The Gulfstar 36 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Gulfstar 36, an aft-cockpit sloop, was designed by Vince & Richard Lazarra and built in the USA by Gulfstar Yachts.

A Gulfstar 36

Published Specification for the Gulfstar 36

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 36'1" (11.0m)

Waterline Length: 30'4" (9.2m)

Beam: 12'0" (3.7m)

Draft: 4'10" (1.5m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,250lb (6,464kg)

Designer: Vince & Richard Lazarra

Builder: Gulfstar Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1983

Year Last Built: 1985

Number Built: 23

Published Design Ratios for the Gulfstar 36

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.6

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 38.3

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 228

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 25.1

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Gulfstar 36

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.6 suggests that the Gulfstar 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 38.3 means that a sailboat like the Gulfstar 36 (which doesn't have a stiffness-enhancing bulb keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 228, tells us the Gulfstar 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 25.1 suggests that crew comfort of a Gulfstar 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 of 2.0 tells us that a Gulfstar 36 would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas, when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.