Everything about Islander 36 totally explained
==General Information==
ISLANDER 36 SAILBOATS
Although Islander had been an active sailboat manufacturer for many years, they unfortunately ceased operations during the recessionary mid 1980's. During its boat building existence Islander produced many sizes of sailboats ranging from 28 foot to 40 foot. The most popular and largest selling boat Islander produced was their 36 foot long sloop, commonly called the I-36. This boat is of solid fiberglass construction, with a wood cored fiberglass deck and cabin roof. It has a
skeg mounted rudder and a fin keel.
The Islander 36
yacht is a mid to upper-end, production model, fiberglass sailing vessel. During their last few years of production the I-36 interiors were largely finished in teak, with a teak and holly cabin sole (floor). Earlier models also used the teak and holly floor, with a mix of white fiberglass and teak accents on the bulkheads (walls) in the living areas. Ventilation below deck is provided by two overhead hatches and six opening cabin ports. There are also four, larger, non-opening side windows allowing good visibility from down below.
This boat follows the general layout for most single-mast sailing yachts, having a mainsail and a foresail, with the cockpit at the back of the boat. All Islanders of this length are inboard powered. This yacht is ideally suited for weekend or vacation coastal cruising, and the occasional short off shore trip. A few of these boats have made significant blue water passages, with some California based boats having made the open ocean passage to Hawaii.
The popularity of the I-36 can be attested to by the fact that this model was selected as one of the World's Best Twenty Boats by
Cruising World Magazine
. It has classic lines, and when at anchor is often praised for its looks by passengers in passing boats.
There is an active owner's association, the
Islander 36 Association, which offers club racing activities in the San Francisco Bay area. The association also provides support and advise on repairs or upgrades to Islander owners.
Engine types
The Islander 36 has had many engines types installed during its years of production. The early boats had gas engines, but later models offered diesel engines at an extra cost over the gas models. After the
Atomic 4, and
Palmer P-80 gas engine era, the mid 1970 diesel models used the
Perkins 4-108 diesel engine. Later in the 1970’s the
Westerbek L-25 four-cylinder diesel was offered. In 1980's all Islander 36’ were diesel powered. Early '80s used a
Pathfinder 42 hp diesel engine, and the last generation models utilized the
Yanmar 30 hp motor. When fixed with the proper pitch propeller an I-36 will easily power along at 6.5 to 7 knots, depending upon wind, water and boat bottom conditions.
Layout
Foredeck
The foredeck is typical, containing an anchor roller and locker, and the
forestay. The front hatch is on an elevated section containing the V-berth section of the cabin. There is a clear space between the anchor locker and the
cabin, allowing for maneuverability on deck.
Cockpit
The
cockpit is reasonably deep, with small to medium sized drains, making the yacht easily suitable for calm to medium wave waters. Most yachts have a wheel and an emergency tiller attachment, should a tiller be needed. An engine monitor panel is to the right, about knee height. To port and starboard are cockpit coming boxes, ideal for storage of jib sheets, winch handles and such. A sail locker is in the starboard bench, and two lazarettes on the aft bench, with the tiller attachment placed between the two. Winches are positioned sufficiently aft so that the helmperson can trim sails, although a crewmember is much better positioned for this task.
Cabin
Entering through the companionway the
galley is immediately to one’s right, while a chart table over a drawer stack is to the left. Aft of the chart table is a quarter berth. The galley is separated on the forward side form the rest of the cabin by a low wall. Forward of the chart table and of the galley are berths, the port berth able to unfold into a doublewide berth.
Progressing forward, the main cabin continues on the starboard side, with the head is on the port side. The mast passes through the cabin roof at the aft-most point of the head. The second-most forward section is the forepeak, outfitted to be a berth, with the anchor locker connecting to the cabin at the peak of the forepeak. The
head has a door, sink with storage underneath, shower, and toilet. The galley has a sink, refrigerator or icebox, and a combined stove-oven. A wall separates the galley from the sail locker.
Mid-deck
The mast rises from the deck 14.5 feet aft of the bow. Four
shrouds are on each side of the mast, two lower shrouds for fore and aft adjustment of mast prebend, plus the upper and intermediate shrouds to keet the mast straight. There are two pairs of spreaders. The standard mast is 45 feet tall off the deck, however a taller mast option was also offered.
There is a perforated toe rail running along the deck and hull joint, and a genoa car track set well inboard.
As Islander 36s are no longer in production many have been customized to suit the desires of former users. Cruising Islanders are more likely to have the winches for halyards and other lines mounted on the mast itself. Racing boats are more likely to have moved the sail control winches to the deck, just forward of the cockpit. Sail size, weight, and style are also variable on yachts of this age, although the original total sail area was 578 sq. feet.
Sailing Tendencies
I-36 in a yacht club race
Islander 36s are widely used for weekend cruising, vacation sailing, and club racing events. These boats have a relatively small mainsail compared to other yachts of their size, with a large
genoa (sail) to increase sail area. The boom is relatively high from the bottom of the cockpit, and the end is more forward, making it harder to hit with one’s head. Mainsail controls are achieved through a cabin-top mounted winch, leading to a traveler car system running across the deck in front of the main cabin's sliding hatch.
It would be normal for a I-36 to have a smaller headsail for heavy winds, and a larger, 150% sail for lighter air sailing. The 150% headsail (number 1 headsail) is typically suitable up to 15 or 16 knots of wind.
Original sail plans for this model vessel show it being outfitted with a headsail as large as 180%.
Islander 36 boats are favorably rated in
PHRF handicap rating classification tables, and they're frequently sailed in club regattas or single class sailing events. It isn't at all uncommon for a well maintained boat with fairly new sails to hold her own, or even win club regattas when sailed against boats much newer in age.
Modern organizations
Several organizations and associations are directly or indirectly related to the Islander 36. The
Islander 36 Association has information on races for these and other yachts, as well as tips for maintenance and other useful information.
The
Latitude 38 magazine, although not directly related, has information about the San Francisco Bay, where many Islander 36s are used.
Soundings Magazine is a publication for both sail and power boats, and has a large classified section where used boats are listed for sale.
For readers interested in yacht racing, its rule and regulations, as well as great boating information the
U S Sailing association is a great source of information
Further Information
Get more info on 'Islander 36'.
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