CAPE DORY 36
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 36.12 ft |
| LWL | 27 ft |
| Beam | 10.67 ft |
| Draft | 5 ft |
| Displacement | 16,100 lb |
| Ballast | 6,050.4 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 7.0 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 42 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 15.5 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 37 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 16 ft |
| PYmizzen luff | 23 ft |
| EYmizzen foot | 8 ft |
| FLforestay | 15.5 ft |
| Mainsail | 645.2 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 325.5 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 553.4 sq ft |
About the CAPE DORY 36
A similar boat was later sold as the ROBINHOOD 36.
Designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts (USA) from 1978–1990, the Cape Dory 36 is a robust, full-keel cutter with 166 hulls produced. Its heavy displacement of 16100.0 lb and high comfort ratio of 35.74 reflect a design philosophy prioritizing stability and seakeeping over speed.
- Best for:
- This boat is ideal for conservative coastal cruisers and bluewater passagemakers who value safety, comfort, and ease of single-handed handling over high-performance sailing.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 1.69 and a D/L ratio of 365.16, the Cape Dory 36 is exceptionally stable and well-suited for offshore passages, though its heavy displacement requires adequate wind for efficient motoring.
- Comparables:
- Comparable to the Island Packet 38 and Valiant 40 due to similar full-keel, heavy-displacement designs from the same era that prioritize offshore safety and interior volume over planing ability.
Direct variant of the CAPE DORY 36
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Estimated Value
Low ConfidenceAsking price by model year
15 listings · boat years 1979–2022 · median $49,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 36.12ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Featured YouTube Videos
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
24 reported issues across 9 systems for the CAPE DORY 36, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a CAPE DORY 36? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 24 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your CAPE DORY 36?
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Used sails that fit the CAPE DORY 36
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…