from Yachting October 2003

Thomas Point 36
By Scott Shane

Drawn by Kaufman Design Inc.

What do you get when you combine New England clam chowda and Chesapeake oysters on the half shell: Appetizers at Anthony's Pier 4 of Boston, for some. Cruising yachtsmen, though, get the Thomas Point 36 Sedan.

Downcast boats are familiar to the boating public. Less well known is the Chesapeake-style design, typified by yachts that are low and lean, especial ly from abaft their midsections. For the Thomas Point 36 Sedan, built by Mast & Mallet Boatworks, Annapolis-based naval architect Mike Kaufman incorporated the favorable characteristics of both. The prow and tumblehome transom are unmistakably Yankee, vet the area abaft the windshield is classically Chesapeake—low, graceful and simple. As the company's first fiberglass-hull model, she fits between the existing 34- and 38-footers, both cold-molded constructions.

"The 36 Sedan is the perfect size for us to offer ample interior volume with walkaround room and considerable locker stowage," said Mast & Mallet's owner, Joe Reid.

Reid was quick to note that although the 36's hull will be fiberglass, her interior will be traditional wood, one of the boat's highlights. Since the Thomas Point 36 Sedan is a custom yacht, each owner can create an environment suited to his cruising style. She comes with a galley-up or galley-down arrangement, with an optional dinette behind the helm. A companion seat is standard.

The saloon arrangement with the galley up makes sense, since it keeps all social necessities on one level. An L-shape settee with a table is to starboard, and the galley's counter is to port.

Belowdecks are the accommodations and an entertainment area, which has a table and a settee that converts to a single berth. Across from the settee is a head with an independent stall shower.

Interior joinery also is the buyer's choice. Exterior brightwork can be limited to a few simple pieces, to add character, or taken to the extreme with a full-blown teak transom and swim platform.

The 36's hull is expected to be slippery, translating to fewer horsepower necessary for optimum performance. The entry, with a 30-degree deadrise forward, should be smooth, and a 9-degree deadrise at the transom should keep her working platform steady. A single 315 hp Yanmar is standard. The optional 440 hp Yanmar will give her a cruising speed of 20 knots and a top speed near 28 knots, according to the manufacturer. Twin engines also are available.

The deadrise hull should combine efficiency and easy motion throughout its speed range.

Mast & Mallet Boatworks
PO Box 759
Edgewater, Maryland 21037-0759
410-798-9510
info@mastandmallet.com