The Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee is modestly canvassed and unhurried, with a gentle bluewater motion.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 25.6′, the Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √25.6′ LWL = 6.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
13.8
Modestly canvassed — a comfortable, unhurried cruiser.
Ballast / Displacement
29.5%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
425
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
40.1
Very comfortable in a seaway — a genuine bluewater motion.
Capsize Screening
1.59
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
914lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
40.1
Very comfortable in a seaway — a genuine bluewater motion.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.59
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Swan 36
144s/nm
Columbia 36
162s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.5 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
| Run150–180° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.8 kts),
SA/D (13.8), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–8 kts
8–20 kts
20–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–8 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
8–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–28 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
28+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee.
|
Offshore 36 Cheoy Lee |
Columbia 36 |
Freeport 36 Islander |
Morgan Out Island 36 |
Pilot 35 Hinckley |
Swan 36 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
35.8 |
35.8 |
35.8 |
35.8 |
35.8 |
35.7 |
| LWL |
25.6 |
27.8 |
27.5 |
28.0 |
25.0 |
25.9 |
| Beam |
10.0 |
10.5 |
12.0 |
11.4 |
9.5 |
9.7 |
| Displacement |
15 |
12 |
17 |
16 |
13 |
14 |
| Ballast |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| Sail Area |
546 |
556 |
659 |
579 |
550 |
546 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
162 |
— |
— |
— |
144 |
| SA/Disp |
13.8 |
17.0 |
16.0 |
14.6 |
15.4 |
14.9 |
| Bal/Disp |
29.5 |
41.7 |
44.3 |
46.9 |
33.6 |
55.5 |
| Comfort |
40.1 |
26.8 |
32.0 |
31.8 |
37.4 |
37.2 |
| Capsize |
1.59 |
1.84 |
1.87 |
1.82 |
1.59 |
1.60 |
| Hull Speed |
6.8 |
7.1 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
6.7 |
6.8 |