Cross 36 Trimaran Ketch
Description
The Cross 36 Tri Ketch (more precisely the Norman Cross 36 ketch-rigged trimaran) refers to owner-built or custom variants of the Norman Cross 36 trimaran design featuring a ketch rig (two masts: main and mizzen). Norman Cross designs from the 1960s–1980s were popular among DIY builders for their hard-chine plywood construction, affordability, and proven offshore performance. While the standard Cross 36 (or 36R racing variant) was typically sloop-rigged (or occasionally cutter), some examples were built or converted to ketch for easier shorthanded handling, better balance in heavy weather, and reduced sail size per mast — ideal for extended cruising or single/double-handed voyages. These ketch-rigged versions are not a separate "official" model but custom adaptations (common in Norman Cross boats due to owner modifications). Owner reports and forums (e.g., Boat Design Net, CruisersForum) mention ketch rigs on 36 ft Cross tris, including one rebuilt/extended example, a 1968 ketch rig, and others with mizzen for depowering and steadying. Videos and listings show ketch-rigged Cross trimarans (e.g., "Iko Iko" sailing footage) performing well in coastal passages.
Construction Details
| Designer | Norman Cross |
|---|---|
| Builder | Home Built |
| Length | 36.000 ft |
| LOA | 36.000 ft |
| Beam | 23.000 ft |
| Max Draft | 5.000 ft |
| Min Draft | 3.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 36.83 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.50 ft |
| p | 32.33 ft |
| e | 13.75 ft |
| p2 | 22.50 ft |
| e2 | 10.66 ft |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.83 ft | 11.50 ft | 32.33 ft | 13.75 ft | 22.50 ft | 10.66 ft | - | - |
Sails
Cross 36 Trimaran Ketch - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 32.33 ft - (9854 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.75 ft - (4191 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.49 ft - (10513 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 34.69 ft - (10574 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 221.99 ft² |
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Cross 36 Trimaran Ketch - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 30.87 ft - (9409 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15.17 ft - (4624 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.91 ft - (8202 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.23 ft - (4033 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 204.11 ft² |
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Cross 36 Trimaran Ketch - GENOA
| Luff | * 36.65 ft - (11171 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.52 ft - (5645 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.53 ft - (10525 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.25 ft - (5258 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 316.12 ft² |
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Cross 36 Trimaran Ketch - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 36.65 ft - (11171 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 20.7 ft - (6309 mm) |
| Foot | * 20.7 ft - (6309 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 644.86 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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