Bristol 45.5 CC Buyer's Guide
The Bristol 45.5 center-cockpit is a Ted Hood-designed bluewater cruiser built by Bristol Yachts from 1979 to 1989, and on the used market it is the center-cockpit version that buyers will most often encounter. With a keel-centerboard hull, a 34,660-pound displacement, and a 15,000-pound lead ballast, it is a serious offshore boat rather than a light-displacement coastal cruiser, and its reputation for heavy build quality and good heavy-weather handling makes it a candidate worth a careful survey.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most examples afloat are the center-cockpit (CC) arrangement, which separates the forward owner's space from aft guest quarters and is prized for both privacy and a gentler motion underway. The aft-cockpit variant exists but turns up far less often, so a buyer set on that layout should expect a longer search. Either way, the boat's 13-foot-2-inch beam and 37-foot-3-inch waterline give a roomy hull whose centerboard allows a 4.92-foot minimum draft for gunkholing and an 11-foot maximum when sailing hard on the wind.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The design's offshore intent means certain upgrades carry real weight for used buyers. Power and energy systems such as a generator and watermaker matter most for liveaboard range, while canvas and sail-handling improvements like a furling genoa and a rebuilt ketch rig option speak to passage-making ease. Navigation refreshes and comfort items should be judged on condition rather than assumed.
What to Inspect
The keel-centerboard trunk and its pivot hardware deserve close attention, since the shallow-draft versatility of Hood's arrangement depends on a centerboard that cycles cleanly between its up and down positions. The hull and deck should be checked for age-related issues typical of a 1979–1989 build, and the sloop or ketch rigging reviewed for fatigue after decades of service.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Availability must be judged through normal brokerage channels rather than any stated stronghold. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Favor a surveyed center-cockpit example unless an aft cockpit is specifically wanted
- Verify centerboard operation and trunk sealing
- Confirm rig type (sloop standard, ketch optional) and sail condition
- Budget for energy and water upgrades if offshore cruising is planned
- Expect a 1979–1989 build needing age-appropriate systems renewal
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 45 | 45.25' | $ 135,000 | 16 | 6 |
| Bristol 38.8 | 38.25' | $ 62,900 | 16 | 1 |
| Dufour Classic 45 | 45.92' | $ 107,875 | 10 | 1 |