Trojan Boat Forum

Hello all - I found this board while doing some homework on a boat I'm considering. Its a 1985 F-36 Conv. w/454 Crusaders.

The owner wants 39500 for it...but is thinking on 35 even. Engines run good but have 2000 hrs. 6.5kw Onan, electric appliances, lotsa batteries, all in working order. Big-ass davit mounted on the stern with a supposedly $5000 rubber skiff hanging there.

I have not physically seen the boat, as I am out in the Aleutians fishing at the moment...but my wife went to look and took tons of pics. The owner claims no rot or water intrusion problems whatsoever. The wife concurs, and I told her where to look. She says it a very solid boat, in good condition. (A survey dated last November also concurs with this) I'll be back home in a couple of weeks and I'll go have a look myself.

I've been lurking and reading posts for a while now, and this board has already answered alot of my questions. Thanks. I do have a couple more...and any feedback or information from current owners would be appreciated.

1. Do the asking/offered prices seem reasonable.

2. Running at hull speed 8-9kts - how is the handling? What about maneuvering around the docks?

3. Most important - how does this F-36 handle rough weather? I can't find any info on this on the web at all. Most of our boating is done on inland waters of Puget Sound...but I want a boat that I can take across the Straits and up into Canada. Wx can get gnarly in the Straits.

Have any of you had your boats in heavy weather...and if so how did it do? Are there any situations where the handling turns evil? Looking for quirks here...not just normal boat handling stuff.

Does it ride over the chop or does it pound? At what point do you need to slow down?
Does it handle ok with a following sea? Does it roll really hard in the ditch?

I realize that most answers are subjective...but any info would be more than I have now.

Thanks in advance.

Marc

I have owned an F36 on Lake Erie for last five years. Don't have any salt water experience[with this boat]. Lake Erie is fairly shallow, so wavelength is narrow, gets rough very quickly, but no ocean-like swells

1]Price seems in line

2]the hull is solid fiberglass, top sides are cored. Reasonably fine entry, but fairly shallow dead rise at the transom. not prone to pound, but will if you don't adjust for conditions. Does not handle terribly well with a following or quartering sea, however if you look at previous postings [F36 teeny tiny rudders] not universal agreement on this point. Tends to bow steer if trimed too far bowdown [ in flat water].

3] maneuvers very easily around the dock. With the transmissions, and a little bit of gas, can basically spin around its center of gravity -two weeks ago was able to dock [at a sea wall]with a boat on the bow, and one on the Stern, 6 foot clearance, just by jockeying the port engine back-and-forth [ no bow thruster]

4] because it is a fly bridge model, you will get a some roll in the trough due to its somewhat higher center of gravity-but not excessive [probably you're used to a little roll already]

Hope this helps, good luck.

[ I think you will find that most F36 owners are very very happy with the overall characteristics of the boat. Basically it handles the way you would expect the design to handle.]

F36 is a great boat. I have an F32, which is like a 4' shorter F36 (about the same width in fact).

Price seems reasonable, but a Survey is necessary to determine ... lot sof these for sale. Engines, balsa, trannies, etc. are factors. Gas engines don't alst as long, especially if the prior owner pushed them hard.

The F32 handles easily, is solid, and looks great. It handles poorly in following seas, due to the length/beam ratio. The F36 should be much better - similar to a Hatteras (shallow draft, good length and solid), but not a good as a Bertram (deep draft, narrower). I think you'll be pleased if you don't plan to run 100 miles offshore in 5-6' seas (tough on any 26 footer).

At hull speed (7-8 knots), the F32 handles well and maneuvers well around the dock and you can spin on a dime. I bought an F32 because my turning basin next to my dock wouldn't handle an 36' boat.

Good luck! Are you catching Kings or Halibut n the Aleutians?

Neither - Trawling for deep water flatfish right now - arrowtooth flounder and greenland turbot in 200-350 fathoms. 300ft boat with a crew of 75.

Theres a link in my signature to some picture albums I posted the other day if you want to look. It's all fishing pictures.

Thanks to both of you for the info on the boat- this pretty much concurs with what the owner's been telling me but he's selling the boat...so I needed some independant input. Appreciate it.

I can relate - I am "just a guy that likes boats" as well ... have 5 now (plus a 25' sailboat we won't talk about).

We fished the Kanektok River (the "Tok") on the west coast of Aalaska several years ago for Kings, Rainbows and Grayling - awesome! 130+ fish, average 35# on Kings, 65# largest (on the office wall) - all from a 15' skiff with a Yamaha jet drive).

Slow, expensive season here this year - off to Panama in January for a Marlin-fest!

Yes - married 17 years.

Bought my wife a 14 McKee for Valentines Day (she named it Mud Puppy).

She wants a 42 Hatteras Convertible but it won't fit ...