Bristol 39

{{Short description|Sailboat class}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use American English|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox sailboat specifications |name = Bristol 39 |class_image = File:Bristol 39 sail badge.png |line drawing = |line size = |line alt = |line caption = |image boat = |image size = |image alt = |image caption =

|boats = |crew = |trapeze = |draft = {{convert|5.40|ft|m|abbr=on}} |air draft = |displacement = {{convert|17580|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls = |hull type = Monohull |construction = Fiberglass |loa = {{convert|39.00|ft|m|abbr=on}} |loh = |lwl = {{convert|27.54|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|10.75|ft|m|abbr=on}} |hull draft = |hull weight = |engine = Perkins Engines 4-107 {{convert|37|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} diesel engine

|appendages = |keel type = modified long keel |ballast = {{convert|6500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} |rudder type = keel-mounted rudder

|rigs = |rig type = Bermuda rig |I = {{convert|45.50|ft|m|abbr=on}} |J = {{convert|14.60|ft|m|abbr=on}} |P = {{convert|39.50|ft|m|abbr=on}} |E = {{convert|16.00|ft|m|abbr=on}} |mast length = |rig other =

|sails = |sailplan = Masthead sloop |sailarea main = {{convert|316.00|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} |sailarea headsail = {{convert|332.15|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} |lp = |sailarea spin = |sailarea gen = |sails other = |sailarea upwind = |sailarea downwind = |sailarea total = {{convert|648.15|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|rating = |d-pn = |rya-pn = |phrf =

|status = |previous = |successor = Bristol 40 }}

The '''Bristol 39''' is an American sailboat that was designed by Ted Hood as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1966.<ref name="Data">{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-39|title = Bristol 39 sailboat |access-date = 11 April 2020|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2020|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200411140902/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-39|archivedate =11 April 2020|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =https://sailboatdata.com/designer/hood-ted|title = Ted Hood|access-date = 11 April 2020|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2020|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20200411135142/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/hood-ted |archivedate = 11 April 2020|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Production== The Bristol 39 was produced 1966-1970 and was replaced in production by the Bristol 40, which was built from 1970–1986. Both are related designs, from the same hull molds. They have same the same principle dimensions, but have different lengths overall, {{convert|39.00|ft|m|abbr=on}} versus {{convert|40.16|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="Data40">{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-40|title = Bristol 40 sailboat |access-date = 11 April 2020|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2020|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20181018174640/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-40|archivedate =18 October 2018|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Pingel">{{cite web|url = http://sailingmagazine.net/article-1091-45-year-old-charmers.html|title = 45-year-old charmers|access-date = 11 April 2020|last = Pingel|first =Bob |work = Sailing Magazine|date = 1 September 2011|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190823021434/http://sailingmagazine.net/article-1091-45-year-old-charmers.html|archivedate = 23 August 2019|url-status= live}}</ref>

The Bristol 39 was built by Bristol Yachts in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States. The company produced 58 examples of the type, before production shifted to the Bristol 40.<ref name="Data"/><ref>{{cite web|url =https://sailboatdata.com/builder/bristol-yachts|title = Bristol Yachts|access-date = 11 April 2020|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2020|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20181125231736/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/bristol-yachts|archivedate =25 November 2018|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Design== The Bristol 39 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig. It features a spooned raked stem, a raised counter reverse transom, a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed modified long keel, with a cutaway forefoot. A stub keel and centerboard was optional. It displaces {{convert|17580|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|6500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast.<ref name="Data"/>

The boat has a draft of {{convert|5.40|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the standard long keel, while the centreboard-equipped version has a draft of {{convert|7.8|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the centreboard extended and {{convert|4.0|ft|m|abbr=on}} with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water.<ref name="Data"/>

The boat is fitted with a Perkins Engines 4-107 diesel engine for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds {{convert|25|u.s.gal}} and the fresh water tank has a capacity of {{convert|130|u.s.gal}}.<ref name="Data"/>

==Operational history== Bob Pingel, writing in ''Sailing Magazine'' in 2011 noted, "I recently conducted one of my cruising boat buyer's workshops and one of the attendees, Mark Mesone, was determined to buy a used Bristol 39 or 40 ... Mesone had concluded that the Bristol was the boat for him because it was beautiful, well built, large enough to live aboard with style, and when compared to more modern boats, quite affordable. He also loved the idea of owning a "classic." I couldn't find fault with any of his arguments."<ref name="Pingel"/>

==See also== *List of sailing boat types

'''Related development''' *Bristol 40

'''Similar sailboats''' *Baltic 40 *Endeavour 40 *Islander 40 *Nordic 40

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Bristol Yachts}}

Category:Keelboats Category:1960s sailboat type designs Category:Sailing yachts Category:Sailboat types built by Bristol Yachts Category:Sailboat type designs by Ted Hood