Would I be happy on a Bristol 27 dinette model?

[northoceanbeach]

Last summer I spent five months cruising the PNW on a ranger 23. Go now. That sort of thing. I loved it but it was too small for the weather. Things like rainy days, cold nights, and no heater meant I was cramped with wet clothes that wouldn't dry and cold.

This summer and late into fall I plan to go longer and farther(further?)

I've always been attracted to the sturdiest boat available. Because I want to move up to real offshore sailing. But mostly the cruising I did was pretty tame sailing. So I told myself to get the right boat for the job this year. Boats I would never have thought of. Hunter 31, Catalina 30.

Because I have to admit. I need a heater to warm nights and dry clothes. I need t be able to cook in a galley and not a camping stove in the cockpit wearin two down jackets and my foulies. Have standing headroom. A bathroom and be able to lounge around. I actually got a sore back from the cramped quarters and I'm not even old!

Yet. Here I find a really nice bristol 27 and I want it. Is it a big enough difference from my ranger 23? Rangers are tiny tiny. Probably like 4 feet tall inside and a sink. What is a bristol 27 like?

[crunkbait]

there's beamier 27's. I love a fold up table for making room in a boat. the fit and finish of Ericsons are choice. Buy my E27, Lopez Island. I moving up myself.

[GordMay]

➥ BRISTOL 27 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

➥ Small Cruising Sailboats: Reviewing the Classic Bristol 27

[northoceanbeach]

What's the condition of your Ericson like?

[MarkSF]

If you really want living room, the Catalina 30 is big inside.

[JPA Cate]

On another hand, if you'd consider a 30 footer, the S & S Yankee 30 is a very good sailing boat. Jim and I took one to Hawaii and back in 1983. It sails well in most any conditions. For us, we felt she was too tender for a long term cruising boat, but you might not find it so, coming from a Ranger 23. Ours served us very well for coastal cruising on vacations, and for round the buoys racing on weekends. We have trophies (in the form of a trawler lamp and some winch handles) aboard this boat that Jim earned singlehanded racing in the S & S 30.....

Ann

[northoceanbeach]

My friend in seattle strongly recommends a Yankee.

[thomm225]

That's a hard question to answer as to whether someone would be happy on a Bristol 27. It's a nice old boat but still only 8' of beam.

(but) The previous owner of my Bristol 27 went on a 2 year cruise to Florida from Massachusetts but used propane hot plates to cook on.

I bought a little 'My Buddy" propane heater for mine a month or so back that works pretty well onboard.

The Bristol 27 can handle quite a bit more weather and whatnot than that 23' Ranger.

It's blowing about 20 knots here, and I'm in protected waters but you can see the Bristol is doing a fine job sailing us in while I try to figure out how to use this camera.

003 - YouTube

and on a better day:

003 - YouTube

more info:

The Bristol 27 Sailboat : Bluewaterboats.org

Bristol27.com » Bristol Specific

[Kevin84]

Another boat you might consider is an Alberg 35. Well, at least if you like the classic boats. 34'09" LOA, 9'8" beam, draws 5'4", displaces about 13,000#. Not a bad little boat. Ok storage space for one, two in a pinch. Good sized v-berth and they can usually be had for a song and a dance. They're not for everybody, but it will get you there and back.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[pickpaul]

Or an Alberg 30 :-)

[Ricky j reading]

How about a Bristol 29 with a centerboard ? Great for two
/ can be singlehanded we sail Lake Erie we sailed from Erie pa to Barcelona ny in 8 to 10 foot chop waves that came at us from the east and they were in waves 3 at a time.stick with a good old boat between 27 and 32 something you can handle by your self when you get caught out in the nasty.are boat has stove /ice box/ sink head room about 6ft never feel cramped in with two have gone on two week cruises.have fun looking for the right boat

[kellyp08]

In my opinion, the Carl Alberg designed Bristol 27 is a great little boat. The dinette model makes for comfortable living while cruising. If memory serves, there are two berths in the focs'l and two quarter berths. Some models had a stern well for an outboard, others had an inboard gas or diesel. The boat sails well - except for a weather helm (remedied by putting a reef in the main). The weather helm does put stress on the rudder and can eventually can wear and break the rudder stock/rudder post drift pins (happened to me once).

[northoceanbeach]

Funnily enough when I got to see the boat it turned out to be a Bristol 26. The title just says Bristol. I'm not sure why it was listed as a 27. I did buy it and the last owner just redid the rudder and tiller. It's a good boat. Well loved.

Does anyone know what kind of limitations a boat like this has? Very little info online. I'm trying to decide where to go once I get it in the water come May. I have some vague idea of what I can do. What about the boat?

It is the outboard in lazarette kind.

[zeehag]

only limitation most boats have is the sailor sailing it.
as for being happy...that is for you to decide.
what makes you happy cannot be determined by others....

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by northoceanbeach

Funnily enough when I got to see the boat it turned out to be a Bristol 26. The title just says Bristol. I'm not sure why it was listed as a 27. I did buy it...

Congrats on your new boat!

I'm sure you'll have some great adventures!