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Island Gypsy 36 Classic / Quad Cabin

Built 1978–2001 by Kong & Halvorsen

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About the Island Gypsy 36 Classic / Quad Cabin

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Island Gypsy 36 Classic / Quad Cabin
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical single-engine sedan trawler.
Built
1978–2001
Builder
Kong & Halvorsen
Length
36 ft
Waterline
32.83 ft
Beam
13 ft
Draft
3.5 ft
Displacement
27,000 lb
Hull
fiberglass
Hull / keel
semi-displacement
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
varies by year
Water
200 gal
Holding
50 gal
Steering
cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel varies by year
    “the standard 300-gallon tankage” — search excerpt, rabbetboats.com
    Our earlier 400 gal came from the HMY powerboat guide; a buyer's-guide site calls 300 standard. Owners say some boats were built with long-range fuel (an extra tank across the aft end of the engine bay) and extra water, with tankage customised per order. Standard and long-range figures aren't documented, so there's no single value.
  • Water 200 gal
    No figure was found beyond the HMY powerboat guide's; owners on a forum mention an optional extra water tank under the V-berth, so boats vary.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster unknown
    No source found that mentions a bow thruster.
  • Stern thruster unknown
    No source mentions a stern thruster.
  • Steering cable
    No source was found to check our earlier figure of chain-and-cable steering, which came from an owner report. If it is chain and wire rope to a quadrant, it belongs under mechanical rather than cable (push-pull or rotary cable); worth confirming on your boat.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

HMY treats the 36 Classic and Quad Cabin as the same boat. Solid fiberglass hull with full keel; several two-stateroom layouts; teak decks and handrails standard. Single 135 hp Lehman cruises 7-8 knots; twins cruise about 10 knots (one owner reports twin 165 hp Volvos). Some boats have extra long-range fuel and water tanks.

Engines fitted

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

“twin Volvo Diesel engines, Onan Generator” — search excerpt (1983), yachtworld.com · “Over 400 gallons of deisel Onan generator” — search excerpt (1980), facebook.com · “Generator 5 kW Onan” — search excerpt, hongkongboats.hk · “8 KW Westerbeke generator” — search excerpt (1995), facebook.com

Onan generators appear on several 1980s boats for sale (only one sized, 5 kW) and a 1995 Tri Cabin has an 8 kW Westerbeke; no make and size repeats, and no builder list found.

Known problems for this model

Engines & parts

Ford Lehman 135 / SP135 (2725E) parts: good

Factory standard engine — you entered “Ford Lehman 135 (SP135)”

Based on the later Ford 'Dover' 2725E 6.2 L naturally aspirated six (Ford built the Dover series 1982–1994, then Otosan/Dovertech to 2005). Parts are sold by the same Lehman specialists as the 120; American Diesel lists spare-parts sheets and Go2marine stocks cooling parts, heat exchangers and elbows for the 135. Do not assume 120 (2715E) and 135 (2725E) internals interchange.

Parts sources: American Diesel Corp, Go2marine (Ford Lehman parts collection)

Maker’s service schedule (14)
Engine oil & filter change200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Change Engine Oil & Filter. And Transmission Oil.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Fuel filters & water separator200 hrs or 1 yr
“should be replaced once each season or at least each 200 hours (which ever comes first) under normal conditions” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Raw-water pump impeller200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Replace raw water pump impeller.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Coolant replacement & freeze-point test1,200 hrs
“Every 1200 hours of operation ..... Flush cooling system. Replace anti-freeze.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Exhaust mixing elbow inspection200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Check exhaust components for leaks.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Transmission fluid change
Borg Warner gearbox
200 hrs or 1 yr
“Change oil every 200 hours of operation or at least once each season under normal conditions” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Transmission fluid change
PRM/Newage gearbox
200 hrs
“After 25 hours running: Drain all oil from the gearbox and refill with one of the recommended lubricants.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Transmission fluid change
Twin Disc gearbox
1,000 hrs or 6 mo
“The period between oil changes is 1000 hours of operation or 6 months, whichever occurs first.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Check idling speed200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Check idling speed, adjust if required.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Check coolant and oil hoses200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Check condition of all coolant and oil hoses.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Check engine mount bolts200 hrs
“Every 200 hours of operation ..... Check all engine mount bolts.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Replace thermostats3,600 hrs
“Every 3600 hours of operation ..... Replace thermostats.” — manufacturer (1987), marinedieselbasics.com
Replace Borg Warner transmission oil cooler
Borg Warner gearbox
1,200 hrs
“Suggested replacement time is at 1200 hours.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com
Inspect drive damper2,500 hrs
“Inspect your drive damper if you have more than 2500 hours on the engine.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com
Service part numbers (9)
Oil filter
engines built before the 1987 change (original filter)
Lehman 2N50
“11 1 2N50 FILTER (Engine Oil Cooler Assembly D196/D197, SP90 / 135)” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com
Oil filter
1987-on engines (larger capacity, revised fitment)
Lehman 2N53
“DURING 1987 A NEW OIL FILTER OF LARGER CAPACITY ... THIS IS PART No. 2N53” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com · “Oil Filter 2N53 LM - P12-R105 P11-88” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Fuel filter Ford 6149717 × 2
“2 ALL 2 6149717 FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com
Raw-water impeller Jabsco 1210-0001
“Breakdown of 2C48 Pump ... 9 1 1210-0001 IMPELLER” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com
Raw-water pump kit Jabsco SK239
“Service Kit SK239 - Comprising Key 7/8/9/17” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com
Drive belt Lehman 2B209
“15 1 2B209 VBELT (Alternator Assembly D144, M/N)” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com · “Alternator Accessory Drive V-Belt 2B209 2B209 - P11-51” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Air filter Lehman 1F7
“12 1 1F7 FOAM ELEMENT (Plenum Chamber / Air Filter Assembly D1125, SP135)” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com · “Air strainer to replace 2H75 & 1F7 (PF136) (Whilst stocks last)” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Zinc / anode Lehman EM21A
“25A 1 EM21A ZINC ANODE (Heat Exchanger Assembly D882/D883, SP135)” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com · “Anodes EM21A (Pack of 5) - - P11-18” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Thermostat Lehman 2C35
“11 1 2C35 THERMOSTAT ... Modified / 12 1 1541317 GASKET” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com

From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.

Model sources (4)

hmy.com · trawlerforum.com · seattle.boatshed.com · trawlerforum.com

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Other Island Gypsy models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.