bayfield yachts history

Bayfield 32

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• Sailboat Guide

Bayfield 25

Bayfield 25 is a 25 ′ 0 ″ / 7.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Ted Gozzard and built by Bayfield Boat Yard Ltd. between 1975 and 1984.

• 2 / 2 Solomons, MD, US 1980 Bayfield 25 $3,850 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Originally this model was called the BAYFIELD 23. In 1975 it is advertised as the BAYFIELD 23/25. A year later it is called the BAYFIELD 25.

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• Bayfield 40

The Bayfield 40 Sailboat

The Bayfield 40 is a classic Canadian sailboat that was designed by Ted Gozzard for cruising and first built in 1982.

It features a staysail ketch rig, a clipper bow with a bowsprit, a long keel, and a spacious interior. The boat is known for its traditional style, solid construction and comfortable sailing performance.

Published Specification for the Bayfield 40

Underwater Profile:  Long keel

Hull Material:  GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall:  45'6" (13.9m) including bowsprit

Waterline Length:  30'6" (9.3m)

Beam:  12'0" (3.7m)

Draft:  4'11" (1.5m)

Rig Type:  Staysail ketch

Displacement:  21,000lb (9,526kg)

Designer:  Hayden Gozzard

Builder:  Bayfield Boatyard (Canada)

Year First Built:  1982

Published Design Ratios for the Bayfield 40

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:  16.9

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio:  35.1

3. Displacement/Length Ratio:  291

4. Comfort Ratio:  30.7

5. Capsize Screening Formula:   1.8

read more about these all-revealing numbers...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Bayfield 40

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.9 suggests that the Bayfield 40 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 35.1 means that the Bayfield 40 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze. 

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 291, tells us the Bayfield 40 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 30.7 suggests that crew comfort of a Bayfield 40 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Bayfield 40 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Any Questions?

Is the Bayfield 40 still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

The Bayfield 40 is no longer in production. The design was built by Bayfield Boat Yard in Clinton, Ontario, Canada, starting in 1984, but the company went out of business in 1988 after a factory fire which ended production. It is estimated that about 50 Bayfield 40s were built.

What is the history of the builders of the Bayfield 40 and is the company still in business?

Bayfield Boat Yard was founded by Hayden Gozzard in 1970. He started by building small sailboats and gradually expanded to larger models. He hired his brother Ted Gozzard as the chief designer in 1973. The company produced several popular designs, such as the Bayfield 25, 29, 32, and 36, before launching the Bayfield 40 in 1984.

What sailplan and rig options are available for the Bayfield 40?

The Bayfield 40 has a staysail ketch rig, with aluminium spars, a clipper bow with a bowsprit and a raised counter transom. The sail area is 794ft 2 (74m 2 ), with a mainsail area of 280ft 2 (26 m 2 ) and a jib/genoa area of 514 ft 2 (48 m 2 ). The rig is designed to provide good balance and stability in various wind conditions.

What is the Bayfield 40 like to sail?

The Bayfield 40 is a comfortable and easy-to-sail boat that can handle various sea conditions. It has a moderate displacement of 21,000 lb (9,525 kg) and a high ballast ratio of 39%. It has a low sail area/displacement ratio of 16.9, which means it is not very fast or responsive, but it is stable and seaworthy. The boat has a long waterline of 30.50 ft (9.30 m) and a beam of 12.00 ft (3.66 m), which give it good hull speed and roominess. The boat is fitted with a Yanmar diesel engine of 44 hp (33 kW) or a Westerbeke diesel engine of 52 hp (39 kW) for docking and manoeuvring.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Bayfield 40?

The average cost of a secondhand Bayfield 40 depends on the condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to some online listings, the price range for a used Bayfield 40 is between $60,000 and $100,000 USD.

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the Bayfield 40?

Ted Gozzard, the designer of the Bayfield 40, has created several other sailboats, such as the Gozzard 31, Gozzard 36, Gozzard 37, Gozzard 41, Gozzard 44 and Gozzard 53. He also founded his own company, Gozzard Yachts, in 1984, which is still in operation today.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge,  we believe them to be accurate.

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Bayfield Owners Association

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Folks, Has anyone got a link to the Bayfield Owners Association? They used to reside on Sailnet to my recollection. Any info is appreciated. In the meantime I'll try a Google. FYI, I am preparing to put my 1988 32C up for sale. Thanks for your feedback, Rob Laird Proteus  

There is a Bayfield Owners Group on Yahoo. There seems to quite a following with these boats. They surely are pleasing to the eye.  

There is a Bayfield named Proteus on the hard at my marina (Bohemia Vista) I have been admiring it all year and was going to ask Kurt who owned it and if it was for sale. What a shame for such a beautiful boat to not be in the water!  

how do you determine the production number of a Bayfield from the hull serial number on the stern/  

Aside from Yahoo...you might try the e-mail owners lists which can be found under the resources menu at the top of the page. And: HINs by the Numbers ​ A typical hull identification number, or HIN, consists of 12 letters and numbers, as in ABC12345D404 . Here's what the letters and numbers mean: ABC : the U.S. Coast Guard-assigned Manufacturer Identification Code. The Coast Guard's MIC database is online at Manufacturers Identification Code (MIC) Database Bayfield is BAY or ZBY 12345 : the hull serial numbers assigned by the manufacturer, may be a combination of letters and numbers; the letters "I," "O" and "Q" are excluded because they could be mistaken for numbers. D : the month of certification or manufacture. Indicates the month in which construction began, with "A" being January and "L" being December. In our example, "D" means April. 4 : the year of certification or manufacturer. Indicates the last digit of the year, in this case, 2004, the boat was built. 04 : the boat's model year.  

rlaird said: Folks, Has anyone got a link to the Bayfield Owners Association? They used to reside on Sailnet to my recollection. Any info is appreciated. In the meantime I'll try a Google. FYI, I am preparing to put my 1988 32C up for sale. Thanks for your feedback, Rob Laird Proteus Click to expand...

bayfield 40 hull ID could anyone tell me what # hull this boat is the # is ZBY400371485  

The Bayfield Owners group is located on yahoo now and is pretty active. The link bayfieldyachts : Bayfield Yacht Owner Resources will take you there. Good luck selling your B-32. Tod  

"could anyone tell me what # hull this boat is the # is ZBY400371485?" 40', hull #37, built 1985.  

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Our History

A long and colorful history.

The Chequamegon Bay area had a long and colorful history well before the settlement of Bayfield. Before the time of written records, Ojibwe (Chippewa) legends have placed this group and others, including the Huron, Ottawa and Sioux, here sometime prior to European discovery.

The 1850s were a turning point for the Chequamegon Bay region. In 1855, the “Soo” locks at Sault St. Marie opened, allowing for the first large ships to enter Lake Superior. In addition, these years were a time of optimism and available credit. Men began to dream of great inland harbor cities that would rival Chicago as port terminals for Midwest grain and lumber.

Early Bayfield was dependent on lake transportation to provide goods and passage to the outside. Boats stopped running in December or January when the Chequamegon Bay froze over. Ice boats might carry travelers to La Pointe or Ashland over the long winter. Service resumed only after four or five months when the spring thaw melted the icy waters.

When the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railroad finally steamed into Bayfield in 1883, lumbering and fishing were already established. Brownstone quarrying and tourism were just beginning to gather strength. The population reached 500. Bayfield was becoming civilized, boasting schools, churches, lodges, hotels, and boarding houses. An impressive sandstone courthouse was constructed the same year to herald the booming quarry industry and the village’s passage into maturity.

Custom or Production

Building a custom boat or a production boat.

Having the distinction of being one of the more senior players in this industry, Ted Gozzard started designing and building cruising yachts since the early 1970s when he founded Bayfield Boat Yard. Before he sold his shares in that company in 1979, BBY had delivered well over 1500 full keeled cruisers (from 25′ to 40′) sailing the oceans of the world. Like any modern production facility, they were able to produce over a boat a week of any given model. The shop was organized with production lines, all with dedicated crews working on specific tasks. The use of jigs and patterns allowed workers to focus on the job at hand which meant that, although they might be well trained, they did not require a high skill level. This reduced the labor cost which in turn reduced the manufacturing costs. But as with any production shop, it meant all the boats had to be the same, exactly the same, and there was no ability to change or modify the product without significantly increasing the cost. We know all about the advantages and the disadvantages of production boat building because we have done it… 30 years ago.

The Start of Gozzard Yachts

By 1980 Ted formed Gozzard Yachts to free himself of the full production encumbrances. With this new company came the freedom to build a boat without having to please a sales department (dealer network) or worry about harming (by outdating) an existing product line. These new boats were properly defined as semi-custom as limited production tooling was used to build the hulls and decks. But this time there would be no predefined interior design or equipment specification so the customer had the luxury of having the boat built any way they wanted. Of course this came with a price that was significantly higher than that of a full production boat but by using a blend of limited production and full custom (which became our trademark) we were able to provide far more choice at a cost well within the reach of our customers.

Including our Customers in the Process

Today our product is targeted towards a small segment of the market… after all if you are among those who are happy with an ordinary boat, why would you pay to have it custom built when it is available at a significantly lower cost elsewhere. Our customers tend not to be satisfied with what someone else thinks is good enough for them and they do not like to be qualified or bracketed by demographics. Instead, by having a boat built semi-custom, you can choose to mount the microwave here or there or not at all… you can arrange the freezer storage any way you want… you can make the shower stall bigger or smaller or move it… you can change the size of the berths… you decide what head room is appropriate… you can select a particular equipment manufacturer or leave it as specified… and you can have all the options installed while the boat is being built rather than just being tacked on top or retrofitted to an already finished product by non factory personnel.

And it is more than just being able to select any hull color (and believe it or not, that is still a real problem for some manufacturers), you get to have input… a say in how the boat works for you. You can have the boat fitted to you and your requirements. It is a big investment and you deserve to have it match your needs.

These boats take a lot of time to build with even our smallest taking almost 9 months to complete. Each boat is built specifically for the client. The process starts by sitting down to discuss all the things that are important to you and what the intended use of the boat will be. You do this with the builder and the designer, not a representative. And you don’t have to be all that experienced to know what you want… with a design portfolio and building experience that extends back over 20 years, we can make suggestions and bring to your attention any potential problem because we have seen them all before – in real life in a real boat. We can even mock up parts of the interior full scale to allow the owner to see if it works or feels right before committing it to final construction.

You must start by understanding a yacht is full of compromises. For example, moving the head forward might make for some interesting interior options but it will render the head difficult to use in a seaway. Knowing and understanding these compromises will allow you to develop the boat and select the best set of compromises that fit your intended use… It will allow you to build the best boat possible for your needs.

Yet some still believe they can buy a production boat, one that doesn’t meet all their needs and is less expensive, and then modify it or upgrade it later. They can try… but sadly, and more often than not, they end up spending far more trying to get what they wanted rather than if they had just done it correctly from the start. Inevitably modifications and upgrades are always plagued with trouble as they can never be fully integrated… to be correctly thought out which can only be done from the start. Things like ease of access and ease of maintenance are not just a convenience; they can also develop into significant safety issues.

In conclusion, having a boat built for you will mean it can be far more comfortable and useable… especially for you. The only reason you would not choose a custom boat is the cost and we think we have that covered.