Bristol 27
About the Bristol 27
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Builder
- Bristol Yachts
- Designer
- Carl Alberg
- Length
- 27.16 ft
- Waterline
- 19.75 ft
- Beam
- 8 ft
- Draft
- 4 ft
- Displacement
- 6,600 lb
- Ballast
- 2,575 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Water
- 20 gal
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 20 gal
“20 gallon monel gas tank available with inboard engine models” — owners' association (1966-1978), bristol27.com · “a 22-gallon fuel tank mounted under the cockpit sole” — search excerpt, sailingmagazine.netThe Bristol 27 owners' site reproduces the original sales brochure: a 20 gal Monel (nickel-copper) gasoline tank came with the optional Atomic 4 inboard, and the standard boat had an outboard well. Our earlier 22 came from a spec database and one owner's Sailing Magazine piece; the brochure figure is used.
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Water 20 gal
“Standard cruising model - 20 gallon, polyvinyl water tank.” — owners' association (1966-1978), bristol27.comBrochure figure is for the Standard (cruising) model; the Weekender model may differ.
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Holding unknown
The brochure lists no holding tank.
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Water heater unknown
The transcribed Bristol 27 original equipment list on the owners' site covers hull, cabin, galley (sink, icebox, two-burner alcohol stove), a 20 gal water tank and an optional Atomic 4 inboard, with no water heater or 110 V system, though it doesn't say none was available.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
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Bow thruster unknown
No source mentioning a thruster was found.
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Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
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Steering tiller
“The 27 has a 6-foot, 2-inch cockpit that seems more spacious because of tiller steering.” — search excerpt, sailingmagazine.netSailing Magazine describes tiller steering, and the owners' site treats the tiller as the Bristol 27's steering. Edson publishes a chain-and-wire pedestal data sheet (to a quadrant) for the Bristol 27, so some boats have wheel conversions, but that isn't evidence of a factory option.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Alberg cutaway full keel with attached rudder; prop in a protected aperture on inboard boats. Production dates and numbers vary: sailboatdata says 1966-1978 and 337 built (brochure dimensions); Practical Sailor says first boat 1965, perhaps 400 or more built into the mid-1970s; Sailing Magazine estimates 300-350. Three versions: early outboard-well boats, then inboards (Atomic 4 or occasional Westerbeke 10 hp diesel); taller rig and a Weekender (short cabin, long cockpit) also offered. Solid hand-laid hull, deck and cabin one molding, lead ballast encapsulated. Two interior layouts (dinette version most popular). Most boats have likely been repowered.
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single
standard
Sailboatdata lists a 30 hp Atomic 4 (1966-78, from the builder's brochure); Practical Sailor says most boats are inboard-powered with an Atomic 4.Sources: sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com
- Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas standard
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Westerbeke Pilot 10 diesel — 10 hp, diesel, single
factory option
Optional diesel per Practical Sailor (the 10 hp is implied by the model name, not stated separately).Sources: practical-sailor.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No generator in the original equipment list; most boats were outboard-powered with an optional Atomic 4.
Manuals and brochures online
- Brochure Bristol 27 sales brochure and original equipment list (transcribed), with line drawings - B27 Technical Information — bristol27.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
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Leaking hull-deck joint deck
Many owners report leaks at the through-bolted, caulked hull-deck joint; a lasting fix means pulling and rebedding the bolts, which can be hard to reach.practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net
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Outboard-well boats underpowered and corrosion-prone engine
Early boats carried an outboard in a cockpit well: the lower unit sits in the water and corrodes, the well can flood, and the motor struggles to windward. Practical Sailor strongly prefers inboard boats.practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net
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Gelcoat crazing deck
Gelcoat cracking and crazing is common on these old decks but usually cosmetic and can be filled before repainting.sailingmagazine.net
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Light stanchions and pulpits, old roller-reefing boom rigging
Consider beefing up stanchions and pulpits if not already done; the original worm-gear roller-reefing gooseneck never worked well.sailingmagazine.net
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Tender initially other
Several owners find the boat tender and reef early, around 12 knots; one added 500 lb of ballast.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
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Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
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Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
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Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net · bristol27.com
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Other Bristol models
- Bristol 29.9 1977–1986
- Bristol 32 1966–1983
- Bristol 35.5 1977–?
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.