The Hughes 36 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig or optional ketch rig, a centre-cockpit, a spooned raked stem, a raised transom, a skeg-mounted spade-type/transom-hung rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 13,000 lb (5,897 kg) and carries 4,700 lb (2,132 kg) of ballast.[1][3]
The boat has a draft of 5.50 ft (1.68 m) with the standard keel fitted.[1][3]
The design has a hull speed of 7.03 kn (13.02 km/h).[3]