What are the real specs for the D36?

[Teddy]

I have a 1973 D36 center cockpit ketch. Depending on where I look I get a different set of specs for the FG 36 footers. Sailboatdata.com has their version and the original brochure on this owners site has a different set of specifications for instance. Is there a difinitive full set of specs anywhere?

Thanks folks. I hope everyone attending the rendezvous has a great time. I'll be there next year with Koshka.

Teddy

[Irish Mist]

Hi Teddy

We do have line drawings of the hull of a 36

Looking forward to seeing you at next years Rendezvous

Joe Slavin “Irish Mist”  jws2827@aol.com

[Teddy]

Thanks Joe. I have seen the brochure: http://dickersonowners.org/models/Dickerson%2036%20Ketch%20Brochure.pdf

Do the Dickerson owners consider this data the preferred source? 

I'm also curious about the sail area spec, which is listed as 500sq feet. Was that number meant to include main, jib and mizzen?

Thanks,

Teddy

[Fleet Captain]

Teddy,

Allow me to jump in.  It's important to remember that within the obvious constraints like the basic hull mold for the fiberglass boats, Dickerson was quite happy to build each boat to customer desires.  The document you reference is a “marketing brochure” and gives the generic specifications.  And yes, that's as good information as we have to describe the D36 ketch.  As Joe says, we do have some versions of the architectural line drawings for the hulls (and there were different versions of these as production continued).  These do not include sail plans.  So the picture I'm painting is that these are certainly NOT one-design boats.  The 500 square foot sail area would be for the total sail compliment (3 sails), but a buyer or future owner might decide to increase or decrease that figure on personal preference.  In other cases, the riggings were configured differently.  For example, D36 “Lothlorien” carries her forestay all the way forward to the front of the duckbill that is supported by a bobstay (like the D41's).  Other D36's forestays attach at the stem.  So this allows for a different fore triangle area.  The variations are endless.

Just some of the joys and frustrations of owning a “custom” boat.  The DOA respects these differences.

[Mike Aitken]

Teddy,
The “best” place to get sail dimensions & sail plans is off an actual drawing…..They are out there.  I have a D-36 sailplan “copy”  hanging on the wall in the house…..

Depending on your rig, it's reasonably easy to calculate sail area….Having a drawing makes it a whole lot  easier……Also great for standing rigging……

Nowhere in the drawings will you find the sail area for flying an asymmetric spinnaker (425) ; You will find the main (224)  mizzen staysail ( my plans show a staysl' at 238 sq ft – mine is about 250) and the mizzen is pretty “static” at  (120)…..My Hi-cut jib is approx. 250….for a total of around 1140 sq feet if I fly everything …I have & it's fun in about 10-12 Kts of wind………

The plans show both “J” attachments, as explained by Barry…..The “j” the boat is 12' without bowsprit attachment ….With the bowsprit the plans show 13' 8″………I use a Hi-cut jib that is around a 135…easier to see & Buzzards bay tends to be windy…..

More sails = more fun!

hope this helps…..
Mike

[Teddy]

This is helpful, Mike. Thank you. I've known the best way to determine your sail area is to actually measure your sails. What I haven't fully appreciated is that Dickerson really was a custom boat builder so one cannot expect a standard set of specs to apply to a particular model line.

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