Bowman 40 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Chuck Paine·1987·~60 hulls·Southern Boat Building
Bowman 40 drawingBuilder drawing
Hull type
Monohull · scheel
Rig
Cutter
LOA
39.92' · 12.17 m
Displ.
19,000 lbs · 8,618 kg
First year
1987

The Bowman 40, specifically the iteration designed by Chuck Paine and launched in 1987, represents a definitive era in British bluewater yacht construction. Built primarily by Rival Bowman (and molded by Southern Boat Building), this model was an evolution of the earlier Laurent Gilesdesigned Bowman 40 from the 1970s. While the Giles version leaned into the narrow, elegant lines of the 1960s, Paine’s design introduced a more modern, "chunky" aesthetic with a longer waterline and a more voluminous hull. It was conceived as a "goanywhere" vessel, characterized by a moderatetoheavy displacement and a focus on seakindliness over raw speed. Approximately 57 hulls were produced before the design was refined into the Bowman 42, which utilized the same hull mold but featured an extended counter stern and modernized appendages. According to Chuck Paine, the 42 was an intentional modernization of the 40 to address requests for more lazarette storage and updated keel profiles.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$ 159,896
Ask, not sold · 16 listings
Recent listings · 90 d
7
16 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
+13.2%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
4
United Kingdom (50.0%) · Portugal (25.0%) · Germany (12.5%)

Recent Listings

6 for sale · sampled 10 newest

Where they're listed

Bowman 40 listings span 4 countries. United Kingdom leads with 8 listings (50.0%), followed by Portugal and Germany.

Median ask by country
USD · past 12 months
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country breakdown

16 listings · 4 countries
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
United Kingdom$ 158,2138450.0%
Portugal$ 181,3674325.0%
Germany$ 145,2622012.5%
Netherlands$ 196,6292012.5%

Comparable models

Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.

Peer cross-shop

11 designs · same segment
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Bavaria 4040.9'$ 87,5157143
Island Packet 4040'$ 159,0004116
Pacific Seacraft 40$ 242,500276
Bowman 3636'$ 39,0481813
Caliber 4040.92'$ 169,000188
Rival 40You are here$ 159,896167
Nauticat 4039.37'$ 131,850147
Tartan 4040.25'$ 89,900142
Rival 4848.16'$ 261,70286
Bowman 57/5857'$ 299,00054
Delphia 4039.21'$ 93,07951

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Bowman 40 cost?+
The median asking price for a used Bowman 40 over the past 12 months is $159,896. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Bowman 40 sailboats are for sale?+
7 Bowman 40 listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 16 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Bowman 40 prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Bowman 40 has increased by 13.2% over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month median.
04Where are Bowman 40 sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Bowman 40 listings over the past 12 months are United Kingdom (50.0%), Portugal (25.0%), Germany (12.5%).
05What should I look at instead of a Bowman 40?+
Comparable models include Bavaria 40, Island Packet 40, Pacific Seacraft 40. See the peer cross-shop table above for pricing and availability.