Sailboats 36-40ft

The more moderate younger sister of the giant-killing Cal 40 proves a balanced, capable cruiser. Essential structures are reported to be very strong, while reviews of the interior finish are mixed.

The now-venerable French production company is back with a line to rival the big US builders.

This woody, seaworthy Crealock design has proved a good investment over the years.

This recent update of this extraordinarily popular 18-year-old Catalina 36 MK II design is a good all-around boat. Owners’ main complaint is with interior woodwork.

From the recently resurrected Canadian Sailcraft company, this early 80's racer/cruiser is well built, with a fair turn of speed. Its few shortcomings include a shallow bilge, difficult engine access and marginal stowage.

This German-built production cruiser has first-class construction and is favorably priced. For serious cruising, however, she does have a few drawbacks such as a small galley and marginal sea berths.

A gentleman’s cruiser that’s easy to single-hand, great to look at, well-built, but a bit small for long-term voyaging.

The smallest Sabre is a performance cruiser with an all-wood interior. It’s done well in some ocean races, though it’s too heavy to be flat-out fast.

This French cruiser has a nice all-wood interior, but a small sail plan for coastal US waters.

Freedom Yachts were the invention of Garry Hoyt back in the early 1970s. An advertising executive and champion one-design sailor, Hoyt reached a stage in his life when he wanted a cruising boat, but he found the existing fleet ordinary and unsatisfactory. So the story goes he set about designing himself a boat. The result was the Freedom 40, an unusual-looking cruiser with a long waterline, conventional hull, and a peculiar wishbone cat-ketch rig.