The Cascade 36 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Cascade 36, a masthead sloop, was designed by Robert Smith and built in the USA by Cascade Yachts.

The Cascade 36 sailboat 'Transcendence' making good progress under reefed sails

The Cascade 36 sloop 'Transcendence' making good progress under reefed jib and headsail

A cutter version was also produced. Earlier versions did not have a bowsprit.

Published Specification for the Cascade 36

Underwater Profile: Fin keel and spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 35'7" (10.84m)

Waterline Length: 28'10" (8.80m)

Beam: 10'0" (3.0m)

Draft: 5'7" (1.71m)

Rig Type: Masthead cutter

Displacement: 12,500lb (5,670kg)

Designer: Robert Smith

Builder: Cascade Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1967

Number Built: 156

Published Design Ratios for the Cascade 36

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.6

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 35.5

Displacement/Length Ratio: 232

Comfort Ratio: 29.1

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Cascade 36

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.6 suggests that the Cascade 36 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 35.5 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Cascade 36 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 232, tells us the Cascade 36 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 29.1 suggests that crew comfort of a Cascade 36 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Cascade 36 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

The Cascade 36 Sailboat: A Classic Cruiser for Recreational Sailors

Sailplan & Accommodation Layout

The Cascade 36 is a monohull cutter designed by Robert A. Smith and built by Cascade Yachts in Portland, Oregon. The boat is available in different versions, such as an owner's version with a larger aft cabin, a charter version with more berths, or a custom version with your own preferences. The boat also has a fin keel and a spade rudder, which give it good maneuverability and stability. The boat is steered by a single wheel in the aft cockpit, which has plenty of space for seating and storage.

Accommodation
The Cascade 36 can accommodate up to six people in two separate cabins and the main saloon. The forward cabin has a V-berth with storage underneath and a hanging locker. The aft cabin has a double berth with storage underneath and a hanging locker. The main saloon has a U-shaped dinette that can convert into a double berth, a settee that can serve as a single berth, and a fold-down table. The boat also has a navigation station with a chart table and an electrical panel, and a galley with a stove, an oven, a sink, a refrigerator and ample counter space and storage. The boat has one head with a marine toilet, a sink and a shower.

Hull and Deck
The Cascade 36 has a solid fiberglass hull with no core material. The hull is hand-laid using woven roving and mat, and reinforced with stringers and bulkheads. The hull is also protected by an epoxy barrier coat to prevent osmosis. The deck is made of fiberglass with balsa core for stiffness and insulation. The deck is also molded with non-skid surface for safety and comfort. The deck has two large hatches for ventilation and light, four opening ports for airflow, and six fixed ports for visibility. The deck also has stainless steel stanchions, lifelines, bow pulpit, stern rail, cleats, chocks and handrails.

Mast and Rigging
The Cascade 36 has an aluminum mast that is deck-stepped on a compression post. The mast is 46 feet tall from the waterline and has two sets of swept-back spreaders. The mast also has internal halyards, an external track for the mainsail, and an internal conduit for wiring. The boom is also aluminum and has an internal reefing system for the mainsail. The rigging is stainless steel wire with swaged terminals and turnbuckles. The boat also has a roller furling genoa on the forestay and a staysail on an inner stay.

Keel and Rudder
The Cascade 36 has a fin keel which is made of lead and is bolted to the hull with stainless steel bolts. The keel has a draft of 5 feet 6 inches and provides good stability and performance for the boat. The rudder is a spade rudder that is attached to the skeg by stainless steel pintles and gudgeons. The rudder is made of fiberglass with foam core and stainless steel stock. The rudder has a balanced design that reduces the helm pressure and improves the steering response.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.