1981 Bristol 35.5 CB

Carpe Vita is a fantastic example of the popular Ted Hood centerboard design, providing shoal draft sailing and uncommon upwind sailing abilities in a boat that is both practical and comfortable. Jack Horner compared the Bristol 35.5 to a Lincoln Town Car - it’s conservative in it's design, a little on the heavy side, offers smooth steady performance though not at break-neck speeds, and when you close a door you’re left with a comfortable feeling of a solid well built product.

If you're looking for a solid Bluewater cruiser that is sturdy for offshore voyaging as well as a perfect boat for gunkholing in those secluded anchorages, Carpe Vita is the one for you!

Basic Information

Dimensions & Weight

Engine

Tank Capacities

Accommodations

Accommodations

This Ted Hood classic was in production from 1978 - 1996, with 183 boats built.  Completed in 1981, Carpe Vita is Hull #90.  Her current owners bought her in 2005 from a skilled marine tradesman, and have used her here in the Chesapeake, and some costal cruising from Maine to North Carolina.

Overall, this boat has seen little use in the past few years. She had good bones, but some cosmetic imperfections which are not unusual for her age and lack of use. While this is not a total project boat, there are many things that can be done to make her shine like new again. This would be a great boat for someone looking to own a solid bluewater cruising boat who is capable of putting in some sweat equity and upgrades.

The forward cabin has a large V berth large enough for two adults to sleep comfortably. Storage availble in several overhead lockers and two small hanging lockers - one in the cabin and another just aft of the cabin, opposite from the head. The head is adequately sized with a pull out shower and good headroom. The LectraSan head can be used 3 ways: direct overboard discharge, overboard discharge via the LectraSan (this device will enable you to use your marine toilet and discharge treated waste overboard, without using a holding tank), or into the holding tank.

The salon is bright and airy and has fantastic 6'5" headroom which is uncommon on a boat this size. There is a settee to starboard and to port, with a dining table that can be stowed on the forward bulkhead to create additional space when not in use. The interior teak and holly joinery looks great for it's age, with the exception of a few areas under the windows in the coachroof, where there is evidence of some water damage from past leaks.  There is an active leak on the port forward port window and the wood has degraded a bit in that area.

• Beautiful caning on all cabinet fronts provides ventilation into the lockers
• Custom enclosed storage to port to keep belongings secured under sail
• Newer upholstery on the settees

Aft, the galley is to starboard and the fixed nav station and captains berth to port.

• U-shaped sea galley that is well equipped for cruising
• Double stainless steel sinks with hot and cold pressure water
• Three burner propane stove and oven
• Refrigeration
• Plenty of counter space and storage outboard

The hull of the Bristol 35.5 is constructed of solid laminate fiberglass and is built in two halves and joined on the centerline. The deck is fiberglass composite with balsa wood core and is securely fastened with nuts, bolts, and washers to the inward hull flange. This is a solidly built boat, and the lay-up schedule is substantial. Bristol has never made extensive use of fiberglass hull liners as a structural component, opting instead for a more traditional use of wood structural components. Full and partial bulkheads as well as other athwartship and longitudinal members are bonded to the hull with fiberglass and resin. Secondary bonding is almost always flawless, and it is rare to find any significant structural problems with these boats.

• Centerboard version - 3'8" with the board up and 9'5" with the board down
• Main companionway with sliding fiberglass hatch cover and solid teak drop boards
• Two deck hatches
• Three opening ports
• Four fixed windows

• Stainless steel bow and stern rails with double vinyl-covered lifelines
• Stainless steel stanchions
• Teak grab rails
• Bow, stern and amid-ships cleats
• Bronze thru-hull fittings with bronze seacocks and ball valves
• Cockpit lockers for storage
• Double propane tanks
• Last bottom paint in 2020; Centerboard was inspected and found to be in good working order
• Hull Awlgripped in 2006
• Bimini and Dodger with connector piece and aft shade curtains
• Cockpit cushions
• Rub rail
• No windlass

Despite her rather hefty displacement/length ratio and moderate sail area/displacement number, performance under sail of the 35.5 is quite good. The boat has a very respectable speed on all points of sail. She points well and is considerably faster than most boats of this displacement and length in light air conditions. 

Carpe Vita has been set up to sail with ease.  The Dutchman flaking system makes raising the mainsail easy and lowering the sail safe. The mainsail cars have been upgraded to reduce friction when raising the sail.

• Keel-stepped aluminum mast
• Aluminum boom
• Standing Rigging is stainless steel wire rope with swaged fittings and open barrel turnbuckles. Standing rigging replaced in 2005
• Furling Genoa
• Fully battened Mainsail (raised from mast)
• Age of the sails is unknown, but they are in serviceable condition
• Dutchman flaking system
• Upgraded mainsail T-track slide system to raise the mainsail with ease
• Removable inner stay
• (2) Lewmar  #42ST primary winches
• (1) Lewmar #40ST on coachroof
• Centerboard winch on coachroof
• Two Lewmar #16 on the mast
• Genoa track allows for moving the genoa cars under load from the cockpit
• Solid boom vang
• Storm jib and Spinnaker availble

• AC & DC electrical panels rewired (2006)
• Four Seasons wind generator (availble; not installed)
• Battery monitor
• Battery charger
• House Battery: 4D battery
• Start Battery: Group 27 gel battery
• Raymarine ST60 Auto-Pilot at helm
• Binnacle mounted compass
• Datamarine depth sounder
• Datamarine apparent wind speed/direction
• Datamarine kt/log meter
• Horizon VHF radio at Nav Station
• Garmin 126/128 GPS at Nav Station
• SSB radio connection
• Shore power 30 amp 125VAC circuit with power cord
• Sea Volt Inverter
• Fireboy Xintrex gas monitor

• Repowered in 2005 with a Westerbeke Universal 25HP diesel engine
• Engine hours: 1337
• New transmission (2022)
• Dripless stuffing box (2010)
• Tachometer on engine panel
• Raycor 500 fuel filter

To schedule an appointment to see Carpe Vita in person, 

please call the listing broker:

Deanna Sansbury

410-629-9186 (call / text)

[email protected]