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Bristol 33
Designer: Halsey C. Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Bristol Yachts Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Bristol 33

Designed by the renowned Halsey C. Herreshoff and built by Bristol Yachts from 1968 to 1971, this 33-footer represents classic American yacht craftsmanship from the golden era of fiberglass boatbuilding. With her traditional masthead sloop rig and fin keel configuration paired with a spade rudder, the Bristol 33 delivers responsive handling and solid performance characteristics that have earned respect among sailing enthusiasts for over five decades. Her substantial 12,800-pound displacement and generous 5,100-pound ballast provide impressive stability and seaworthiness, making her well-suited for coastal cruising and offshore passages. The comfort ratio of 31.46 indicates a motion that favors long-distance comfort over racing agility, while the conservative capsize screening value of 1.76 speaks to her inherent safety in challenging conditions. The Herreshoff pedigree shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and thoughtful design details. Her moderate sail area to displacement ratio suggests she's optimized more for cruising than racing, though she'll certainly hold her own in club events. Bristol's reputation for solid construction and quality fit-and-finish means well-maintained examples continue to provide reliable service decades after launch, making the Bristol 33 an attractive option for sailors seeking a proven coastal cruiser with classic lines.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$8,500 – $8,500
typical asking price
Median $8,500  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$8,500 – $8,500 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.58 ft / 10.24 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.08 ft / 7.95 m
Beam 10.25 ft / 3.12 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 12,800.00 lb / 5,806 kg
Ballast 5,100.00 lb / 2,313 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 469.00 ft² / 43.57 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Halsey C. Herreshoff
Builder Bristol Yachts Inc. (USA)
First Built 1968
Last Built 1971
Related Sailboats ["Tartan 33" · "Columbia 34 Mk Ii" · "Ericson 33" · "Islander 34" · "Grampian 34"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 180
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.76
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 39.84
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 322.14
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 31.46
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.76
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.84 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.35
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 955.16 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.76
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 34.20 ft / 10.42 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.80 ft / 3.90 m
SA Fore 250.00 ft² / 23.23 m²
SA Main 218.88 ft² / 20.33 m²
SA Total (100%) 468.88 ft² / 43.56 m²
Est. Forestay Length 41.91 ft / 12.77 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 25 gals / 95 L
Water Capacity 29 gals / 110 L
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 34 Mk Ii, Ericson 33, Islander 34

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Bristol 33 ★
33.6 ft
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
33.6 ft
Ericson 33
33.5 ft
Islander 34
33.6 ft
LWL
Bristol 33 ★
26.1 ft
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
27.3 ft
Ericson 33
26.8 ft
Islander 34
25.0 ft
Beam
Bristol 33 ★
10.3 ft
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
10.0 ft
Ericson 33
11.2 ft
Islander 34
10.0 ft
Displacement
Bristol 33 ★
12 lbs
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
12 lbs
Ericson 33
9 lbs
Islander 34
10 lbs
Ballast
Bristol 33 ★
5 lbs
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
4 lbs
Ericson 33
3 lbs
Islander 34
3 lbs
Sail Area
Bristol 33 ★
469 sq ft
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
526 sq ft
Ericson 33
573 sq ft
Islander 34
471 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Bristol 33 ★
180 s/nm
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
—
Ericson 33
134 s/nm
Islander 34
147 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Bristol 33 ★
13.8
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
16.1
Ericson 33
20.5
Islander 34
15.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Bristol 33 ★
39.8 %
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
—
Ericson 33
41.6 %
Islander 34
31.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Bristol 33 ★
31.5
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
29.6
Ericson 33
20.5
Islander 34
27.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Bristol 33 ★
1.76
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
1.75
Ericson 33
2.11
Islander 34
1.84
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Bristol 33 ★
322
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
—
Ericson 33
219
Islander 34
297
Hull Speed
Bristol 33 ★
6.8 kts
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
7.0 kts
Ericson 33
6.9 kts
Islander 34
6.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Bristol 33 ★
1.4
Columbia 34 Mk Ii
2.0
Ericson 33
2.8
Islander 34
1.7
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