1972–1981 · designed by Arthur Edmunds · built by Allied Boat Company
The Allied Princess 36 was designed by Arthur Edmunds as a shoal-draft full-keel cruising ketch (and cutter) intended for coastal and bluewater passage-making, with particular suitability to shallow cruising grounds such as the Chesapeake, Florida Keys, and Bahamas. Edmunds prioritized heavy displacement, seakindly motion, and conservative construction over performance. The boat earned a solid reputation as a capable blue-water cruiser among budget-conscious offshore sailors and became Allied's most numerically successful model during the company's production run (1962-1981) in Catskill, New York.
This is a general read on the Allied Princess 36 class — informed
background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history,
and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class
reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific
listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.
Thick, hand-laid fiberglass hull (24 oz woven roving and mat) is genuinely stout — structural failure is rarely a survey finding on this class.
Encapsulated lead ballast eliminates the keel-bolt corrosion pathway that plagues bolt-on iron and lead installations of the same era.
Shoal 4.5 ft draft opens cruising grounds — Chesapeake, Bahamas, Gulf coast — that deeper fin-keel contemporaries cannot access.
Ketch rig splits sail area into manageable panels, reducing loads on individual sails and making the boat genuinely short-hand friendly once the crew is proficient.
Steady, easy motion under sail and at anchor; the heavy displacement dampens hobby-horsing and makes passagemaking comfortable for less experienced crew.
Known trade-offs
Original 25-hp Westerbeke is underpowered for 14,400 lbs displacement — boats that have not been repowered to at least 40 hp struggle in headwinds and adverse current.
Full keel and heavy displacement produce mediocre windward performance; the boat points poorly and makes significant leeway compared to fin-keel contemporaries.
Balsa deck core at hardware penetrations is a near-universal soft-spot risk on 45-54-year-old hulls; expect to find at least some delamination on any unrestored example.
Factory fuel tanks have a documented leak history across the class — an unresolved tank is both a fire risk and a contamination source for the engine.
Small cockpit drains on early hulls are a safety concern: a large, low-freeboard cockpit that drains slowly is a liability in a knockdown or boarding sea.
Age-related quirks to expect
Original 25-hp Westerbeke undersized for displacementMedium1972-1978 (pre-repower era)
Balsa deck core delamination at hardware penetrationsMedium1972-1981 (all years)
Faux-wood Formica interior finish — dated and difficult to refreshLow1972-1978
Factory fuel tanks prone to leaks requiring replacement with smaller aftermarket tanksMedium1972-1981 (all years)
Small cockpit drains on earlier hulls — slow drainage in a swamping eventMedium1972-1976 approx
Standing rigging and chainplates — all hulls now 45-54 years old; replacement likely overdue if not already doneHigh1972-1981 (all years)
Balsa-cored deck is vulnerable to moisture intrusion at chainplate, stanchion base, and cleat fastenings. Soft spots underfoot and high moisture meter readings around hardware are the tell. Full re-core of a 36-footer is expensive and labor-intensive.
Engine — original Westerbeke or repower conditionpriority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard, motor
Original 25-hp Westerbeke is borderline underpowered for this displacement in any headwind or chop. Confirm at minimum 40 hp is installed. Inspect for oil leaks, smoky exhaust, worn belts, and hours. A sound repower (Yanmar, Perkins 4.107) adds significant value.
Standing rigging and chainplatespriority: offshore, coastal
Ketch rig means two masts — double the standing rigging inventory. All hulls are 45-54 years old. Inspect stainless chainplates for crevice corrosion under deck fittings, swage terminals for cracking, and sheaves for wear. Budget a full replacement if provenance is unknown.
Fuel tanks — original aluminum or steelpriority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard, motor
Factory tanks have a documented history of leaks on this class. Inspect for rust staining, fuel odor in the bilge, and tank condition. Many owners have already replaced with smaller custom tanks; confirm capacity is adequate for intended passages.
Hull-deck joint and rubrail extrusionpriority: offshore, coastal
The outward-turned hull-deck flange is protected by an aluminum extrusion rubrail. Impact damage to the rubrail can compromise the joint, and sourcing a matching replacement section is increasingly difficult on a 1970s boat. Inspect the full perimeter for separation, weeping, or corrosion at the joint.
How it fits your plans
Offshore
A capable offshore passage-maker for a patient crew. Heavy displacement and encapsulated ballast give genuine seakeeping credibility, but the shoal-draft full keel limits windward performance and makes long ocean passages slow. Verify standing rigging, engine, and cockpit drain size before committing bluewater.
Coastal
Well-suited to coastal cruising, especially shallow-water grounds (Chesapeake, Bahamas, Gulf). The 4.5 ft draft and stable motion are real assets. Performance to windward in a chop is modest.
Liveaboard
Functional liveaboard with 6+ ft headroom and multiple accommodation plans supporting up to five berths. Pre-1979 Formica interiors are dated but liveable; post-1979 natural wood is more pleasant. Engine reliability and tankage condition are the liveaboard gating items.
Weekending
Comfortable weekender with ample sleeping and storage for a couple or family. The ketch rig is manageable short-handed once crew is familiar with it.
Racing
Not a racing boat. Heavy displacement, full keel, and moderate sail area mean this class is uncompetitive in any rating fleet.
Looking at a specific Allied Princess 36? FairKeel reads the actual listing —
photos, broker claims, comparable sales — and tells you what it isn't
saying, what to ask the broker, and a defensible offer range. Free, in
under a minute.