Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbean

Manureva · Nov 1, 2012

Re: Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbe

nice looking boat!

Joe · Nov 2, 2012

Re: Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbe

Bristols are fine sailboats.... very sturdy rigging, comfortable. There was a Bristol 27 berthed next to me for many years. One of the boat's previous owners had sailed the South Pacific in her..... I think a centerboard combined with the full keel would be an ideal set up for the Bahamas and many other shallow water cruising grounds.

There's a lot of information on the internet about Bristols. They hold their value quite well and their owners tend to be conscientious and experienced sailors. It is definitely a cruising oriented vessel....... but not in the "condo" boat designs so prevalent these days. By cruising oriented, I mean lower aspect rigs, oversize standing rigging, keel hung rudders, strong chainplates, safe access to the foredeck, small protected cockpit with bridgedeck and large scuppers. Lots of storage. Comfortable for two on long passages........ etc.

Cayennita · Nov 2, 2012

Re: Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbe

The vessel will do just fine in the Caribbean. One thing to remember is that of adequate ventilation down here. I live in St. Croix and spent many years living aboard a boat. It was larger and had 6 hatches and 10 opening ports.

Sumner · Nov 2, 2012

Joe said:
...... keel hung rudders....

If you go across Florida Bay from the Keys and up the west coast you will love the keel hung rudder as you pass thousands of crap pots and their lines. Also true any place else where there are carp pots.

Does look like a nice boat, galley looks a little tight possibly. I noticed that it is suppose to have an alcohol stove, is it portable as I didn't see it? Also noticed the boat is in New Jersey. How did she make it through Sandy? After seeing pictures from there I sure feel for boat owners in that area,

Sum

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Merlin Clark · Nov 2, 2012

Re: Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbe

Tight galleys are a plus in a bumpy seaway. Less room to flail around and something to brace against is very helpfull.
That is a boat built to take you there and bring you back. I like it!

Sumner · Nov 2, 2012

c_witch said:
... I am beginning to work on a list of desired boats one of which will eventually be our floating home ....

I probably didn't use the right word with "tight". I was thinking counter space was small especially if a stove sat on the one counter. We had more than that much counter space and have added to it. Still have to move things around to get in the fridge and such. I really like that boat though and would of considered it for us if I would of been aware at the time.

I think there is a big difference in cruising 2-5 months a year and a full time "floating home". 2 years ago I thought I would of been happy with a boat smaller than the 37 foot Endeavour we bought. Now after spending 3 months on her I'm glad we went that large. It is an older boat, so there are newer ones with wider beams that have about the same interior space as we have in a 34 foot length. When we were looking a number of people on here said to look for a boat in the 35-40 foot range for extended cruising and I was skeptical, but now I'm a believer. If you are looking at an older narrower beam boat and want to live aboard full time I'd suggest moving up to something at least in that size. I don't think you would be sorry in the long run.

Good luck,

Sum

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sinnettc · Nov 2, 2012

Re: Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbe

Can't speak to the Bristol 32 but Dad's 71(ish) Bristol 24 was a good boat. Kind of heavy and I suspect my Capri 22 is faster though not nearly as roomy inside.

He upgraded to a Pearson 34-2 with the shoal draft & centerboard that they used to cruise from Maine to Florida and back several times. He said the shoal draft was great for the icw and I suppose it would be for the Bahamas too.

DianaOfBurlington · Nov 3, 2012

B32 at sea

I know a guy who sailed a B32 (a boat I have long admired) to the Azores and into the Med and back again, finally selling it in the BVI (at a loss, to rush back home). It's still down there. He had rigged the sloop version as a cutter and made good use of the inner headsail at sea.

He and I have conversed at length about this and I'll defer to his judgement on it, though it coincides with my own. Even a stock production boat can be adequately outfitted for serious offshore work. It all comes down to your sense of accepting responsibility (as in, not blaming the boat) and your state of preparedness. The decisions made by the skipper are ultimately the most important factor, be those decisions about boat prep, provisions, sailing directions, weather windows, crew selection, or anything else. You could, in theory, sail a raft across the Atlantic and have a jolly good time of it. In the end the trip is what you, as the trip-taker, make it; and there's no logical excuse for blaming anything else for your share of the decisionmaking.

Comments about a Bristol 32 shoal keel for coast/caribbean

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