Bristol 34 Gusto

Hull #37

Launched in 1972

  

Artzat Main Website

Arthur & Georgette Zatarain

 New Orleans, LA USA

 

Click thumbnails below to view larger image.

SPECIAL HURRICANE KATRINA IMAGES

Harbor Overview

Bristol 34 GUSTO was in safest part of harbor, South West (upper left) corner of rear marina.

(North is oriented to the right--->)

Southern Yacht Club burned and flooded, was ultimately completely torn down.

Closeup of GUSTO pier 6 slip 12

We lost all aft lines and were held only by the bow and spring lines. At least she still floated after the storm--and not many looters were sailors.

Areial image facing South West.

Gusto was docked in far aft corner of the rear harbor. SYC is still burning in this image, taken probably Wed Aug 30.

XTC on a piling

My neighbor Tom Glew's Hunter 40 XTC had its rudder caught on a piling. XTC ultimately sank during high water from Hurricana Rita, about three weeks after Katrina.

GUSTO

What we bought.

Bristol 34 Off The Air - Dec 2001. How the boat appeared during our search-- excellent curb appeal!

Survey Haulout - Jan 2002

Nice looking boat. Bottom later changed to red.

A New Name

Gusto name expertly applied from a leaking dingy.

First Sail

Georgie at the helm, Jan 20, 2002. Note the ridiculous steering position!

Gusto's crew

Our first sail all together, March 2003

Bristol 34 Line Dwg.

Edited by AMZ from image found on the web.

Arthur at Sunset, May 2006

Note the comfortable stern seat with custom padded rail cushion sewn by my brother Dave.

Preparing to Furl

Sailing solo, cranking the diesel, preparing to furl up for the evening.

My pal Randy

He helped me a little.

GUSTO Renovation Images

Cabin Looking Aft

Aft cabin after renovations. Note raised floor that provides 4 foot square platform in galley.

Engine and Electrical Panels

Homemade junk replaced with separate AC and DC breaker panels with DC metering. The original Bristol fuse panel for lighting was replaced with a smaller one from West Marine. The engine switch panel was custom made, and is now duplicated in the cockipt near the helm.

Dinette Compare

Smaller table makes dinette much more inviting and useful. Fold out ends make full size table.

Galley Compare

Narrow counter tops allowed for wide galley floor area. Useful storage area under sink more than doubled.

Ice Box converted to Refrig and Chart Table

The old built-in ice box with refrig was replaced by self contained Norcold unit over lift-up chart table. Note new electrics.

Head Compare

Before and after head comparison. You really need to be there to appreciate it.

Roller Furling Mainsail

Several improvements were made to the homemade mainsail furling system. The lower drum was relocated from the gooseneck to the deck to permit better luff tension. The upper swivel was fitted with a roller standoff to provide better halyard tension. A Harken outhaul car and track was fitted to the boom for better shape control, and to improve furling action.

Mainsheet Compare

The bulky traveler replaced by simple bridle to improve forwared visibility. Mainsheet is routed aft stbd side.

Cockpit Compare

Note the higher backrests, relocated wheel with seat, enlarged seat hatch, patched holes, mono-winch for the jenny, foldup stern seats, and bimini. The cockpit is very comfortable for 6 and tolerable for 8 (although the truth is that I mostly sail alone!).

Foldup Stern Seats

Stern seats added Oct 2004. About 50% larger than store-bought "Stern Perch" seats, and 3/4 rather then 1/2 Starboard. Best seats on the boat. Top rail foam is "temporary" until Georgie sews me some nice ones.

Modified Seat Hatch

Our first major project. Access to steering, engine, and storage is much improved. I don't know how other owners get by with the original design.

My pal Randy

He helped me a little.
 

 

Right Click the link below and "Save Target" to download a ZIP file of other Bristol 34 images acquired by AMZ.

ZIP file with Images of Other Bristol 34's


Gusto is a 1972 Bristol 34 sailboat, hull #37, owned by Arthur and Georgette Zatarain in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was acquired in pretty good shape in January 2002, yet has undergone considerable renovation and restoration by us to make it a very comfortable day sailor for Lake Ponchartrain. The boat is a joy to sail with a crew of 1 to 8.

The boat features both a roller furling main and genoa, smooth running 4-cyl diesel, and autopilot to simplify life in the 9 foot long cockpit with large teak backrests. Gusto is usually sailed single handed (even when there are other folks aboard), so all working lines are routed to the forward or aft end of the cockpit. The original 2 genoa winches were replaced with a single self-tailing Lewmar 40 mounted on center at the aft end of the cockpit. This "mono-winch" design works very well, allowing either the helmsman or a crewmember to tack the genoa without anyone moving from their seat. All this is done in the shade of a huge bimini that we added shortly after acquisition that is augmented by a flat awning over the boom during the summer months. We really like to stay out of the sun.

I made the stern pulpit seats in Oct 2004, modeled after the Stern Perch seats sold over the internet. Three plywood prototypes were made to perfect the design before cutting the costly Starboard. The seats are cut from 3/4 inch Starboard rather than 1/2 as used in the "store bought" seats. The stainless steel cup holders came from a casino supply place. The seats tilt up and aft to access the stern cleats. The pipe insulation foam shown on the upper rail is temporary for testing.

Gusto's interior is now setup for comfortable overnight trips for 2-4 friendly folks. What was once a portside quarter berth had previously been converted into an enclosed storage locker and small seat. Following our acquisition, the galley and head were completely rebuilt after taking the old interior down to the bare hull. Usable storage space doubled, and is much more dry and useful. The dinette table was replaced with a smaller, folding design that make the seating more accessible. The aft section of the cabin floor was raised about 2.5 inches to provide a 4'x4' flat floor surface, replacing the very narrow space of the original design. This modification sacrificed some headroom, but greatly improved the utility of the galley by allowing room for 2 people to comfortably stand while another person passes through. No more galley gymnastics are required.

Mechanical equipment includes a 30 gallon pressure water system (with fresh water flush for the Lavac toilet), and 6 gallon sewage holding tank. Fun stuff includes a CD changer with 4 speaker stereo, and AC/DC refrigeration. A microwave oven and 10,000 BTU air conditioner extend dockside leisure time.

Nearly all AC and DC wiring has been replaced, including 2 new DC distribution panels with metering, and a separate AC panel. Galvanic isolation on the 30 amp shore power connection helps reduce electrolysis. Several AC outlets and DC "lighter plug" sockets were installed at convenient locations throughout the boat. Several interior lights have been fitted with auxiliary internal red LEDs for very low power area lighting. A removable lightning ground system was devised for quick-attachment to the base of the mast, with the electrode going over the side on a large flexible cable.

A "Mighty-Dry" dehumidifier was permanently installed under a dinette seat. It is powered through a thermostat that prevents operation when it's either too hot or too cold, and also cuts power when the 12 volt power ventilation system is blowing through one of the head's cabintop vents. This system keeps the interior dry, and also prevents it from getting hotter than the outside air temperature when the boat is closed up.

DC power is provided by separate Engine and House banks, each having 2 switchable batteries with ample capacity. Separate 20 amp AC chargers are provided for each bank. The two banks can be switched into parallel for engine charging, and for emergency starting or operation of DC appliances.

The Bristol 34 has proven to be a very suitable boat for our purposes. Although her design is outdated, and her varnished teak demands loving care, Gusto often receives complements from owners of more modern boats that (to me) look like big white Clorox bottles. Gusto is a charming example of a classic Halsey Herreshoff design.

Stop by Pier 6 Slip 12 of the Orleans Marina if you are in the neighborhood. Or drop me an email to arthur "at" artzat.com.

 

Revised: 11/16/2007