Bristol 32
 

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:27:06 GMT, Don White
wrote:

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34


Rock solid old boat. Ted Hood design if I'm not mistaken. Great full
keel cruiser but very small interior. Narrow beam, lot's of overhang,
a mans boat. Built before women were brought along and started
insisting on silly things like comfort or storage. Certainly the
smallest of the three boats you've mentioned, and the best built. The
Bristol will definitely have the classic appeal over the other two. I
didn't see your post about the Hughes 36 but if that was the old
Columbia 10.7 that's a damned nice boat also, and a lot roomier. The
Cal 34 would make the best "round the buoy" boat, but it's not in the
class of the other two as far as construction goes.

bb

I have one that I have been cruising Mexico with for a year. I have no
problems with it. I would get something a little bigger if I could go
back in time. Maybe 36' to 38' but then everybody always says that. On
the plus side, it's easy to handle for us 2 women. We can anchor in 7'
of water and not be scared all night. It's lot cheaper to take care of
32' of boat.

Jeannette
Bristol 32, San Carlos, Mexico
http://www.eblw.com/contepartiro/contepartiro.html

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:27:06 GMT, Don White
wrote:

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34

Another point. That boat is a little overpriced I think. I got mine (a
1978 model) for 27k 3 years ago. Of course that would depends on
equipment. Well I see that these might be $CAN. Mine were $US. At the
time they were worth more.

Also, there is a Bristol 32 web site: http://www.bristolowners.org/

and a couple of Bristol mail list:

BristolYachts on yahoogroups.com

http://list.sailjazz.com/read/?forum=bristol

Jeannette
Bristol 32, San Carlos, Mexico
http://www.eblw.com/contepartiro/contepartiro.html

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:27:06 GMT, Don White
wrote:

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34

"Don White" wrote in message
...
Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34

Nice looking sailboat Don.

*JimH* wrote:
"Don White" wrote in message
...

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34


Nice looking sailboat Don.


Sure is. The 'skipper' would welcome me as a half interest owner in a
flash, but I'm not fussy about sharing.
If he doesn't buy....wonder if I can beat the owner down to $ 25k.....
I could sell my boat for $5K & borrow the remainder from mom! ;-)

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:27:06 GMT, Don White
wrote:

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34

That's a fine boat for 40 years ago...by which I mean to indicate that
the number of owners, their pride in appearance and maintenance, and
their general skill in keeping the boat in seaworthy and in current
(wiring, seacocks, head, plumbing, rigging) fashion will make all the
difference. These were also Atomic 4 powered...if it's had 40 years of
salt water through it, you'll likely need a new engine, unless it has
closed anti-freeze cooling. Note also that this has to be one of the
first Bristol 32s if it's really 1966...that could mean high quality
before "economies of scale" kicked in, or it could be "factory was
still getting the bugs out. Caveat emptor. The ad is completely
unforthcoming, which is not reassuring.

I see '70s C&Cs in both factory condition and very beat up...but they
almost all have rotting decks due to the hereditary flaw in C&C
manufacturing and design. This Bristol probably has something more or
less wrong with it, but it may not be "fatal" wrong to everyone.

Rotting stringers, for instance, spell "huge discount" to me, because
I know how to fix it and that it's going to be a messy, dirty job. But
"rotten deck core" or "rusting frames on a steel boat" or "obviously
been half-sunk" spell "leave it for the next chump" to me, because
fixing those kinds of problems are just too masochistic for my taste.

The Bristol 32 itself is old-school, full of trim needing varnish and
would make a good liveaboard for a divorced 55 year old living with a
cat, a crate of whisky and no clue as to what's happened, but maybe
it's something chin stubble and a fisherman's cap can solve. But
unless you are crossing an ocean, I'll wager the narrow beam, the
short waterline and pinched IOR stern wouldn't make a particularly
fast boat. But I bet it points high and reaches well, and provides a
smooth ride.

R.

its a slug

Get a good survey. They are very pretty hulls if you like long overhangs
and very short waterlines. I've been aboard several 32's that have had
spongy decks, bulkhead and water tank tabbing (under the vee berth) pulled
loose from the hull. Bristol Yachts does not have a good reputation for
quality since it went into bankruptcy on numerous occassions. It is not
unusual to see early bristols with several different brands of winches and
deck gear on the same boat. The reason is that the vendors will not ship to
bristol without prepayment. This was true even in the eighties when they
were building xx.x series designed by Deiter Empachter.

The 32 is tender so reef very early, check out the PHRF ratings and look at
the lwl ratios. If you want a Hood design that sails well, look for a "Hood
design" that was actually designed by Deiter Empachter(e.g. 41.1). You can
usually spot a Bristol 32 in a harbor because if there are 5 or 6 people in
the cockpit, the stern is way down, the bow is way up, and everyone had wet
feet since the cockpit scuppers are submerged.

They are a pretty "classic" vessel, but you can but a better boat for the
money. Just my opinion.



"bb" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:27:06 GMT, Don White
wrote:

Now our skipper is getting me interested.
Here's the latest sailboat he's interested in... a 1966 Bristol 32.
I'd appreciate any comments from those familiar with this model.
http://tinyurl.com/7rlj4

thanks again for all who have offered comments on the Hughes 36 and the
Cal 34


Rock solid old boat. Ted Hood design if I'm not mistaken. Great full
keel cruiser but very small interior. Narrow beam, lot's of overhang,
a mans boat. Built before women were brought along and started
insisting on silly things like comfort or storage. Certainly the
smallest of the three boats you've mentioned, and the best built. The
Bristol will definitely have the classic appeal over the other two. I
didn't see your post about the Hughes 36 but if that was the old
Columbia 10.7 that's a damned nice boat also, and a lot roomier. The
Cal 34 would make the best "round the buoy" boat, but it's not in the
class of the other two as far as construction goes.

bb