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Bristol 511
Designer: Dieter Empacher  ·  Builder: Bristol Boat Company (Usa)  ·  First built: 1987
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About the Bristol 511

Bristol Yachts earned its reputation building premium cruising sailboats during the company's heyday from the 1960s through 1980s, and the Bristol 511 represents part of this distinguished lineage. As a larger vessel in Bristol's fleet, this model was designed with serious coastal and offshore cruising in mind, targeting sailors who demanded both comfort and seaworthiness for extended voyages. Like other Bristol designs, the 511 likely featured the company's characteristic attention to construction quality and traditional styling cues that made the brand synonymous with well-built American cruising boats. Bristol's reputation was built on solid fiberglass construction, thoughtful interior layouts, and conservative design approaches that prioritized safety and reliability over cutting-edge performance. The 511 would have appealed to experienced cruising sailors seeking a substantial platform for coastal exploration and potentially longer offshore passages. Bristol's design philosophy typically emphasized moderate proportions, adequate sail area for varied conditions, and interiors configured for comfortable live-aboard cruising. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Bristol name alone suggests a boat built to traditional standards with the robust construction methods that characterized quality American boatbuilding of that era.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 42.17 ft / 12.85 m
Beam 15.17 ft / 4.62 m
Max Draft 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Displacement 43,700.00 lb / 19,822 kg
Ballast 19,500.00 lb / 8,845 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Dieter Empacher
Builder Bristol Boat Company (USA)
First Built 1987
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Performance Ratios
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
44.62
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
260.15
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. 13.71 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 5.30 ft / 1.62 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 21.50 ft / 6.55 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 1,220.00 ft² / 113.34 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 260.15
How It Compares

vs. Endeavour 51, Little Harbor 51, Valiant 50

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Bristol 511 ★
51.0 ft
Endeavour 51
51.0 ft
Little Harbor 51
50.6 ft
Valiant 50
50.7 ft
LWL
Bristol 511 ★
42.2 ft
Endeavour 51
42.3 ft
Little Harbor 51
41.0 ft
Valiant 50
40.3 ft
Beam
Bristol 511 ★
15.2 ft
Endeavour 51
15.0 ft
Little Harbor 51
15.3 ft
Valiant 50
13.8 ft
Displacement
Bristol 511 ★
43 lbs
Endeavour 51
37 lbs
Little Harbor 51
45 lbs
Valiant 50
35 lbs
Ballast
Bristol 511 ★
19 lbs
Endeavour 51
17 lbs
Little Harbor 51
18 lbs
Valiant 50
11 lbs
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Bristol 511 ★
Endeavour 51
75 s/nm
Little Harbor 51
Valiant 50
102 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Bristol 511 ★
44.6 %
Endeavour 51
46.8 %
Little Harbor 51
Valiant 50
31.0 %
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Bristol 511 ★
260
Endeavour 51
219
Little Harbor 51
Valiant 50
243
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