Bristol 29.9
Built 1977–1986 by Bristol Yachts
About the Bristol 29.9
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1977–1986
- Builder
- Bristol Yachts
- Designer
- Halsey Herreshoff
- Length
- 29.92 ft
- Waterline
- 24 ft
- Beam
- 10.17 ft
- Draft
- 4.33 ft
- Displacement
- 8,650 lb
- Ballast
- 3,600 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 18 gal
- Water
- 63 gal
- Holding
- 25 gal
- Number built
- 216
- Stern thruster
- none
- Steering
- Edson
Standard low-aspect fin keel 4 ft 4 in; keel/centerboard version 3.5 ft board up, 7.5 ft down; tall rig optional. Ballast is lead inside the integral keel, glassed over, so there is no external keel joint. Solid hand-laid hull, balsa-cored deck; butyl-sealed hull-deck joint on an inward flange, closely through-bolted. No molded liner; bulkheads tabbed to hull. Engines by era (sailboatdata): Atomic 4 originally, later 15 hp Yanmar, 16 hp Universal diesel standard by 1983. Early boats had luan interior joinery, later teak. Two galley layouts.
Known problems for this model
-
Awkward engine access engine
The engine sits under the cockpit sole; reaching the alternator, oil dipstick and raw-water pump means removing companionway panels, emptying the sail locker or working through a galley door.goodoldboat.com
-
Small engine for the displacement engine
The 15-16 hp diesels move the boat near hull speed in flat water, but Good Old Boat suggests a bit more power for pushing into big seas and wind.goodoldboat.com
-
Poor ventilation, mold risk interior
Fixed saloon portlights, one overhead hatch and no deck vents leave the cabin stuffy; mold and mildew are likely without added fans or vents.goodoldboat.com
-
Balsa-cored deck deck
The hull is solid glass but the deck is balsa-cored, so sound the deck around fittings when surveying.goodoldboat.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 4”
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)
-
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
-
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
-
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
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
-
Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
-
Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
-
Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (2)
Other Bristol models
- Bristol 27
- 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.