Production was limited, and Bowman 36s remain sought-after on the secondhand market decades later. From the outset, the designers gave the boat the character of a beamy, heavy-displacement cruiser.
Design and Construction
The Bowman 36 is an attractive, traditionally styled long-keeled offshore cruiser. Her rather beamy hull provides plenty of volume without abandoning the sea-kindly intentions of her lineage.
She measures 36 feet overall, with a 26-foot-8-inch waterline and an 11-foot-4-inch beam. Displacement is 8,437kg (18,600lb). Every example was substantially built by Bowman to Lloyd’s +100A1 standard on hulls moulded by Seaglass. A lifting-keel option was offered alongside the standard long-keel profile.
Many boats were semi-custom built, so few conform to the standard layout or outfitting shown in period literature. The 42hp Mercedes diesel was mounted amidships, keeping this major weight low in the hull.
Rig and Handling
Most Bowman 36s were ketch-rigged, although a few left the builder with a Bermudian sloop rig. The large wheel reduces the effort required to steer—a real advantage given the loads aboard a heavy-displacement cruiser.
She dislikes being pressed under sail and performs best when sailed within herself rather than driven hard. Her long keel and substantial lateral plane help her track steadily in a straight line. This is a boat intended for offshore passages, not tight manoeuvring.
Accommodation
The interior was unconventional for its time. The saloon is aft, at the foot of the companionway beneath the doghouse, placing the main social area in the widest and most sheltered part of the hull.
The galley is forward, opposite a two-berth cabin. Right forward are the heads and a second two-berth cabin. There were six berths in all, increasing to seven with the pilot berth. This deliberate departure from the usual layout remains one of the class’s defining quirks.
Ownership and Market Standing
Bowman built the 36 in limited numbers. The original 1970 review described her as the sort of cruiser a buyer was likely to keep for many years.
That prediction has aged well. Bowman 36s remain sought-after on the secondhand market, valued for their substantial construction and enduring cruising capability rather than passing fashion.
The Verdict
The Bowman 36 is a thoughtfully engineered, traditional offshore cruiser. Her beamy, heavily built hull and unconventional aft-saloon layout will appeal to buyers who value structure and sea-kindliness more than marina manners.
She’s a yacht to sail within her limits rather than press hard. Because production was limited and many boats were semi-custom, each example deserves an individual assessment.
Pros
- Substantially built to Lloyd’s +100A1 standard on hulls moulded by Seaglass
- Beamy, spacious hull with a sheltered aft saloon beneath the doghouse
- Winner of the cruiser award at the 1970 Earl’s Court Boat Show
- Enduring demand on the secondhand market
Cons
- Dislikes being pressed under sail and isn’t a boat for hard driving
- Semi-custom construction means few boats match the standard layout
- Limited production makes a particular configuration harder to find
