Design and Construction
At 35' 9" overall with a 30' 3" waterline, an 11' 3" beam, and a displacement of roughly 16,100 pounds carrying about 7,170 pounds of iron ballast, the Conway reads as a moderate-displacement cruiser with a ballast-to-displacement ratio near 44 percent. That figure marks her as a stiff sailboat, able to carry a lot of sail and stand up well to strong winds. The hull is solid GRP with an iron fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, and the one obvious departure from Laurent Giles' smaller Westerly designs is the absence of the bow knuckle, giving the 36 a cleaner entry than its little sisters in the same general style as the Longbow. The Mk I Conways had an interior with quite a lot of exposed GRP inner mouldings; from 1978 the Mk II boats had a much more attractive all-wood interior, though GRP mouldings remain in place under the woodwork in spots.
Rig and Handling
The Conway was offered for a time with a choice of masthead sloop or ketch rig, and the ketch sold in greater numbers, with most boats delivered as ketches. The ketch sail plan totals 758 square feet across main, genoa and mizzen, against 732 square feet for the sloop. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 12.7 suggests she may be considered somewhat underpowered beside modern designs, yet the moderate displacement and stout ballast let her hold a steady offshore profile; a capsize screening figure of 1.8 indicates the type is generally well-suited to offshore passages. Writing in a first-person account for Little Cunning Plan, one owner described the boat as a cinch to sail, and the wide side decks make walking fore and aft easy while the deep cockpit with good-sized seats gives secure footing at the helm.
Accommodations
Below, the Conway provides two cabins plus saloon and eight berths. The saloon is bright and airy with good walking space and comfortable settees, each settee berth running 6' 4" long, with storage behind, underneath and above. Saloon headroom is 6' 3". A walk-through by the chart table leads to the aft cabin, which holds a good-sized double berth measuring 6' 0" fore-and-aft and 7' 6" wide at the forward end before tapering aft, with an en-suite heads and storage cabinets along the sides; the passage berth aft of the chart table stretches over 7' 6" long. The forward cabin carries a generous v-berth with storage beneath and a good-sized hanging locker opposite the very small head. One practical note for the walk aft: the bulkhead at the passageway sits at about an average adult's forehead height, so stooping is required.
Equipment and Mechanical
Most Conways were powered by the Mercedes OM636 diesel delivering 42 hp, an engine described as smooth and generally very long-lived and reliable, while some later boats carried 36 hp Volvos. Fuel capacity is 42 gallons and water 75 gallons. A deep lazarette gives access to the inside of the boat and houses sturdy latches on its lockers, and the propane locker sits in the cockpit in its own protected area. The hull liner carries a short pile that is easy to clean, soft, and absorbs sound to keep the boat quieter.
Refits and Ownership
The Mk II interior upgrade from 1978 onward is the principal production-era refinement, moving from exposed mouldings to all-wood finish. Individual owners have taken the type further: one 1977 example saw the owner replace systems and seacocks and add equipment, including a professionally installed refrigerator, a new diesel heating unit on the saloon bulkhead, and a new-looking water heater. Good engine access through the lazarette makes such work straightforward.
The Verdict
The Conway 36 is a purposeful centre-cockpit cruiser with genuine offshore credentials, a stiff and settled hull, and a berth plan that suits long stays aboard. The ketch rig's popularity and the walk-through aft cabin with en-suite heads mark her as a thoughtful liveaboard design, though the low passage bulkhead and small head are real compromises, and the modest sail-area ratio will feel light to sailors used to modern rigs.
Pros
- Stiff, moderate-displacement hull with iron fin keel and skeg rudder, well-suited to offshore work
- Walk-through aft cabin with double berth and en-suite heads; eight berths across two cabins plus saloon
- Long-lived Mercedes OM636 power; good lazarette and engine access
Cons
- Low passageway bulkhead to aft cabin demands stooping
- Very small head compartment
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio suggests underpowered feel versus modern cruisers
