Bristol Channel Cutter

Last updated

Bristol Channel Cutter
Development
Designer Lyle Hess
Location United States/Canada
Year1976
No. built129 (US), 30-45 (Canada)
Builder(s) Sam L. Morse Co.
Cape George Marine Works
Steveston Fiberglass/G & B Woodworks
Role Cruiser
NameBristol Channel Cutter
Boat
Displacement 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Draft 4.83 ft (1.47 m)
Hull
Type monohull
Construction fiberglass
LOA 28.08 ft (8.56 m)
LWL 26.25 ft (8.00 m)
Beam 10.08 ft (3.07 m)
Engine type Volvo MD 7A 13 hp (10 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typelong keel
Ballast4,600 lb (2,087 kg)
Rudder(s)transom and keel-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig type Cutter rig
Sails
Sailplan Cutter rigged sloop
Total sail area673.00 sq ft (62.524 m2)
[ edit on Wikidata]

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. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The boat is based upon Hess's earlier Renegade design. [4]

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. [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [8]

There are reports of royalties not being paid to Lyle Hess and Sam L. Morse for the construction of the Canadian hulls. [7]

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. [9]

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. [10]

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 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) and carries 4,600 lb (2,087 kg) of lead ballast. [1]

The hull length is 28.08 ft (8.56 m), but including the bowsprit and boomkin it is 37.75 ft (11.51 m) [1]

The boat has a draft of 4.83 ft (1.47 m) with the standard keel. [1]

The boat is fitted with a Swedish Volvo MD 7A diesel engine of 13 hp (10 kW) or a Japanese Yanmar diesel of 27 hp (20 kW) for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal). [1]

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 64 U.S. gallons (240 L; 53 imp gal) and the holding tank has a capacity of 15 U.S. gallons (57 L; 12 imp gal). Cabin headroom is 75 in (190 cm). [1] [3] [7]

The design has a hull speed of 6.9 kn (12.8 km/h). [3]

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." [7]

See also

Related development

Similar sailboats

Related Research Articles

The Cal 28 is an American sailboat, that was designed by C. William Lapworth and first built in 1963. It was originally marketed as the California 28.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonsuch 22</span> Sailboat class

The Nonsuch 22 is a Canadian trailerable sailboat, the smallest of the series of Nonsuch sailboats. It was designed by Mark Ellis Design and first built in 1984.

The Hunter 22 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by the Hunter Design Team and first built in 1981.

The Pearson Electra is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Carl Alberg as a Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) racer and first built in 1960.

The Falmouth Cutter 22 is an American sailboat that was designed by Lyle C. Hess as a cruiser and first built in 1980. The design is based on the traditional British Falmouth work boat.

The Southern Cross 35, also called the Gillmer 35, is an American sailboat that was designed by Thomas C. Gillmer as a cruiser and first built in 1978.

The Balboa 20 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle C. Hess as a cruiser, at the request of Richard Arthur and first built in 1967.

The Bristol Corsair 24, also called the Bristol 24, Bristol 24 Corsair, Sailstar Corsair 24, Sailstar 24 and just the Corsair 24, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Paul Coble as a cruiser and first built in 1964.

The Eastward Ho 24 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Walter McInnis of Eldridge-McInnis, as a cruiser and first built in 1975.

The Ensenada 20 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle C. Hess as a cruiser and first built in 1972.

The La Paz 25 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle C. Hess as a motorsailer and first built in 1973.

The Montgomery 17 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as a pocket cruiser and daysailer and first built in 1973.

The Montgomery 23 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as a cruiser and first built in 1979.

The New Horizons 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Sparkman & Stephens as a cruiser and first built in 1958. It was Sparkman & Stephens design #1235.

The Balboa 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle C. Hess as cruiser and first built in 1969.

Lyle C. Hess (1912–2002) was an American naval architect, particularly known for his Aquarius and Balboa series of boats, built by Coastal Recreation.

The Nor'Sea 27, or Norsea 27, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as cruiser and first built in 1976.

The Nor'Sea 37 is an American sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as a global blue water cruiser for living aboard and first built in 1992.

The Falmouth Cutter 26 is an American sailboat that was designed by Lyle Hess as a cruiser.

The Falmouth Cutter 34 is a Canadian sailboat that was designed by American naval architect Lyle Hess as a global blue water cruiser and first built in 1982.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Bristol Channel Cutter". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ↑ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Lyle C. Hess 1912 - 2002". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sea Time Tech, LLC (2021). "Bristol Channel Cutter". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Malseed, Chuck (January 1977). "Lyle Hess: A Profile". Cruising World. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  5. ↑ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Sam L. Morse Co. (USA) 1976 - 2007". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. ↑ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Cape George Marine Works". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Bristol Channel Cutter 28". bluewaterboats.org. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Mate, Ferenc (1982). Best Boats To Build Or Buy. Albatross Publishing House. p. 85. ISBN   0-920256-06-6.
  9. ↑ Olsen, Roger (January 2002). "Canadian Built BCCs". Sam L Morse Forums. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Channel Cutter Yachts". Archived from the original on 2 August 2002.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.