omega 36 sailboat

Omega 36 : Top design from a top designer in a used boat test

Michael Naujok

, Hauke Schmidt

· 15.08.2024

A mast height of over 17 metres and plenty of sail area ensure sailing fun, and from 3 Beaufort the self-tacking jib is sufficient

Plenty of cloth

Problems & history of the omega 36, the omega 36 in detail, price and shipyard, yacht review of the omega 36.

"Why an Omega 36 in particular?" we want to know from owner Armin Hahn from Bad Bramstedt. "She just looks great, that's particularly important to us. And she sails brilliantly. There are also very practical details, such as a deep bilge, a lead keel and tiller steering."

In fact, the yacht from Swedish mass production offers an exciting package. Produced between 1986 and 1991, the Omega is solidly built underwater, with the spray laminate reinforced with fibreglass. Above this, the hull has a Divinycell foam core. The deck is a balsa sandwich. At 5.1 tonnes for a boat length of eleven metres, the Omega is one of the lightest production boats of its time.

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To give the hull the necessary strength, some of the fixtures were designed as a load-bearing structure made of GRP and laminated in. In return, however, the bulkheads are only bolted to the hull at flanges, a typically Swedish method. The same applies to the keel suspension. The lead fin hangs from a GRP stub, resulting in a deep bilge. Five floor ribs should transfer the forces into the hull. However, the workmanship is not equally good on all boats. As reports from experts in Sweden show, it is essential to check this area. If there are cracks or chipped topcoat, caution is advised and reinforcement is necessary.

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Our test specimen is a well-maintained boat, built in 1988 and in third ownership. A lot of money and material has been invested in the boat over the years: the owners have installed a new teak deck, an additional refrigerator, a new gas system, the complete toilet installation with faeces tank and a comfortable slatted frame under the forward berths. You could almost have bought a new boat for the equivalent value.

The installation of a new stern tube went beyond the usual wear and tear. There was no other way to stop the leaks in the shaft system. According to owner Hahn, this is a common problem with Omegas with Yanmar engines. However, newer model years are equipped with a Volvo 2003 and Saildrive. Both variants are dual-circuit cooled.

With the 36, Ron Holland launched a very fast ship onto the market at the time. With a displacement of only 5.1 tonnes, the Swede has a sail area of an impressive 78 square metres on a 7/8 rig, which, ex shipyard, manages without backstays and with only one pair of spreaders filed about 20 degrees aft. On the test boat, however, backstays were retrofitted to improve the trim.

With the genoa, the Omega achieves a sail load factor of 5.13, which is roughly the same as that of a more modern Bavaria match 35. Armin Hahn is correspondingly enthusiastic about the light wind characteristics: "On the wind we run a good 6.5 knots at three wind forces. However, with only two people on board, we have to put up the first reef from 4 Beaufort." This is hardly surprising, as the Omega has only 37 per cent ballast and a comparatively shallow draught of 1.70 metres. On the other hand, the standard self-tacking jib is also sufficient in wind forces of more than three, "then cruising becomes child's play," enthuses Hahn.

At the time, the Swedish shipyard offered wheel or tiller steering. The tiller takes up less space in the cockpit and below deck. From this point of view, it is a considerable advantage, especially in the harbour, if you want to place a cake stand. The routing of the halyards to the cockpit is not ideal. They are deflected at right angles, which leads to high friction losses in the plain bearing blocks.

The foresail hoist point can be set precisely on the very long rails - but you have to go on deck to operate the stoppers. Line adjustments were still the exception at the end of the eighties. Instead, self-tailing winches are on board as standard.

Living qualities

Compared to modern eleven-metre yachts, the space below deck is not generous. Nevertheless, Ron Holland has created good space conditions. In the foredeck, the Omega has a real double berth over two metres long. In the saloon, there is a U-shaped sofa to port and a longitudinal berth to starboard. For large crews, the table can be lowered and another double berth can be built. The aft section offers another double berth and a huge storage space on the starboard side, which can also be accessed from the toilet area.

There are extension versions that accommodate two double berths in the stern. However, these are berths for slim people, as the width of the boat in the stern is quite narrow compared to modern designs. Also not ideal: the hatches are tiny and the compartments are correspondingly dark.

There are also two different arrangements of the navigation corner, in front of and behind the bathroom. The large galley with double sink and fridge is well designed and executed. The toilet room is not spacious, but still adequate. The shower was standard equipment, which was not very common at the time. A sliding door leads into the cockpit. The woodwork is neat and offers good substance.

The Omega 36 is a very sporty yacht with a large sail area that can also be sailed by two people, not least thanks to the self-tacking jib, provided you reef in good time. The good construction pays off, so that even after 24 years there are no serious weaknesses. However, the keel suspension and, depending on the version, the stern tube should be inspected carefully before buying. Even though the boat can offer a maximum of seven berths, it is ideal for two or four people. The very successful shapes are still pleasing today - both in the harbour and under sail.

The weak points

Keel suspension: Not all Omegas are equally well laminated at the base. Damage can easily occur here after ground contact; chipped topcoat or hairline cracks are alarm signals

Diverter: The large sliding hatch garage leads to strong deflection of the traps, which creates more
Püttinge & Mast & Stevenrohr: There were problems with the weld seams on the rigging irons in the first construction numbers. The spreader fittings of the Isomat rigs should also be examined. The stern tubes of the Omegas tend to leak

The shipyard

The company behind the Omega was Svenska Familjebåtar AB, but the boats were actually built by the Bröjesson brothers in Bjästa in northern Sweden. The company had its origins in a factory for rubber gloves, but entered the boat industry in 1960. Over the years, Scanmar yachts, Maxis and Örnvik motorboats were produced alongside the Omegas. After the founding family retired in 1988, the company went downhill. The final end came in 1991. The last hulls were bought by Interboat and delivered until around 1993.

Model history

In the course of production, the Yanmar engine was switched to Volvo and Saildrive, and there are also some boats with modified rigs and differences in the interior fittings.

By far the most Omegas can be found in the Swedish home territory. However, the price level is not necessarily better than in Germany, Holland or Denmark. Many yachts also went to England.

Technical data of the Omega 36

Designer: Ron Holland
Lüa (torso length): 11,00 m
Waterline length: 9,15 m
Width: 3,36 m
Depth: 1,70 m
Weight: 5,1 t
Ballast/proportion: 1,9 t/37 %
Mainsail: 37 m2
Furling genoa (100 %): 25 m2
machine (Yanmar): 19.8 kW/27 hp
Construction time: 1985-1991
Quantity: 210
Base price ex shipyard ('88): DM 120,000
Average used price: from € 50,000

As of 08/2024, how the prices shown are defined can be found here !

Class association

www.omegaklubben.com (in Norwegian language)

The Omega 36 is a Swedish quality construction that set standards at the time. The boat has excellent sailing characteristics and only a few weak points. The price level is comparatively high

Design and concept

+ Timeless, elegant lines
+ Different expansion variants
- Fluctuating GRP processing

Sailing performance and trim

+ Very good sailing performance
+ Self-tacking jib, easy to operate

Living and finishing quality

+ Good room layout
+ Good wood processing
- Dark aft chamber

Equipment and technology

+ Self-tailing winches as standard
- Stern tube problematic
- Heating placed unfavourably

This article first appeared in YACHT 22/2012 and has been updated for this online version.

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Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
LOA: Length overall in feet
Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Review of Omega 36

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The interior is like many other boats made of mahogany. Mahogany belongs to the hardwood species, known for being water-repellent and resistant to decay. It has an attractive wood grain and holds wood polish and varnish well. The boat is equipped with 4 cabins, 8 berths, a galley, 120.0 liter fresh water capacity and toilet facility.

The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.

Unknown keel type

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.70 - 1.80 meter (5.58 - 5.88 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Omega 36 is typically equipped with an inboard Yanmar diesel engine at 27 hp (20 kW). The speed is 7.0 knots.

The transmission is a shaft drive. A shaft drive will in the long run require less maintenance than other types of drive e.g. a sail drive.

The fuel tank, which is made of stainless steel, has a capacity of 100.0 liters (26 US gallons, 21 imperial gallons).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Omega 36 is 1.94, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.3 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Omega 36 is about 205 kg/cm, alternatively 1153 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 205 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1153 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

What is Relative Speed Performance?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 35m 2 (376 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.


Usage	Length		Diameter
Mainsail halyard	36.5 m	(119.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard	36.5 m	(119.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker halyard	36.5 m	(119.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib sheet	11.0 m	(36.1 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet	11.0 m	(36.1 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet	27.5 m	(90.2 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet	24.2 m	(79.4 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Cunningham	4.7 m	(15.4 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Kickingstrap	9.4 m	(30.8 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Clew-outhaul	9.4 m	(30.8 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)

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The Omega 36 is a 36.09ft fractional sloop designed by Ron Holland and built in fiberglass between 1985 and 1991.

210 units have been built..

The Omega 36 is a light sailboat which is a high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a fast cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a very short water supply range.

Omega 36 for sale elsewhere on the web:

Main features

Model	Omega 36
Length	36.09 ft
Beam	11.02 ft
Draft	5.58 ft
Country	Germany (Europe)
Estimated price	$ 0	??

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Sail area / displ.	21.37
Ballast / displ.	37.84 %
Displ. / length	185.54
Comfort ratio	22.33
Capsize	1.97

Hull type	Monohull fin keel with rudder on skeg
Construction	Fiberglass
Waterline length	30.02 ft
Maximum draft	5.58 ft
Displacement	11244 lbs
Ballast	4255 lbs
Hull speed	7.34 knots

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Rigging	Fractional Sloop
Sail area (100%)	668 sq.ft
Air draft	0 ft	??
Sail area fore	311.61 sq.ft
Sail area main	356.66 sq.ft
I	42.98 ft
J	14.50 ft
P	46.26 ft
E	15.42 ft

Nb engines	1
Total power	27 HP
Fuel capacity	21 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity	39 gals
Headroom	0 ft
Nb of cabins	0
Nb of berths	0
Nb heads	0

Builder data

Builder		??
Designer	Ron Holland
First built	1985
Last built	1991
Number built	210

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Omega 36 - 1989

Omega 36 sailboat.

The Omega 36 sailboat from 1989 is a well-built and reliable sailboat that offers a perfect combination of performance, comfort, and seaworthiness. The boat is designed by Ron Holland. Its timeless design and robust construction have made it a favorite among sailing enthusiasts. The Omega 36 is designed to provide a comfortable and safe sailing experience for both shorter trips and long-distance sailing.

The Omega 36 has a spacious and well-planned interior that creates an inviting and comfortable environment on board. The salon is bright and airy with plenty of space to relax and socialize. The boat has a well-equipped galley with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and sink, making it easy to cook even during longer sailing trips. This boat has the large toilet on starboard, which also gives you a generous storage behind that you can reach from both inside and from the cockpit. The Omega 36 has two sleeping cabins that offer comfortable sleeping accommodations for up to six people, making it possible to enjoy overnight stays and longer sailing trips with comfort.

Sailing Characteristics:

The Omega 36 is known for its excellent sailing characteristics and is a true joy to sail. It is equipped with a standing rigging and a generous sail area, which provides impressive performance and maneuverability in both light and strong winds. With its stable construction and seaworthiness, the Omega 36 performs excellently in different weather conditions and provides a safe and comfortable sailing experience.

Specifications:

Year of manufacture: 1989
Length overall: 11 meters
Beam: 3.36 meters
Draft: 1.7 meters
Displacement: 5,100 kg
Lead keel: 1,900 kg
Engine: Volvo Penta 2003 28 Hp with S-drive 120C

Full equipment list available as PDF on the website. Some examples of equipment include:

Laminated mainsail and self-tacking jib from -16
Facnor full system
Freshwater cooling on the engine
Autopilot ST 2000 with remote control
Heater Ebersprächer D3LC-CC
Hot water heater connected to the engine
70 L stainless steel holding tank with deck discharge
90 L stainless steel water tank
110 L stainless steel fuel tank

OMEGA 36 similar search results:

VICTOIRE 1044

The OMEGA 36 shown below has been sold:

Sales information

De Valk Hindeloopen The Netherlands
+31 514 52 40 00
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Broker's comments.

		11,00 x 3,36 x 1,70 (m)
		grp
		1986
		0 x
		27 (hp), 20 (kw)

		at sales office
		De Valk Hindeloopen
		sold

General - OMEGA 36

GRP sailing yacht Omega 36 ''Westervaart III'', built in 1986 launched in 1987, dim.: 11.00 x 3.36 x 1.70 m., headway approx. 17.30 m., built by Broderna Borjeson in Sweden, designed by Ron Holland, sandwich constructed poleyster with antislip deck, roundbilged white hull, displacement approx. 5.100 kg., ballast approx. 1.950 kg., fuel capacity approx. 80 ltr., water capacity approx. 150 ltr., tiller steering.ACCOMMODATION:mahogany interior, 3 cabins, 7 berths, saloon, toilet, heating, hot water system, water pressure system, refrigerator, freezer, double s.s. tank, 2-balded gas stove (cardanically fitted s.s. stove) with oven (2000). MACHINERY:Yanmar 3 GM20, 27 hp., indirect coolingsystem, 2-bladed bronze folding propeller, bilge pump (electric and manual), batteries; light and start (1999), shore power, battery charger. RIGGING:sloop-rigged, mainsail (1987), mainsail (1997), lazy jacks, lines for mainsail, Genoa I, Genoa II and III, high aspect, medium spinnaker, heavy spinnaker, Dacron self tacking jib, boom vang, Lewmar ST winches.NAVIGATION:Plastimo compass (2x), depthsounder, wind apparent, Uniden VHF, Magellan GPS, Nasa navtext, Autohelm autopilot, radio, cd-player with speakers both in interior and cockpit. EQUIPMENT:sprayhood (1996), anchor with chain, swimming platform, sea railing, clock and barometer, trailer for winter storage. PARTICULIERS:Fine Swedish sailing yacht with excellent sailing characteristics and an interior that is perfectly fit for comfortable family cruising. Asking price: EUR 79,000.-- / EUR 79,000 VAT status: paidFlag: DutchLying: HindeloopenContact: De Valk Hindeloopen B.V.Tel.: (31) 514 524000 / fax.: (31) 514 524009Email: [email protected]

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