Bristol
42 Trawler
1969–81
Built in India, the Bristol 42 is a handsome all-fiberglass trawler with a very graceful sheer and a deep, prop-protecting keel. (As far as we know, this is the only Indian-built boat ever imported into the North American market.) She was a relatively successful boat during her production years, and used models remained popular on both the East and West Coast markets for many years. Designed by the highly regarded Eldridge-McGinnis firm, the Bristol’s unusual round bilges (versus the hard chines found on most production fiberglass trawlers) make for a very comfortable ride with less snap roll in a seaway. Two floorplans were offered with the portside galley layout being the most common. There are port and starboard deck doors in the salon, and a passageway in the aft stateroom provides direct access to the cockpit. Additional features include teak decks, a functional mast and boom, wide side decks, and a roomy flybridge with bench seating aft of the centerline helm. While a single 130hp Perkins (or 120hp Lehman) diesel was standard, most Bristol 42s were sold with twin Perkins diesels (7–8 knots cruise/12 knots top).
Additional notes (BoatUS)
Overview: Classic (and still popular) Eldridge-McInnis design with full-displacement hull combines rich teak interior with timeless trawler styling.@Features: Several two-stateroom layouts were offered, all with deckhouse galley, teak-planked flooring, twin salon deck access doors. Salon seems large for a boat this size. Teak-over-fiberglass decks were standard. Note functional mast and boom.@Comments: Soft-chined hull offers secure open-water ride. Built for Bristol Yachts in India.@Performance: Twin Perkins 130hp diesels cruise efficiently at 8–9 knots.
Floor Plans