Rustler 42 v. Bowman 42

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Fourbees

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Going to LIBS set me thinking about the "next boat", and I really fancy a Rustler 42 (which was shown at Southampton last Sept). This is for the circumnavigation... you know the one! OK, I can't afford a R42 new, and they rarely come up brokerage, but I wondered what a Bowman 42 is like? Seems to be a similar concept - heavy displacement and all that - but has anyone any views about how they compare in practice? I've never even seen a Bowman 42....
 
Big money boats

No one responded so I will give my tuppence worth.
I have never sailed on either though I have encountered both here and there but they are both scarce. The Rustler is Stephen Jones so quite a bit of difference in approach, the Rustler seems to be a bit less rugged but I would expect it to be a good bit faster though a bit more tender. If you are one of the people with a budget for a Rustler 42 and are looking for a perfomance cruiser you could widen the search a bit, recent Najads and Finngulfs with an aft cockpit would be comparable or better. Scarce but if you contacted Finngulf UK I think they may be able to find you a recent 41 in very good order. If you just want an expensive high quality solid cruiser an HR might do but you would be stuck with a centre cockpit. I took some pics of a Rustler 32 off Ardnamurchan in a bit of wind last summer, surprised how little sail he was carrying but he was alone in the cockpit
I could go on but the last time I responded to a thread like this the OP eventually revealed that he was anticipating a big lottery win.
 
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Thank you, Quandary, for replying! Threads like this sometimes stir up a few answers but not this time... I suppose something Scandinavian might fit the bill, but I wouldn't go for anything with a centre cockpit. I'm interested in long/longish keel and I like the encapsulated one on the Rustler; I quite like their 36 and some of the Vancouvers, but think that there wouldn't really be enough accommodation (you get used to having some space and I wouldn't want less than in my current 32-footer). This is not an entirely idle line of enquiry as I really would like to do some ocean crossing as soon as I retire!
 
Fourbees said:
Thank you, Quandary, for replying! Threads like this sometimes stir up a few answers but not this time... I suppose something Scandinavian might fit the bill, but I wouldn't go for anything with a centre cockpit. I'm interested in long/longish keel and I like the encapsulated one on the Rustler; I quite like their 36 and some of the Vancouvers, but think that there wouldn't really be enough accommodation (you get used to having some space and I wouldn't want less than in my current 32-footer). This is not an entirely idle line of enquiry as I really would like to do some ocean crossing as soon as I retire!
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Interested to know why you are looking at "old style" boats when the trend is towards different designs. Have a look at the entry to the ARC - boats like the ones you are looking at are very scarce!
 
I'm afraid that much as I'd love to, I've sailed neither; but I have been aboard the R42 and the Bowman 40. As I understand it, the Bowman 42 is basically a 40, but with a deeper keel and extended stern so I don't think the Bowman 42 will gain anything internally compared with a 40 although I believe that the aft moulding may be slightly less intrusive into the aft cabin. The R42 was designed as a 42 footer and (IMHO) offers a better internal layout, I also suspect it has a little more beam which it carries much further aft. The reviews I've read of the R42 have been fulsome in their praise and the reviews of the Bowman 40 (never seen the 42 reviewed) slightly less so - particularly with reference to weight of the helm when well heeled. One other advantage of the R42 is that the tanks are (I think) under the floor which frees up under bunk space for storage - a big plus in my eyes.All are beautifully built and if I could be convinced of the sailing performance of the 40 (which I don't think is helped be the 4' 10" Scheel keel), it would be on my short list. Funds aren't likely to run to either of the 42s unfortunately. I'd love to be convinced otherwise as to the performance of the Bowman 40......
 
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I would have thought something like a CR400 DS would have been ideal.. long fin... partial skeg rudder.... Goosey and Carol are driving a Bowman 40...
 
Here is an old magazine advert for the Bowman 40 (like Wild Bird, Carol and Susie's fine vessel).
Some photos of Wild Bird on their B-logs at http://art-of-remembering.typepad.com/ and http://art-of-remembering.typepad.com/susie

Bowman40reportP1.jpg


The Rustler 42 is pretty gorgeous as well! Difficult call to choose between them.
 
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Tranona said:
Interested to know why you are looking at "old style" boats when the trend is towards different designs. Have a look at the entry to the ARC - boats like the ones you are looking at are very scarce!
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As a Nicholson 32 owner, I know why people like the older designs - because they just work, in all weathers, in all seas, and are stable. The ARC boats have the advantage of being semi-supported by each other and a radio net - a circumnavigator or solo sailor often does not. I recently read of a Twister 28 solo journey to the Azores that got hit with over a week of hurricane conditions, who lay ahull for days at a time - and never rolled because of her (the boat's) heavy, full keel. Came out of it without a scratch.

When I visited the Rustler booth at the Southhampton show, I met a Rustler 36 owner that has racked up 40,000 miles, much of it solo bluewater I believe. You _could_ do that on a modern light displacement yacht - as long as you got really lucky with the weather, and didn't hit anything too hard (you can't break an embedded long keel off it's bolts).

I don't do bluewater in my Nicholson (at least not yet). But somehow I have a great deal of confidence that she will get me out of nearly anything I get into - except a tight marina space in reverse...
 
I sail a Bowman 40 so may be a little biased...

My understanding is that the Bowman 42 was made after a customer requested something a little faster than the 40 to win the ARC. The existing mould was extended by 2 feet, the mast heightened and the keel deepened. There is little discernible difference to the below decks space or layout.
What was lost was the balance under sail, the 40 is extremely well balanced, if anything she is slightly overpowered by the main and when sailing on the Monitor we always have a reef in for into the wind sailing. Generally though she is light and responsive on the helm at all times and in all conditions.The 4'6" schiel keel is a great boon, particularly in the Caribbean, and the bloody great lump of metal on the bottom makes grounding possible if it can't be avoided!

The Rustler 42, according to a conversation I had with Steve Jones some years ago, was inspired by the Bowman 40, and a great boat she is too.

My view, for what it's worth, is if you are commissioning new go for the Rustler, if buying secondhand I'd look for a Bowman 40 there are often a few around.I wouldn't have a Bowman 42.

They don't make them like this anymore, mores the pity. For bluewater sailing I doubt there is a better suited boat on the market today.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
May I suggest you call Simon Carter at Red Ensign in Falmouth.

They have 3 Bowman 42's and two 40's for sale. They are the official Rustler Bowman brokers and know a lot about all the models.

Their website www.red-ensign.com/rustler-bowman-starlight.asp also has links and pictures of all the models.

I am a member of the Rustler owners association and maintain a database of all the boats. I can tell you that there are between 20 and 30 Rustler 42's since the first was built in 1998. I believe only 3 or so have changed hands since that date.

FYI you can still have both Bowman 40's and bowman 42's built. Rustler have the moulds and would love to build one for you. In recent years they have built a Bowman 42 and it was a stunner. Having said that, most owners looking for that sort of boat have opted for the Rustler 42, mainly dur to it's significantly bigger interior volume.

Regards
 
What about a Malo40 - aft cockpit and everything you are looking for. Maybe not as numerous as some of the other Swedish brands, but I think its really the best built and fitted out brand.
 
Gerry said:
That's interesting Solent Boy, I understood that the mould for the Bowman 40 was altered to make the 42, not a new mould built.
We were told that when we wanted to commission a new 40 some years ago...


www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
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Ah, my humble apologies - you are probably right. I checked on the Rustler site and they no longer off the 40 so that may well be the reason. Might be worth asking them though.

ASSUME makes an ASS out of U and ME!

Sorry.

I have to say though that if that is what Bowman did, that really was a dumb-ass approach. If they had moulded a 40 hull and then used that to make a new extended plug they could have had both moulds. Sounds like a cost saving exercise to me.
 
fmoran said:
What about a Malo40 - aft cockpit and everything you are looking for. Maybe not as numerous as some of the other Swedish brands, but I think its really the best built and fitted out brand.
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Ok, as a Rustler owner I am of course biased, but I did take a very good look at all the Swedish builders and visited several before I bought. In fact I learned to sail when I was living in Sweden so I was really very keen on them. Despite this I chose to go with Rustler for several reasons:-

1. I actually think they are built better than all the Swedish boats.
2. The Swedish currency rate makes them over-priced.
3. It is really great having a boat built in your own country and being able to visit every month (as I did) and watch it grow.
4. Why buy outside the UK if you don't have to?
5. Warranty issues (and there are always warranty issues, no matter how small) can be dealt with by the people that built the boat, not their agents, who come and go.

Flak jacket is already on in anticipation!

Regards
 
I am seriously considering buying a Bowman 40 but am a little concerned as to how it handles in close quarters under engine. I am used to a sailing Starlight. I would appreciate comment.
 
devonian dan said:
I am seriously considering buying a Bowman 40 but am a little concerned as to how it handles in close quarters under engine. I am used to a sailing Starlight. I would appreciate comment.
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devonian dan you are right to have your concerns. I have owned a Bowman 40 for 2 years now and she does have a mind of her own when going astern as do many longer (not deeper) fin keeled boats with decent skegs. Having said I can now work with her character and either park anywhere or know when the conditions would make it impossible to take on a particular berth.

A little bit of character in close quarters is the price you pay for a boat well behaved when the sea state and wind pick up. I'd much rather be out in a blow in my own yacht than in the flimsy french boats that I teach on.

And if you do buy one and find it difficult you can always go for a bow thruster which will make your life easy.

Don't be put off - go for a British boat with character.
 
SolentBoy said:
May I suggest you call Simon Carter at Red Ensign in Falmouth.

They have 3 Bowman 42's and two 40's for sale. They are the official Rustler Bowman brokers and know a lot about all the models.

Their website www.red-ensign.com/rustler-bowman-starlight.asp also has links and pictures of all the models.
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FYI, there is currently one R42 available on the Red Ensign site.
 
Fourbees said:
Thank you, Quandary, for replying! Threads like this sometimes stir up a few answers but not this time... I suppose something Scandinavian might fit the bill, but I wouldn't go for anything with a centre cockpit. I'm interested in long/longish keel and I like the encapsulated one on the Rustler; I quite like their 36 and some of the Vancouvers, but think that there wouldn't really be enough accommodation (you get used to having some space and I wouldn't want less than in my current 32-footer). This is not an entirely idle line of enquiry as I really would like to do some ocean crossing as soon as I retire!
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Hi, Check out the spec on the Island Packet range. Long keels, cutter rig, loads of interior space,good on the hook and popular with long distance sailors. Like most long keelers going astern is a challenge!
 
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