Design and Construction
The Bowman 36 presents as an attractive and traditional-looking long-keeled offshore cruiser anchor, with a rather beamy hull form that maximizes volume without abandoning the sea-kindly intentions of her lineage. Every example was substantially built by Bowman to Lloyd's +100A1 standard on hulls moulded by Seaglass anchor, and a lifting-keel option was offered alongside the standard long-keel profile. Because many were semi-custom built, few models conform to the standard layout or outfitting recorded in period literature anchor. The 42hp Mercedes diesel was mounted amidships, a placement that keeps major weight low in the hull.
Rig and Handling
Most Bowman 36s were ketch-rigged, though a few left the builder in Bermudian sloop configuration anchor. The large wheel takes the labour out of steering, a real advantage given the loads of a heavy-displacement cruiser, yet she dislikes being pressed under sail and is at her best when sailed within herself rather than driven hard anchor. Her long-keeled hull and substantial lateral plane make her a straight-line tracker built for offshore passages rather than tight manoeuvring.
Accommodations
The interior is unconventional for its era, with the saloon placed aft at the foot of the companionway under the doghouse anchor, putting the main social space in the widest and most sheltered part of the hull. The galley sits forward, opposite a two-berth cabin, while right forward are the heads and a second two-berth cabin. In all there were six berths, rising to seven with the pilot berth anchor. The aft-saloon arrangement was a deliberate departure from the norm and remains a defining quirk of the class.
Ownership and Market Standing
Bowman 36s were built in limited numbers, and the original 1970 review described her as the sort of cruiser a buyer is likely to keep for many years anchor. That prediction has aged well: the boats are sought-after on the secondhand market, prized for their substantial construction and enduring cruising capability rather than any fleeting fashion.
The Verdict
The Bowman 36 is a thoughtfully engineered traditional offshore cruiser whose beamy, heavily built hull and unconventional aft-saloon layout reward the buyer who values structure and sea-kindliness over marina manners. She is a yacht to be sailed within her limits, not pressed, and her limited semi-custom production means each example deserves individual assessment.
Pros
- Substantially built to Lloyd's +100A1 standard on Seaglass-moulded hulls
- Beamy, volume-rich hull with a sheltered aft saloon under the doghouse
- Took the 1970 Earl's Court Boat Show cruiser award, with enduring secondhand demand
Cons
- Dislikes being pressed under sail; not a boat for hard driving
- Semi-custom build means few boats match the standard layout
- Limited production numbers make finding a specific configuration harder
