24' Bristol 24

1976 Bristol 24 Anam Cara

Located in Lake Champlain Vermont

Anam Cara (Gaelic for Soul Friend) is a modified full keel that drafts 3.5ft. She is the dinette version of the Bristol 24 that features a spacious interior and almost full standing height for me (I'm 6ft) tall.

This boat has been a pleasure to own and I've single handed her several hundred miles on Lake Champlain since learning to sail in 2020. I've owned her since 2021 and done my best to take care of her like her previous owners. I'm hoping she goes to someone who will keep her out of the yard and sailing as much as possible.

She is in the water now, available to trial if our schedules align. She is currently under contract to be hauled out where her cradle is in Shelburne Shipyard on October 9. I am not in a hurry to sell but would like to see if there are any interested parties to be her next caretaker. It would be advantageous of a buyer to keep the October 9 haul out date as many marinas are booking up on the lake and the deposit could be use if you choose to store it elsewhere, though that would require either a cradle trailer or finding a hauler that could rig the existing cradle on a 10k trailer for transport.

Sail Inventory: 2016 North Sail partially battened main with two reef points and a solid halyard. A jib that is in good condition. The UV fabric and stitching is all sound. The velco is losing its functionality on the leech line cover but the leaf line is still functional.

Motor: 2018 Tohatsu Sail-Pro Long Shaft 6hp. Very fuel efficient, I motored from Orwell all the way to the head of Shelburne Bay on 3 gallons of gas. Always fueled with Non-E gas and oil change each season. Transaxle fluid was changed last season.

Standing rigging is in good shape. The mast was stepped last season and subsequently tuned following its installation. The deck step looked to be in good shape.

Running rigging has been updated as needed. New traveler sheet and a new jib halyard was installed.

Anchor is a Rocna 20 which is really meant for a 28-30ft boat but due to Anam Cara's displacement this anchor is perfect. Its on a bow roller which makes it very convenient. There is around 20ft of chain with 200ft of line. It's held me in a 30kt storm in Quaker Bay with 3-5 waves hitting and did not drag. It's held on the rocks at Four Brothers, the mud in Button bay, the weeds at the base of Champlain Bridge I call it the portable mooring. I've slept very confidently on the hook with this set up. There is also a 12ft pennant line (metal eye removed per Shelburne Town Mooring regulations) and

100watts of solar with a 100ah lithium battery. This set up is plenty to run my small 35qt fridge/freezer and all the boat necessities. It has a Victron bluetooth controller to monitor voltage and output/input. There's 4 12v ports and two USB ports.

It is a tiller steered boat and has an SIMRAD auto pilot. I built this tiller out of laminated Vermont white oak.

The galley has a functioning sink and lake water pump. The head is composting and quite tolerable even after a week of additions to it. After being on boats with holding tanks and this set up, I much prefer this.

The cabin allows for one quarter berth, a double berth or booth table, and a V-berth. The previous owner took care of a common problem with the Bristol's and reinforced the deck underneath the mast by lagging two of oak together with 1/2 bolts.

There's a spacious cockpit locker that holds a 4ft swim ladder, life jackets and is usually empty. The lazerette where the motor is mounted holds two large fenders and two medium size fenders, a gas tank and room for a few more things.

Safety equipment: A fire extinguisher, out of date flares, floating VHF radio, air horn, working running/anchor lights. There's two bilge pumps one automatic and one hand crank. There's a functioning depth sounder that reads down to 200ft. 4 unopened Kent life jackets.

Dinghy is included in the sale. It is a 10ft fiberglass that tracks well. It needs a 1x6 across for seating, otherwise in good shape. The board now is functional now, the ends have rotted and no longer fastened to the sides. Newer oar lock and mounts. There is also a trailer for the dinghy which makes launching/storing it simple.

Most of the issues with Anam Cara are cosmetic and indicative of a 50 year old boat. The only pressing things I would address are the sink through-hulls. They are old school bronze and drip a little at the beginning of the season. One is very tight and I believe seized at this point, so I would add that to a spring - to do list. As far as I know, when the head was removed in 2018 those through-hulls have not been opened since.