Design and Construction
Camper & Nicholson offered the 476 in aft- and center-cockpit layouts, as sloop or ketch, with three keel choices anchor. The deck mold came in three parts, the forward section serving both models and the first feet of the center cockpit anchor. The hull carries a single lead casting inside the molded fin keel, with no keel bolts to maintain anchor; the lead will not corrode and split the keel, though internal ballast may take water if damaged in rocky ground anchor. A skeg-hung rudder completes the steering gear.
Rig and Handling
The double-headsail plan was not a true cutter rig, and several boats had in-mast furling mains anchor. Halyards and reefing led to the mast, asking crew to work forward. At 33,000 pounds with 13,000 pounds ballast, the 476 shows considerable load-carrying capacity anchor.
Accommodations
The cockpit versions share interiors except the aft cabin anchor. The aft-cockpit boat has a small secondary cockpit with its own companionway and master stateroom by the dodger, plus saloon and pilot sea berths anchor. Center-cockpit engines sit under the cockpit for easy access; aft-cockpit engines stay forward of the aft cabin anchor.
History and Later Builds
C&N built eleven 476s before selling tooling around 1990 to Colvic Craft, which built several Bluewater 476s likely differing in finish anchor.
The Verdict
A low-production configurable cruiser with thoughtful encapsulated ballast and center-cockpit engine access; each example needs individual finish judgment.
Pros
- Multiple cockpit, rig, keel configurations
- Encapsulated lead ballast, no keel bolts
- Center-cockpit engine access
- Strong load capacity
Cons
- Internal ballast water-ingress risk in rock
- Mast-led halyards
- Few hulls; Colvic finish differs
