Bowman 26 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Bowman 26, designed by the prolific maritime architect Ian Anderson in the late 1960s, is often regarded as a quintessential British "pocket ship." Originally adapted from a strip-planked mahogany design called the Sirius, the GRP version was commissioned by the Normand Boatyard (which later became Bowman Yachts) to serve as a robust, offshore-capable cruiser. Only approximately 30 hulls were produced between 1968 and 1973—mostly in Dartmouth and Emsworth—before the molds were sold to Hurley Marine. This limited production run has preserved the boat's status as a rare and sought-after classic for sailors who prioritize structural integrity and traditional lines over the high-volume interiors of modern production yachts. Detailed historical records on the Bowman 26 Technical History site clarify that while the later, larger Bowman models were designed by Holman & Pye, the 26 is distinctively an Anderson creation.