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Yachting World

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Rustler 57 review: This traditional British cruiser was built to rule the waves

• Toby Hodges
• December 18, 2019

Rustler’s stunning new flagship, the Rustler 57 may cause you to re-evaluate what comfort is all about when cruising

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

There will be times when you get caught out, when the weather doesn’t do exactly as forecast and the sea state becomes worryingly erratic. These are the sort of times when you feel the eyes of the young or less experienced members of the crew turning to you, wanting reassurance you may not be able to give. This can be the unpredictable nature of cruising .

At times like this it matters little how many sunpads you may have on deck, what size your flatscreen TV is, or which toys are lurking in the lazarette. You’d trade any of them for a comfortable and forgiving motion, safe passage on deck and a minimum of unnerving noises.

You want to be able to set the correct sail to the conditions. You may also re-evaluate what makes life comfortable: proper protection in the cockpit; a navstation where you can think and plan; somewhere to dry wet gear, make a hot brew safely, or cocoon yourself on a berth with a sturdy leecloth.

These may not be the sexy features that sell yachts at boat shows, but they could make a crucial difference to the enjoyment of an offshore passage. Rustler Yachts knows this well. It builds very elegant-looking cruising yachts, but they are designs that shun fashion for exactly this type of pragmatism.

It’s no fluke that the top three of five finishers in the retro, attritional Golden Globe Race 2018 were Rustler 36s. The Penryn, Falmouth, yard takes a belt and braces approach to its builds. Its range has spanned modest sized cruising yachts up to 44ft – until now. This new Rustler 57, by far its largest model to date, is still a yacht that its creators hope will provide that total reassurance.

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No frills introduction

First impressions are reassuring: a sweeping sheerline rising to a raked stem, a spoon bow and an elegant counter, and a deep underbody with a softly turned bilge are all traits that have stood the test of time. They help produce a reliable, kindly motion at sea, with the added bonus of lines that are exceedingly easy on the eye.

Rustler’s go-to designer, Stephen Jones, who joined us for the first day of trials, explained that he endeavoured to keep the freeboard of the Rustler 57 as low as possible – no easy task with today’s demands for internal volume. His solution lay with modern influences: a fuller bow shape, noticeable in the forward cabin, and broad beam aft which buys valuable space in the two aft guest cabins.

This yacht is refreshing in its conservative, dependable nature. At this size and price range, there’s no shortage of competition in the luxury cruiser market, but the Cornish yard is sticking to what it does best and, for that reason, the Rustler 57 stands out. Director Adrian Jones describes it as a scaled-up version of the company’s venerable 42.

A sweeping sheer rising to a high bow, helps keep a low freeboard and graceful look. All photos: Richard Langdon

“What our owners want is to not follow fashion,” he says, pointing out that the hull shape, protective skeg and single wheel are the antithesis of the offerings from most modern production yards. The rig is also unusual these days: “We stuck to our guns with parallel spreaders and a cutter rig,” says Jones.

Where this first Rustler 57 differs from the standard boat is in the rig and keel set up. The owner didn’t want the boat to draw more than 2m, nor have an air draught over 25m. Rustler’s solution was to use a long chord, lead keel case with a bronze fin centreboard that can lower to give another 1.5m draught. The carbon Seldén mast and V-boom carries a fully battened mainsail, which uses a Harken switch track to stow closer to the boom.

From the moment you step aboard the Rustler 57 via a proper boarding gate in the guardrails, walk along its secure side decks between sturdy toerail and handrails, noting features such as the Samson post and protected dorades, and settle in the deep cockpit, you feel enveloped in a luxurious safety blanket.

Sailing from the heart of the boat. Note how deep in the cockpit Toby is at the helm, yet still with clear sightlines

Before moving on to performance, it’s important to point out where the money goes. This is a hand-built boat, more than 22,000 hours of it in fact. It’s a yacht built to last.

“We use a monolithic layup with a glass stringer matrix for all of our cruising yachts, as we genuinely believe it to be stronger,” Adrian Jones explains. He maintains that, compared to sandwich construction, this copes better with deflection, is easier to repair and won’t delaminate.

The result is a medium-displacement yacht, weighing 27 tonnes – similar to the new Amel 60, and just under two tonnes more than the Oyster 565 . However, as we’d soon discover, you don’t pay a real penalty for that weight as the nearly two tonnes of tankage is positioned low and central in a deep bilge, and a long waterline length helps maintain a healthy speed.

Moving through the gears

I’m a fan of cutter rigs and twin headsails on cruising yachts. It’s prudent to be able to change your arsenal of canvas easily to match conditions, and keep correct sail shape without needing to leave the cockpit.

Our first reach away from Mylor was under full mainsail and yankee, making an effortless 9-10 knots. But once out into Falmouth Bay and into gusts that brought 25 knots over the deck, we needed to adjust our sail area for comfort. Having the option to swap to the staysail, and/or drop a reef in the main via the single line reefing system, was fuss-free and no one needs to venture forward.

It was a lively first sail, fetching upwind, then broad reaching under yankee and staysail, the Rustler 57 fully powered up and topping 10 knots. The motion through the water was superb.

The Rustler 57 gets up to speed easily and keeps way on handsomely, however we experienced abnormal load on the helm during that first morning. The boat had only recently launched and was still being tuned, but even with a reef in the main it was still an effort on the wheel.

The Rustler’s lines are exceedingly easy on the eye

Stephen Jones was convinced there was too much belly in the mainsail. Sailing into the Helford for a pitstop lunch gave us the chance to move the outhaul and reeve clews further aft on the boom. By flattening the mainsail considerably the helm instantly felt much more balanced.

Further tweaks of the Lewmar geared steering may make the autopilot’s life easier too, but it no longer felt like we were fighting the boat. Indeed, the Rustler 57 let us know politely and with plenty of time to ease sheets if it was feeling pressed.

The rest of that afternoon and the following day was a joy in classic late summer West Country conditions, which provided an ideal mix of wind strengths. When the breeze is around 12 knots or above, the Rustler 57 consistently clocks 8.5 knots on most angles.

In the average 20-knot conditions we had on the first afternoon, we reached along at a consistent 9.5 and over, which points to delightfully easy passagemaking potential.

It’s also a relatively nimble yacht, for which I was grateful as we beat into St Mawes, navigating through a dinghy racing fleet. It can match single-figure wind speeds down to 6 knots or motor at an admirable 8.5 knots at 2,200rpm.

Some potential modifications could make the Rustler 57 easier still to sail. When the wind gets up, the long yankee sheets can be a handful as they whip about during a tack. The electric winches arguably need to work faster to tame these, but my preference would be to furl the yankee during tacks in anything over 15 knots of wind.

The side decks, finished in non-slip gelcoat, feel really secure thanks to the wide cap rail, high guardrails and sturdy handrails along the flat coachroof top – although checkstays hinder access a little

The hydraulic backstay and vang and electric furlers ease the task of sail trim and handling. But with running backstays, two sets of headsail sheets and the mainsheet to consider during tacks, it might prove sensible to lead the staysail sheets to a self-tacking track. It would also make sense to use the mainsheet winches to adjust the traveller from the helm, which would simply involve the addition of a turning sheave.

From the helmsman’s position, there are good sightlines through the fixed windscreen and under the foot of the high-cut yankee. I had a preference for standing behind the wheel, but it is possible to sit out on the coamings. The V-boom on the test boat seems large, which not only impacts on the yacht’s aesthetics, but can prevent you from seeing the telltales to leeward from the helm.

A focus for Rustler was the creation of a deep, protected cockpit. I can’t stress enough how this puts you at ease at sea, and you feel inside rather than on top of the yacht. If salt water does somehow reach the cockpit, a bridgedeck step abaft the companionway ensures it remains outside.

Davits can carry a large dinghy – an 11ft/3.5m RIB with 20hp motor in the case of the test boat. The swim platform hinges off the sealed transom, with steps down from the pushpit

Stowage has been planned carefully on deck. Handy cuddies in the coamings also hide remote controls for the electric primaries as well as shorepower sockets. There are practical lockers beneath the helm seats for washdown gear on one side and warps the other.

The top of the rudder stock and the emergency steering connection are also beneath the helm seat, which would make it quick and easy to fit an emergency tiller. Surprisingly, however, there is no permanent provision for sheet tails – the mainsheet tail bags and halyard hooks are additions.

The bountiful lazarette, large enough for full-size bicycles on the test boat, is a watertight area as the swimming platform hinges off the sealed transom. A quarter locker houses two 13kg gas bottles and the deep sail locker forward can easily swallow a downwind sail and fenders.

Sumptuous saloon

The lion’s share of space on the Rustler 57 has understandably been allocated to the cockpit and saloon. Fiddles and handles guide you safely through an interior that oozes hand-built quality.

I was drawn to the proper navstation, where you can settle behind the chart table, scan the displays on the angled, raised panel, check the sea state through the hull portlight or the mainsail through the hatches, all while in communication with those in the cockpit, galley or saloon.

Layout is logical – things are where they should be. The switchboard, for instance, is divided up so the deck lights are in close reach from the companionway. The 24V systems are on one panel, 240V on another, with the breakers mounted separately below. It’s intuitive. Proper shelving for pilot books is built into the bulkhead behind the pilot seat and the grab bag is below. This is a yacht designed for passagemaking.

Long coachroof windows, hull portlights and overhead hatches provide plenty of light to the vast saloon

That said, the Rustler 57 has an impressive allocation of social space for time at rest. The galley and saloon create a colossal communal area; it’s rare to find this much saloon space below superyacht or large cat level. Eight can sit around the large table with another four on the sofa.

Ample natural light and ventilation help create a light, airy ambience. The owners of this boat chose satin-finished teak, together with traditional blue upholstery. The standard finish is in a lighter European oak.

These owners also opted for a washing machine, separate dryer, dishwasher, microwave and extra fridge freezer. So despite the intelligent layout of the galley, I actually found it a little wanting in convenient stowage space for everyday utensils. However, the yacht boasts plenty of stowage in general, including in the deep bilge.

The owner’s cabin forward has generous stowage and natural light, plus an adjoining heads and separate shower

The engine is, unusually, mounted centrally below the inboard area of the galley’s work surface for optimum weight management. “Our view is that you should be able to do daily checks but otherwise it should be as central as possible,” explains Rustler’s co-director Nick Offord. The sole boards and bin area surrounding the engine lift away to give easy access to the filters etc.

The prop shaft runs through a large Aquadrive unit and Halyard silencers, so despite the engine’s position in the heart of the interior, it was quiet underway. The space beneath the companionway is used to house the genset, and there is room for a washing machine or wet hanging above (there is also a rail in the day heads for drying gear).

The full bow buys plenty of volume in the master cabin , with beam enough to allow steps up each side of the double berth and for the headboard to mount on the forward bulkhead.

The aft cabins, meanwhile, also with ensuite heads, are where the price is paid for the elegant counter and traditional hull shape, as headroom and bilge space quickly reduces going aft. The berths are on two levels in the twin cabin – nice passage berths but they could get a little cramped for guests spending longer periods aboard.

There’s plenty of competition in this market – from British yards alone – but by sticking to what it knows and does best, Rustler has created something refreshing with its old-school approach. There are some small tweaks that could improve the sailhandling, but the feeling of security this boat provides when sailing overrides all other impressions. By making you feel both welcome and safe, the Rustler 57 encourages you to dream about voyaging further afield. With its potential for consistent passagemaking speeds and its forgiving nature at sea, the Rustler 57 would be as at home in, say, the colder waters of the Baltic as it would taking the tradewinds across the Pacific. The layout, giving generous space to the cockpit and main living area, ensures it is a very pleasant yacht to be aboard at anchor, too. Its retro lines may squeeze space out of the aft cabins, but I’d take the timeless looks any day. Choosing the Rustler 57 boils down to how much you value reassurance. For those thinking of spending long periods aboard, there are few yachts I can think of that would offer such a feeling of dependability.

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

Rustler 33 – Yachting Monthly review

• March 20, 2014

She’s an absolute stunner, but does she sail as well as she looks? And what’s it like to spend the night with her? Graham Snook dodged gales off Falmouth to find out

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

What’s she like to sail? The Rustler 33 is surprisingly quiet. With no guardrails, or external halyards, there was little to disturb the wind as it passed unimpeded over the deck. She was also a dry boat, on our test a sprayhood wasn’t needed or missed. Besides, how could you fit one on something so beautiful?

She was a real pleasure to sail, but although she’s a Rustler she’s no offshore cruiser and doesn’t pretend to be. She’s a well- built weekend or coastal cruising yacht that offers easy, fast fun.

Her 34ft-long hull tapers to a 22ft 6in static waterline, but grows considerably as she heels. Pleasing bow and stern waves are constant companions. The 8:1 mainsheet makes easy work of the mainsail, and a well-timed tack reduces the need for the winch handle. The day of our test was chilly, grey and there was drizzle in the air, but the sailing was great. Imagine sailing her on a warm summer’s afternoon: land breezes, sparkly water and a rising tide high enough to get a few hours alongside the pontoons of, say, the Pandora Inn. You don’t need to cross oceans in a bulletproof boat to reach a sailing Shangri-La. What’s she like in port and at anchor? Both the editor and I spent the night on board as a gale raged outside. We had the pubs of my youth to stretch out in, and when we returned to sit below decks, everything in the hinged but unlined lockers behind the seat backs was within reach. It was cosy, heating would have improved matters, but the advantage of a small interior is that it does warm up quickly. Not being able to stand was only a disadvantage while moving kit about the boat, and quickly forgotten. Using the ‘galley’ is only really done seated. I wasn’t a fan of the white finish on our test boat – looking aft, you could be on any number of small, simple yachts. It is only when I turned around that the swathes of teak came into view. Many interior finishes are available, I’d be ticking the box for wood, and lots of it. If you’re anchoring, the bow roller would have to be bolted on beforehand. The lead of the anchor warp would have to be made fair to prevent it fouling the forestay en route to the single pop- up forward cleat. She’d be OK to dry out alongside if you need to. Would she suit you and your crew? With the vast Fal Estuary just outside, Cornish harbours at daysail intervals along the coast and a keen local club-racing scene, it is not hard to see what inspired Rustler to produce the 33. She can be handled by one person, easily by two. If cabin space and home comforts are paramount, she’s not for you. Short of fish and chips in the cockpit, I can’t think of any meal I’d want to eat on board and I wouldn’t spend much time below decks. A rainy day at anchor might be too much for some sailors. But she’s light and slender enough to tow behind a car to new cruising grounds, rather than having to sail all the way there. If you sail as a couple – with close friends or a tolerant partner – you could spend every summer evening, weekend and even the odd week skimming along the coast in this boat, leaving more practical and ‘capable’ cruisers in your oh-so-pretty wake. If you are lucky enough to be able to look out of your window, see that the sun is out and a breeze is filling in, and can drop whatever it is you’re doing to go sailing, this boat is for you. You can see Graham Snook’s full report on the Rustler 33 in the May 2014 issue of Yachting Monthly …

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Berthon USA are honoured to be the American agent for Rustler Yachts, the renowned British brand. These beautiful yachts are hand crafted in Falmouth, Cornwall which is in the depths of the South West of England, UK. Rustler Yachts started in the early 1980s and are a relatively low volume yard building very high quality cruising yachts. Since the 1980s hundreds of owners have enjoyed the process of building the yacht of their dreams. You will enjoy a unique close relationship with the team that is building your yacht.

Rustler Yachts are a company passionate about the yachts they build, which are hand crafted using a combination of traditional boat building methods and cutting edge technology. Every yacht is built to your exact requirements giving it a personal touch with distinctive character.

The range of yachts on offer has expanded over the years. The first yacht to splash the water back in 1980 was the Rustler 36. The full fleet ranges from a glamorous 24ft daysailer – all the way up to the magnificent Rustler 57.

Rustler Yachts are all built to an incredibly high standard which are far above the industry norm. The designs of all the yachts puts comfort and safety at sea at the forefront, meaning these yachts are built for real life cruising and life on-board. There motion at sea is wonderfully easy and despite the traditional look, the whole fleet is deceptively fast.

Alan Baines: [email protected]

Inspired by some of the classic designs from the last century, the Rustler 24 offers the day boat sector a new dimension by combining traditional long keel sea-keeping and handling qualities, with the practicality of modern materials and systems.

The Rustler 33 is beautiful. Designed to be really easy to live with, simple to sail, and offering cosy accommodation for a weekend away; she is the perfect antidote to yachts whose designers have forgotten what pleasure there is to be had in simple aesthetic beauty.

Designed as a smaller sistership to the renowned and well respected Rustler 42 - the Rustler 37 is a pretty yacht, offering double cabins fore and aft, and a spacious saloon. There is plenty of storage for extended cruising, and large navigation and galley areas.

Rustler 41 Motor Yacht   NEW

And now for something a little different... We have the Rustler 41 Motor Yacht - a stunning Tony Castro design. Great if you are looking for an example of one of the best classic cruising yachts you can buy in either sail or power.

The Rustler 42 is a classic looking yacht with moderate height to the topsides, a sweet sheerline, pleasing overhangs and a long, wide and low cabin top. The Rustler 42 adds a performance element to other essential bluewater attributes like directional stability, stiffness and good load carrying ability.

Powerful, comfortable and exceptionally well-behaved, the Rustler 44 is a welcome addition to the ranks of classic bluewater cruising yachts.

The stunning Rustler 57 is a pro at drawing admiring looks wherever she goes. Designed by Stephen Jones, who also did the Rustler 42 and 37, she is fast and sea worthy.

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History of Rustler

Rustler Yachts is a distinguished British boat manufacturer, originally established in 1963 by Kim Holman, a highly esteemed naval architect. The company was chiefly known for producing the iconic Rustler 36, a high-quality, long-keel cruising yacht, which debuted on the market in 1980 and quickly became renowned for its durability and seaworthiness. Holman was a pioneer in his methods of construction and design, creating a legacy of high-performance, seaworthy boats with sleek, sophisticated lines. The first workshop was located in the old rust-proofing building at Robinson's Yard, Penpol, near Falmouth in Cornwall, which is why the company was aptly named Rustler.

In 1990, Rustler Yachts was acquired by new partners Nick Offord and Peter Thomas, and moved from its original location to Falmouth. The company transitioned to a new, spacious yard located at Falmouth Docks, and the product line expanded to include a wider range of premium yachts, from the Rustler 24 day sailer to the large Rustler 58.

Today, Rustler Yachts continues to produce world-renowned, bespoke blue water cruising yachts hand built by skilled craftsmen in their Falmouth, Cornwall premises. They proudly strive to uphold the cherished tradition of British yacht building, with an unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and beauty. Each handcrafted vessel is a testament to Rustler's enduring legacy and vision for the future, firmly establishing the company as one of the industry's leading players within the global yachting community.

What types of boats do Rustler build?

Rustler manufactures a range of different types of boats. The ones listed on TheYachtMarket include Sloop , Antique/classic , Racing boat , Day boat and Cruiser .

How much does a boat from Rustler cost?

Used boats from Rustler on TheYachtMarket.com range in price from £31,700 GBP to £330,000 GBP with an average price of £106,000 GBP . A wide range of factors can affect the price of used boats from Rustler, for example the model, age and condition.

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The owner of a $3.4 million Lamborghini yacht screamed 'I will kill you' and threw $100 bills into the water when told he couldn't use a private dock

• The owner of a Lamborghini yacht threatened a private dock employee, per CBS8.
• The employee said Ajay Thakore mooned and threw cash at him after being told he couldn't use the dock.
• Thakore, the CEO of Doctor Multimedia, issued an apology through his public relations team.

The owner of a $3.4 million Lamborghini yacht threatened a private dock employee after being told he couldn't be there, the San Diego-based broadcaster CBS8 reported on March 11.

Joseph Holt, a 21-year-old employee at Marriot Marina in San Diego, told CBS8 that he spotted the yacht sailing into the private dock. The owner, whom CBS8 identified as Ajay Thakore, tried to pick another person up at the dock, Holt said.

"I told him respectfully that he couldn't be there, and I honestly was hoping to have a conversation with him about his cool boat," Holt told CBS8.

In a YouTube video posted by @SM-wc9eq on March 10, a dark blue Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 is seen sailing out of a dock. A man in a gray T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a cap was shown standing on the yacht. The man appeared to be Thakore, per CBS8.

Thakore was shown shouting at Holt. "I will kill you, you know I will kill you!" he can be heard saying multiple times in the video

Thakore was later shown pounding his fist on his palm and pointing his thumb down before telling Holt: "To your face!" Holt was shown responding by pointing his middle finger at Thakore.

"I really was trying to restrain myself from getting fired from my job or stepping out of line. The only thing I did was give him the bird," Holt told CBS8.

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Holt said Thakore then took $100 bills from his wallet and threw them at him. He added that Thakore mooned him. This exchange was not shown in the video.

"He was saying I'm nobody, I'm nothing, I work a silly job. He said that he knows people, he has connections, he can change my life and ruin it," Holt said. Holt did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The San Diego Harbor Police arrived at the marina 10 minutes after Thakore's yacht exited the dock, per CBS8.

The Harbor Police told Business Insider that Holt decided to press charges against Thakore and that they are investigating the incident.

According to Thakore's LinkedIn page , he's the CEO of Doctor Multimedia. The company's website shows that it's a healthcare marketing firm based in San Diego. Thakore appears to go by the name Ace Rogers on Instagram and TikTok, where he's noted as being a professional gambler.

Thakore, through his public relations team, told CBS8 in a statement that his altercation with Holt was "regrettable."

"What started as a minor misunderstanding escalated into an argument, and I apologize for my actions and to those who witnessed the unfortunate exchange," the statement said. Thakore did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Thakore isn't the only CEO who's been called out for threatening another person. In November 2021, an Activision spokesperson told BI that its ex-CEO Bobby Kotick had previously apologized for telling his assistant he would have her killed. The spokesperson added that Kotick's threat was "obviously hyperbolic and inappropriate" and that "he deeply regrets the exaggeration and tone."

In June 2020, Lisa Alexander, the CEO of LaFace Skincare, a cosmetics company, apologized in a statement to the media after she had threatened to call the police on her neighbor for writing "Black Lives Matter" on his property. Alexander said in the apology that she was "disrespectful" and "should have minded my own business."

March 21, 2024: This story has been updated with Harbor Police's comments.

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