Rival v Rustler comparison

[Picoquestions]

I’m torn between a Rival 32 and Rustler 31 which would you buy and why?
Relatively similar vintage (because of budget) I intend to mostly solo sail, first of all coastal (south England) to bed in my skills; then further afield channel, Scillys, Ireland, Azores etc etc…

 

[Tranona]

Somewhat similar boats except that the Rival is a bit more modern in terms of keel and rudder shapes. Realistically when buying this sort of boat the only things that really matter are condition and equipment. Either will do the job you want it to do (even though there are many other boats that will do it equally well or better!). What others think (or would choose) is really not important as it is you buying the boat!

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Both yachts have a sucesfull history of single handed sailing and ocean sailing, so I wouldn't be too worried about which model to pick. Rather, make the comparison between what. you are getting for your money.

Both can be purchased within the same price range, £15k to £25k with the Rival 32 likely being stacked more to the left of the range. If it was me I would compare the folloikmng based on price: -

Sails, condition, material type, age and suit contents
Engine, type, age, hours
Instruments, age and type
Windvane, fitted not, type and state of repair
Autohelm, type, age, fitted or not.
Age of rigging
State of interior, clapped out, reasonable or good.
Window and hatch integrity, leaking, weeping, damage to lining below window and any subsequent fresh water damage
Rudder, bearings, leaking.
Age of batteries and wiring, good, poor, shit

You get the drift.

 

[nestawayboats]

I lived on a Rustler 31 in the Caribbean for about two years, about 20 years ago. Crossed the Atlantic both ways, very seaworthy as you'd expect but also surprisingly - to the doubters of such "old" designs - fast. We averaged 5.6 knots downwind from Canaries to Barbados, and 5.8 knots on a windy beam reach coming back from Bermuda to Azores. That's 135nm average days (several were over 150), on a 31ft liveaboard cruising boat with a 24ft waterline, for 19 days, on the west going Atlantic trip. That's not considered that fast nowadays because everybody does it in 40 footers (in fact 40ft would probably be below average now), but it would still actually be quite respectable. We were faster than many people on much larger boats on the ARC that year - we were too poor and too poorly equipped to be on the ARC, different story, but left about the same time.

As others have stated condition is at least as important as any other factor between these two, but there is quite a difference underwater: the Rustler 31 has a full (not even very cut away in the forefoot) long keel whereas the Rival whilst not exactly radical is longish fin and skeg. The Rustler is often referred to as a "bigger Twister", and both were designed by Holman & Pye. If you like Twisters the Rustler 31 is basically the same but a bit more spacious and faster. The Rustler probably has (even) less initial/form stability than the Rival so wow does she roll downwind (19 days...), but also virtually steers herself, in any direction, and has an incredibly comfortable motion in a chop. We didn't broach, never even once, even when surfing (well some kind of gravitationally-assisted speed surging) at 11 knots with too much sail up when caught out by a fairly healthy gale. If you follow the numbers, motion comfort ratio of 40 for Rustler 31 vs 33 for the Rival, both are very high by modern standards for boats of this size (or even boats quite a bit longer).

We did know the people on a Rival 31 (same boat as 32 but with a transom hung rudder) going south from UK and across the Atlantic at same time as us, and generally speaking I think we were faster on the Rustler - but we did have the "tall rig" version. We also knew the people on a Swan 38 and they were faster than us on inter-island passages but actually slower across the Atlantic.

My point being somebody will come along and say "why do you want such a horrible old design, it'll be slow and mouldy?". Well it won't necessarily be slow, particularly in ocean conditions - short (or single) handed you'll be able to push it to a higher percentage of its ability, more easily and in less fear of your life when the sh*t has hit the fan than any "modern" boat of similar size - and it will only be mouldy if it's not been loved.

They are both good boats so long as you don't want a lot of room inside - my current, not at all modern but more modern than the other two being discussed Sadler 29 (motion comfort ratio 26) has more room inside (and that's now considered a small 29 footer). And a Rustler 31 or a Rival 32 is pretty much bulletproof, you will give up long before either boat does.

90% of the time at sea something more modern would be faster. 100% of the time in harbour or at anchor something more modern would be more comfortable. But that other 10% of the time at sea you'll be glad of the old-fashioned design. I think it's fair to say on older boats they tended to design the accommodation to fit the hull they'd drawn, nowadays the accommodation will have been considered earlier in the design process (and affect the hull design). And no matter what anybody says about forecasting being better and more accessible nowadays, they still don't always get it right - especially more than a few days out, ie over longer passages - and no you can't always outrun it.

Also when comparing other boats you have to include budget, so maybe the real question is what else can you have for £25k (ish, ready to go) that would be better-suited to what the OP states? Including, potentially, singlehanded to the Azores. I'm quite interested in that question because I'm considering a Jester Azores for 2028 (assuming that's when the next one is). I might do it in the Sadler 29 and hope not to have the 10% conditions whilst at sea... she'd survive but definitely would not be as comfortable as the Rustler 31.

 

[Bobc]

Buy the one you like the most.

 

[Stemar]

At that age, it's mainly the one that seems to need the least work, though if I were buying to cross oceans, old rigging and knackered sails might be considered an advantage, provided the price reflected it.

 

[Goldie]

If you’re set on one of the two classes you’ve named then great, and I wish you luck in finding the right boat. If it was me looking in that size and price range however, I’d be looking at Halmatic 30s too. Several on Apolloduck at the moment, some with recent rigging, some with engines replaced and a choice of Mk 1 or Mk 2 layouts.

 

[mattonthesea]

I can't give comparisons because I have only sailed my R32. But I can say that, running downwind, on the way back from the Azores, we decided to drop the main in what had turned into a F9. My brother handed me a sail tie to me as I stood on the cabin roof. It occurred to me that this is what had worried me when I set off; to be caught in a storm. And here I was, comfortable!, up on deck!

 

[JamesDavis]

I’m happy to take you out in my Rival 32 and she’s for sale near Falmouth. Have a look:
James Davis
Apologies if this blatant promotion is frowned upon.
James.