paired with a theoretical hull speed of 7.2 knots and a quoted cruise of 6.0 with a max of 7.0, suggests a boat that finds her stride off the wind under a full inventory. The standard running rigging is sized for the masthead layout — 12 mm halyards around 32.6 meters for mainsail, genoa, and spinnaker, 14 mm sheets for jib, genoa, and mainsheet, and a kicking strap and clew outhaul of 8.2 meters — dimensions a prospective owner should match when replacing worn lines.
Accommodations
Below, the Sigma 362 is laid out with two cabins and seven berths, and the interior is finished in teak like most of her contemporaries. Headroom is above average for a 36-footer, and the boat carries 300 liters of fresh water against an 80-liter diesel tank. Those volumes support extended cruising without the constant rationing that plagues smaller vessels, and the berth count lets a family or a racing crew sleep without converting settees into makeshift bunks every night.
Equipment and Power
The boat may be fitted with a Volvo Penta 2003 diesel rated at 37 horsepower, turning a shaft drive. That installation yields the cited 6.0-knot cruise and 7.0-knot top speed under power, and the 80-liter fuel capacity is modest but workable for a sailboat whose engine is primarily an auxiliary. The immersion rate of about 206 kg per centimeter speaks to how the hull settles with stores and water — useful context when loading for a passage.
The Verdict
The Sigma 362 is a considered evolution of the Sigma 36, trading some race-bred austerity for cruising accommodation while keeping a proven hull and adding a more powerful rig. She is a practical 36-foot cruiser-racer with above-average headroom, sensible tankage, and sea-kindly proportions, though her overrigged sail plan demands disciplined handling and line management.
Pros
- Shares the proven Sigma 36 hull in solid fiberglass
- Above-average headroom and seven berths across two cabins
- 300-liter water and 80-liter fuel capacity for extended use
- Sensible capsize and comfort ratios for a 36-foot cruiser
Cons
- Slightly overrigged relative to peers, more demanding under sail
- Modest engine horsepower for a 12,400-pound displacement
