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Rival 36
Designer: Peter Brett  ·  Builder: Rival/Bowman (Uk)  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Rival 36

Built by the respected British yard Rival/Bowman from 1980, this Peter Brett-designed cruiser represents classic English yacht construction with a focus on seaworthiness and comfort. With only 78 hulls produced, the Rival 36 maintains an exclusive character while earning recognition for its robust fiberglass construction and thoughtful layout. The design emphasizes cruising capability over racing performance, featuring a moderate fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration that provides excellent directional stability and protection for the rudder during grounding. Her substantial displacement of 14,250 pounds and generous ballast ratio contribute to a reassuring motion at sea, while the masthead sloop rig delivers reliable sailing performance across various conditions. With a comfort ratio of 30.35, this yacht clearly prioritizes onboard livability for extended passages and coastal cruising. The moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.65 indicates she's built more for steady progress than light-air excitement, making her well-suited for serious cruising sailors who value seaworthiness over speed. The Rival 36's reputation centers on its solid construction quality and ability to handle challenging conditions, making it an attractive option for sailors seeking a dependable offshore cruiser with traditional British yacht-building heritage.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 35.83 ft / 10.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.17 ft / 8.28 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 14,250.00 lb / 6,464 kg
Ballast 5,580.00 lb / 2,531 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 573.00 ft² / 53.23 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Peter Brett
Builder Rival/Bowman (UK)
First Built 1980
Number Built 78
Associations Rival Owners Association
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
150
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
15.65
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
39.16
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
317.17
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
30.35
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.82
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.98 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
1.52
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,067.90 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.65
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 44.60 ft / 13.59 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.25 ft / 4.04 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.20 ft / 4.02 m
SA Fore 295.48 ft² / 27.45 m²
SA Main 277.20 ft² / 25.75 m²
SA Total (100%) 572.68 ft² / 53.20 m²
Est. Forestay Length 46.53 ft / 14.18 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model MD2030
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 29
Fuel Capacity 48 gals / 182 L
Water Capacity 53 gals / 201 L
How It Compares

vs. Apache 37 Chris Craft, Cheoy Lee 35, Heritage 35, Kestrel 35 Westerly, Sunrise 35

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Rival 36 ★
35.8 ft
Apache 37 Chris Craft
37.0 ft
Cheoy Lee 35
34.8 ft
Heritage 35
35.1 ft
Kestrel 35 Westerly
34.6 ft
Sunrise 35
35.0 ft
LWL
Rival 36 ★
27.2 ft
Apache 37 Chris Craft
26.3 ft
Cheoy Lee 35
27.1 ft
Heritage 35
26.6 ft
Kestrel 35 Westerly
27.0 ft
Sunrise 35
31.3 ft
Beam
Rival 36 ★
11.0 ft
Apache 37 Chris Craft
10.2 ft
Cheoy Lee 35
11.2 ft
Heritage 35
10.2 ft
Kestrel 35 Westerly
12.3 ft
Sunrise 35
11.8 ft
Displacement
Rival 36 ★
14 lbs
Apache 37 Chris Craft
13 lbs
Cheoy Lee 35
14 lbs
Heritage 35
13 lbs
Kestrel 35 Westerly
14 lbs
Sunrise 35
22 lbs
Ballast
Rival 36 ★
5 lbs
Apache 37 Chris Craft
5 lbs
Cheoy Lee 35
5 lbs
Heritage 35
6 lbs
Kestrel 35 Westerly
5 lbs
Sunrise 35
8 lbs
Sail Area
Rival 36 ★
573 sq ft
Apache 37 Chris Craft
594 sq ft
Cheoy Lee 35
565 sq ft
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
560 sq ft
Sunrise 35
750 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Rival 36 ★
150 s/nm
Apache 37 Chris Craft
Cheoy Lee 35
183 s/nm
Heritage 35
162 s/nm
Kestrel 35 Westerly
Sunrise 35
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Rival 36 ★
15.7
Apache 37 Chris Craft
17.2
Cheoy Lee 35
15.4
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
15.4
Sunrise 35
15.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Rival 36 ★
39.2 %
Apache 37 Chris Craft
40.7 %
Cheoy Lee 35
36.4 %
Heritage 35
45.6 %
Kestrel 35 Westerly
40.5 %
Sunrise 35
38.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Rival 36 ★
30.4
Apache 37 Chris Craft
31.0
Cheoy Lee 35
30.2
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
26.5
Sunrise 35
39.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Rival 36 ★
1.82
Apache 37 Chris Craft
1.74
Cheoy Lee 35
1.84
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
2.03
Sunrise 35
1.68
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Rival 36 ★
317
Apache 37 Chris Craft
321
Cheoy Lee 35
321
Heritage 35
324
Kestrel 35 Westerly
320
Sunrise 35
319
Hull Speed
Rival 36 ★
7.0 kts
Apache 37 Chris Craft
6.9 kts
Cheoy Lee 35
7.0 kts
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
7.0 kts
Sunrise 35
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Rival 36 ★
1.5
Apache 37 Chris Craft
1.6
Cheoy Lee 35
1.5
Heritage 35
Kestrel 35 Westerly
Sunrise 35
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