She occupies a distinct niche: a foam-filled 35-foot cruiser that shares the deck and cockpit DNA of her larger sister, but has a seamanlike interior of her own. She also earned a reputation as a tough, long-legged bluewater boat with above-average performance.
Design and Construction
Jones gave the Starlight 35 a low coachroof, preserving a clear panoramic view from the helm. The hull has a long bow overhang and pronounced sheer, rising from low freeboard aft to high, slightly flared bows that help keep her dry, as described by Yachting Monthly.
Unlike earlier Sadlers marketed as unsinkable, the 35 used foam-filled construction without making that claim. Yachting Monthly described an inner moulding bonded to the hull at the ring frames, with closed-cell foam injected between the two skins. That inner skin provides insulation and a smooth, easy-clean finish inside the lockers. It also forms the structural basis for much of the furniture.
The hefty ballast keel is bolted to a GRP stub, which keeps the weight low and forms a deep bilge. Three cast-iron keel configurations were offered on the moulded stub:
- A deep fin at 5'9"
- A shoal-draft keel at 4'11"
- A wing keel at 4'9"
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 35 carries a stout, deck-stepped, twin-spreader Seldén masthead rig, with generously sized standing rigging, fore and aft lower shrouds, and an adjustable backstay. The spreaders are swept only 10° aft, allowing the boom to fly nearly dead out without fouling them.
A fully battened mainsail, lazyjacks, and luff cars simplify sail handling. All control lines run beneath hinged covers to the cockpit, then through clutches to two Lewmar 30ST winches. Lewmar 48ST primaries handle the genoa.
The Starlight is responsive, balanced, and easy to handle. Her deep rudder and skeg keep her tracking dead straight with little effort at the wheel; Yachting Monthly noted that she held her course with minimal input. She tacks confidently through 80° and can point to 32° off the apparent wind.
In a stiff breeze, she reaches 7 knots at 45° off the wind, and test sailors found her favourite point of sail right around there. The builder said the wing keel added lift to windward while retaining shallow draught. Yachting Monthly’s testers observed no more leeway than with a fin and found that it damped pitching in big seas.
The only documented handling criticism from period testing concerns the genoa winches. Yachting Monthly reported that they sit slightly too far forward to reach from behind the wheel.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is roomy enough for three people to work without fouling one another. It has a deep, self-draining well and a seat-height bridge deck.
Wide side decks have moulded-in non-slip surfaces. Through-bolted stainless-steel handrails run from the sprayhood to the foredeck, while the deep chain locker includes a windlass plinth and twin bow rollers. Together, these details reflect a boat designed for extended cruising.
Accommodation
Below, the Starlight 35 is spacious and comfortable without being lavish. The forward cabin has a double berth and hanging locker. In the saloon, two settees measure 1.98m by 0.65m and make excellent sea berths; the starboard berth also has a pull-out extension. A folding table serves the saloon.
The L-shaped galley includes two deep sinks, a large fridge, and a fully gimballed cooker with a crash bar and bum strap. Opposite, a forward-facing, Admiralty-chart-size navigation table sits to port, with instrument trays.
The aft cabin provides another double berth and locker. Aft of the navigation station, the fully lined heads compartment has a shower seat over the toilet. Headroom is 1.83m in both the saloon and aft cabin.
Engine and Production History
A 29hp Volvo, driving a two-bladed propeller through a conventional shaft, gives 6 knots at 2,400rpm and just over 8 knots at 3,600rpm. The engine box forms the lower companionway step and sits well forward, providing easy access for servicing.
Sadler Yachts entered receivership in 1993. Rival Bowman continued the range until 1998, when Rustler acquired the moulds and built a few more boats to order. Rustler no longer produces the Starlight 35.
The Verdict
The Starlight 35 is a thoughtfully engineered midsize cruiser that punches above her length. Foam-filled construction, a cockpit borrowed from the Starlight 39, and a balanced rig make her seaworthy and rewarding to sail. She is relatively heavy, carries generous ballast, remains stiff in heavy weather, and is agile in light airs.
Apart from minor ergonomic compromises, she remains a credible bluewater candidate with a genuinely useful interior.
Pros
- Foam-filled hull with an inner moulding that provides insulation and easy-clean stowage
- Confident tacking, good pointing ability, and 7-knot speed in a stiff breeze
- Deep, self-draining cockpit with excellent visibility and room for the crew
- Seamanlike three-cabin layout with proper sea berths
Cons
- Genoa winches are too far forward to trim from the wheel
- Wing-keel claims remain unverified beyond the testers’ observations
