Bristol 26 vs Cape Dory 25

[lans0012]

Gang,

I'll be looking at a CD 25 and a Bristol 26 this week and I am curious what kind of opinions there are out there. Both builders seem to have good reputations and I have an idea of what things to look for at both boats. I'm curious on feedback on handling and sailing ability. This is going to be a weekender/daysailer in and around Tampa bay offshore occasionally but nothing serious. I've been looking for a CD25 or a Bristol 24 for a while because I like the way they look and they are 3-4' draft. The B26 I couldn't find much info on.

Any help is much appreciated

[Delirious]

Here is a resource page for each.

The Cape Dory 25 - information for cruising sailors

The Bristol 26 - information for cruising sailors

[Selkirk]

I wonder if you are actually trying to compare the Cape Dory 25D, which is an entirely different animal from the Cape Dory 25, with the Bristol 26.

The 25D's lines are shown in my avatar - don't know beans about the Bristol.

When you have compared, how about writing your opinions and feelings in this thread? I'd like to hear about it.

[Delirious]

I may be wrong on this, but it seems that at one point when I was considering a Bristol 29 that I learned Bristols were built on hulls molded at Tillotson-Pearson. I'm pretty sure the Bristol 27 is simply a deluxe rendition of the Triton.

Don't know about the Bristol 26. I did find that the 27 was, in fact, a collaboration between Clint Pearson and Carl Alberg. Practical Sailor rated it small but very well constructed. "Built like a brick lighthouse"

[Jeff_H]

Delirious, with all due respect you are mistaken on all points.

The original Pearson Yachts was started by two cousins, Clint and Everett. Everett started Tillotson-Pearson, which was a contact composites company that happened to produce boats. Clint started Bristol Yachts. Clint hired Carl Alberg to design the Bristol 27. The Bristol 27 has no significant relationship to the Triton other than the names of the players, and was in no way deluxe as compared to the Triton or especially robustly built. I know the Bristol 27's pretty well and saw how much to took to beef one up to go offshore.

And the Bristol 27 bears very little resemblance to the Bristol 26 which was a Halsey Herreschoff design and a great little boat. If I had to chose between a Bristol 26 and a CD 25 to be used on the west coast of Florida, assuming reasonably similar condition, it would be a no brainer to pick the Bristol which should be a far better sailer in the prevailing conditions.

Jeff

[sailingdog]

Just curious as to whether the OP could clarify whether he was looking at a Cape Dory 25 or a Cape Dory 25D... which are very different boats.

[sailingmum]

Jeff, I'm not sure which thread, but I thought you wrote that you thought less of the Bristol 29.9, rather than Bristol 30.. ??? could you expand on that or was I hallucinating..? thanks..

[lans0012]

Ok folks so far I have only seen the Bristol 26. I liked the boat and it was in ok condition with soft spots only in the aft deck above and around the motor well. The specs online show very different boats. For some reason I was thinking the CD 25 was like the Bristol 24 but they are very different, and the B26 is quite different that the B24 so I am really comparing apples to oranges here sorry to bring up this comparison but I'll update for posterity when I see the CD25(not CD25D for those who were asking.)

The Bristol had probably 5 10 headroom as I at 6' was slouching. The head is enclosed but I cannot realistically see myself in there with the door shut(not enough for the legs).

Seemed like a quality boat with a decent amount of room for an old 26 footer. The guy is willing to go to a very cheap undisclosed price do to his circumstances(age, health, etc.) Even though this boat is cheap and the rigging is new I'm still concerened enough about a couple of things(rudder shaft, head, etc ) not to bite on it right away. I'll wait till I see some other boats and then decide if what to do. I'll send an update after I see the CD25.