A new Bristol 39 owner with a couple of questions

[Larry and Lisa Crowder]

I've been hawking this website for some time but haven't posted anything until now.  I've found the search bar answered my questions to this point.  You all are a wealth of knowledge.  

We own a 1967 Bristol 39, which was purchased in 2022 and moved from the Great Lakes to Stockton Lake in central Missouri.  The boat has undergone considerable work.  New Harken furling, new 125% Genoa, new main sail, deck completely stripped, a few soft spots repaired (less than two square feet total), new Awlgrip deck paint, engine work (Gray Marine gas), electrical work, all thru-hulls replaced, hull faired (no blisters found) barrier coat and antifoul, brand new cushions and upholstery.....and a bunch more.

Watching this girl transform has been expensive, but it's also been rewarding.

A couple of questions.

Where is the hull number located?  

An easier-tacking question.  

Making a good long run on Stockton Lake is possible, but it's rare.  Tacking a bunch is the norm.  Sailing with my sons with the big Genoa is not an issue; sailing with my wife is, so I'm pursuing an easier tacking system that doesn't intimidate her so much.  I have no experience with self-tacking hardware, but I don't think the Hoyt boom is the direction I want to go, and due to the mast pulpit, a self-tacking car is probably a no-go.     

I've enclosed a picture of the 1965 sail plan blueprint we received with the boat; I hope you can zoom in on it, and I'm sorry for the glare in the pic.  It shows a working jib with the head about 3/4 up the forestay and the clew about even with the gooseneck on the boom and a few inches aft of the centerline of the mast.

My Missouri hillbilly sailing brain thinks a removable inner forestay tucked under the Harken furler far enough away so it won't interfere would help.  Using a sail of comparable size, as shown in the sail plan, would be a lot closer to the designer's recommendations than a partially unfurled Genoa.  The chaos of that big Genoa coming across the bow would be reduced; the jib sheets would at least be a shorter pull, and I could expand a hank-on sail inventory if desired.

What am I missing?

I've also included a pic from the bow looking aft.

Thanks,

Larry

[Dan Hinckley]

We installed a Hoyt rig on our 1980 B40, and it was a real treat. The major work needed was a significant reinforcement under the foredeck with fiberglass bracing to the hull on both sides. Yes, it looks odd on a classic rig like the B40, but for the reasons you suggest, it was a fine choice.

<20250305 Sail plan pic Bristol.jpg>

<Deck of Bristol Sep 2023.jpg>

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<Deck of Bristol Sep 2023.jpg><20250305 Sail plan pic Bristol.jpg>

[Larry and Lisa Crowder]

Dan,

Thanks for the reply.  Do you think the Hoyt Boom will clear rails around the mast?  A cursory search looks like I'll need to alter the rails I have in front of the mast....seems like there is always a compromise!  Maybe the shims will allow the boom to clear?

Larry

[Scott Rosenthal]

Larry, just my $0.02. I have no experience with the Hoyt boom. We sail our B40 with a 120 Genoa. I have a removable inner forestay, which, when it’s deployed, is a royal pain to tack the Gennie. We either have to walk the Gennie over or roll it up, tack, and unroll it.

 

On our boat, it’s primarily my wife and myself. To tack, we backwind the Gennie until the boat’s bow crosses over and then release the jib sheet. If we quickly pull in the opposite jib sheet quickly, there’s almost no chaos. I did install oversized sheet winches, which definitely helps once the sail’s under control.

 

Just to be a little contrary, is the mast pulpit necessary, especially if it’s in the way of a Hoyt boom?

 

As to your question about the hull number, my understanding is that the hull number (HIN) only started being required sometime in the latter 1970s. Our previous boat was a 1974 and didn’t have an HIN. Our 1980 has it at the top starboard side of the transom. If by chance a previous owner put one on, it would be on the transom at either the port or starboard upper corner.

 

Congrats on your new-to-you boat—enjoy!

 

Scott

1980 B40 Willow, #110

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bristol39-40/76833925-2ea0-4ae7-b424-4844765eba7an%40googlegroups.com.

[Larry and Lisa Crowder]

Scott,

I appreciate the reply.

When I researched this, I concluded that repetition was the best way to reduce stress, but I wanted to hear from the experienced folk.  We need to sail more until it becomes muscle memory.  I do like the Hoyt boom's simplicity.  "I don't know what I don't know" - is what I am currently suffering from.

That is an excellent observation about the mast pulpit.  It was with the boat when we purchased it, and I had about one hour of sailing experience 30 years prior, so it seemed right to leave it.  During the deck job, we never discussed removing it, and we've just lived with it.  It makes for a decent handhold.  Now that you have me thinking, it's in the way when doing anything involving the mast; you have to walk clear around to the bow to get to the other side of the mast.  Stowing the main sail is a real pain.  We'll remove it and sail without it for a bit; as I sit here and stew on it, I don't think we'll miss it.

That's why these chat rooms are essential; what's obvious to some is overlooked by others.

On a side note, I discovered your Willow website from this group.  It's more than impressive.  I'm a retired Army guy; I've only seen systems management information like that in our maintenance shops.  Well done, and most importantly, thanks for sharing it!!

Larry 

[Bill Coleman]

Hi, Larry.....

Our Bristol 40 Sunrise Hull #23 identification is on the Starboard side farthest aft at the top next to the transom.  Not sure you can read the attached stencil; it confirms Bristol 40,#23, built April 1973.  Fair winds and following seas.

Bill Coleman

Coleman Management Concepts, LLC

3454 Fitch Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32205

bcol...@whcoleman.com

904-502-1501

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From: bristo...@googlegroups.com <bristo...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Scott Rosenthal <sc...@sltf.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 8:32 AM
To: bristo...@googlegroups.com <bristo...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [Bristol39-40] A new Bristol 39 owner with a couple of questions

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bristol39-40/007c01db8e9c%2445796e70%24d06c4b50%24%40sltf.com.

[Larry and Lisa Crowder]

Bill,

I appreciate the response and decipher of the hull number.

That is a big help.

Larry

[Dan Hinckley]

Lisa, Larry,

With apologies for the delay, attached are a series of photos illustrating the Hoyt rig we installed, which I hope might be useful. I would second Scott's question about the mast pulpits; I am not at all sure that changing the mounting angle of the boom to clear the pulpit would be a good plan.

A couple of cautions:

The Hoyt exerts a lot of leverage at its deck mount, and a very stout fiberglass bridging reinforcement tying the deck area to the hull is required; the deck flexes far too much otherwise. It's nasty close work with glass getting that bridge installedway up there in the forepeak but it is critical to the installation.

If you have a windlass, the Hoyt mount will need a shield against the chain; we had an SS half-round fabricated and mounted to the deck for that purpose.

Sheets: especially in lighter air, the boom has a slight built-in inertia when tacking, thus, we found we had to use the smallest diameter sheet (I think we ended up with ⅜ Sta-Set) that was practical; that way the weight of the sheet doesn't impede the boom movement. This also helped when wing-and-wing in light airs, for the same reason. The sheet was rigged to standing swivel blocks on each top edge of the cabin, instead of using a traveler, which can be seen if you look closely in one of the photos.

We never did get a storm jib for it, and that lack was very apparent in a windy sail from Maine to the Bras d'Or Lakes.

We were very pleased with the results of installing it.

Hope this all helps,

PS: I have attached sna^mall images so the mail will reach the list. If you like, I can send larger copies directly to you.

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Dan Hinckley

Small Point, Maine

d...@suiattle.org

239.233.1825 Mobile

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bristol39-40/1940530b-5e9d-4abf-8d30-7cb091ade7e9n%40googlegroups.com.

[Larry and Lisa Crowder]

Dan,

Thanks for the information and the pictures; I appreciate you taking the time to respond.  Seeing this on a Bristol helps to sort this out.

I can see how that deck mount is subject to substantial force.  

Another takeaway from your pics is your rail system around your dorades.  I've been thinking about how to utilize the current bases and change the height of the railing, but I haven't sorted out how tall it needs to be.  I like coming just to the top of the cowl vents like you have.  That will still offer some protection to the front hatch.  It looks like a mock-up is in my future.

Again, I appreciate the information; it looks like a really good system.

I need to win the lottery!

Larry