Bristol27.com » Hull #265

Hull #265 - Dulcimer

[Website Note: Steve reached out looking for any information on the current status of Bristol 27 Hull #265, last named “Dulcimer”. Bristol27.com had no known record of the boat. If you are the current owner of Hull #265, would you kindly reach out to share details on your boat?]

Quick Facts

Model: Dinette
Year Built:
Hull #: 265
Vessel Name: Dulcimer (Last Known)
Owner Name: Steve Norwood (Last Known)
Hailing Port: Melbourne, FL, USA (Last Known)

Sailboat History

12/9/25 – Steve Norwood was the first owner of Bristol 27, hull 265. He met Mr. Clint Pearson and toured the factory the next day when she was nearing completion. Steve had her shipped to Puerto Rico and 3 years later, sailed her to Florida, selling her in the Melbourne area. Her name was “Dulcimer.”

Owner Comments

12/10/25 – I [Steve] would love to know what became of her. I sailed her as far as Granada and crossed the Anagada Passage to St Martin several times. Never any problems. She had the dinette table layout. Great boat. Five knots regardless. No inboard and I almost never used or needed the outboard which was stowed anyway. Oh, I lived aboard her the whole time. I was a middle school teacher at Roosevelt Roads Navy Base in PR.

I am now 80–it surprises even me—but I can now say my years sailing the Dulcimer were the most glorious, adventurous, and even though I didn’t think about it at the time, the most fun-filled and rewarding years of my life. Many skippers seeing me at the dock or wherever would tell me how good it was that I was doing that (sailing) while I was young. Comments were also made by skippers on much bigger sailing yachts that my 27 footer (with a tiller) was real sailing.

I also want to pass on, that as I look at various sailboats on YouTube or wherever and window shop on what would be my next choice— like a Hallberg-Rassy 62’ haha)—I would still insist on a full keel with attached rudder. Speed is relative and would definitely not be an issue when you’re fighting for your life in a storm, among many other reasons and benefits. Unless racing, if one is in a hurry, hop on a plane I say. :-). I also want stern overhang and a raked, nautical bow.

So [we] have a classic, one of the best Bristols ever built. (When I was at the factory, I went aboard one of three they were building, a 42 foot, I think, a new design, oh my gosh…).