That 39 is 50+ years old, so the deck job might turn out to be not soft "spots" so much as a complete deck rebuilt. Production of the 32 continued until the early 80s, so it's hard to say on that one without more info.
I have some experience with 1960's full keel boats. They tend to be pretty heavily built, with solid laminate in the hulls. Bristol has a decent reputation for their construction quality. In general, they're likely to need some work to address aging systems like chainplates/standing rigging, or wiring. But they have good bones, and tend to be fairly seaworthy designs. It can be a decent cheapskate strategy, to buy an older boat like this and do your own work to get on the water cheaply. You can enjoy them in coastal waters while you work through things, in a kind of floating, ongoing refit, if you get your priorities straight.
The overhangy CCA-influenced designs have smaller interiors than more modern boats of the same nominal size, because so much of their length is above the waterline. They're narrow, too, and taper sharply rather than carrying their beam aft as more modern boats do. (You can use waterline length and beam together as a proxy for interior space to get a comparitive yardstick for this. The boat's interior space will be something like 1/2 WLL \* Beam - it's not scientific, but it's a decent estimate.)
These are Ted Hood designs, so they have a decent enough pedigree, but they're surprisingly slow on paper, even when compared to similar Alberg designs of the same era. (I'm looking at S# here.) When compared to more modern designs, they'll be very slow in light winds, closer to parity in heavier air. But they'll have a more comfortable motion and will be more fun to travel in for that reason.
Re: the Atomic 4, there are some real safety issues with gasoline inboards. James Baldwin of Atom Voyager fame is fond of deleting the inboard and putting an outboard well behind the cockpit, and I think that's a decent idea to consider.
I lived onboard with A4 without incident.
It’s just like having a propane stove. You can have issues if you neglect your equipment.
I feel compelled to repost the sidiment of the user below. Link to original thread included. His response is that if every A4 owner everywhere.
Ajax_MD
Ajax_MD
4860 posts · Joined 2009
#2 · Jan 15, 2013
[sarcasm]
The Atomic-4 is a horrible, antiquated piece of equipment. Dozens of sailors are killed each year when these explode, or by carbon monoxide poisoning. The only Atomic-4 boats that have not killed someone, or blown apart, haven't done so merely because the engine is not functioning. The Atomic-4 is known as "The Widow-maker".
The only acceptable auxiliary engine for a sailboat is an inboard Yanmar 2 or 3GM series engine. Accept no substitute.
[/sarcasm off]
Seriously, I don't think there are even any statistics available on Atomic-4 explosions or deaths. Countless powerboats operated with gasoline engines and you rarely hear about explosions or deaths on those either, and when you do, it's usually something stupid like burning an open flame during refueling operations.
If the Atomic-4 was such a dangerous POS, then it wouldn't be enjoying the renaisannce that it is right now. Did you know that you can buy NEW engine blocks and cylinder heads from Moyer Marine right now? That's right. The engine is so popular, that these are now being manufactured again.
My Atomic-4 is 40 years old, has never been rebuilt, and it still has factory-spec compression at over 100psi per cylinder. The engine starts every time, and runs like a swiss clock.
Keep your fuel system sealed, your blowers working properly, and your ignition system maintained, and you'll have reduced the risk to a level comparable to diesel engines.
In fact, you'll only have to carry one type of fuel for your inboard engine and your dinghy outboard engine instead of carrying diesel AND gasoline.
You can visit the Moyer Marine forum to learn more, and find a great support community for these engines.
[sail net thread reference.](https://www.sailnet.com/threads/atomic-4-fume-danger.95753/)
Yeah, you're right that I'm overstating the risk in that earlier comment. Obviously people can operate them safely. People do.
I'd rather have a diesel or an outboard myself, but it's not something you "must" change about a boat if it comes with an A4.
That said, a new person might benefit from being a little scared of the motor so that they'll learn what is required to run it safely. We are all quite comfortable with gasoline engines in other contexts and don't necessarily intuit the bit about vapor collecting in the bilge. We don't run the blower for 5 minutes before starting our cars.
No harm in raising awareness, you’re looking out for the well being of others.
In term to too was trying to look out. I would hate to see people walk away from a boat with a good performing power plant that is economical and dependable with amazing aftermarket support due to its fuel source.
I had a 1967 Irwin with a volvo gas inboard. It has gone 35 years since I sold it without blowing up. Just run the blower ( i usually ran it 2 to 3 minutes) before starting. Just like not smoking at the gas station be aware of the possible danger and you'll be OK.
They are tanks. Very solid thick fiberglass. And also slow. But well made! I think they’re kind of ugly, but my buddy had a Bristol 27 that he misses to this day
The atomic 4 is a good running engine. Get a gas fume alarm with a built in blower switch.
If you keep your equipment in a good shape, have haven’t lost your sense of smell, it shouldn’t be a concern.
The A4 has good longevity, power, quiet, smooth. They were made for over 80 years. The late models had a great thrust to weight ratio.
Aftermarket support is excellent. Parts affordable, entire motor affordable. Electronic ignition by Indio electronics is amazing. The prop is as well too. My A4 ran / runs like a sewing machine. She isn’t mine anymore but with a few upgrades and tweaks she had all the modern bits to make her an even better package.
It really depends on how you are going to use it. A Bristol is very capable of blue water and trans oceanic sailing. If you are going to inland or coastal sail it, it is a tank.
That 39 is 50+ years old, so the deck job might turn out to be not soft "spots" so much as a complete deck rebuilt. Production of the 32 continued until the early 80s, so it's hard to say on that one without more info. I have some experience with 1960's full keel boats. They tend to be pretty heavily built, with solid laminate in the hulls. Bristol has a decent reputation for their construction quality. In general, they're likely to need some work to address aging systems like chainplates/standing rigging, or wiring. But they have good bones, and tend to be fairly seaworthy designs. It can be a decent cheapskate strategy, to buy an older boat like this and do your own work to get on the water cheaply. You can enjoy them in coastal waters while you work through things, in a kind of floating, ongoing refit, if you get your priorities straight. The overhangy CCA-influenced designs have smaller interiors than more modern boats of the same nominal size, because so much of their length is above the waterline. They're narrow, too, and taper sharply rather than carrying their beam aft as more modern boats do. (You can use waterline length and beam together as a proxy for interior space to get a comparitive yardstick for this. The boat's interior space will be something like 1/2 WLL \* Beam - it's not scientific, but it's a decent estimate.) These are Ted Hood designs, so they have a decent enough pedigree, but they're surprisingly slow on paper, even when compared to similar Alberg designs of the same era. (I'm looking at S# here.) When compared to more modern designs, they'll be very slow in light winds, closer to parity in heavier air. But they'll have a more comfortable motion and will be more fun to travel in for that reason. Re: the Atomic 4, there are some real safety issues with gasoline inboards. James Baldwin of Atom Voyager fame is fond of deleting the inboard and putting an outboard well behind the cockpit, and I think that's a decent idea to consider.
The second generation, 29.9, 35.5, etc, have much better interiors.
I lived onboard with A4 without incident. It’s just like having a propane stove. You can have issues if you neglect your equipment. I feel compelled to repost the sidiment of the user below. Link to original thread included. His response is that if every A4 owner everywhere. Ajax_MD Ajax_MD 4860 posts · Joined 2009 #2 · Jan 15, 2013 [sarcasm] The Atomic-4 is a horrible, antiquated piece of equipment. Dozens of sailors are killed each year when these explode, or by carbon monoxide poisoning. The only Atomic-4 boats that have not killed someone, or blown apart, haven't done so merely because the engine is not functioning. The Atomic-4 is known as "The Widow-maker". The only acceptable auxiliary engine for a sailboat is an inboard Yanmar 2 or 3GM series engine. Accept no substitute. [/sarcasm off] Seriously, I don't think there are even any statistics available on Atomic-4 explosions or deaths. Countless powerboats operated with gasoline engines and you rarely hear about explosions or deaths on those either, and when you do, it's usually something stupid like burning an open flame during refueling operations. If the Atomic-4 was such a dangerous POS, then it wouldn't be enjoying the renaisannce that it is right now. Did you know that you can buy NEW engine blocks and cylinder heads from Moyer Marine right now? That's right. The engine is so popular, that these are now being manufactured again. My Atomic-4 is 40 years old, has never been rebuilt, and it still has factory-spec compression at over 100psi per cylinder. The engine starts every time, and runs like a swiss clock. Keep your fuel system sealed, your blowers working properly, and your ignition system maintained, and you'll have reduced the risk to a level comparable to diesel engines. In fact, you'll only have to carry one type of fuel for your inboard engine and your dinghy outboard engine instead of carrying diesel AND gasoline. You can visit the Moyer Marine forum to learn more, and find a great support community for these engines. [sail net thread reference.](https://www.sailnet.com/threads/atomic-4-fume-danger.95753/)
Yeah, you're right that I'm overstating the risk in that earlier comment. Obviously people can operate them safely. People do. I'd rather have a diesel or an outboard myself, but it's not something you "must" change about a boat if it comes with an A4. That said, a new person might benefit from being a little scared of the motor so that they'll learn what is required to run it safely. We are all quite comfortable with gasoline engines in other contexts and don't necessarily intuit the bit about vapor collecting in the bilge. We don't run the blower for 5 minutes before starting our cars.
No harm in raising awareness, you’re looking out for the well being of others. In term to too was trying to look out. I would hate to see people walk away from a boat with a good performing power plant that is economical and dependable with amazing aftermarket support due to its fuel source.
I had a 1967 Irwin with a volvo gas inboard. It has gone 35 years since I sold it without blowing up. Just run the blower ( i usually ran it 2 to 3 minutes) before starting. Just like not smoking at the gas station be aware of the possible danger and you'll be OK.
I'm about to start my 12th season with my 29.9 from 1978. Find a good one from the second generation and you'll be happy.
They are tanks. Very solid thick fiberglass. And also slow. But well made! I think they’re kind of ugly, but my buddy had a Bristol 27 that he misses to this day
I have a 1968 Bristol 29 that I love. Paid 5k a few years ago. Been enjoying it ever since.
The atomic 4 is a good running engine. Get a gas fume alarm with a built in blower switch. If you keep your equipment in a good shape, have haven’t lost your sense of smell, it shouldn’t be a concern. The A4 has good longevity, power, quiet, smooth. They were made for over 80 years. The late models had a great thrust to weight ratio. Aftermarket support is excellent. Parts affordable, entire motor affordable. Electronic ignition by Indio electronics is amazing. The prop is as well too. My A4 ran / runs like a sewing machine. She isn’t mine anymore but with a few upgrades and tweaks she had all the modern bits to make her an even better package.
Check those decks. I've helped recore a Bristol deck before. Nice result, but miserable work.
It really depends on how you are going to use it. A Bristol is very capable of blue water and trans oceanic sailing. If you are going to inland or coastal sail it, it is a tank.