Bristol Channel Cutter
Description
The Bristol Channel Cutter (BCC) is a 28-foot (8.56 m) cutter-rigged sailboat designed by Lyle C. Hess and built primarily by Sam L. Morse Co. from 1975 to 2007, with production continuing under Cape George Marine Works. Known for its classic design and blue water capabilities, it’s a favorite among long-distance cruisers for its sturdy construction and traditional aesthetics. The BCC draws inspiration from 19th-century British pilot cutters, featuring a long full keel, nearly vertical stem and stern, and a transom-hung rudder. Its beamier hull and hard bilges provide stability (AVS of 133 degrees), allowing it to carry a large sail area via its bowsprit and boomkin. The cutter rig offers flexible sail configurations, ideal for offshore sailing.
Construction Details
| Designer | Lyle C. Hess |
|---|---|
| Builder | Sam L. Morse Co. |
| Length | 37.000 ft |
| LOA | 28.080 ft |
| LWL | 26.250 ft |
| Beam | 10.080 ft |
| Displacement | 14000 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.830 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 38 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 17.75 ft |
| p | 33.33 ft |
| e | 15.33 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 ft | 17.75 ft | 33.33 ft | 15.33 ft | - | - | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 33.33 ft - (10159 mm) |
| Foot | 15.33 ft - (4673 mm) |
| Leech | 35.34 ft - (10772 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 85.19 ° |
| Diagonal | 35.5 ft - (10820 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 261.79 ft² |
| Sail Type | DRIFTER |
|---|---|
| Luff | 38 ft - (11582 mm) |
| Foot | 29.42 ft - (8967 mm) |
| Leech | 31.67 ft - (9653 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 134.48 % |
| Length Perp | * 23.87 ft - (7276 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 10.72 ° |
| Area | * 453.62 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
| Foot | 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
| Leech | 35.75 ft - (10897 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 795 ft² |
| Sail Type | YANKEE |
|---|---|
| Luff | 38 ft - (11582 mm) |
| Foot | 16.75 ft - (5105 mm) |
| Leech | 27 ft - (8230 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 58.82 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 10.44 ft - (3182 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 26.41 ° |
| Area | * 198.33 ft² |
| Sail Type | STAYSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 23 ft - (7010 mm) |
| Foot | 12.75 ft - (3886 mm) |
| Leech | 20.5 ft - (6248 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 63.66 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.3 ft - (3444 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 2.52 ° |
| Area | * 129.99 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | 24 ft - (7315 mm) |
| Foot | 13 ft - (3962 mm) |
| Leech | 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 40.51 % |
| Length Perp | * 7.19 ft - (2192 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 31.41 ° |
| Area | * 86.23 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMTRYSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Foot | 11.5 ft - (3505 mm) |
| Leech | 19 ft - (5791 mm) |
| Length Perp | * 12.19 ft - (3716 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * -2 ° |
| Area | * 86 ft² |
| Sail Type | GAFF MAIN |
|---|---|
| Luff | 11.5 ft - (3505 mm) |
| Foot | 13.75 ft - (4191 mm) |
| Leech | 19.5 ft - (5944 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 85.17 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 17.167 ft - (5233 mm) |
| Head | 12.5 ft - (3810 mm) |
| Area | * 184.61 ft² |
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.