Hallberg-Rassy 36 MkI, SOPHIA

Broker's Comments

The Hallberg-Rassy 36 was an important milestone for the yard in Ellös. The Frers-designed centre-cockpit yacht was launched in 1989 and became the first Hallberg-Rassy model designed by Germán Frers, marking the beginning of a long-standing collaboration that would shape many of the yard’s models over the following decades. The 36 retained much of what Hallberg-Rassy owners valued, including the high build quality, the characteristic windscreen and the protected centre cockpit, while combining these with Frers’ more modern hull lines and a deep, bolted lead fin keel.

Independent tests and owner describe the HR 36 as a well-balanced and capable cruising yacht, with better sailing performance than her traditional appearance might suggest. Her real strength becomes apparent when conditions deteriorate. Hallberg-Rassy highlights Germán Frers’ moderate V-sections, which give the boat a soft and comfortable motion at sea normally associated with larger yachts. With 3,400 kg of lead ballast in a 7,500 kg displacement, she has a ballast ratio of just over 45%, contributing to good stiffness and stability. She is also relatively easy to handle by two people, with well-positioned controls and moderate loads.

Below decks, she is a genuinely comfortable yacht to live aboard. The layout provides easy passage from forward to aft. The mast is supported on deck over a reinforced main bulkhead rather than passing through the saloon table or settee, while the large chart table faces forward. Headroom in the saloon is 1.91 m, and the heads includes a separate shower area with teak grating. The aft cabin and heads are also screened from view even when the doors are open.

Hallberg-Rassy’s attention to detail is apparent in things that are often appreciated only after spending time aboard. The locker doors are ventilated, and the interior is designed to provide good ventilation behind the joinery and minimise areas where moisture and condensation can collect. There is generous storage throughout the boat, while the systems and service points are relatively easy to access.

Only 256 Mk I hulls were built between 1989 and 1994, before the Mk II took over from hull number 257. SOPHIA is hull number 195 and was delivered by the yard in 1993. She is therefore a later Mk I, retaining the original, slimmer transom that distinguishes the Mk I from the later Mk II. The Mk II introduced, among other changes, a transom that was 30 cm wider, an integrated bathing platform and more space in the aft cabin.

What sets SOPHIA apart is that many of the major and potentially costly items on a yacht of this age have already been addressed. The teak deck and through-hull fittings have been replaced, while the rudder bearings and seals have been renewed. The rig has also been substantially updated, with new stays, a new Furlex furler, new running rigging and a new mainsail. The original engine remains in full working order and has been serviced annually.

She is also well equipped for easy and independent cruising. The bow thruster and electric windlass make handling the boat with a small crew easier, particularly when manoeuvring in harbour. Modern navigation equipment, solar charging and battery monitoring provide good conditions for spending longer periods at anchor without relying on shore power, while the diesel heater extends the season and keeps the boat comfortable during spring and autumn.

SOPHIA is more than thirty years old, and she does not try to hide it. She has the patina and character that come with a yacht that has been sailed and enjoyed over many years. At the same time, it is clear that previous owners have cared for her and invested in the areas that matter on a long-distance cruising yacht. The result is a well-maintained and well-equipped HR 36 in good overall condition, a yacht with many seasons ahead of her, whether the plans are cruising in the Stockholm archipelago or heading considerably further offshore.

Key Facts

• New teak deck – 2017.
• New through-hulls – 2025.
• New Furlex 304S furler, main halyard and genoa sheets – 2026.
• New forestay and backstay – 2023/2025.
• New mainsail – 2025.
• Bow thruster with separate battery – 2017 / 2025.
• Electric windlass – 2017.
• New 50m anchor chain – 2023
• New plotter and wind instrument from Raymarine – 2022.
• New solar panel with regulator – 2025.
• New service batteries and smart shunt – 2023.
• New 6-person liferaft – 2024.
• New rudder seals and bearings – 2022.
• New holding tank – 2017.
• New diesel heater – 2021.
• Autopilot.

Owner's Comments

SOPHIA has taken us all around the Baltic. From Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Åland, Gotland, and her home in the Stockholm archipelago, she has always made us feel safe and comfortable. She’s been a perfect size for spending many midsummers with friends in the archipelago, and still easy to handle when just the two of us.