Bristol Channel Cutter

{{Short description|Sailboat class}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Use American English|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox sailboat specifications |name = Bristol Channel Cutter |insignia = |insignia size = |insignia alt = |insignia caption = |line drawing = |line size = |line alt = |line caption = |image boat = |image size = |image alt = |image caption =

|boats = |crew = |trapeze = |draft = {{convert|4.83|ft|m|abbr=on}} |air draft = |displacement = {{convert|14000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls = |hull type = monohull |construction = fiberglass |loa = {{convert|28.08|ft|m|abbr=on}} |loh = |lwl = {{convert|26.25|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|10.08|ft|m|abbr=on}} |hull draft = |hull weight = |engine = Volvo MD 7A {{convert|13|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} diesel engine

|appendages = |keel type = long keel |ballast = {{convert|4600|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} |rudder type = transom and keel-mounted rudder

|rigs = |rig type = Cutter rig |I = |J = |P = |E = |mast length = |rig other =

|sails = |sailplan = Cutter rigged sloop |sailarea main = |sailarea headsail = |sailarea spin = |sailarea gen = |sails other = |sailarea upwind = |sailarea downwind = |sailarea total = {{convert|673.00|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

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

|status = |previous = |successor = }}

The '''Bristol Channel Cutter''', also called the '''Bristol Channel Cutter 28''', is an American sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as a "character boat" cruiser and first built in 1976.<ref name="Data">{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-channel-cutter|title= Bristol Channel Cutter|access-date = 24 November 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20211122232937/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-channel-cutter|archive-date= 22 November 2021|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/designer/hess-lyle-c|title= Lyle C. Hess 1912 - 2002|access-date = 24 November 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210107195500/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/hess-lyle-c|archive-date= 7 January 2021|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Guide">{{cite web|url= https://sailboat.guide/bristol-channel-cutter|title= Bristol Channel Cutter|access-date= 24 November 2021|author= Sea Time Tech, LLC|work= sailboat.guide|year= 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20211124161207/https://sailboat.guide/bristol-channel-cutter|archive-date= 24 November 2021|url-status= live}}</ref>

The boat is based upon Hess's earlier ''Renegade'' design.<ref name="GoogleBooks">{{cite web|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=31sRT6tbwssC&q=Balboa+20&pg=RA1-PA50|title= Lyle Hess: A Profile|access-date= 8 January 2021 |last= Malseed|first= Chuck |work= Cruising World|date= January 1977}}</ref>

==Production== The design was built by Sam L. Morse Co. of Costa Mesa, California, United States, who completed 128 boats between 1976 and 2007. In 2011 one boat was built by Cape George Marine Works in Port Townsend, Washington. Between 30 and 45 boats were also built in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, by two companies. The hulls were built by Steveston Fiberglass and the finish work performed by G & B Woodworks.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="Guide"/><ref>{{cite web|last=McArthur|first=Bruce|year=2021|title=Sam L. Morse Co. (USA) 1976 - 2007|url=https://sailboatdata.com/builder/sam-l-morse-co-usa|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211122232945/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/sam-l-morse-co-usa|archive-date=22 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|work=sailboatdata.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McArthur|first=Bruce|year=2021|title=Cape George Marine Works|url=https://sailboatdata.com/builder/cape-george-marine-works|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211124154714/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/cape-george-marine-works|archive-date=24 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|work=sailboatdata.com}}</ref><ref name="BWB">{{cite web|title=Bristol Channel Cutter 28|url=https://bluewaterboats.org/bristol-channel-cutter-28|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211124164520/https://bluewaterboats.org/bristol-channel-cutter-28|archive-date=24 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|work=bluewaterboats.org}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mate|first=Ferenc|title=Best Boats To Build Or Buy|publisher=Albatross Publishing House|year=1982|isbn=0-920256-06-6|pages=85|language=english}}</ref>

There are reports of royalties not being paid to Lyle Hess and Sam L. Morse for the construction of the Canadian hulls.<ref name="BWB" />

The rumor is a result of confusion over Hull Identification Numbers (HIN). At the time the Canadian Bristol Channel Cutter hulls were built, Canada did not require HINs and this resulted in a number of Bristol Channel Cutters without HINs. This lack of accountability for the hulls led to disagreements with Sam L. Morse, which amongst other reasons, led to them rescinding their license to Steveston Fiberglass and Canadian production was then stopped.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Olsen|first=Roger|date=Jan 2002|title=Canadian Built BCCs|url=https://forum.samlmorse.com/t/canadian-built-bccs/458/3|url-status=live|website=Sam L Morse Forums|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119010741/https://forum.samlmorse.com/t/canadian-built-bccs/458/3 |archive-date=19 January 2022 }}</ref>

The company often mentioned in these rumors, Channel Cutter Yachts, has never produced a Bristol Channel Cutter, but the owner, Bryan Gittins, is the G from G & B Woodworks who originally finished the Canadian hulls. G & B Woodworks dissolved with the ending of Bristol Channel Cutter production. Sometime after this Gittens purchased the rights to Lyle Hess's Falmouth Cutter 34 design and setup shop as Channel Cutter Yachts in order to produce this new design.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Channel Cutter Yachts|url=http://www.channelcutteryachts.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802091653/http://www.channelcutteryachts.com:80/ |archive-date=2 August 2002 }}</ref>

==Design== The Bristol Channel Cutter is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a cutter rig, a spooned plumb stem, an angled transom, a keel and transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed long keel. It displaces {{convert|14000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|4600|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast.<ref name="Data"/>

The hull length is {{convert|28.08|ft|m|abbr=on}}, but including the bowsprit and boomkin it is {{convert|37.75|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Data"/>

The boat has a draft of {{convert|4.83|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the standard keel.<ref name="Data"/>

The boat is fitted with a Swedish Volvo MD 7A diesel engine of {{convert|13|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} or a Japanese Yanmar diesel of {{convert|27|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds {{convert|30|u.s.gal}}.<ref name="Data"/>

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with two straight settee berths and a pilot berth in the main cabin and an aft quarter berth on the starboard side. The galley is located on the port side at the companionway ladder. The galley is L-shaped and is equipped with a stove and a sink. A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. The head is located in the bow and includes an optional shower. The fresh water tank has a capacity of {{convert|64|u.s.gal}} and the holding tank has a capacity of {{convert|15|u.s.gal}}. Cabin headroom is {{convert|75|in|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="Guide"/><ref name="BWB"/>

The design has a hull speed of {{convert|6.9|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Guide"/>

==Operational history== A ''Blue Water Boats'' review noted that the design, "represents a pinnacle of ruggedness and practicality while retaining respectable performance. Few boats can take the abuse of extended voyaging as well as the Bristol Channel Cutter and I guess it's become something of a Lyle Hess masterpiece."<ref name="BWB"/>

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

'''Related development''' *Falmouth Cutter 22 *Falmouth Cutter 26 *Falmouth Cutter 34

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Keelboats Category:1970s sailboat type designs Category:Sailing yachts Category:Sailboat type designs by Lyle Hess Category:Sailboat types built in the United States Category:Sailboat types built in Canada Category:Sailboat types built by Sam L. Morse Co. Category:Sailboat types built by Cape George Marine Works Category:Sailboat types built by Channel Cutter Yachts