Union 36 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Perry gave the Union 36 a low chin bow, a short canoe stern, a long flat run aft, and a fairly straight deadrise in the mid-section over a V-bottom. The hull itself is thick, hand-laid fiberglass, and the hull-to-deck joint is both through-bolted and glassed over on the inside anchor, a combination that leaves little doubt about structural intent. The rudder is a "barn door" type mounted on two heavy, bronze gudgeons and a keel-supported shoe, and the encapsulated iron keel sits within the full-length profile. Above the waterline the boat is heavy with teak: interior joinery, cockpit and coamings, cap rail and bulwarks, and decks where so specified during construction. The deck is 5/8-in. teak planking over a sandwich of 3/8-in. fiberglass, 3/4-in. plywood, and another 3/8-in. glass layer, while the cabintop is a slightly lighter composite using half-inch plywood as the core. Both hatches are wood reinforced with stainless-steel rod.

Rig and Handling

From the early 70s to the early 80s, most Union 36s came with wooden spars, but by 1983 aluminum masts and booms became the norm. As cutters, most were rigged with self-tacking staysail booms, and originally halyards led to the mast and were handled on winches and belaying pins. The boom-end mainsheet block and tackle rides on a traditional bronze traveler conveniently located behind the helm. The boat is not your ideal light-air cruiser, though Perry recommends sailing with a genoa and without the staysail to maximize what light-air performance exists anchor. She handles beautifully in winds over 15 knots, points fairly well, and is best on a reach; owners report she rises exceptionally well to the steepest of waves and is both dry and safe, and Practical Sailor judged the 36 definitely a good boat to be on in a blow. The rudder provides good control in a seaway, although response is slowed by the vessel's full keel.

Accommodations

The interior is straightforward, with plenty of headroom and ventilation supplied by eight oval-shaped opening bronze ports, a large butterfly hatch in the main cabin, and a smaller hatch in the V-berth. A large double berth sits forward, with a head compartment and separate stall shower just aft to port and a large hanging locker across from it. The main saloon features a U-shaped dinette to port with ample storage behind and beneath, and a long settee to starboard that pulls out to form a sea berth or extra dinette seating; a full-sized pilot berth rides above. The U-shaped galley to port holds a deep double sink, a three-burner CNG stove/oven, and a 12-cubic-foot icebox, with a sizable locker and stand-up navigation station opposite. A large quarter berth occupies the starboard quarter, and most of the bilge is given to fuel and water tanks to maximize tankage.

Known Issues

On this design the teak decks suffer badly from loose bungs, failed caulk seams, leaks, and ultimately rotten plywood core, and the Union 36 is a maintenance-intensive boat overall. Some owners have reported mast compression, fuel or water tank failures, and mismatched hardware. One complaint sometimes voiced is the drag-inducing squared-off leading edge of the keel, which Perry notes was probably his fault as a relative newcomer who neglected to give precise enough instruction to the yard that built the keel; he indicates the best correction is reshaping the leading edge with foam and fiberglass. The heavy-duty worm-gear steering found on some boats introduces friction that can challenge windvane steering.

Refits and Ownership

Engine access is excellent, a real asset during ownership. Steering mechanisms vary from boat to boat, ranging from an oversized worm gear to a binnacle-mounted wheel driving a large cast-bronze quadrant with chain and cable. Union 36s can be identified by a hull number beginning with USC or UYC, and the production run after Edwards departure reportedly was about 160, the last being sold in 1988.

The Verdict

The Union 36 is a serious ocean cruiser whose over-built structure, teak-rich detailing, and sea-kindly behavior in a blow reward the owner willing to keep up with her maintenance demands. She is not a light-air performer, and the squared keel leading edge is a known Perry acknowledged quirk, but the boat's composure in steep seas and comfortable, ventilation-rich interior make her a credible long-range companion.

Pros