Rival 36 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Rival 36 means chasing one of Peter Brett's last designs — a 35'10" aft-cockpit cutter launched in 1980, with just 78 hulls completed before the early-1990s end of production. Built in the UK by Rival Bowman as a solid-GRP cruiser with fin keel and skeg rudder, she rewards the buyer who wants a heavily built passage boat rather than a volume production racer-cruiser.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two interior layouts turn up, and the four-cabin charter configuration is the more common on the used market, though the standard arrangement is also available. Ex-charter examples are common, so a buyer should expect some hulls with heavier interior wear and a history of mixed-crew use. The 36C centreboard variant with its slightly shorter mast and the Scheel-keel shoal-draft version were both original factory options, and either may appear among used Rival 36s.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most Rival 36s on the market carry a practical ocean-cruising kit. Power and energy clusters are well represented: solar, wind generators, and diesel heating are commonly fitted, with autopilot and a chartplotter rounding out the navigation suite. Canvas and sail handling usually include a furling main, bimini, and dodger, while safety gear such as AIS, radar, and a life raft is commonly aboard. Electric winches are often seen, and many boats have completed a transatlantic or full circumnavigation. Less common owner upgrades include a gennaker, asymmetric spinner, cockpit shower, or EPIRB.
What to Inspect
The standard fin-keel boat draws 6'0", the centreboard version ranges from 3'9" to 6'9", and the Scheel-keel shoal draft model trades depth for lateral grip — verify which underwater configuration you are viewing, since repairs and ground-tackle needs differ by keel type. The solid-GRP hull and keyhole bulkhead are points of strength, and the 39.2 percent ballast ratio confirms a lead fin that should be checked for keel-bolt integrity on any older example.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, Spain, and the Netherlands. For the shopper, the short list is: confirm keel variant and mast length, expect ex-charter wear on four-cabin hulls, verify the solid layup and keyhole bulkhead, and check that the commonly fitted ocean gear (AIS, life raft, heating, solar) is serviced rather than merely present.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Rival 36. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 10 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $67,860 | — |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $73,967 | +9.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $66,219 | -10.5% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $69,704 | +5.3% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $63,110 | -9.5% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $65,824 | +4.3% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $80,753 | +22.7% |
| May 26 | 2 | $23,714 | -70.6% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $76,682 | +223.4% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $67,792 | -11.6% |
Where they're listed
Rival 36 listings appear across 5 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 15 (71.4%), followed by Belgium and New Zealand.
Country view
21 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $74,646 | 15 | 7 | 71.4% |
| Belgium | $66,219 | 2 | 0 | 9.5% |
| New Zealand | $23,714 | 2 | 0 | 9.5% |
| Spain | $69,704 | 1 | 0 | 4.8% |
| Netherlands | $91,139 | 1 | 0 | 4.8% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour Classic 36 | 36.33' | $ 78,998 | 77 | 14 |
| Rustler Yachts 36 | 35.33' | $ 101,790 | 30 | 8 |
| Rival 36You are here | — | $ 67,860 | 21 | 7 |
| Sabre 36 | 36' | $ 47,500 | 21 | 7 |
| Creswell Marine 36 | 36' | $ 39,359 | 19 | 1 |
| Nicholson 36 | 36.25' | $ 29,000 | 16 | 1 |
| Cape George 36 | 36' | $ 89,500 | 9 | 1 |