Overview
The Rustler 36 is a Holman & Pye design that traces its lineage back through Kim Holman’s Rustler 31 to the Stella, itself a development of the Scandinavian Folkboat. Orion Marine, under founder Ralph Hogg, began building the 36 in Falmouth, Cornwall in 1980; the company later became Rustler Yachts and has continued to build the design in small numbers since.
Design and Construction
The 36 carries a long keel with a cutaway forefoot. Rustler Yachts says the lead ballast is encapsulated in a keel moulded as part of the hull, rather than fitted with keel bolts. The current builder calls the rudder keel-hung, while a 2008 Practical Boat Owner sea trial calls it transom-hung. That conflict matters on a used boat, so the rudder arrangement should be confirmed during survey. Displacement is 16,800 lb on a 26 ft 11 in waterline, with ballast at 45 percent of displacement.
Under Sail
The 2018 Golden Globe Race offers a clear record of the type under prolonged solo offshore use. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede won aboard Matmut, Mark Slats finished second aboard Ohpen Maverick, and Uku Randmaa finished third aboard One and All. Matmut completed the race after a pitchpole west of Cape Horn damaged her mast. The result supports a proven rating while also showing that a capable boat can still need major repair after severe conditions. The Rustler 36 was in fact the single most-chosen design in that fleet, one of 7 entrants sailing one; Susie Goodall’s DHL Starlight survived a Southern Ocean storm before a dismasting 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn ended her run, and Philippe Péché’s PRB also retired after real offshore use. The type returned to the race again in 2022 and 2026. A 2008 Practical Boat Owner trial found the design steady and responsive to sail trim, though it was not a light-air boat.
Buyers Notes
Confirm the specific engine, tankage, steering arrangement, and build year on any individual hull. The design was built in low volume and Practical Boat Owner notes that even boats built to a standard layout were often customized. Inspect the aluminium toerail and hull-to-deck joint, which the same survey identified as potentially complex to repair. Inspect the rudder attachment closely because the current builder and the older sea trial use different terminology for it. The listed 29 hp Nanni diesel and associated tankage are later-production figures, so earlier boats may differ substantially.
