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
- Number built
- 322
- Stern thruster
- none
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.
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 “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.
Model sources (2)
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.