Bowman 26

Remarkably, this stout little Ian Anderson design was launched in 1970 as a cruiser-racer. However, her generous displacement, long keel and powerful sea-keeping made her a popular coastal cruiser. Although well put together by Normand Boatyard (later Bowman Yachts), she was built to a price and
quite simply fitted out. For example, the mainsheet traveller was the top rail of the pushpit, and halyards were tensioned with tackles, not winches. She had a four-berth layout with 6ft 2in headroom, but with a beam of just 8ft, she is cramped by modern standards. Even so, she has enclosed heads, a large chart table, a workable galley and good stowage. A limited number were built and their popularity keeps prices healthy.

LOA 7.92m (26ft), LWL 6.07m (19ft 10in), beam 2.44m (8ft), draught 1.22m (4ft), displacement 2,301kg (5,062lb).