With a waterline of 26ft, a beam of 10ft 5in, and a displacement of 11,500lb, she has the quiet authority of an Olin Stephens pencil line. Her fin-and-skeg underwater profile, balanced fore and aft overhangs, topside tumblehome, and sleek, low coachroof give her the unmistakable S&S silhouette.
Design and Construction
The SHE 36 has a solid GRP hull, but below decks she offers the warmth and detail of a classic timber yacht—a contrast that owners still prize. The original topsides gelcoat is unusually thick, which one owner celebrated as evidence of a well-molded hull.
Below the waterline, the fin-and-skeg arrangement and sweetly drawn lines have earned lasting admiration. Writing in Classic Sailor, the reviewer described her underwater lines as sweet as they come.
The boat is fundamentally sound. A later refit chronicle reinforced that assessment, describing a basically sound, nearly half-century-old hull brought back to offshore standards without structural drama.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The SHE 36 is a masthead sloop with 550 sq ft of sail area. She began as a racing boat and retains the quick, vice-free manners of that lineage. Owners report faultless performance apart from one quirk: a tendency to roll on a windy spinnaker run.
Offshore, that habit can be managed by replacing the spinnaker with twin headsails: a boomed-out genoa to windward and a flying headsail to leeward. This steadies the motion without sacrificing pace.
Beyond that downwind roll, she inspires go-anywhere confidence. She can be sailed single-handed, short-handed, or with three or four friends aboard. Her seaworthy temperament was demonstrated during the 1979 Fastnet, when the SHE 36 Lorelei rescued the crew of Griffin.
Accommodation
Getting below calls for the standard limbo dance over a high bridgedeck, followed by the steep companionway descent typical of boats from this era. Once down, the layout provides extensive galley and chart-table areas designed for use at sea. There’s also a snug pilot berth to starboard in the saloon, while the V-berths forward work well.
The amidships heads compartment is offset to port and is surprisingly voluminous for a yacht of this size and period. Timber-style joinery softens what might otherwise feel like a spartan racing interior.
Refits and Ownership
A number of SHE 36s have evolved through owner refits, demonstrating the platform’s flexibility. One well-documented example was converted from wheel to tiller steering. The change freed space in the cockpit and lazarette, made windvane use easier, and reduced weight in the stern.
On the same boat, the original slab-reefing boom was replaced with twin-line reefing. A stowable bowsprit and second furler now carry a furling flat reacher. A 3-cylinder 30hp Beta engine with a 17in folding two-blade prop, together with a Monitor windvane and Simrad tiller pilot, helped turn the racing boat into a comfortable passagemaker.
Further additions included a 30L calorifier with shore power, Ebersbacher heating, a deck anchor locker, and extra bilge pumps. Together, these changes show how far the basically sound hull can be developed for bluewater cruising.
The Verdict
The SHE 36 is a genuine S&S cruiser-racer that punches above her length. She’s sound, quick, and forgiving once the downwind roll is managed. She isn’t a modern, beamy cruiser, and the high bridgedeck and steep companionway reflect her racing origins. Even so, her timber-style joinery and sea-proven record make her a compelling classic.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens fin-and-skeg lines, widely admired for their balance
- Fundamentally sound GRP hull with thick original topsides gelcoat
- Faultless, vice-free performance and go-anywhere confidence
- Proven during the 1979 Fastnet rescue of Griffin’s crew
- Adaptable to thorough cruising refits without losing her character
Cons
- Tends to roll on a windy spinnaker run unless twin headsails are set
- High bridgedeck and steep companionway make movement below less easy
- Originally a racer, so creature comforts require owner-added systems
