Bristol 32
Built 1966–1983 by Bristol Yachts
About the Bristol 32
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1966–1983
- Builder
- Bristol Yachts
- Designer
- Ted Hood
- Length
- 32 ft
- Waterline
- 22 ft
- Beam
- 9.5 ft
- Draft
- 4.67 ft
- Displacement
- 10,800 lb
- Ballast
- 3,900 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 25 gal
- Water
- 100 gal
- Water heater
- not fitted
- Number built
- 322
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- varies by year
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 25 gal
Spec databases repeat 25 US gal (95 L) with the Atomic 4. An owner's ad for a 1975 boat says 17 gal, but that's one boat, possibly re-engined (another 1975 listing has a Bukh diesel), so it can't change the figure. No brochure was found.
-
Water 100 gal
Two 1975 listings stress 100 gal of water, one noting it isn't a typo, matching the spec figure; another spec database gives 90 gal. There's no builder source.
-
Water heater not fitted
“For a seeker of creature comforts, hot and cold pressure water for instance, the Bristol 32 might not be a good fit, unl” — review, goodoldboat.comGood Old Boat's review says the Bristol 32 did not come with hot and cold pressure water; any heater aboard would be an owner addition. No builder document found.
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
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering varies by year
“Bristol 32s were built with either wheel steering, in which case the mainsheet traveler is located immediately in front” — review, goodoldboat.com · “Early boats had tiller steering and primary winches bolted forward on the coaming. On wheel-steered versions, the winche” — spec database, listingsport.comBuilt with either tiller or pedestal wheel steering; one secondary source says early boats had tillers. No source found gives the changeover year, which was standard, or the wheel's mechanism and brand.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on hull/keel type — left blank rather than guessed.
Ted Hood design (sailboatdata also credits Dieter Empacher). Offered as sloop, yawl or ketch, with a tall-rig sloop option. Keel/centerboard version draws 3.5 ft board up, 7.5 ft down. Sailboatdata lists the hull type as modified full keel but its notes also mention a fin keel; Good Old Boat calls it a full-keel CCA-style cruiser. Deck bonded to a 6-7 in. inward hull flange. Can hobbyhorse in light wind or a sloppy sea.
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas, single
standard
Original-equipment gas engine.Sources: sailboatdata.com · listingsport.com
Generator
No source mentions a generator.
Known problems for this model
-
Tight engine and shaft-log access engine
Owners note that reaching the engine under the cockpit, and especially the shaft log, is cramped.goodoldboat.com
-
Balsa-cored deck deck
The hull is solid glass but the deck uses a balsa core, which needs checking for wet or soft areas around fittings.goodoldboat.com
-
Original Atomic 4 usually repowered engine
Most boats have had the original Atomic 4 gas engine swapped for a small diesel; confirm what is fitted and how the installation was done.goodoldboat.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)
-
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
-
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 (3)
Own a Bristol 32? Add her to your boats, then share a photo — names, numbers and faces are blurred before it appears.
Other Bristol models
- Bristol 27
- Bristol 29.9 1977–1986
- Bristol 35.5 1977–?
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.