Welcome
Gusto is a well maintained 1972 Bristol 34 located at Orleans Marina. She’s a “good old boat” from the “Classic Plastic” period that often encourages shouts of “That’s a beautiful boat” from Blue Crab and Landry’s.
Gusto is an ideal boat for the type of sailing most people in New
Orleans really do---day and evening cruises on the Lake with just
yourself or a few friends. She is rigged for solo sailing but can
comfortably accommodate a crew of 6. The setup time from parking
lot to sailing is 10 minutes, and on return you are back in your car
5 minutes after docking. Gusto won’t do 5 knots in a 4 knot breeze,
but she will carry you safely and easily in any type of weather you
dare to challenge. The majority of renovations and maintenance
(other than bottom jobs) since 2002 has been done by the owner.
General info:
LOA 34’ LWL 26’ Beam 10’-5” Draft 5’-6”
Displacement approx. 11,500 lbs, Ballast approx. 4,500 lbs.
Designed by Halsey Herreshoff, built in Bristol RI in 1972
Hull #37 of approximately 70 boats built between 1970 and 1978
USCG documented #566648
Notable features:
Solid fiberglass hull, re-bonded and screwed to deck every 6-8
inches in 2002
Fin keel design with fully encapsulated lead ballast drawing only 5’-6”
(for bump-free sailing in the lake)
Roller furling headsail and main
Nine foot cockpit with oversized teak backrests and cushions (seats
6 comfortably)
Edson pedestal steering with 28” wheel with engine controls and
sunbrella cover
Rayarine Wheelpilot (new drive in 2020)
Standing height bimini over entire cockpit
Sunbrella awning (8.5’ x 9.5’) from mast to cockpit
Two removable stern seats on aft pulpit
Small and large tables that mount on teak cup holder attached to
pedestal
16,000 BTU air conditioning/heating system, new in 2020
Refrigerator 2.7 cu-ft, runs on 12V & 120V
Comfortable and practical interior for day cruises, occasional
overnight trips, and dock-sitting with friends when the weather
isn’t cooperating
Rigging and Sail Handling:,
Roller furling headsail and main.
Heavy duty mast and rigging (compared to modern boats) including
double lower shrouds
All sail control lines operated from the
helm
Self-tailing headsail winch aft of the helm---no guests have to move
for sail handling
Dual groove roller furling headsail with integral halyard---no
problematic upper swivel to create “halyard wrap”
Full length track on boom for mainsail clew adjustment, and for
control during furling
Winch for mainsail outhaul
Extra length spare halyard with shackles on both ends (for use with
Lifesling)
Extra length on sheets and outhaul to allow adjustment and reversing
to overcome wear points
Ratchet block on headsail furling line
Engine:
Westerbeke W27 4 cylinder diesel with relatively new starter, heat exchanger, alternator, raw water pump, and coolant pump
Dual engine start/stop stations (cockpit near the helm, and near the engine itself for maintenance)
Racor filter ahead of main engine filter
Engine compartment blower with Manual-Off-Auto control
Secondary alarm system for high exhaust temperature and fuel filter differential pressure
Three bladed “Sailor” prop within the rudder skeg – this boat never catches crab traps!
Zinc fish anode mounted in lazarette for easy deploy
Approx 30 gal SS fuel tank
Separate fuse panel in engine compartment
Fuel use: approx. 1 quart per hour at 1800 RPM
Cabin Features:
Optimized redesign of galley, dinette, and head improved on original design
Teak bulkheads and cabinet trim
Lift-off teak companionway doors
16,000 BTU Dometic air conditioner system– new in 2020 ($2K just for the parts!)
New air condition cabinet with lift-off doors for easy maintenance and access to stbd chain plates
Norcold NR751BB 2.7 cu-ft refrigerator operates from 120V and 12VPressure water system with faucets in galley and head, approx 30 gal water tank in bilge
“Shore water” connection to continuously feed pressure water system at the dock
Electric sea water pump and faucet in galley
Pressurized fresh water toilet flush backed up with manual seawater pump
Holding tank for head with diverter valve
“Tall kitchen” type trashcan built into the galley counter top (more useful than you might think!)
Cushions and wood filler pieces for V berth
Cushions to convert dinette to double berth (if original table re-installed)
Single burner propane swing stove (easily stored when not used)
Microwave oven
Enclosed storage spaces throughout the boat---zero wasted space
Dinette table with 2 folding leaves (easy to get in and out)
Dehumidifier drains to galley sink
New plexiglass port lights (windows) in 2021
Boat handling and deck equipment:
Lightweight aluminum anchor mounted on bow pulpit for quick deployment
Stainless steel anchor chain and very long anchor rode with length markers
Small “lunch hook” anchor for casual stops
Swim ladder in stern pulpit
Collapsible boat hook mounts in cockpit hatch
Ensign on varnished teak staff w/ sunbrella cover
A few bumpers, many extra lines, a few extra blocks, and misc boat stuff
Electronics & Instruments:
Raymarine Wheelpilot – (new wheel drive unit in 2021)
Raymarine Depth and Speed indicators (new in 2020)
Handleld VHF radio with masthead antenna
Handheld Garmin GPS with helm mount
Stereo CD/Bluetooth with 2 cabin and 2 cockpit speakers. Cockpit volume control knob
Compass on Edson pedestal
Inclinometer
Electrical Systems:
30A shore power system with circuit breaker panel including reverse polarity trip
Galvanic isolator on ground to shore power
Six 120V GFCI outlets
Promarine battery charger (new in 2020) wired for 1 start battery and 2 house batteries (only one house battery currently installed)
Two 12V circuit breaker panels
Four-way selector switch (Both-2-1-Off) for house batteries
Four-way selector switch (Both-House-Engine-Off) for engine starter circuit (allows starting engine with house battery, or charging house batteries with alternator).
Battery status monitor for start and house battery banks
Dual electric bilge pumps with Man-Off-Auto float switches
LED navigation lights on bow
Foredeck and steaming light on mast
Some cabin lights modified to have an additional red LED bulb
12V “cigarette lighter” sockets in cockpit and cabin
50' shore power cable (2x25')
Safety Equipment:
Double lifelines with two gates fitted with pelican hooks
Six orange life vests (basic USCG requirement) stored in A/C compartment
Handheld 12V searchlight with power socket on engine 12V system
New fire extinguishers in 2022 to comply with revised USCG requirements
Life sling permanently installed in port side cockpit hatch
Manual Whaler bilge pump at helm station
USCG approved battery powered signal “flare” – no need for traditional pyro flares
Misc. additional stuff:
Note: some items aren't currently in use or fully operational:
TickTack wireless wind indicator (works most of the time, but sometimes loses the signal)
Original dinette table that converts to double bunk (not installed)
Signed and framed illustration of original New Canal Lighthouse (my wife might not let this go with the boat)
Quick-connect lightning protection electrode and cable
Spinnaker pole and chocks
Spare 24" Edson Wheel (if you prefer a smaller wheel in the cockpit)
Spare engine fluids (oil, coolant, transmission) and filters, prop zincs, etc.
Used engine parts, most are either usable or can be refurbished
Heavy duty traveler for mid-boom sheeting (was replaced by a 6 part bridle)
Anchor light (installed but not wired)
Supply of outdated (but still mostly usable) USDG required pyro flares
Extra winch handles
Collection of sailing related books in the “ships library”
Small shop vacuum
120V fan
Set of basic hand tools
50 foot water hose
Original wood tiller and bronze tiller head
Special bonus: about 100 pristine issues of Good Old Boat magazine, and 2 CD's of magazine articles.
-end- edit Apr 28 2022