Bristol 35.5 Buyer's Guide
The Bristol 35.5 has remained a fixture of the used cruising market since Bristol Yachts introduced her in late 1977, building her as a conservative, traditionally structured 35-foot cruiser in both fin-keel and centerboard forms until the marque closed its doors. Ted Hood's design still draws steady interest among buyers who want a solid-glass hull with real wood structure and a livable interior, and the boats hold their value well enough that a careful survey matters more than a quick price comparison.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most examples follow the standard arrangement: a forward stateroom with a roomy v-berth, an adequately sized head with shower aft of it, opposing settees in the main saloon with pull-out berths, and a port-side quarter berth and navigation station aft. The galley sits aft to starboard with unusually generous counter space and a large insulated ice chest. Centerboard versions carry the "C" suffix and a board controlled by a coachroof winch, while the keel model draws nearly two feet more. A few boats were delivered with pilot berths, but those are the exception rather than the rule.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, a typical 35.5 will commonly carry a dodger, bimini, chartplotter, autopilot, and radar as standard cruising kit, with hot water and AIS often seen as well. For a buyer, the meaningful upgrades tend to cluster around power and energy—solar and inverter appear as less common owner additions that can signal a self-sufficient cruiser—while a spinnaker is a frequent owner upgrade that suits the boat's light-air appetite without overpowering her. Air conditioning shows up least often and is worth verifying against the narrow engine compartment before counting on it.
What to Inspect
The centerboard installation is the headline known issue: with the board fully down the tip may move three inches or more side to side and the board commonly twists about three degrees in the trunk, though failures beyond broken pennants are rare and Bristol modified the board after only a few early boats anchor. Engine access is poor for routine work—the narrow compartment sits under the cockpit behind the companionway steps, reached only by removing drawers and a heavy step panel from the front or a quarter-berth panel to port—so budget for any service labor accordingly anchor. Otherwise, sound secondary bonding and a solid-glass hull mean structural surveys on these boats tend to come back clean.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Bristol 35.5s turn up most often in the United States and Mexico. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm which board configuration you are buying and check the trunk play; budget for awkward engine access on any service; verify the centerboard cable enclosure is intact; and treat solar, inverter, or air conditioning as bonuses rather than expectations. A clean, well-equipped example remains one of the more sensible traditional cruisers in her size range.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Bristol 35.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $39,500 | — |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $33,750 | -14.6% |
| Jul 25 | 7 | $24,500 | -27.4% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $39,900 | +62.9% |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $47,750 | +19.7% |
| Oct 25 | 5 | $80,000 | +67.5% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $39,500 | -50.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $44,000 | +11.4% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $27,500 | -37.5% |
| Apr 26 | 7 | $38,000 | +38.2% |
| May 26 | 9 | $35,900 | -5.5% |
| Jul 26 | 5 | $27,500 | -23.4% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $38,250 | +39.1% |
Where they're listed
Bristol 35.5 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 37 (97.4%), followed by Mexico.
Country view
38 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,000 | 37 | 10 | 97.4% |
| Mexico | $39,500 | 1 | 0 | 2.6% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 355 | 35.42' | $ 199,000 | 81 | 24 |
| Bristol 35.5You are here | — | $ 38,000 | 39 | 10 |
| Little Harbor 40 | 40.16' | $ 44,900 | 35 | 11 |
| Dufour 35 | 35.25' | $ 30,000 | 26 | 1 |
| Bristol 41.1 | 41.14' | $ 75,000 | 26 | 11 |
| Bristol 38.8 | 38.25' | $ 62,900 | 16 | 1 |
| Bristol 29.9 | 29.92' | $ 12,000 | 13 | 3 |
| Bristol 35 | 34.65' | $ 23,200 | 7 | 2 |