Bristol 39
Description
The Bristol 39 is a classic offshore cruising yacht designed by Ted Hood and built by Bristol Yachts in Bristol, Rhode Island, between 1966 and 1970. A total of around 60 boats were produced, making it one of the early models that helped establish Bristol’s reputation for quality and seaworthiness. Constructed using a hand-laid fiberglass hull (a relatively new technique at the time) with teak and mahogany trim, the Bristol 39 combined traditional styling with modern construction. It features Hood’s trademark full keel with cutaway forefoot, offering directional stability and forgiving handling for long-distance cruising. The design was known for its strong build, conservative sail plan, and handsome overhangs, appealing to sailors who valued comfort and sea-kindliness over racing speed. The masthead sloop or optional cutter rig gave it versatility under sail, while the spacious cockpit and thoughtfully arranged interior made it suitable for extended voyages. Inside, the Bristol 39 features classic yacht charm: teak joinery, berths for five to six, a practical galley, full-sized chart table, and ample storage, all laid out with seaworthiness and livability in mind.
Construction Details
| Designer | Ted Hood |
|---|---|
| Builder | Bristol Yachts |
| Length | 39.000 ft |
| LOA | 39.000 ft |
| LWL | 27.540 ft |
| Beam | 10.750 ft |
| Displacement | 17580 lb |
| Ballast | 7500 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.400 ft |
| Year Built | 1966 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 45.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 14.58 ft |
| p | 39.45 ft |
| e | 15.90 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.50 ft | 14.58 ft | 39.45 ft | 15.90 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Bristol 39 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 39.45 ft - (12024 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15.9 ft - (4846 mm) |
| Leech | * 41.71 ft - (12713 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.02 ° |
| Diagonal | * 42.02 ft - (12808 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 321.65 ft² |
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Bristol 39 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 38.22 ft - (11649 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 19.32 ft - (5889 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.18 ft - (10113 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.02 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.77 ft - (5111 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | * 320.5 ft² |
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Bristol 39 - GENOA
| Luff | 44.25 ft - (13487 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 19.42 ft - (5919 mm) |
| Leech | 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 120.37 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.55 ft - (5349 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 7.56 ° |
| Area | * 388.37 ft² |
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Bristol 39 - GENOA
| Luff | 45.39 ft - (13835 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.55 ft - (7178 mm) |
| Leech | * 42.68 ft - (13009 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 21.87 ft - (6666 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.01 ° |
| Area | * 496.31 ft² |
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Bristol 39 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 46 ft - (14021 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 25 ft - (7620 mm) |
| Leech | 43 ft - (13106 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 862 ft² |
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Bristol 39 - ASYMMETRICAL
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Bristol 39 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 45.39 ft - (13835 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 26.24 ft - (7998 mm) |
| Foot | * 26.24 ft - (7998 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1012 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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