Bowman 57/58
Description
The Bowman 57 (often listed or referred to as Bowman 57/58 in some databases due to minor hull variations like transom styles or extended versions) is one of the largest and most iconic classic bluewater cruising sailboats from the Bowman Yachts lineup. Designed by the legendary British naval architects Holman & Pye (who also influenced many Oyster designs), it was built by Bowman Yachts in Southampton, England, primarily in the 1970s and into the 1980s (some later examples under Rival Bowman). Production was limited—only a handful were built—making them rare, highly sought-after gems among serious offshore sailors. These yachts are renowned for their elegant, slender lines (narrow beam for the era), robust GRP construction (often to high Lloyd's specs), proven ocean-crossing pedigree (some have done NW Passage or multiple circumnavigations), and practical split rig (usually ketch, sometimes sloop/cutter) that's manageable short-handed. They're not lightweight racers but excel in heavy weather with a comfortable, predictable motion and the ability to carry heavy cruising loads without penalty.
Construction Details
| Designer | Holman and Pye |
|---|---|
| Builder | Bowman Yachts |
| Length | 57.000 ft |
| LOA | 57.000 ft |
| LWL | 44.580 ft |
| Beam | 14.670 ft |
| Displacement | 45000 lb |
| Ballast | 18000 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1970 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 70 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 21.40 ft |
| p | 61.60 ft |
| e | 17.30 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 ft | 21.40 ft | 61.60 ft | 17.30 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Bowman 57/58 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 61.6 ft - (18776 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.3 ft - (5273 mm) |
| Leech | * 63.26 ft - (19282 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.97 ° |
| Diagonal | * 63.39 ft - (19321 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 532.34 ft² |
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Bowman 57/58 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 58.56 ft - (17849 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 28.14 ft - (8577 mm) |
| Leech | * 51.22 ft - (15612 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 24.61 ft - (7501 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 720.66 ft² |
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Bowman 57/58 - GENOA
| Luff | * 69.54 ft - (21196 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 34.38 ft - (10479 mm) |
| Leech | * 65.61 ft - (19998 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 32.1 ft - (9784 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 1116.04 ft² |
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Bowman 57/58 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 69.54 ft - (21196 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 38.52 ft - (11741 mm) |
| Foot | * 38.52 ft - (11741 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 2276.88 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.