Challenge:Who Has Carved Out / Reclaimed a Quarter Berth from Giant Lazarette Space ?

[YOG]

HI - guess my title says it all; a boat we otherwise like has no nav table or quarter berth, only a double ice box and lots of extra lazarette space in the cockpit. Lots of fiberglass work once the unwanted bits are cut out awaits us, I know...any thoughts from the diy cruiser community?

[GordMay]

What make/model boat?

[YOG]

Hey GordMay,

The boat's a Bristol 40, one of 2 we're considering. Naturally the more costly one has everything we want, (the q. berth & nav table), but we'd be interested to calculate if buying the cheaper boat & refitting those bits makes financial sense. (As if we had the time to do this....)

Thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks!

Yog

[bloodhunter]

YOG First question is whether you will be able to do the work yourself. Because what you're talking about is not a trivial job.
The Bristol 40 I sailed on had the galley stove and sink on the port side near the companionway and the refrigerator on the starboard along with a hanging locker if I remember correctly. If the boat you are talking about has a configuration like this, assume you will move the refer and put the chart table there and get rid of the hanging locker so you can put the quarter berth there.
If you're going to have it done professionally, I expect you will end up with at least a four-figure or five-figure bill, depending on how much work has to be done and how much they charge an hour.
Add to that any other upgrades you need for the boat and then compare that to the cost of the 'complete' boat.
IMHO unless there is a really significant cost difference that can't be bargained down, you're better off going with the 'complete' boat.

[YOG]

Yes, you've just confirmed what we suspected all along. Too $ to customize.
No, the price difference is not that significant.

Did you enjoy the Bristol 40? Would you recommend her for a trans-Atlantic crossing?

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by YOG

Hey GordMay,

The boat's a Bristol 40, one of 2 we're considering. Naturally the more costly one has everything we want, (the q. berth & nav table), but we'd be interested to calculate if buying the cheaper boat & refitting those bits makes financial sense. (As if we had the time to do this....)

Thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks!

Yog

Originally I thought "doable" until you posted this last comment....Now I'm not so sure.

Nothing will test your patients or your will to continue on and yes even in the purchase diction of the darn boat itself then having said boat torn apart and unusable right at the get go till its complicated ...don't ask me how I know.

[GordMay]

OK, now that I see that you want to fit accommodations into the cockpit locker space (not the lazarette), the proposed projects seems more practical.
Still, I’d probably not bother.

A Bristol 40 Salute [ Layout ]

[YOG]

Yes, locker space - my mistake!

I'd still like to know about your experiences with the Bristol 40! Only spoke to a few people who've sailed them.

[YOG]

oops I see I'm replying to several people in one post.

Thanks for all input, sorry to jumble you up.

[bloodhunter]

YOG
The Bristol was a pleasure to sail and the old Bristols were very well-built boats. Also IMHO she's one of the prettiest boats around.
She had more than adequate tankage for a longer passage but I'm not sure about space to store supplies.
However, she was built as a racer-cruiser at a time when the rules penalized waterline length. The Bristol was no exception so with a 40-ft length on deck her waterline length was less than 30 feet. To get around this, since shorter waterline length meant less boat speed, these boats were designed to sail at about a 20-25 degree angle of heel to increase waterline length. The Bristol 40, with her narrow beam will heels quite easily even in moderate air. All this means is that if you buy a Bristol 40 you better like sailing at an angle. (Also make sure you have good locker catches and that you don't leave anything out otherwise you'll be perpetually cleaning up. )
Good luck on your purchase and afir wind and following seas

[YOG]

That's a lot of good & useful information.
We'll need some luck - another boat-shopping road-trip ahead this weekend.
(That makes how many....oh, I lost count!)

Thanks bloodhunter & all for your responses.