1977 Bristol 24' (Corsair)

[scurvy]

Hey there,

My wife and I sold our 1975 Sabre 28 MK1 about two seasons ago...new job, new house and a change of lifestyle (baby girl) made it impossible to get to the boat as often as we would have liked and so we parted with our old girl. We may be in the market for another in the near future and actually came across a 1977 Bristol 24' in very nice condition. I am more familiar with the 32' but know very little about the 24'.

Just wanted to ask anyone out there (Bristol Owners in particular) what they think of the 24', what their experiences have been with her, how she sails, handles relative seas, things to watch out for and where the 24 might shine! We loved the Sabre, but 28' may be a bit too much boat for us now and we are looking to downsize and simplify a bit so we can sail more and tinker less!

Thanks for any information you might offer us!
Fair Winds
Chris

[HyperJoe]

The 1969 Bristol 24 was my first monohaul. I bought it for 3k and rehabed it. The boat is one of the most solid and seaworthy small ships I have ever sailed. It is very heavy being a FULL KEEL SKEG, you are sail almost any seas. All I can say is be careful of the bulkhead and chain plates. You may need to reinforce the chainplate with wider and thicker plates as I did. I had 6 bolts into each bulkhead. There was also a considerable amount of delamination on deck near the hatch. Another issue I remember was the outboard motor mount in the well was VERY slippery. Make sure you use a piece of a car mat so that the outboard can attach solid to the mount. It would also vibrate and loosen. I nearly lost the outboard one time. Of course, if your boat is fited with an inboard, then disreguard what I said above. The rigging is VERY beefy. IT IS A VERY ROOMY BOAT. Enjoy this offshore capable ship.

[scurvy]

Originally Posted by HyperJoe

You may need to reinforce the chainplate with wider and thicker plates as I did. I had 6 bolts into each bulkhead. There was also a considerable amount of delamination on deck near the hatch.

Thanks Hyperjoe!

This particular boat has had a complete re-coring of the decks and awlgripped in 2002. She is immaculate with an 8 hp diesel. One question: Did you have the new chainplates machined, or were you able to order them somewhere? My buddy beefed up his chainplates (an '84 Sabre 28') in much the same manor as you described, but I can't remember how he did it?

Chris

[ComputerBob]

I will be selling my 1970 Bristol 24. Wheel steering, radar, VHF, good inventory of North Sails, Dodger, and much more. Make Offer. Lying in Maine waters. The boat is now in winter storage.

[brendangkelly]

I sail a '69 Bristol 24 in Cleveland, OH. I just acquired it in October '09. My chainplates have been beefed up by a previous owner. I wonder if she's your old boat?
-Brendan Kelly

Originally Posted by HyperJoe

The 1969 Bristol 24 was my first monohaul. I bought it for 3k and rehabed it. The boat is one of the most solid and seaworthy small ships I have ever sailed. It is very heavy being a FULL KEEL SKEG, you are sail almost any seas. All I can say is be careful of the bulkhead and chain plates. You may need to reinforce the chainplate with wider and thicker plates as I did. I had 6 bolts into each bulkhead. There was also a considerable amount of delamination on deck near the hatch. Another issue I remember was the outboard motor mount in the well was VERY slippery. Make sure you use a piece of a car mat so that the outboard can attach solid to the mount. It would also vibrate and loosen. I nearly lost the outboard one time. Of course, if your boat is fited with an inboard, then disreguard what I said above. The rigging is VERY beefy. IT IS A VERY ROOMY BOAT. Enjoy this offshore capable ship.

[tomwatt]

Another b24 owner (although mine is still in refit)... I've been warned elsewhere to watch the hull/deck joint for leaks. It's a tough little boat, for sure. The biggest little 24 around, a lot like the b27, except the tail is chopped and the prow is pushed up and back a bit.

[brendangkelly]

I am certainly looking forward to her. While she was afloat when we bought her in October, the winds here on the North Shore were either dead calm or full gale until the end of the season. We've only done the lightest of sailing. I don't know much about it other than it is very pretty, much roomier than my now submerged Macgregor 22, and the old salts at the marina told me to jump at the opportunity when I divulged the purchase price. I will certainly investigate the joints. Before putting her away we reset all of the windows; now I fear they may not have been the only cause of moisture.

Was the interior plastered with the cheapest craft-store felt via the best glue money can buy by the manufacture, or is this atrocity unique to my B24?

[tomwatt]

brendan, Bristol 24's could be very nicely finished inside, with beautiful mahogany paneling and trim. Or they could, in the case of my early-build Sailstar (pre-Bristol) model, very spartan inside, with a nice coat of paint.
One of the charms of my little ugly duckling is the very barren nature of the insides - little faded glory to mourn, almost nothing in the way of owner-applied embellishment to rip out, just a nice blank slate to play with.
If you search through the offerings on the Internet and look at interior photos, you'll see a variety of interiors depicted. When finished out with nice mahogany, these are charming little boats. Mine, in the "dinette" configuration, is a little like a clown taxi - could be a real crowd climbing out from below.
Sorry to hear yours has an atrocity. Possible heat gun use to release the glue?

[brendangkelly]

yes I tried a heat gun. I found a power tool that worked great (I don't know what it's called 'cause I borrowed it). Mohogany is a little cost prohibitive and too dark in such a small space. I'm putting up horizontal slats along the bulkheads. I still haven't decided what to do with the floor. This year I'll just throw carpet down. The other thing on my list for this year is a real toilet.