Description
Overview
The Nautilus 36 is a classic pilothouse motor Sailer designed by Canadian naval architect Henry Adriaanse and built between 1977 and 1981 by Niagara Nautic Inc. (later in partnership with Aztec Yachts) in Canada. Only about 40 of these vessels were produced, making it a rare find today. It's renowned for its sturdy construction, excellent visibility from the enclosed pilothouse, and versatility as both a sailboat and a powered cruiser, ideal for colder climates, coastal cruising, or extended voyages like the Bahamas, Caribbean, or even transatlantic crossings via Bermuda and the Azores. The design emphasizes comfort, stability, and ease of handling, with a fiberglass hull and a layout that provides ample space for liveaboard use—sleeping up to 6 in two cabins, including a queen berth.
This boat is particularly praised for its pilothouse setup, which offers a warm, dry helm station with a center-opening windshield and an inside steering chair. It's built on a fin keel with a spade rudder (some shoal-draft versions available), and while it's stable with good righting capability, some owners note potential concerns with its top-heavy pilothouse design and balsa-cored deck (common in boats of this era, requiring inspection for moisture issues). The engine is typically a reliable inboard diesel, like a Perkins, and many examples have been updated with modern rigging and electronics.
