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The PDQ 36 construction scantlings reflect the serious cruising intent of the design and a commitment to quality by the builder. The hulls are solid fiberglass below the waterline and cored with Klegacell or Corecell foam above. Vacuum bagging is used to ensure uniform resin flow. Cruising cats need to be as light as is practical, but they have to be strong enough to withstand the stress caused by two hulls. In many ways, multihulls are more of an engineering challenge than building a ballasted monohull. The decks are also foam cored, except in areas where high-load fittings are attached. Those areas are solid fiberglass. The glass is triaxial knitted fabric, and epoxy or vinylester resin is used exclusively throughout the laminating process. 

The hull and deck are joined on an outward flange with 3M 5200 adhesive and stainless fasteners. The keels, which are NACA foils, are secondary bondings and won't breach the watertight integrity of the hulls should they sustain damage from a collision or grounding. They are also designed and built to support the weight of the boat when it is hauled or careened. 

Although some sailors swear by centerboards or daggerboards for better upwind performance, the fixed keels on the PDQ make more sense in a cruising boat. Centerboards are engineering nightmares, and besides, a stub keel will generate lift to weather if it's the right shape. The small rudders, which are also foil shaped, are mounted on small skegs on the long-range cruiser models.

World Renown Cruiser John Kretschmer / Sailing Magazine, August 2002