Bristol 35.5

About the Bristol 35.5

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

1977–?

Builder

Bristol Yachts

Designer

Ted Hood

Length

35.5 ft

Waterline

27.5 ft

Beam

10.83 ft

Draft

5.75 ft

Displacement

15,000 lb

Ballast

6,500 lb

Hull

fiberglass

Hull / keel

fin keel

Rig

sloop

Propulsion

inboard

Fuel

31 gal

Water

100 gal

Number built

183

Stern thruster

none

Sources disagree on last year — left blank rather than guessed.

Keel/centerboard version (35.5C) draws 3.75 ft board up, 9.5 ft down, with 7,000 lb ballast; sailboatdata lists the fixed-keel boat as a fin with skegged rudder while Practical Sailor calls it a full-keel version. Practical Sailor says it debuted in 1977; sailboatdata gives 1978-1996. Solid fiberglass hull built in two halves joined on the centerline; deck balsa-cored and bolted onto an inward hull flange with the teak toerail through-bolted. Interior wood could be mahogany, cherry or teak. Good Old Boat saildata estimates 180-200 built; sailboatdata gives 183.

Known problems for this model

• Enclosed centerboard pendant is hard to service hull
  On the 35.5C the centerboard wire runs from a coachroof winch through an enclosed pipe and several turns under the sole; few owners report trouble, but a failure would be hard to fix, and the earliest boats preceded Bristol's centerboard modifications.
  practical-sailor.com
• Mediocre engine access engine
  The engine is in a narrow compartment reached only by removing drawers and the step panel or through a quarter-berth panel.
  practical-sailor.com
• Tender centerboard version other
  Like most centerboarders, the 35.5C heels early, though it is lively and has good ultimate stability from its ballast.
  practical-sailor.com

Other Bristol models

• Bristol 27
• Bristol 29.9 1977–1986
• Bristol 32 1966–1983