1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 vs 1982 Cape Dory 36 — Comparison

Detailed Comparison

The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 and 1982 Cape Dory 36 represent two takes on cutter-rigged sailing. The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 is a 1970s design by Pacific Seacraft from USA, while the 1982 Cape Dory 36 is a 1980s offering from Cape Dory from USA. The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 was penned by William Crealock. The 1982 Cape Dory 36 was designed by Carl Alberg.

In terms of size, the 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 measures 11.28m (37.0ft) overall with a beam of 3.28m, compared to the 1982 Cape Dory 36 at 10.97m (36.0ft) with a 3.28m beam. The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 is 0.31m longer than the 1982 Cape Dory 36. The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 displaces approximately 13% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 15.15 and 58.2 m² of sail area. The 1982 Cape Dory 36, with an SA/D of 15.70 and 55.5 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 1982 Cape Dory 36 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 27.2) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.67). The 1982 Cape Dory 36 has a comfort ratio of 24.5 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 41.2% for the 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 and 40.0% for the 1982 Cape Dory 36, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 265L of water capacity and 151L of fuel. The 1982 Cape Dory 36 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 189L water and 114L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The 1979 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.

For racing: The 1982 Cape Dory 36 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.

For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.