Sailboat Owner’s Manuals

[kevinwalsh]

Hello Team CF!
We’ve been searching for an Owner’s Manual for our new-to-us 1983 Bristol 38.8. Ideas on how to or from where we can obtain one will be helpful. Many thanks!

[fxykty]

In the first instance, can you contact Bristol? If the company still exists then surely they have the original manuals for their models (if they had an owner’s manual in the first place).

If that doesn’t work, is there an owner’s group on FB or elsewhere that you can contact? Hopefully someone has a manual that you could copy.

What has a Google search returned?

[kevinwalsh]

Thanks, fxykty!
Bristol Boat Mfg, no longer exists. Bristol Marine, another concern, acquired all the real property and bldgs in bankruptcy and the bldgs are used for boat storage during the off-season for retail customers.
I am not going

[Orion Jim]

If all else fails look for a sistership for sale in your general area. The owner might just let you make a copy of his owners manual for a bottle of his preferred beverage. A sympathetic broker may also be helpful.

[Island Time O25]

I've been sailing for about 25 years. Started looking at boats to purchase 20+ years ago, purchasing my first one in 2006. Owned 5 boats total since then. Looked at perhaps many dozens if not 100+. I have yet to come across an extant "boat owner manual" of the "automobile owner manual" style. Perhaps they're out there but I have yet to see one. Lot's of sales brochures though.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

I've been sailing for about 25 years. Started looking at boats to purchase 20+ years ago, purchasing my first one in 2006. Owned 5 boats total since then. Looked at perhaps many dozens if not 100+. I have yet to come across an extant "boat owner manual" of the "automobile owner manual" style. Perhaps they're out there but I have yet to see one. Lot's of sales brochures though.

My 38 year old boat came with one and the more modern boats have extensively detailed owners manuals. The amount of detail in the owners manuals produced in the last 20 years is mind boggling. They put the owners manuals for new cars to shame.

[psk125]

We were really impressed last June to find that our 1996 Sabre came with an official owner's manual. Then we read it. Under "engine maintenance" it says things like "check belts and make sure hose clamps are tight. Verify that oil levels are as required." For "plumbing systems", advising owners to empty the holding tank when full is not especially useful. An earlier owner's notes on the location of pumps, valves and switches, along with a schematic of the electrical system is much more useful. It might not be worth putting much effort into locating a manual for your boat, though one can hope it is more helpful than ours.

[Drummer79]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

I've been sailing for about 25 years. Started looking at boats to purchase 20+ years ago, purchasing my first one in 2006. Owned 5 boats total since then. Looked at perhaps many dozens if not 100+. I have yet to come across an extant "boat owner manual" of the "automobile owner manual" style. Perhaps they're out there but I have yet to see one. Lot's of sales brochures though.

Both Cal sailboats I've bought had detailed owners manuals, with checklists, procedures, maintenance schedules, specs on rigging for future replacement, etc..