The Perfect Boat for the British Gentleman

A boat’s a boat…right? Well, yes, in that they all float on water. However for us boat lovers there are many different categories -- the most obvious being sail and power.

It really doesn’t end there though, as there are tens of different categories as we drill down. Even more, boat builders are forever trying to create new ones. In recent years we saw the emergence of the ‘adventure boat’ with the likes of Axopar, XO, and Saxdor very successfully exploiting capable commuter boats and selling hundreds into the leisure market.

However, today as I type in England one category which remains something of a classic is the ‘gentleman’s motor yacht’. Now the style of boat I am talking about has different names around the world such as ‘picnic boat’ and ‘lobster boat,’ amongst others. Whatever we call them they are traditionally styled, high quality, highly seaworthy and usually come with a blue hull!

Two of the UKs most respected yards build such boats, so let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail.

Dale 37

Dale is a family run yard in Wales established in 1961 and has a great reputation for building beautiful craft. However, to understand the heritage of their boats we need to step away from Wales momentarily and look at the ‘Nelson’ design. In 1959, a boatbuilder named Peter Thornycroft built the first Nelson, a wooden 29-foot motor boat, designed and built for Leopold Baron De Rothschild, who wanted to be able to travel at 18 knots, in any weather, between his home on the Beaulieu River over to the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. The design was a semi-displacement hull which has seen only slight changes over the years and become synonymous with being able to handle nearly any conditions. The ‘Nelson’ hull design has been used for pilot boats, harbour masters, transfer craft, and also the leisure market. Getting back to Wales, in the early 80s Dale decided to build a Nelson. That became the start of what is now a range of several sized boats all with that same DNA. They have worked closely with the original designers to fine tune the hull form for each model.

The boat we are looking at is the Classic 37, and while using the same semi-displacement hull form offers styling harkening back to the 50s, it is anything but dated! The first thing that strikes you about the boat is the quality and its large amount of varnished wood. The cockpit offers comfortable seating while under way, or more importantly a wonderful place to relax at anchor, dine, and socialise with friends and family. Before heading inside, we should look at the foredeck -- as you make your way around the side of the boat, two steps up and you are on a vast and completely flat deck with a huge open pace to enjoy.

Inside the boat, the saloon is again packed with beautiful wooden joinery and some clever ideas such as the helm seat, which moves forward electrically when not being used to create more space at the dining table. To starboard is the galley, perfectly positioned opposite the dining table and also close at hand for the cockpit. As we descend into the accommodation, ahead of us is the main cabin which benefits from that raised foredeck by having full-width head room and is beautifully finished. The second cabin provides another double which extends under the saloon and does have some restricted headroom. Finally, the heads opposite is very nicely finished with all that you need for overnighting. The base boat is fitted with twin 220 hp engines which will give 18 knots or alternatively you can opt for the 320 hp engines which take it to 24 knots.

Rustler 41

Rustler Yachts are a hugely respected boat builder based in Cornwall, England with a reputation for producing classic hand-built blue water cruising and sailing yachts. Their sailing boats are so capable and safe that they are one of the boats of choice for the grueling Golden Globe Race -- a single-handed non-stop race around the planet. In fact, one year first, second, and third place were all taken by Rustler 36’s! Rustler owners are hugely passionate sailors and also hugely loyal to the brand, often progressing in size through the range, which stretches from 24 to 57 feet. However, when the time came to make their boating a little more simple by moving to power they had to change brand. So, after being asked for a motor boat for 10 years, Rustler finally took the plunge and built their first one in 2024. The process was tricky as they wanted to build something that still retained their DNA and yet offered something different to the competition. So, after considering designs from several naval architects they settled on one from Tony Castro who has a long and successful portfolio spanning racing boats to superyachts. The Rustler 41 offers that ‘Gentlemans Motor Yacht,' however brings it up-to-date with a planing hull which is highly efficient and therefore more economical to run. What it also retains is the Rustler quality of build which is what their owners love and have been craving. All Rustlers are highly customisable, so owners can have a huge influence on the boat they will own with no two being the same.

As you approach the boat it has the obligatory blue hull (although hull #2 is actually grey!) with a large and very impressive capping rail which extends down the hull with a beautiful varnished finish. The sleek lines are emphasised with sweeping curves and beautiful features. The gate through the transom leads to a cosy cockpit with plenty of seating and space for guests. Moving around the side of the boat feels extremely safe with high bulwarks and rails to give you confidence. The quality of the build is evident everywhere you look from the gelcoat, to the fittings, and even the welds on the guard rails! As you move into the saloon/wheelhouse, the layout is reassuringly traditional with a galley to starboard which is well equipped and a dining table to port. The helm then offers a wonderful view out with all controls falling close to hand. As you move down into the accommodation, the quality and finish continues -- it feels very sophisticated and luxurious. The main cabin is found in the bow with a central berth and plenty of wood to make it a cosy place to sleep. The second cabin still offers a good amount of space with a large hull window flooding it with light. The heads again superbly fitted out and benefits from a separate shower cubicle and again a large hull window. Something quite unusual and seen throughout the range is a separate machinery room which houses all the major systems and importantly keeps them away from any possible exposure to the elements.

The Rustler 41 comes with a pair of Yanmar 370 hp V8 engines which give in excess of 30 knots.

So which one would you choose?

There are many boats to consider in this category, but in the Dale and the Rustler we see two similar boats offering a different takes classic design. The Dale is the traditional boat with a semi-displacement hull, while the Rustler offers a modern alternative with contemporary styling, planing hull, and great fuel efficiency. Ultimately the choice comes down to what is important to you, so which one will you be ordering? #tips #products #culture #themarinechannel