Union Yachts Cutter 36

shayw · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Looking to buy a bluewater cruiser and wondering if any opinion of the bastardized Robert Perry Union Cutter? Thanks.

Architeuthis · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

I researched these boats and looked at a few. Without looking at my files on them this is what I recall:

Great old boats...but:

All the ones I looked at had soft decks. Teak screwed to fiberglass is a great idea for the first owner but down the road it is trouble.

Soft cabin sides. These were the result of the portlights leaking.

One had a wooden mast, which would not bother me but it had been recently painted.

Generally all Union owners seemed less than interested in their boats. I got the feeling that the boat was part of a dream that they didn't want to let go (common with all boats but with the Unions it seemed like 100%)

The painted mast was one attempt to hide stuff but other Unions had used similar methods to sell the boat. One claimed to have rebuilt the engine when it was clearly just a repair and a poor one at that.

Then there are all the old boat stuff. Owner thought the DECCA system was worth cutting out half the bulkhead and seemed to think it increased value.

Most subsystems needed repair/replacement.

shayw · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Thanks for the info. Would you happen to know of any current owners in WA state? I'd love to get a feel for one personally. Shay

tdw · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Latest issue of Good Old Boat has an article on the Union 36. Worth reading.

Architeuthis · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Do not know of any owners. I think there were two for sale in WA when I was looking. One made my short list but lost because it needed too much work.

gvolos · #6 (**permalink**) 12-23-2010

Did you happen to look at the one in Indian Town Florida, or the ones in Mexico?
Thanks.

RichH · #7 (**permalink**) 12-23-2010

Architeuthis is spot on with the decks on most U36s. These boats are now approaching 30 years of age and with screwed down teak decks youll find that the screws, especially at the butt ends of the strakes, have 'sawn' loose from the FRG, the 'thiokol caulk' under the teak will be 'shot', and the 'core' will be loaded with water. Such decks can be rebuilt but its a horrendous time consuming job and not all that inexpensive even as a DIY project. Unless such decks were constantly maintained by removing the OEM screws and replacing them with larger diameter (shoulder) screws such decks will 'usually' be sodden.
Ditto, Tayana, Baba, etc.

Also most of these boats have quite inferior 'metallurgy' and very rot/corrosion vulnerable chainplate bases. These (all) were 'high maintenance' boats and most owners 'didnt'.

jaasun71 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-06-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvolos

Did you happen to look at the one in Indian Town Florida, or the ones in Mexico?
Thanks.

I looked at the one in Indiantown a few weeks ago. I think its under contract now.

shayw · #9 (**permalink**) 01-18-2011

If you are interested in a Union still I can give you info on the one for sale in Portland, OR. We spent over 2 hours on her last summer. We've moved on since we've decided we want to sail more and work on the boat less. Good luck!

SoulVoyage · #10 (**permalink**) 04-05-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by shayw

Thanks for the info. Would you happen to know of any current owners in WA state? I'd love to get a feel for one personally. Shay

If you're in Washington state, I'd actually steer you toward a MUCH better 36...and built (crafted would be a better word) right in Port Townsend, Wa.

Cape George 36 cutter