Ladyship started life in 1971 as a twin-keel Westerly Pageant 23, exported from England to a Westerly dealer on the lower Chesapeake Bay. She moved from there to an owner in Virginia and somehow ended up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she had a couple of owners. We suspect she might have been sunk at some point, possibly the victim of a hurricane, as we found hidden mud debris inside her that could not have arrived there otherwise.
When we found her, she had been confiscated for non-payment of yard storage and was in a salvage yard about to be scrapped. We bought her through an eBay ad. She had no trailer, but had her mast and boom, albeit in sorry shape.
I had been intrigued with twin-keelers for quite a while after reading about Lord Riverdale’s exploits with Bluebird of Thorne , his twin-keel ocean racer. I then read a treatise by Bray Yacht Design in Canada that further served to kindle my interest. This is perhaps the best argument in their favor and is well worth reading: Bray Yacht Design – Twin Keels .
From a practical standpoint, the Westerly Pageant also boasted interior accommodations still unmatched in any other 23-foot sailboat. It has more than 6 feet of standing headroom below and an enclosed head. The storage capacity is also comparatively large and, while not ever considered a “racer,” it was built in the early days of fiberglass boat construction under Lloyd’s Registry inspection. If anything, it is overbuilt by today’s standards and very solid, if comparatively heavy. My challenge was to see if we could substantially improve the performance of this very roomy, comfortable, but rather stodgy old British design and still retain most of her original character and benefits that are so enduring.
Major surgery, we cut our the aft cockpit seats and cut a hole in the hull
Making a plan
I retained the services of Cortland Steck, the same naval architect we had worked with before on our Alubat modifications (Good Old Boat, March 2013). Cort, who had been with Hunter Marine for quite a while, and I worked together to come up with this makeover of our Pageant 23. We decided to call her a Mark II version, as her changes were substantial enough to almost make her a different boat from the original Laurent Giles design. Westerly built 551 Pageants over about a nine-year production span.
There are always things that hindsight would dictate be done differently, but for the most part, we consider the project to be quite successful and the boat has performed well over several cruises and even in a regatta where she garnered second place on elapsed time in a field of about eight other sailboats of various designs, some of them much larger.
As well as generally cleaning and refinishing the boat, we made a number of major changes.
The rig was enlarged a little to add a bowsprit and a removable inner forestay. The new bowsprit is made of ipe, a hardwood that is considerably stronger than teak. An inner “soft” forestay now carries a small soft-luff roller-furling (non-reefing) lapper jib that is sheeted to new inboard tracks on top of the cabin. It can be easily removed and stored below when we want to use the larger 130 percent genoa on the headstay roller furler. We use the inner headsail in heavier wind conditions rather than reefing the big genoa, as it has a more efficient shape and can be sheeted closer inboard for higher pointing ability. It replaces the original baby stay, which is no longer needed since we added swept-back spreaders and moved the shroud chainplates aft. Sail area has increased a little as a result and the original tendency to carry too much weather helm has been eliminated by the bowsprit.
Hunter Riddle of Schurr Sails in Pensacola, Florida, designed and built the new loose-footed mainsail and both headsails. As cruisers, we do not normally carry a spinnaker, but the boat is rigged for one.
A new mast tabernacle was fabricated that allows the mast to be stored on the boat when in trailer mode. The pivot point is above the boom, which stays mounted to the tabernacle and does not need to be removed for travel. The original Proctor mast was reused, stripped of its gold-colored anodizing. It was refurbished with new swept-back spreaders that take the shrouds to new chainplates about a foot aft of their original position.
We rebuilt the aft end of the cockpit
I’m a big fan of a sturdy arch assembly on the stern, and I’ve used one on both of our boats. In each case they were built strong enough to serve as the structural attachment point for a split backstay. In Ladyship’ s case, the arch also holds an elevated top-mounted traveler that controls the boom and the mainsheet. The traveler and mainsheet lines are led down the sides of the arch into the cockpit through blocks and cam cleats. The top of the arch is a fine place for mounting larger solar panels, and Ladyship carries two 100-watt panels as well as antennas on fold-down mounts for travel. The arch also supports the boom and mast when the mast is down and Ladyship is in travel mode on her trailer.
The sides of the arch structure carry a swiveling outboard motor carrier for the dinghy, a hard-case LifeSling MOB (man overboard) device, a center-mounted block and tackle for lifting the main propulsion outboard motor out of its well high enough for service, and a solid attachment point for the lifelines. The “roof” provided by the arch also serves as a connector point for a canvas panel (removable and without any frame) that extends overhead coverage all the way aft from the dodger. All this makes the cockpit very protected and secure. LED lights mounted under the arch illuminate the cockpit at night.
The outboard motor is raised and lowered on slides inside the well.
Outboard motor
A winch powered by a 12-volt motor provides the muscle.
The most invasive and extreme departure from the original design is the use of an outboard motor in a built-in well that allows the motor to be retracted vertically with a 12-volt winch motor, thus removing all prop drag under sail. A pair of spring-loaded bomb-bay-style door panels automatically close and seal the hull aperture as the motor and prop travel upward.
In order to build the motor well, the original tiller and rudder were removed and the stern cockpit locker and a portion of the cockpit were cut away. A new vertical workboat-type tiller controls a new transom-mounted blade rudder via a line-and-block system. The use of a vertical tiller that does not sweep across the sitting area increased the usable space in the smallish and deep cockpit.
Bomb-bay doors close the motor well when the outboard is retracted. The guard around the propeller pushes the doors open when the motor is lowered.
Moving the rudder aft to the transom also required the fabrication of a new rudder mount and reinforcement of the transom to take the additional loads. The rudder’s new location places it in the propeller’s thrust stream power and makes turning in close quarters like having “power steering.”
Ladyship originally had a small Volvo MD-1 inboard diesel. The motor in use now is a 20-horsepower 4-stroke Tohatsu with a normal short shaft and a low-speed pusher prop. It has turned out to be more power than needed, but was originally selected for its larger alternator. In hindsight, I would now choose something smaller like a Yamaha 4-stroke 9.9 high-thrust motor, which would be smaller and lighter and still able to achieve hull speed. The trade-off for lower alternator output has been more than made up for by the 200 watts of solar panels we have on the stern arch.
Both sides of the new motor well are now lockers with removable tops for access. One of these lockers houses the 18-gallon gas tank and the other houses the 12-volt winch motor for the motor-lifting rig, the starting battery, and general storage for fenders and other equipment. Tracks on the tops of these lockers support removable one-person seats on each side of the center motor well.
Both of our boats have a very sturdy boarding ladder that’s permanently mounted on the stern and folds up vertically to be secured under the arch. These ladders can be deployed instantly and extend downward enough to allow the boats to be boarded easily and safely while on their trailers.
Down below, most of the original design and layout was retained. Because the boat no longer carries an inboard diesel, that space was used to install a Mermaid water-cooled air-conditioning system with vents that discharge into the saloon and, via ducting, into the V-berth area. This unit uses one of three Marelon below-the-waterline through-hulls to bring in cooling water for its compressor. As we sail mostly in southern climates, that makes Ladyship ’s interior very comfortable on hot and muggy nights in a marina. We have no AC generator, so the air-conditioning is for dockside use only. At anchor, there is usually enough breeze to keep the cabin cool.
Ladyship has a small enclosed head compartment, which now houses a marine head from SeaLand that sits atop its own gravity-fed holding tank. It has no flush plumbing to clog, just a large foot-operated ball valve. It uses a little fresh water to flush. The tank is connected to a deck pumpout with a Y-valve, so the contents can be discharged overboard via a through-hull with a 12-volt diaphragm pump where that’s legal.
The original stainless-steel freshwater tank located under the V-berth was retained with the addition of a top-mounted inspection port for cleaning. It holds about 13 gallons and is filled through a deck plate. The boat had a foot pump that fed one fixture in the galley sink from this water tank. We added a small 12-volt pressure pump to power this system. It now also supplies flushing water to the head and also to a hose bib mounted in the cockpit for rinsing things (like dogs). This hose bib can be back-fed with a hose and pressure reducer from dockside if desired.
The galley is minimal and includes a small sink with one freshwater faucet. We did replace the old countertop with a new one of Corian. For cooking, we use a non-pressurized two-burner gimbaled Origo alcohol stove. For refrigeration, we carry a single 12-volt Engel MRO40F-U1 fridge-freezer recessed into a cutout in the port quarter berth top adjacent to the galley. We use neither of our quarter berths for sleeping and they now serve for storage only. To access the aft portion of these old quarter berths more easily, we installed a pair of aluminum hatches on the cockpit seats. We installed another matching hatch on the cockpit sole for access to the bilge pumps and the air-conditioner’s cooling-water pump. There is also some storage there for a toolbox.
Ladyship’ s saloon has a new fold-up table that lowers into a double-berth position. The forward V-berths are also comparatively large and quite comfortable. We had new cushions made of 4-inch closed-cell foam covered with gray Sunbrella fabric.
The boat originally had a vinyl headliner with a foam backing that had been removed. We elected not to replace any of it, but instead we cleaned the surface and painted it with a single-part epoxy semi-gloss paint over a primer coat mixed with microsphere insulating beads.
As built, the boat had fixed saloon windows and only a pair of small round opening portlights in the head and locker areas. We removed the saloon windows and replaced them with smoke-gray Plexiglas panels that cover the entire area around the cutouts. Four new Vetus opening portlights with screens were then fitted in the Plexiglas. New round Vetus portlights were also installed forward along with a pair of rectangular side portlights for additional ventilation in the V-berth. A forward hatch over the V-berth was rebuilt, reglazed with gray Plexiglas and fitted with a solar-powered vent. New window and cabin interior trim was built of mahogany and stained to match what was left of the original interior woodwork.
The electrical system
The boat had no electrical system when we rescued her. There were remnants of old wiring that had to be removed before we completely re-wired her for both 12-volt DC and 120-volt AC circuits. Shorepower (30 amps) is brought aboard though an external plug aft that has a DEI Marine isolation device on the ground wire. The boat has several internal GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) AC sockets, and the air-conditioner has to have shorepower AC as well.
The boat has a Magnum MMS pure-sine-wave inverter/charger on the DC side that feeds a house bank of two GC-12 golf cart batteries. They give us a house capacity of 360 amp hours, which is sufficient for the electronics, Engel fridge, and all the LED lights throughout the boat.
Our electronic package includes a VHF radio and a GPS chart plotter with Wi-Fi capability. The entertainment system is a Tivoli CD player and FM-XM stereo bookshelf system mounted to the forward saloon bulkhead. The boat has active AIS (Automatic Identification System) installed and uses LED running lights. We have a tiller-pilot autopilot. The instrument package includes a conventional bulkhead compass in the cockpit and a single multi-function display head that displays information from the depth sounder and the masthead-mounted sensor for wind speed and direction.
A custom Blue Seas breaker panel controls both the AC and DC sides. The entire DC panel supply is fed through a DC-DC converter that stabilizes the 12-volt power and prevents any voltage spikes that might kill the LED lights. The boat has several internal 12-volt cigarette lighter outlets and a single fan in the V-berth. One of the 12-volt sockets has a cell phone USB charger built into it.
We use a Blue Sky Energy MPPT solar charge controller to handle the power input from our two solar panels that charge the house bank. Our charging sources for the batteries are the solar panels, the motor’s alternator output, and the Magnum inverter/charger when on shorepower.
We moved the house bank of batteries to a more amidships location and left a smaller starting battery aft for the motor. The motor is connected directly to this smaller 12-volt battery and, when it’s fully charged, the engine alternator’s output is then automatically directed to the house bank via a Balmar parasitic charger. The engine battery and the house bank are normally isolated from each other but can be combined in an emergency.
One of the cast-iron keels, the aluminum arch, and the lifelines are all electrically bonded to the mast for a lightning-discharge path to the water.
Rob cut about 6 inches off the bottom of each keel with a gas-powered concrete saw.
The sail area and the ballast/displacement ratio were recalculated to evaluate what could be safely done to improve performance. Naval architect Cortland Steck determined that our keels could be shortened by about 6 inches to give us a more favorable sail area/displacement ratio in the high teens and also to reduce wetted-surface area. These boats were over-ballasted to begin with and can benefit from some ballast removal. The specified cast iron (about 600 pounds) was removed using a gas-powered concrete saw with a diamond blade — not a job for the faint of heart!
To maintain and improve our pointing ability, we reshaped the keels’ airfoil profiles to make them slightly asymmetrical, as was originally desired in the Laurent Giles design but not implemented by Westerly due to production cost considerations. The inside surfaces of the keels were built up by about ½ inch at the apex of the chord section and the external sides were flattened some by shape sanding before all the corrosion pitting was filled. Both were then faired out and painted with an epoxy barrier. The resulting asymmetrical profile shape tends to lift the boat to weather and also reduces heeling a little.
The keels are attached to the boat with sturdy 1-inch-diameter stainless-steel bolts. We inspected them closely when we dropped the keels to clean and reseal the hull-to-keel joints with 3M 5200 and found them to be in great shape. Because the boat has no inboard engine and attendant prop shaft, Ladyship ’s bilges are normally completely dry. The air-conditioner’s condensate never gets into the bilges because it is removed by a venturi suction device powered by the water stream exiting the cooling water circuit.
Artist Bill Barnhart adds finishing touches to the crazy topsides!
Miscellaneous
The boat has an automatic 12-volt bilge pump and a manual diaphragm bilge pump with the pump handle socket in the cockpit.
Externally, we were able to repair and refurbish the original teak rubrail while using an automotive spray enamel to repaint any of the deck and topsides areas that we did not cover with Kiwi-Grip non-skid product.
A new cockpit dodger was built by JSI in Florida, who also built the stern arch and mast tabernacle. They also did the new lifelines and supplied a lot of the running rigging and new standing rigging.
We carry three anchors: a primary Bulwagga, a second claw-style on the bow, and a single smaller claw as our stern anchor. I fabricated new PVC chain pipes for the two bow anchor rodes that are now led down into a separated stowage area all the way forward under the V-berth. The rode for the stern anchor is stowed adjacent to the fuel tank locker.
We carry Ladyship on a custom aluminum tandem-axle trailer with surge brakes. The trailer has an extending tongue that allows for launching at most ramps. After the modifications to the keels, the boat now draws 3 feet and, including the trailer, weighs in at around 7,500 pounds. We pull with a GMC 2500HD diesel truck.
The hull’s paint job was done by a friend and fellow sailor we met at Lake Havasu. Bill Barnhart is an internationally recognized fine artist, painter, print maker, architectural designer, and sculptor. He’s also a fine sailor and a boat restorer of considerable skill.
Ladyship is frequently trailered, albeit behind a ¾-ton truck.
Good Old Regatta fun
Ladyship participated in the 2015 St. Petersburg Classic (Good Old Boat) Regatta, a charity event for Meals on Wheels put on every year by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and St. Petersburg Sailing Association. Bill Wright crewed for Gabi and me and we were amazed at how well Ladyship performed. We raced in the Good Old Fun class that consisted of older boats of many different designs. Our class was not under any handicap rules; the boats were placed simply on elapsed time over the usual triangular club-racing course on Tampa Bay. We came in second in a field of about eight other boats and even beat a few others on elapsed time that were in the faster handicapped classes. Most of the race was in light-air conditions in which any stock Westerly twin-keeler would have found herself barely able to finish. Many of the other boats were DNF due to light air. One skipper was certain we had our motor on — LOL. We had it fully retracted!
In Good Old Boat May 2016, Allen Penticoff reviewed the Westerly Pageant, a 23-foot twin-keel sloop built by Westerly Marine in England. The boat had been highly customized, so we cautioned readers that Ladyship , as she is named, is not representative of all Pageants. In fact, she is unique and well worked on, we thought readers would enjoy learning more about her refit from the man responsible. Here, in his own words, is Rob Hoffman’s story.
Article from Good Old Boat Magazine, May/June 2016.
About The Author
Rob Hoffman
Rob Hoffman says he’s much like his own good old boats…aging and in constant need of restoration. He learned to sail from a Cuban instructor in Guantanamo Bay while in the Navy patrolling the Windward Passage during the Cuban missile crisis. He’s hooked on restoring and sailing older sailboats.
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Westerly Sailboat Boats for sale
1972 Westerly 26 Centaur
Alderson, West Virginia
Make Westerly
Model 26 Centaur
Category Cruiser
Posted Over 1 Month
The current owner purchased in 2000 and began the 5-10 year process the restore the boat. (Fuel economy is 1 gal/hr motoring.) Due to lack of time and getting older in age - The boat has sat on land for the last 9 years. She will need some TLC to get her back up into top condition. Stock #203644 Hard to find Westerly Centaur 26 twin keel coastal cruiser! The Westerly 26 CENTAUR = Westerly's most successful model and, in anything close to this size range, the most popular British production sailboat ever. It's thought that all are bilge/twin keelers This boat was built in England for the North Sea- strong and dry and rigged for single-handed sailing. Per the boat's owner, "I've had her at 8.5kts in a 25kt nor-easter in the Gulf of Mexico w/ reefed main and working jib at 4-5' - seas on the beam - and we did just fine! She has cruised the Ohio River system, Tennessee River, Tombigbee waterway, Florida and the Keys, Atlantic coast, ICW, NC Outerbanks, Chesapeake Bay, New England, Cape Cod, Hudson River, Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, St Lawrence River, 1000 Islands, Trent-Severn Canal, Georgian Bay, North Channel in Lake Huron, Lake Erie, AND she's trailer-able." Note the the seller has a custmized flat bed trailer available to move the boat or for purchase separately. --- KEY FEATURES / BOAT INFO --- * ALL block and tackle, boom vang, shackles, lines and sheets, fenders, spare parts, and equipment, etc.. are here and included with the boat. --- MODEL OVERVIEW --- She's a bright and airy boat w/ 2 opening ports - front hatch and screen doors for the companionway. A vented anchor rode locker fwd + over a dozen storage lockers throughout the boat for gear/parts/supplies etc.. Reason for selling is getting older - time to let her go and enjoy new hobbies.
Egg Harbor, New Jersey
Classic English Westerly North Sea Fiberglass yacht, full sails and equipment, mounted on custom cradle, which is welded on to a heavy duty 4 wheeled trailer. (VIN # 1P94814D2WW51620 NJ tag # TBZ81B) Comes with extra sails ( jib-spinnaker- second main); new lines; all white naugahyde cushions; all hatches newly painted; anchor; life preservers; mooring bumpers. Check SailboatData.com for a history of the boat's design and features. It was designed by John Butler, one of the top British marine architects. This boat needs interior cleanup and is a lovely, safe, sturdy ocean-going sail boat. The fiberglass must be ground off and recoated plus exterior paint must be sanded off and replaced. There are soft spots on the deck and upper cabin exterior that need to be repaired. The custom cradle and 4 wheeled heavy duty trailer would be bonuses that would otherwise cost another $ 2000. The trailer hitch and brake lines need repair and 2 flat tires must be inflated or sealed. Call for details and access. The boat was previously owned by Ed May, Realtor @ ReMax of Ocean City. I have the Bill of Sale. Identical boat in the water in California is going for $ 25,000 Hull Type: Fin Keel Rig Type: Fractional Sloop LOA: 22.00' 16.71m LWL: 19.00' 15.79m Beam: 8.00' 12.44m Listed SA: 233 tt2 I 21.65 m2 Draft (max.) 3.50' 11.07m Draft (min.) Disp. 3240 Ibs.l1470 kgs. Ballast: 14551bs. 1660 kgs. SAlDisp: 17.07 Bal./Disp.: .45 Designer: John Butler Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK) Construct.: FG Bal. type: First Built: 1968 Last Built: 1972 # Built: 398 RIG DIMENSIONS KEY I: 26.00' 17.92m J: 8.70' 12.65m P: 26.70' 18.14m E: 9.00' 12.74m P~ E~ SPL: ISP: SA(Fore.): 113.10 ft2/10.51 m2 SA(Main): 120.15 ft2/11.16 m2 Total(calc.)SA: 233.25 ft2 I 21.67 m2 SAlDisp: 17.09 Est. Forestay Len.: 27.42' 18.36m BUILDERS (past & present) More about & boats built by: Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. DESIGNER More about & boats designed by: John A. Butler RELATED LINKS Westerly Owners Association www.westerly-owners.co.uk CALL ME @ 609-377-6650 TO DISCUSS
1974 Westerly Centaur 26' Sailboat
South Haven, Michigan
Model Centaur
Length 26.0
///trailer not included/// Titled and registered, currently sailed, beautifully maintained, and in the water. Slip is paid through October 15th, 2015, including electric, water, trash, bicycles, showers, free coffee, grills, etc. A beautiful classic sailboat, Serenity, is fully restored. This boat is ready to sail! Located in beautiful, South Haven, MI. Built in England, the Centaur is a real masterpiece and functional boat. All the teak and wood has been refinished and the brass meticulously polished. This boat is a real joy to sail and the powerful diesel (classic Volvo Penta MD 2B)is extremely reliable and comforting on the big lake. This boat is VERY roomy. It has 6' headroom in the cabin and the table coverts to a double bed. All New 2015: Bluewater cruising main sail with 2 reef points, 1 full batten, all possible bells and whistles Bluewater cruising Headsail 135% w/UV cover, luff tape, mainsail cover Cabin cushion covers (marine outdoor fabric) topside paint non slip coating cabin paint/varnish halyards & rigging as needed Keel's refinished, primed, and painted with 3 coats anti-fouling paint bottom painted with 2 coats anti-fouling paint Deck hardware removed and re-bedded (including windows) Keels re-bedded Rudder shaft bearing removed and re-bedded Drive shaft bearing removed and re-bedded VERY strong diesel engine serviced & injectors tested Fuel tank drained, cleaned, and refilled (very clean fuel!!) Interior painted Lifeline netting for small children/pets new fresh-water engine intake screen new water pump on engine new thermostat Equipment: Asymmetrical Spinnaker Roller Furling Headsail Loose-foot mainsail (the original roller furling boom is still operable) Composting Head (Johnson-type hand-pump head is out of the boat) Dockside Freshwater Filter System Foot Pump 17 gallon water tank Two Solar Panels Two NEW (2015) Marine Batteries All new wiring as needed. offshore life jackets radar deflector flare guns first aid kits fire extinguishers emergency hole plug kit 2 harnesses HUGE V-berth (I'm 6'4" and I sleep in it just fine!) Table legs sandblasted and powdercoated Charcoal cabin heater (burns natural lump charcoal, not the bricks)found at lumber stores. propane cook top electric oven 3 new solar vent/lights 2 anchors Ships clock, barometer, thermometer, oil lamp, compass V-berth dresser Cockpit cushions lifesling MOB system dock power cord bumpers, dock lines, etc. Many Other Details Have all manuals and historical documents
1973 Westerly Centaur
Jacksonville, Florida
Category Sailboats
1973 Westerly Centaur,Westerly Centaur 26, 1973 for sale. Clasic British sailboat in fair condition. Full headroom, Yanmar diesel 18 hp, enclosed head, 4 sails, full galley, etc. Moving must sale. Asking around $2800 or make an offer. Call or text at 904-631-0473, Ivan $2750, 9046310473
26 FT SAILBOAT WESTERLY CENTAUR
Beaufort, South Carolina
1973 26 ft Westerly Centaur for sell in great condition. The boat runs perfectly and is ready to sail. Has a strong Yanmar diesel inboard engine, tiller, three jibs, one main sail, cushions, bimini top, bathroom, two quarter berths, one master berth, salon (folds into another bed), bathroom, kitchenette, dual keeled (great for shallow waters and stability), extra set of original windows, ac unit, radio, new carpet, teak wood, and interior lighting. Can be used as a live-aboard. It comfortably sleeps 4, but has the room for 6 people. Very easy to maneuver and set sail with one person. Relocating to the city so won't be able to bring it along. -Josh-
Westerly Centaur 26' sailboat, inboard diesel, with trailer
North Ridgeville, Ohio
69' Westerly Centaur 26 ft sailboat, inboard Volvo 25 h.p. diesel, twin keel, with trailer, tiller steering, 4 sails, roller furling for head sail, 6' 4'' cabin head room, sleeps 6, head , galley, ice box, restoration is 75% completed. 6500 lb heavy duty construction built to Lloyds of London standards. $6500/Possible trade for motorcycle.
Classic English Westerly North Sea Fiberglass yacht with Yachtwin (Evinrude) 6 hp outboard motor (in excellent condition), full sails and equipment, mounted on custom cradle, which is welded on to a heavy duty 4 wheeled trailer. (VIN # 1P94814D2WW51620 NJ tag # TBZ81B) Comes with extra sails ( jib-spinnaker- second main); new lines; 30 gallon wheeled plastic refuelling tank with hose and nozzle; plastic removable on-board tanks for motor; 2 batteries; all white naugahyde cushions; all hatches newly painted; anchor; life preservers; mooring bumpers. Check SailboatData.com for a history of the boat's design and features. It was designed by John Butler, one of the top British marine architects. This boat needs interior cleanup and is a lovely, safe, sturdy ocean-going sail boat. The fiberglass must be ground off and recoated plus exterior paint must be sanded off and replaced. There are soft spots on the deck and upper cabin exterior that need to be repaired. The custom cradle and 4 wheeled heavy duty trailer would be bonuses that would otherwise cost another $ 2000. The trailer hitch and brake lines need repair and 2 flat tires must be inflated or sealed. Call for details and access. The boat was previously owned by Ed May, Realtor @ ReMax of Ocean City. I have the Bill of Sale. Identical boat in the water in California is going for $ 25,000 Hull Type: Fin Keel Rig Type: Fractional Sloop LOA: 22.00' 16.71m LWL: 19.00' 15.79m Beam: 8.00' 12.44m Listed SA: 233 tt2 I 21.65 m2 Draft (max.) 3.50' 11.07m Draft (min.) Disp. 3240 Ibs.l1470 kgs. Ballast: 14551bs. 1660 kgs. SAlDisp: 17.07 Bal./Disp.: .45 Designer: John Butler Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK) Construct.: FG Bal. type: First Built: 1968 Last Built: 1972 # Built: 398 RIG DIMENSIONS KEY I: 26.00' 17.92m J: 8.70' 12.65m P: 26.70' 18.14m E: 9.00' 12.74m P~ E~ SPL: ISP: SA(Fore.): 113.10 ft2/10.51 m2 SA(Main): 120.15 ft2/11.16 m2 Total(calc.)SA: 233.25 ft2 I 21.67 m2 SAlDisp: 17.09 Est. Forestay Len.: 27.42' 18.36m BUILDERS (past & present) More about & boats built by: Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. DESIGNER More about & boats designed by: John A. Butler RELATED LINKS Westerly Owners Association www.westerly-owners.co.uk CALL ME @ 609-377-6650 TO DISCUSS REASONABLE OFFERS - LET'S TALK!
27' O'Day sloop - moving away from ocean - must sell soon :(
New York, New York
Make O'Day
Model Sloop
Category Cruiser Boats
Aquarius is easy to single hand, is great for day sailing yet sleeps five to six in four bunks (two in the fore-peak, one to two amidships, one on either side of the engine bay that has drop down sides for engine access). She's great for either a beginner or a seasoned sailor. O'Days are very popular, often raced, and there are several internet sites with information, forums and and offering of parts. I've had the pleasure of owning Aquarius for ten years now and I love her. We're relocating and after much procrastinating I realize that the ocean will just be too far way. The previous owners had her in Oyster Bay NY for many years. She is surprisingly fast yet very stable (2,230 lb lead keel) - although not suggested, we've powered through 6'-8' seas with her. She sails very close to the wind, is roomy with loads of storage, and you can stretch out on the 6'-6" cockpit seats with custom cushions (both with lockers beneath) or seat several. There's approximately 6' headroom. She has a 30 horse power Universal Atomic Four engine whereas most boats her size have either 9.9 HP outboards (which cavitate in lumpy water) or 7 to 13 HP diesels. She starts fast, runs clean. Uses about a gallon an hour. These are so popular that new parts are still made for it - even an optional hand crank! Here's one major source of new parts, service and info: moyermarine.com. She has a new jacket side plate from Moyer Marine. There's incredibly easy access to the engine from both sides and the front. There's even an engine "room" light. She has the original 12 gallon main gas tank along with the then optional 6 gallon plastic auxiliary tank (located on a shelf in the port side locker). Aquarius was made just before the cost of oil, gas and related resins sky-rocketed and caused many boat companies to skimp on construction and then to go out of business. Her hull is solid fiberglass - no balsa to worry about, and is about 3/8" thick. The prop is bronze. The prop shaft is bronze with a recent sacrificial zinc. I consider her the best year - 1975 had the best interior layout and has a lead ballasted fin keel with skeg mounted rudder (offering some protection to it). She has a 4' draft and nice freeboard which allows for usually dry sailing and calm guests.. My son worked at West Marine during school which gave us great discounts - she has new lifelines, new lazy jacks on the main boom, new main-sheet, new bronze thru-hull valves and Y-valve for the macerator toilet, new VHF radio, solar powered charger to keep her batteries charged between use, original Loran C, new coil and ignition parts, new water pump impeller, new engine exhaust pipe to the water muffler, new rubber diaphragm on her bilge pump, a cockpit tent in almost new shape, recent 12 volt receptacle, dual batteries with selector and gauge, tiller steering with nice looking new laminated wood tiller, old auto tiller, dual cockpit scuppers, cockpit cushions, anchor, teak and stainless steel swim ladder between the split stainless steel rear pulpit, auto-tiller, loads of storage, two sinks, cabin lights, electric macerator toilet between the fore peak and the main cabin with folding teak doors for privacy, curtains, cabin inclinometer, hanging locker, cockpit "table" (portable, that spans across the seats), storage under all the berths, a 12v hand vacuum, carpeting, a large ice box under a lid in the counter that drains to outside, alcohol stove plus a propane grill that attaches to hang off of the stern. There's a GPS/Depth sounder along with the original one that still works by a light revolving within its face and is entertaining to watch. There's roller furling, a wind vane and radio aerial atop the mast, stainless bow pulpit, a boom vang, a whisker pole for downwind sailing, genoa in reasonable shape, two jibs (one is older and a bit soiled), two mainsails (one also is older and a bit soiled). Two new stainless fishing rod holders, I've several life jackets, am/fm/cd stereo, full safety equipment including fire extinguishers, radar reflector ball, first aide kit, floodlight, Lifesling overboard rescue system, a flare gun, horn, boat hook etc. I can throw in a new medium sized dog life jacket if the buyer needs it. The upholstery is in very good condition. Loads of interior teak in good condition. The former owner gave us the original set of plastic dishes, silverware and ice tongs, and I'll give them to the new owner so they can stay with the boat. What I'm aware of: minor scars from dock battles etc, and a couple of soft deck spots which I was planning on repairing this season. The hardware & connections to the hull have been resealed over the years and should be checked. We had a problem with gunk in the main tank so we had it drained and we were planning on replacing it. We've been running off of the 6 gallon tank which has given us more than enough range. The sink hand pumps aren't working but I've a new electric pump to pressurize the system waiting to be installed (Whale offers refurbishment kits if you'd rather hand pump). The hatch boards are ready for replacement, last year there was minor weeping at the toilet - it may need tightening or a new gasket, and there's some minor rust here and there on the engine. Very little rain water weeps in from the ports - I do a yearly sealing but this year haven't gotten to it yet. She's a pretty dry boat. Aquarius has loads of spare parts including a new small holding tank for the toilet, new deck hardware along with a good-sized used winch for the cabin top to make single handling even easier, new electric water pump to pressurize the water system, new electric bilge pump - all ready to be installed. Obviously I love the boat - we weren't planning on moving from Brooklyn but the house that we've bought was an amazing deal in a historic small town and we realized that's where we want to semi-retire. She's out of the water in Gateway Marina (opposite Floyd Bennett Field) in Brooklyn open to the bay and to the ocean. The marina owes us a launch but it seemed to make sense to allow prospective buyers a look at her bottom. Here's more info: oday.sailboatowners.com, odayowners.com and iheartodays.com/model_oday_27 There was an ad in Craigslist for her but it was put in without my knowledge by a marina service employee. It was taken off. The boat is sold as is, and will need to be picked up or sailed from her location in Gateway Marina, Brooklyn, NY by the new owner. Storage and shipping arrangements are the responsibility of the purchaser. You may see the boat by appointment. She is fairly priced - serious offers only please. Thank you for looking. single handling, Pearson, Catalina, sloop, beginner boat, inexpensive sailboat, C&C, Hunter, Tartan, Morgan, Cal, Beneteau, Columbia, Macgregor, Irwin, Alberg, Vanguard, Islander, San Juan, Lightning, S2, Cape Dory, Hobie, Seidelmann, Tanzer, Island Packet, Herreshoff, Newport, West Wight Potter, Sunfish, Gulfstar, Laser, Ericson, Santana, Westerly, classic plastic, Contessa, stable, solid, best sailboat, day-sailer, daysailer, open water sailing, safe, high freeboard, cruiser, masthead sloop, dinghy, racer, catamaran, trimaran, diesel, sail, boat, fiberglass, awesome boat, catboat, rowboat, cheap sailboat, tender, anchor, coastal cruiser, Gulf, Bombay Clipper, Island Packet, Westerly, inboard, Universal, Universal Atomic Four, bronze prop and shaft, Nonsuch
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Yachting Monthly
Digital edition
Why twin keels are making a comeback
Theo Stocker
March 20, 2019
French boat builders are leading the way with versatile new twin keel boats. Theo Stocker went to discover the appeal and how to dry out in style
There are a significant number of sailors who prefer boats that can take the ground
Bilge keels can be a divisive topic. While it might seem like the majority of new boat buyers are in favour of fin keels, there is a significant undercurrent of sailors who prefer boats that can take the ground.
While fin keels offer a deeper centre of gravity, marginally less drag and more lateral resistance, making them theoretically better at sailing to windward, they are a relatively recent development and it’s not long since all yachts were long-keeled and could comfortably dry out on legs or alongside a harbour wall.
In the tidal waters of the UK, where drying harbours and half-tide creeks abound, the ability to dry out can vastly increase both your potential cruising grounds, and the cost and location of your home berth.
There are a wealth of shallow draft cruisers available on the second-hand market today.
Moody, Westerly and Hunter all produced enormously popular bilge keel models, while Southerly, Parker, Feeling, Ovni and Allures have been making lift keel and swing keel yachts for years.
Drying out opens up new cruising grounds
Latterly, it is the French centre-board yachts that have proved most popular for the adventurous sailor keen to get off the beaten track. That may explain why bilge keels have rather waned.
There are some new kids on the block, however, that are reinvigorating the concept.
Most notably, La Rochelle-based RM yachts offer a range of epoxy-infused plywood boats that can take the ground between their two keels and a weight-bearing rudder.
Hot on the heels of these French class leaders are Brittany yard Marée Haute and their Django brand, which produces lightweight GRP pocket cruisers from six metres up to 12 metres.
While they offer deep fin and lift keel options, it is their twin keeled versions that are currently proving most popular. So where better than Brittany to go for a test sail?
We went along to try drying out in the latest incarnation of these new and interesting twin keel cruisers.
BILGE KEEL OR TWIN KEELS?
There have been many design variations that come broadly under the term bilge keels. Strictly speaking, bilge keels are in addition to a long central keel, fitted near the bilge, where the hull turns from the bottom to the side of the boat.
Traditionally, these were non-structural, shallow and long, largely intended to reduce rolling. Twin keels, in contrast, replace the central keel entirely and the boat is structurally adapted to make these the main ballast-bearing hull appendages.
Some early twin keel moldings simply added two shallow-draught keels either side of the centreline, at right angles to the waterline and parallel to the centreline, but these boats often tended to sag to leeward when sailing upwind, and sometimes lacked the proper hull reinforcement at the attachment points.
More modern twin keels tend to be much better hydrodynamically aligned and, some argue, provide at least as much lateral resistance as a single keel, though in theory, more drag.
A boat with two keels will tend to be heavier because of the additional reinforcement needed to bear the loads of the ballast and of drying out, and will usually have a higher centre of gravity because of their reduced draught. Again, modern construction, narrow-chord keels and ballast bulbs all help to reduce these effects.
1 FINDING A SPOT
The art of drying out is all about finding the right spot to take the bottom. In an ideal world, you would find somewhere that is totally sheltered.
Luckily, when drying out you can tuck in much further than you normally would, but you don’t want any swell coming through that will lift the boat and drop her on her keels in the crucial moments that she is settling down, or refloating as the tide returns.
Most twin keelers will be designed to withstand some wave action on the keels, but you don’t want to push it. You then need to find an area of seabed that’s as level as possible. Despite the fact that you are suspending the boat’s weight at over a metre’s height, the wide set keels ensure she is very stable, so unless you are on rocks, you should be fine.
Finding a sheltered anchorage without too much swell is vital when drying out. Credit: Alamy
The type of bottom makes a difference too. Rocks will tend to be uneven and could damage the keels, although smaller stones won’t be a problem.
Gravel, sand or mud are ideal and will normally be pretty level. Hard sand is the ideal as you will then be able to walk to and from your boat with ease at low tide, but it’s worth having a pair of wellies on board for the inevitable muddy puddles that will be left as the water recedes.
Before you decide to dry out, it’s crucial to plan ahead. You might have enough water to get in on this tide, but you don’t want to get neaped if the tides are dropping off.
Similarly, have a look at the forecast. If the wind is forecast to change while you are dried out, check that the anchorage will remain protected.
Don’t forget to note the barometric pressure and general wind direction, which can have a significant impact on the predicted tidal heights.
While charts will help, local knowledge is king. Almanacs and pilot books will give useful advice for where to go, but ask other sailors too.
Locals may well know little spots that are well and truly off the beaten track.
2 ANCHORING
Once you have chosen where to dry out, you will need to anchor. If you are in an open bay with plenty of space, a single bow anchor will be fine.
It’s an odd feeling waiting for your yacht to go aground
If it is important which way you are facing when you dry out, however, such as on a sloping beach, in a narrow river, or if there are other boats around, you will need to lay both a bow and a stern anchor to control your position.
In drying harbours, there may already be moorings, often fore-and-aft, to stop the boat from swinging.
3 PREPARING THE BOAT
Fit any legs or transom support
You may need to rig extra gear to keep the boat upright. Some fin keel and lift keel boats will have drying-out legs.
Bilge keelers with reasonably long keels fore and aft will be stable enough fore and aft with no additional gear, but more modern twin-keelers often aim to create a tripod, between keels and a weight-bearing rudder or an additional leg.
The Django 770 has an adjustable transom leg. While this is weight-bearing it’s more of a stabiliser and should be set slightly short in a swell.
4 DRYING OUT
If you are in a place you are familiar with and have dried out in before, you should be safe to anchor or moor the boat securely and head ashore while the tide goes out.
If you are somewhere new, however, it is worth staying with the boat for the critical period that the keels are taking the bottom until the boat is securely aground.
It is worth staying on your yacht while it is drying out if you are stopping somewhere unfamiliar
This is particularly true if your boat has drying out legs, as the relatively small surface area of the leg could end up on a rock or a soft spot, and will need adjusting and tensioning to keep their boat comfortably upright.
5 HIGH AND DRY
If you are lucky, you will be able to walk ashore at low tide without getting your feet wet. If you are going ashore for a while, make sure you check the tides — you may need to carry the tender to the high-water mark if you don’t want to swim back.
It is a good chance to check your hull fittings
In most places, a pair of wellies will help when walking through mud, or over rocks. You may need to lower the bathing ladder to climb down from the boat, and to get back on when the tide is out.
Fabio Muzzolini is the sales director for Marée Haute, the Breton builders of the Django range of twin-keeled yachts
If you’re in a narrow river, low water is a good opportunity to have a look at exactly where the channel goes.
The boat will be very stable once dried out, but be careful about putting too much weight on the bow — it’s probably a good idea not to have more than one person on the bow when dried out.
A couple of buckets will also come in very handy.
Fill one of them up before you lose the water so you can wash your feet once you’ve walked back across the sand or mud.
The other bucket is for calls of nature, as you won’t be able to flush the heads.
6 REFLOATING
Afloat again and ready to sail
Waiting for the tide to return is the easy part, if all crew are back aboard.
As soon as the boat is floating, remove any drying-out legs or supports — these are remarkably easy to forget, but could cause real damage if left down.
Don’t forget to lift the bathing ladder too.
Retrieve your stern anchor first (you can do this when the tide is out if the conditions are right) and then weigh the bow anchor and you’re off.
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About Westerly
Westerly Yachts are prominent for their strong and well-built construction and were one of Europe's leading production builder of fiberglass composite sailboats . They have manufactured yachts from the mid-1960’s through the 1970’s and 1980’s before it terminated its trading.
Commander Denys Rayner, a popular yacht designer, in the year 1963 designed ‘The Westerly’ - a 22 ft yacht as requested by Hilary Scott who wished to set up a new company.
The company became Westerly Group Limited in the year 1993 and the yachts were presented as three ranges of Westerly, “the Oceans, the Regattas, and the Victorias”. And in the year 1995, Westerly Group was acquired by Tony Davies Bowman Group, the parent company of Rival Bowman and Starlight Yachts . In 1998, Bowman hit financial problems and as a result, the Westerly Group Limited was sold to Marigot Group. In the year 2000, the plant and machinery were sold to US Hunter, who had just started up in the UK as Legend.
The Westerly Yachts Range consists of three models:
The Regattas
The Victorias
Westerly FAQ
Westerly in United Kingdom
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Sailboat Guide
Westerly Fulmar 32 MH Twin Keel
Westerly Fulmar 32 MH Twin Keel is a 31 ′ 11 ″ / 9.7 m monohull sailboat designed by Ed Dubois and built by Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. starting in 1979.
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)
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Practical Boat Owner
Digital edition
Westerly Konsort: space, security & good performance
David Harding
January 23, 2024
One of the roomiest cruisers of her size, the Konsort is also known for her solidity, interior finish and easy manners. No wonder she’s such a popular second-hand buy, says David Harding
Despite being over-powered at times, the Konsort took the brisk conditions of our test in her stride. Credit: David Harding Credit: David Harding
Product Overview
Westerly konsort.
Back in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a family looking for a new cruising yacht of just under 30ft (9m) would have been almost spoiled for choice.
Britain’s ‘big three’ builders each offered an excellent boat: Westerly were flying high with the Konsort, Moody had replaced their 30 with a new 29, and Sadler’s 29 had plugged the gap between the 25 and 32.
With alternatives including such evergreens as the Mirage 28 and Cobra 850, there was something for everyone – whether they preferred fin or twin keels .
The most popular home-grown cruisers of the day gave people the choice but invariably sold in far greater numbers with twins.
Leading the way in the smaller size range was the ubiquitous 26ft Westerly Centaur, launched in 1969 and, after well over 2,000 boats, nearing the end of her production a decade later.
Treadmaster and non-slip paint provide the grip in the cockpit. Credit: David Harding
Come 1978, the next boats up in Westerly’s range were the 31-footers: the Renown, Pentland, Berwick and Longbow, between them offering a choice of sloop or ketch rig , twin or fin keels and aft or centre cockpits.
Like the Centaur, they sailed better than they looked but were discontinued shortly after the arrival of what was to be the last model from the drawing board of Westerly’s long-time designers, Laurent Giles.
The Westerly Konsort, introduced in 1979, was the 29-footer (8.8m) that had everything.
For a start she was enormously beamy, her 3.27m (10ft 9in) between the gunwales being 42% of her waterline length .
Together with the full bow, broad stern and plenty of freeboard, the beam gave her an interior volume that practically matched that of her 31ft sisters.
The other point about the interior was that it was nicely woody.
The Westerly Konsort was launched in 1979, and was designed by Laurent Giles. Credit: David Harding
Whereas the Centaur sometimes attracted criticism for her caravan- like styling and finish, the Westerly Konsort followed the approach developed in the 31s.
No interior mouldings were used and all the woodwork was bonded directly to the outer hull. It created the feel of a hand-crafted yacht – which she was.
No Westerly cruiser of this era was offered without twin keels – even the 36-footers.
If one model was available only with a fin, a hull-sister would have two keels and a different name (as in the case of the twin-keeled Centaur and her fin-keeled sibling, the Pembroke).
The Westerly Konsort came with a choice of fin or twin, called the Konsort either way and proving most popular in twin-keel form. A few were also built with swing keels.
While giving her more beam for her length than any earlier model, Laurent Giles made sure she was still unmistakably a Westerly, incorporating the distinctive knuckle in the bow shared by everything from the 21ft 6in Warwick up to the largest models in the range.
The hawse pipe – a Westerly tradition. Credit: David Harding
They did, however, fit her with a transom-hung rudder . A practical and economical solution, and one that maximised space in the cockpit, it wouldn’t have worked on the Centaur or the 31s because both were available as centre- cockpit or ketch-rigged variants.
Above the straight-topped coachroof sat a conventional masthead rig of modest proportions.
As was the norm in those days, the headsail provided the bulk of the sail area although the boom was long enough to allow the mainsheet to be taken – at an angle – to a traveller across the wide transom.
Other traditional Westerly features included the trademark blue non-slip deck paint and a toerail in teak rather than the aluminium favoured by some of the competition.
The Westerly Konsort was no beauty but she hit the spot and became an instant success.
A saloon of the Westerly Konsort is roomy for a boat of this size. Credit: David Harding
She was never a cheap boat and still isn’t by many standards, holding her value if well equipped and maintained.
If you buy a Westerly Konsort and look after her there’s a good chance you won’t lose any money.
She’s a boat that’s always likely to be sought after by people wanting something solid, roomy, forgiving and easy to handle, and that’s why she caught John King’s eye when he was looking for his first cruiser two years ago.
John’s alternatives were smaller boats, including the 23ft Westerly Pageant and the Centaur’s successor, the Griffon.
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However, the Konsort’s extra space, combined with her reputation for being undemanding, made him think that it would make more sense to buy the larger boat rather than to start with a smaller one that he might want to switch a year or two later.
He’s happy that he made the right decision. Sarnia is a twin-keeler built in 1983, and John reckons that a boat with full standing headroom, space to relax down below in comfort and enough size, weight and power to take most conditions in her stride makes for more relaxing sailing.
I joined John for a sail from his winter base in Chichester Harbour when a good 20 knots from the north east was kicking up a lumpy sea in Bracklesham Bay.
Downwind the Westerly Konsort proved why she has a reputation for being faster than she looks, rapidly sliding through the lee of a larger cruiser and soon leaving it well astern.
A roomy forecabin is one of the reasons the Westerly Konsort is so popular. Credit: David Harding
Once far enough from land to have space for an upwind leg, we sheeted in and headed into the breeze.
With John’s consent I opted to hold on to full sail to see how Sarnia handled. You learn more about a boat when pushing her beyond the comfort zone.
Besides, the Westerly Konsort has a reputation for being stiff, under- canvassed in light airs and able to carry full sail when others need to reef .
I was about to see whether asking her to carry it upwind with 25 knots over the deck was pushing things too far.
We took all the usual steps to de-power the rig as far as possible without reefing, including tensioning both mainsail and headsail halyards , moving the genoa cars aft, flattening the mainsail’s foot and dropping the traveller well down the track.
Sarnia responded by plugging upwind remarkably comfortably, clocking between 4 and 4.5 knots most of the time depending on the size and steepness of the waves.
It was a day when being slightly over-canvassed was a help, not just from the testing perspective but also to drive through the waves.
There’s nothing worse than being under-powered, bouncing up and down in the lulls and wishing for more sail.
The single, acrylic-fronted locker in the saloon later gave way to multiple lockers. Credit: David Harding
As ever when over-powered it was a matter of sailing along a fine line: a few degrees too deep and the boat would heel over before rounding up in protest, though not until the gunwale was nearly awash.
Sailed too high she would lose power and stop. In between she was quite happy, heeling no more than 15° or so and remaining nicely balanced with a beautifully light helm.
When she was pushed too hard, the weight on the tiller would increase progressively as the gunwale approached the water, giving ample warning before the rudder finally lost grip.
While reducing sail would have made life easier in some respects, this was a good test and one that proved her tolerance and capability.
For a chunky twin-keeler with a three-bladed fixed propeller it was a more-than-creditable performance.
Work space in the galley on the Westerly Konsort is limited. Credit: David Harding
Having to power through the waves took a few degrees off our pointing so we tacked through around 90° on most occasions.
There’s no reason why the tacking angle of the fin-keeler should be any different – as you would expect, it just goes faster and makes less leeway.
The lower centre of gravity should also add a little stiffness.
During tacks on Sarnia , the only problem I found was the babystay interfering with the genoa.
Together with the genoa’s substantial overlap it would make short-tacking rather laborious and call for plenty of energy from whoever is winding the Barlow 23 primary winches.
Reaching along in a breeze is what she likes best. We clocked 7 knots at times and I could easily imagine a fin-keeler with a folding prop surfing away merrily.
Heaving-to presented no problems. The boat was reluctant to gybe around with the sheets pinned in but could just be persuaded to by some judicious rudder-wiggling to re-attach the laminar flow.
The nav table will accommodate a folded Admiralty chart. Credit: David Harding
A relatively blunt, high-volume hull like the Westerly Konsort’s is never going to slice through the waves as cleanly and smoothly as a slimmer one.
On the other hand it does seem to keep the crew dry: only rarely during our sail did any spray find its way back to the cockpit, where the helmsman can sit either on the seat, legs braced across to the leeward side, or on the flat-topped coaming.
The upper perch is tolerably comfortable even if the guardwires are too close outboard to lean back against.
Partly thanks to the transom-hung rudder, there’s enough space in the cockpit for four without over- crowding. The absence of an aft cabin beneath also makes it nice and deep.
Having the mainsheet across the stern works well: it’s easy to reach yet clear of the cockpit.
Just take care to flick it across above head-level during a gybe.
No aft cabin, means the saloon is further aft in a beamier part of the hull. The settee berths are wide and parallel. Credit: David Harding
A large locker occupies the space beneath the starboard seat and the gas bottle lives in the stern.
Treadmaster provides the grip on the coamings and cockpit sole, the seats being finished in Westerly’s distinctive blue non-slip paint that’s used on the deck as well.
Deck paint has always struck me as infinitely superior to moulded-in surfaces.
It provides an excellent grip, reduces glare and can be made to look like new – in the same or a different colour – for the price of a tin of paint. It’s extraordinary that so few other builders have done the same.
Moving forward along the Konsort’s wide deck, outside the cap and lower shrouds, is easy. On the wide foredeck is a chunky central cleat and a hawse pipe for the anchor chain.
Anyone used to modern production boats with large aft cabins and layouts based on interior mouldings will find the Westerly Konsort very different below decks.
Because there’s no aft cabin, the saloon is further aft in a beamier part of the hull and, as a result, it’s larger than on most boats of this size. The settee berths are wide and parallel.
Plenty of teak and teak-faced ply is nicely finished and bonded directly to the outer hull – still the best way to make the structure visible and easy to reach as well as to minimise wasted space.
As is traditional in boats of this era, the forecabin is separated from the saloon by the heads to port and a hanging locker to starboard.
Areas sometimes criticised on the Westerly Konsort include the quarter berth and chart table to port: because the chart table’s seat is the head of the berth, they can’t both be used at the same time. Standing at the chart table solves that problem.
Between the chart table and the galley on the opposite side is the projecting engine box.
Inside this Westerly fitted engines mainly from Bukh and Volvo. The box’s top makes handy additional work space for the galley, where it’s otherwise in short supply.
History of the Westerly Konsort
The Westerly Konsort Duo motor-sailer
Introduced in 1979, Westerly’s last design by Laurent Giles remained in production until 1992.
Over 600 were sold in the first six years, after which the price rose steeply and only a further 100 left the factory.
About 150 of the 704 Konsorts built are fin-keelers.
The same hull was used for the Konsort Duo, a motor-sailer with a large deck saloon and comfortable accommodation for two people.
Construction
The Konsort’s hull is a solid laminate of chopped strand mat, reinforced with rovings in high- stress areas.
A balsa core is used in the deck. Westerly had an in-house Lloyds surveyor and all boats were issued with a Lloyds hull construction certificate.
Keels are bolted to shallow moulded stubs.
Point to look out for if buying a Westerly Konsort from Westerly specialists
Konsorts are known for having relatively few structural weaknesses. Nonetheless, some points are worth checking.
Like many builders, Westerly used orthophthalic resins until the mid-1980s and cases of osmosis are quite common.
Chainplates are prone to fatigue and corrosion where they pass through the deck but are relatively simple to replace. Worth checking too is the reinforcement in the hull that distributes the load from the keel(s). The plywood used in early boats was less robust than the chunkier, foam-cored sections used from 1981 onwards. Fin-keelers especially should be inspected because of the lack of depth beneath the floorboards and the bottom of the hull on the centreline. Boats that have grounded or been badly shored up during winter storage are most likely to have problems. Keel bolts that have been glassed in rather than simply gelled over ask for special attention: someone might have been trying to hide something.
Transom-hung rudders are easy to inspect but also more vulnerable to damage than inboard rudders. The Konsort’s gudgeons and pintles are joined by a rod and not especially robust. They are, however, simple to change.
On deck, the gelcoat is prone to deterioration from UV degradation and star-crazing is common.
Below decks, the ‘Westerly droop’ is by far the most common problem, where the vinyl headliner starts separating from the deckhead.
If you want curvy lines and a double aft cabin, the Konsort’s not your boat. If, on the other hand, you want space, security, a good cockpit, surprisingly good sailing performance, positive handling under power, a roomy and nicely finished interior, structural solidity and proven resale value, she should definitely be on your list.
Westerly Centaur – the best small yacht in the world – probably
The Westerly Centaur is the finest small yacht in the world. At 26 feet and four tonnes it is small enough to be easy to single hand and big enough to take the rough stuff. I am confident that a Centaur could handle almost anything the British Climate can throw at it apart from the truly bonkers day when only an arse would be out in a 26 footer . The space below is genius. A miraculously large bog is provided and five good berths. . Five adults lived on mine for for two weeks - it was bloody crowded but feasible as long as the weather behaved. These boats sail brilliantly on all points of sail.
Of course all boats go well down or across the wind and given the blow a Centaur can really get a good chat going. . Upwind, admittedly, they are not the same as a single keeler but if treated properly they go well upwind. Centaurs like to be sailed just slightly over from upright. Then those canted and slighlt toed in twin keels start to suck you up towards where the wind is coming from. But if you let her heel too much then that uphill keel stops working so well - you can feel it misbehave long before you see it cavitate - The rudder tells you when the flows are not right.
Upwind sailing in a Centaur
The boat demands slightly more of you than than the fin or long keeler. When the gust come for those lazy wallahs they just brace their feet against a handy bit of cockpit, take one more suck on their pipe and let the physics do the rest as the boat heels to the wind and stays on track. With twin keels a bit of dinghy experience help. When the gust comes s - either ease the main through the puff, or if you can't be arsed tto trim the main then just stuff her into the gusts a bit. When you look at my son came aboard the fist thing he did was to length the tiller exrension. In the film below you can see him sailing her like a laser dinghy he played the main - in and out that cleat all the time. It was good to see.
The first centaur , Harmony the one I bought for £1, was built in 1979 - the year after Westerly revamped the design of the keels and added a skeg. She also had a lovely mainsail - a real driving force . Harmony felt good on the tiller - upwind you could steer her by feel alone. The £1 was really a sort of loan agreement. I did her up, sailed her for a year and then split the final price with the previous owner - three months of hard graft though.
The second boat - Lily M - which cost me £5,500 was a different kettle of fish. She was built before they change. With good old dependable, easy to reef, flat as a pancake small mainsail Lily M felt like stirring jam. But trim her right and keep an eye on where she thinks she is pointing as opposed to where she really is pointing and she would go along rather nicely.
When I put the big blue ghoster on her - she was a real pleasure to sail though
They were both excellent boats but felt entirely different. How much was the main and how much the changed keels and rudder I cannot say.
Bloody good boats
What the Centaurs gave me was the freedom to know that if the weather turned bad and, as long as the engine would run, then by switching on the engine and shoving that big powerful bow into the teeth of the crap weather she will probably take you safely to wherever you want to go. The prop with 20 hp going through it is not half hidden behind a keel - it is running in clear flow - it grabs water from between the keels and shoves it backwards. That negative pressure between the keels makes her hunker down like a six tonner - she feels bigger under power.
With lots of yachts they feel smaller, somehow less certain about themselves under power than under sail. Centaurs handle bloody brilliantly under engine. They are also s also great in marinas. Bugger prop kick I reckon - it hardly exists.r. She is completely under control going forwards at almost any speed so coming into and out of marinas is a piece of cake. In reverse things are less certain unless you get some way under - then you have pretty good control and you can stop her on a sixpence with enough engine revs - she onl;y weight four tonnes after all.
However, reversing around marinas at high speed in reverse and doing what look like emergency stops is frowned upon. So steady and forwards is the name of the game. if you do clonk anything she only weighs four tonnes so aim for the pontoon and not the Beneteau. The pontoon will survive unscathed the Centaur will have just one more ding of many. Any boat 40 years old will have been owned by idiots or got too close to idiots who own other boats.
Centaurs deliver all this and bugger me they don't fall over when the tide goes out.
I am from East Anglia - flat scenery and 20 feet of tide. They do not need boatyard cradles either which can be a great saving. You can ground her so easily that antifoul paint is no needed.
I shall miss sailing a Centaur. Fekkin brilliant little yachts.
22 Responses to “Westerly Centaur – the best small yacht in the world – probably”
A mere speed hump for the adventure – you’ll be back up in bonny scotland in no time :)
Noticed that you mentioned the next 12 films would be west coast ones – are you going to do the Forth, Tay and Moray ones after that?
I confess that it is a bloody big hump Paul N – I have been forced to sell the filming platform and both cameras are knackered, corroded and out of date
Humps for a filming sailor don’t come much bigger than that and finding a way back into the position I was in this time last year will be tough – really tough. Both Eleanor and I think it is likely to be impossible -0 but I am up for tryimg. Ten years into this thing. I get defeated but I seldom quit.
THE BOSS has told me to focus completely on the west coast – sadly no-one cares about the east coast – her words not mine
The solent films did well for hits (but not taps) because people have sailed there. Hopefully the west coast ones will get lots of hits – my job, says THE BOSS is to try to turn as many of those hits into taps as I can.
No-one dreams about sailing up to Perth but they do dream about the west coast of scotland, the outer hebrides and st Kilda
priorities – set by her I should say – and she is “THE BOSS”
this might turn out to be a bump I damn I hope that is all it is – or it could be the end. I have no idea which it will be at this stage of the game. I aim to go down waving at the very least.
On the bright side, So far everything she has told me to do has worked to one degree or other. I have met her targets. The strategy set by me s ended with me selling the boat – her strategy seems to be a good one.
You will know what happened when I start blogging about sailing again rather than blogging about making films about sailing. I am sure you know what I would rather be doing – sailing.
Back to the editing desk to make what may well be the 12th to last film
Your probably right about the interest in the West coast, especially places like st kilda but on the other hand part of the KTL charm/USP was going to places well off the beaten track and unglamorous sailing areas as well as watching you work the tides to get up rivers that nobody else would bother with.
Does seem a shame to not use the footage you got in 2015 – how about launching a KTLTV2 channel on YouTube where you could stick up rougher/shorter clips and keep the full fat ones on the main KTL channel? Could also be a good home for some of your vlogs that you used to do.
Quite a few other youtubers do that and it means you can keep the interest high which might drive more visitors to here to keep tabs on things and hopefully be persuaded to chip in a bit….
I will only do that if eleanor says to do it. I have a feeling she will tell me to concentrate on the 12,000 non tappers. There are some lovely films there, and the cornwall stuff as well. I have gone broke. I have to swim to the nearest shore – if I can mix metaphors that way. I have to dance to youtube’s tune until I drop dead from exhaustion. You are the first person to ask about that material N – what does that tell you. besides – KTL is unique – there is nothing like it on the web. A sailing series without tits – who would have thought it.
i’m sure you (and Eleanor) are right – work the numbers so you can get the bish bosh to carry on must be the priority, i guess you can always come back and use the other stuff. Just thought that smaller, more regular bits might drive the youtube traffic – seems to be what other (non sailing) channels do these days.
Dylan – I now spend fourteen quid going to the cinema in Colchester, and that’s not including the parking and popcorn. Say £14 for a 90 minute film, therefore I’m happy to chip in the odd £7 for 45 minutes of your hilarious commentary and cinematic-quality photography. So make your movies and the “taps will come”. Best, -Jason
your wonderful taps may come – but I no longer believe in good fairies
the fact is that 4,000 people a day go to the KTL cinema and around 3,990 people walk out without paying – most days it is worse than that. It has been averaging ten taps a day since I put the reminder up and people realised that I have sold the boat – before then it was about ten a week.
I have been making these films for google to give away free for the past two years. The wet smelly stuff hit the fan with the selling of the filming platform – the cameras are rusty and out of date.. To get back in the game is a massive hill to climb. I have 12 chances to prevent the demise of KTL. The project is on life support at the moment. Eleanor and I are trying to pull something out of the ashes. I am hopeful but not optimistic. She is neither.
If I can get just a tiny percentage of those 12,000 regular users to tap in then then I can start again. But to start again looks like a big pile of money to earn from 12 good films none of which have tits in.
Two bits of advice – buy google shares and start downloading the films before they disappear.
Raise the maximum tap amounts listed some more. Yes, I did see the suggestion somewhere to buy two taps, but it’s not obvious enough. There will be some people who micro payments, e.g. paetroen, works for, and others, like me, who would rather buy the occasional round.
Is this any good? £10 grand cheaper, new (ish) engine, hard top (sort of) and will sail better.
I am sure that you can see past the fact that she’s a bit in need of a scrub up. You can do a lot with £10 grand.
Just a suggestion.
Didn’t realise you had film of the East Coast & Cornwall in the can. I would be a real shame not to see this material. I believe your original concept of sailing as close to the coast and up each river to be a sound aim. Who else has done that and rewarded us with great footage and tales of how people lived in these less well known places. Although a little reluctant at first to accept that you need a more suitable & expensive boat for Scotland, I am with you on that decision. We got into sailing because of you and the idea it was something we could do on a limited budget in retirement (having not sailed before). Like you have significant costs traveling from Yorkshire to the IoW to sail, so we go for longer to compensate. One downside is we can’t just go for short breaks when the weather suits. The heated & dry cabin makes good sense particularly for two on board. It’s no fun being cold & damp, we might have put up with this when younger, but you have worked all you life for a bit of comfort! I do love your positive commentary while wearing 6 jumpers, a real pro! The next film must be drawing closer, looking forward to that. Your bank balance should improve by not forking out marine fees so that’s a positive. Oh and it would be interested in the issues with cameras on board, how you decide what to replace them with etc. Scotland 2018 and those islands will happen
Dylan, okay the Scottish west coast.. I’ll probably won’t ever sail there myself. Instead I still hope to do some sailing on the east and south coast of Britain in the near future. So those earlier films were an inspiration in themselves. I’m obsessed by visiting Wainfleet, for instance, get up the creek and on my bike to Wainfleet after that, to visit the local Brewery (Bateman’s) But I already was wondering whether it was time again to show some appriciation. So let’s see those 12 films and surely I will “bestride the foothills of niceness like a colossus among men” (your words!)
You might resume writing and editing film for Small Boat Advisor and other publications or video outlets in the U.S. to raise awareness of your journeys. That might help, but you really need a significant long term sponsor. International liquor, beer, wine conglomerates might be likely targets. You would have to sell your personality–not difficult. You would have to be filmed downing shots or pints or whatever of their products in pubs, bars–not difficult. We Yanks, who don’t know a firth from a forth, or anything, really, about the west coast of Scotland–or care much–respond to colorful personalities. So this tuppence worth from someone who began watching in the time of the Slug and the Beast but who has lost his way in the intricacies of Centaurs and such.
I have bought several books (on fishing) from a company where the author does not publish until the required amount of people have committed to buy. It seems to work well with books on a variety of subjects only get published once they are a financially viable proposition. If, as said in a previous post, you publish a tickler on youtube but hold back on the full length film until the required cash is committed I am sure that the’freeloaders’ will feel more inclined to tap the button. Good luck young fellah ! (I will log on and give another tap or two for luck !).
I did column on small craft advisor – and PBO – they pay terrible money – $100 a thousand. There is also no real movement from magazines to the web – THE BOSS says that print media is on such a slide that it counts for very little.
the problem is that the youtubers would soon learn that all you get from KTL is a teaser – so they don’t click on it. I think that putting the witty reminders in the films seems to work – well it did for round 1 anyway. If they object they can come to this website and watch it with no reminders in but they might have to catch a glimpse of a pay pal button
THE BOSS says trailers do not work – bloody hell – working under a dictatorship here. You will also note when the films are re-posted about a third of them will have my jowly ugly fizzog on them – as per instructed by herself
another move that another youtuber i subscribe to does is release films a month early to subscribers – could you do that maybe? Upload them to a private link and email that to folk that tap a wee while before the go live on youtube. Not sure i agree with the boss about teasers – again, other subscribers i watch do teasers for their paid content and it’s certainly worked for me.
Hang on a minute! I dream of sailing up to Perth. It’s part of my 2017 plan. I was waiting for you to post the instructional video :-)
we got to the bridge of earn as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJwVgra0a2o
Dylan, I was about to pay you “because I think it would help you to take a future boat to a future place”. Instead, as you suggest, I will watch the next 12 films and pay on a film by film basis. I am so sure that the films will not disappoint us that this should be a good deal for me and many of us. Probably not for most of the freeloaders. So, if for a moment you forget about them, what do we non-freeloaders need to tap per film to get your project going again? I’m sure you can do some math with expected tap numbers. I suggest this because I cannot believe that all of us MOBs will stand by, just watching your project go down the drain. Btw cheer up about your age. I am your age, I know you can’t count on it and you must do things while you can and while you don’t know how long it will last, but I just met a guy who sailed solo across the Atlantic twice at 61 and he’s still sailing at 74.
Thanks Peter,
well not all films are equal. Not all films hit the right note with everyone – some love the marina tours – some say they make them feel sick. Some day they loved it most when I was sailing solo in the slug – other said it is much better with jill, jake, Danie and Eleanor around. Some even want to know about the dog. So pay according to how much you enjoyed each film. If it was a pile of crap and a waste of your time then pay not a penny. If, on the other hand, it was as good as your last trip to the cinema or box set you downloaded then that gives you an upper limit.
I think the film by film blokes average $5
I very rarely get a $1 tap – but that is better than nowt and I do not know the man’s circumstances
I do get bigger taps but those are generally from blokes who hav downloaded them all to their hard drives so some of them chip in the value of a complete set of 8 seasons/double DVD sets.
I used to get paid $25 per four hour DVD, That was ten cents a minute, Now on the films, more people are watching them, but with the past low tap rate I was averaging 0.004 cents per minute watched.
which is why I ran out of money. things are very different.
Now then, if you have read any of the previous discussions THE BOSS says that you have to get into the mindset that you are paying not for a future uncertain supply of films but on the pleasure what you have just watched brought to you – and how much you would have paid for that as a game of thrones box set or netflix.
pay a price for the entertainment you have just had – were you there with me, did it make you feel more relaxed about Trump and American Democracy.
When you watch and maybe enjoy and pay for need for speed 6 you are not paying in the hope that a bloke in england will buy another boat.
That is what she says – what I say is….. fek I will blow every penny on sailing and cameras – you know I will.
But right now there is no way of guaranteeing that I will ever raise the cash to buy that fisher.
So whatever you decide to pay please pay for what you have just seen – not for what you hope to see,
That way if you go back and start watching the old films and you find one that you go – bloody hell that was good then send me $5 and a note saying why you liked it.
It will make me feel good, you feel good and I will do my best to make films in the style you really enjoyed.
you are an exceptionally good man for asking.
I am learning a lot about the difference between the Americans and the Europeans
for us Europeans money is embarrassing – the yanks are much more relaxed around the stuff for some reason. This is a first for me. never done it this way…. made a film, got people to watch it and then say – pay me what it is worth to you.
For about 5,000 old blokes who watch everything I make on youtube it is not worth anything other than the time they “donated” watching the films. Lots of them are old sailors who would not know a paypal button if hit them in the face. But who could resent an old now shorebound old sailor sailor coming for a sail down the west coast of scotland with an “agreeable old englishman in an unexceptional boat”” – not my words
Anything you pay will be greatly appreciated
My plan is to do the dutch side of the north sea when I am 72
Very well Dylan. These are good indications for tapping for all of us. If you have seen a film that you like, new or old: the average bloke taps $5.
And finallly, you name a date for going over to the dutch side. You’ll love the Wadden Sea. Gives both of us an incentive to keep sailing at least until we’re 72.
Incredible! Harmony was our childhood boat! Sad to see how neglected she got but fantastic to see you bring her back to life. Where is she now out of interest? Would love to see her again. So many things still on her that we put on. Lovely memories of the boat and completely agree with your comments.
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Griffon 26 Twin keel
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Twin Keel sailboat?
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I am considering buying a Westerly Centaur for some coastal cruising and an occasional trip out into the Mexican Gulf. I am not able to find any local knowledge here on the panhandle of Florida about this type of boat. Also my online search has produced little useful information. Does anyone here have any knowledge or experience with this type of vessel? Thanks
Try UK Google for more UK-centric queries. There's one stored in the local boatyard. twin keels good for areas with large tides, boats rest easily on the bottom when tide's out. The one I saw has iron keels, the rust was very apparent.
Looked around as you suggested mazzy and found some decent info, thanks. Not alot of info on sailing characteristics or stability. I guess the fact that the most positive things writen about them is the ability to beach them when the tide goes out answers many questions about them.
You got your answer...the purpose of a twin keel is beachability...but the resulting sailboat is slow, doesn't point well and is tender (tippy...). So wether it will work for you depends on what tradeoffs you want in your next boat....
Here are some links to some info on twin keels: Roll Attenuation and Bilge Keels Why Twin Keels, by John Letcher -site by Nels Tomlinson Bray Yacht Design and Research Ltd. - The Advantages of Twin Keels I've owned two twin keel boats over the years. The first was a Westerly 25 built in 1967. The drag is increased and they can't point quite as well as a single keel boat. The second twin keel boat I owned was a 35" custom design that was bought from me by her designer and some changes made, most notably the change from single rudder to twin sailing rudders and a centreline rudder for powering. After these modifications she was sailed from Victoria to New Zealand and back by her designer and performed admirably. Quite an interesting boat in many respects. Here's a link to her listing as she is currently for sale: Vela Yacht Sales (Victoria, BC) Brian
Here are some links to some info on twin keels: Roll Attenuation and Bilge Keels Why Twin Keels, by John Letcher -site by Nels Tomlinson Bray Yacht Design and Research Ltd. - The Advantages of Twin Keels I've owned two twin keel boats over the years. The first was a Westerly 25 built in 1967. The drag is increased and they can't point quite as well as a single keel boat, but overall a good boat. The second twin keel boat I owned was a 35" custom design that was bought from me by her designer and some changes made, most notably the change from single rudder to twin sailing rudders and a centreline rudder for powering. After these modifications she was sailed from Victoria to New Zealand and back by her designer and performed admirably. Quite an interesting boat in many respects. Here's a link to her listing as she is currently for sale: Vela Yacht Sales (Victoria, BC) Brian
I did find a review by Jack Horner. Google it,, as I don't have the link handy
Hi, I own a Westerly Centaur here in Bermuda and I'm pleased with it. I've had it offshore without concern, and it was apparently sailed from the UK to the US by one of the previous owners. It's stable and tough but not fast. I single-hand it as the Admiral don't sail! Here's some more links; Westerly Owners Association Westerly-Owners : Westerly Owners Group There's a Westerly Centaur that is raced in the Jester Challenge by Alan Charleton - http://www.jesterinfo.org/
Thanks for the links. Ever have her out in anything rough? And other than slow, is there anything you would feel a need to warn someone about?
It is one of those "potty British things". Twin keels aka blidge keels work marvelously if your prime consideration is letting the boat sit stably on the bottom while a daily 20-foot tide runs in and out. In parts of the world where there is only a single two-foot tidal rise (i.e. Florida) the entire concept of twin keels, which add lots of drag and cost and give you back nothing in return, is unheard-of. And, outside of the UK and perhaps Nova Scotia, the resale value will be equally unheard-of.
A few issues ago there was a good series in the UK mag Practical boat owner, it covered all the Westerlys
Never had it out in any real heavy weather so I can't comment on that. In simply crappy conditions its fine and dry. Any Centaur is going to be an older boat now (mine is 37 years old) so look over it very carefully. Practical Sailor did a review in 1999 which was favorable. One of the editors of Sail magazine lived on his, and there's at least one documented circumnavigation ('Lookfar'). I found this link this morning BLUEMOMENT • View topic - Westerly...a proper British built boat -Horst
Hi all We have the second “Bluebird of Thorne” she was the second 48ft bilge keel boat built by Lord Robin Riverdale who then went on to build the third “Bluebird” in association with Arthur Robb. Our Bluebird was built in 1939 and is still going strong, she is based in the UK where we can have up to a 40ft rise and fall on the tide. For about 20 years she was on a drying mooring and so took the ground without any bother twice a day. The last approx 20 years she has been afloat in a marina during the summer season, however we winterise her in a part of the harbour that dries for 10 days at a time and she doesn’t float for this period. Regarding sailing speed and pointing, well she is a cruising boat she doesn’t point quite as close as a modern fibre glass boat, but due to the fact the keels are toed in slightly this lifts her up to windward, so she points pretty well for a 70 yr old boat (if I am doing as well at 70 I wont be complaining). Speed, well although she has a larger wetted surface she is bound to be slightly slower however we are very modestly rigged (she is ketch rigged and I am sure a modern boat of a similar size would have a larger sail area) however we carry our sails for longer and she is very happy at 7.5 – 8 Kts with the wind slightly aft of the beam in 20-23 Kts of wind. We fitted a feathering propeller a number of years ago and this has mad a huge difference in light airs. We have sailed many miles in the nearly 40 Years she has been in our family and we wouldn’t swap her, she has a very good sea kindly approach, when you get her heeled one of the keels is nearly vertical, offering the most resistance against leeway and helping to carry he up to windward, the other keel is nearly horizontal offering the most amount of righting capacity, we also find that this keel has a very good dampening effect in rough weather. We have had here offshore on several occasions without any problems or worries, in fact due to her shape in the bow, she hardly ever slams unlike most of my friends boats that are flat under the bow and do, I find this very tiring. For our cruising area she is great, as she can take the ground without any worries, although I am not sure of requirement in Florida if you don’t have the tidal range. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can offer any further assistance.
Back in the late 1960's I worked as a sailing instructor in a sailing school that used Westerlys. The fleet was a mix of bilge keel and fin keel versions of the same boat. (I think they were roughly 24-26 feet but I can't recall the model although Centaur sounds right.) There were clear differences between the bilge keel vs fin keel models, especially at either end of the wind range. The fin keeled boats sailed way better on all points of sail, but the difference was especially noticable in light air, a chop (the bilge keelers seemed to really roll more in a chop), and in heavy air, where the bilge keelers were slower, had trouble tacking through the wind and waves and so were prone to getting caught in irons and backing down and then take some scary knockdowns. We typically had to reef the bilge keeled versions before the fin keel versions. The biggest problem that we had was freeing them when they grounded. Once planted they were really hard aground. We could always refloat the fin keelers by heeling them and backing out. That obviously did not work with the bilge keelers. To be frank, bilge keels would be a deal killer for me in most areas of the world. Jeff
Hi Jeff I can understand you having problems “freeing them when they grounded” and I am not disputing you did, but we had the complete opposite on several different occasions whilst tacking up a couple of rivers that we know we would go from one river bank to the other and when the speed started dropping or you could feel her aground we would tack and come straight off as she rounded up and set off on the next tack, much to the annoyance to the locals who were panicking thinking we were going aground. We draw about 7ft heeled and 5ft upright. We sometimes visit several marinas in our local area and if we were a traditionally keeled boat we wouldn’t be allowed in due to going aground. As regard to speed we used to cruse with another family who at the time had a brand new Oyster 435, ok she was 5 ft shorter than us but comparing an modern designed boat to one that at the time was nearly 60 Years old the oyster would point slightly better and was slightly faster but not by a huge amount. On some occasions when it was blowing hard we would be faster than them (probably due to the water line length). I have increased the light air sailing speed by including a big cruising chute and has helped thing along a lot. We don’t find the boat roll’s too much, in fact with a enough way on she rolls a couple of times but due to the extra keel area and wetted surface she seems to dampen the roll. My father has just completed a trip on a modern fibre glass boat, and he said I wish I was on our boat as it was so uncomfortable due to the slamming up forward. It’s all a compromise between economy and perfection, and everyone wants different things out of there boat…… as said before I wouldn’t of thought there would be much benefit of having a bilge keel boat in Florida, due to the lack of tidal range.
It's not all negatives. A boat with twin keels isn't that tender. As mallo posted, when you touch by mistake after releasing the sheets you draw less, freeing the boat to float off while when you free sheets on a single keel boat you suddenly draw more and are more likely to stay aground. There are hundreds if not thousands of twin keel sailboats in the U.K. as well as around the world. Below are two diagrams showing two points going for twin keel boats. The picture is a boat I used to own that sailed Victoria to Mexico and back and Victoria to New Zealand and back. Also google "Bluebird of Thorne" to learn more about twin keel design and theory. Bluebird was a 50 footer designed for Lord Riverdale by the esteemed Arthur Robb in the fifties and she met her design goal and was sailed across oceans extensively. I believe she is still sailing somewhere. With respect to Jeff, while not in the category of a Farr, I think they are as good or better than many old shoes touted as "ideal". The Centaur is one of the most popular boats in the U.K. in its size for that era. The Westerly I owned was built in 1967 and I am still impressed at its construction. Different strokes for different folks. How boring if all boats were the same. Brian
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Thank you all for your input. After reading what I could find, and thinking about it for a couple days I have decided she is not for me.
"You got your answer...the purpose of a twin keel is beachability...but the resulting sailboat is slow, doesn't point well and is tender (tippy...). So wether it will work for you depends on what tradeoffs you want in your next boat...." Click to expand...
Mallo I clearly respect your experience with the venerable and famous BlueBird. She was truely a remarkable and innovative design. But she has very little resemblance to the Westerly's in question. I will say that it is rare to have a chance to do months of side by side testing of different keel types on otherwise identical boats. My experience was with fin vs bilge keel versions of the same boat and essentially the model in question. My experience was across a wide range of windspeeds and in multiple groundings and that is the basis of my comments. There was a very observable differences in speed and handling between the two models in questions. Since the sails were rotated between boats for a variety of reasons, but mostly because we taught new sailors to rig the boats from bare, so that sails did not make a difference, neither did which instructor was on board. I was one of the faster sailors amoungst the group and when sailing the bilge keel boats, I could not keep up with the slowest instructors on the fin keel boats, but I could easily run off and leave them when I was on the fin keel boat. One of the other more experienced instructors and I experimented sailing side by side on quite a few occasions, and the bilge keel boats clearly made a combination of more leeway, less speed, and could not point as high. (I say combination because you improve pointing angle a little but speed disappeared and leeway increased or head off a little and get a little more speed and less leeway at the price of pointing lower. Even so the fin keel boat was better at all three.) While a bilge keel boat does not have to be less stabile, achieving an equal stability to a fin keel comes at the price of a combination of higher drag and more weight. With regards to the grounding issues, I have seen versions the diagrams shown above. In reality, the Westerly's do not have BlueBird's widely skewed keel angle. The keel tips are closer together and at normal sailing angles the leeward keel was not all that much further down than the windward keel. In a grounding the leeward keel leveraged the windward keel into the bottom jambing both and making rotating the boat very difficult. We used these boats to teach how to free yourself from running aground. Whatever the throry, after dealing with the grounding problems with freeing the bilge keelers (even using the Boston Whalers to help tow them off) we stopped using them to teach freeing the boat from a grounding. Respectfully, Jeff
Mallo My first was a westerly 25. The second was 35' long, a custom design with the hull and deck built by Bent Jesperson in Sidney B.C. and the interior was finished by Mike Betts. Michael McGrath was the designer. Actually designed by Michael for himself, a friend talked him into letting him build to the design. The construction was strip plank western red cedar with glass over. the keels were steel with ballast in the lower portion and tankage above. I was the second owner. The original owner sailed to Mexico and back. I sailed her locally only. The designer purchased her from me in 1995 and did an extensive refit which included adding twin rudders while keeping the central rudder for powering. He subsequently sailed to New Zealand and back from Victoria. In my experience, while a twin keel boat is probably a bit slower because of the drag issue, I don't find them tender. They are not a state of the art racer but then a great many cruisers are not either. Michael and Jane DeRidder from B.C. built a flush deck 40' twin keel boat in the 60's and sailed her extensively in the Pacific and are now in New Zealand. They post regularly on setsail.com (the Dashew's site). Here's a link to the listing for Marimba2 as she is now listed for sale. Michael redid the whole exterior but for the most part kept the same interior as I had with the exception of changing the u-shaped settee port side to a straight settee with pilot berth above and outboard. She is a very interesting boat and has more adventures ahead of her. Vela Yacht Sales (Victoria, BC) Brian
Bluebird, 1939, radical new twin keel design. OK, so 70 years later, like the secret power source of Atlantis, the modern world has lost all knowledge of why this is a better design, and it has disappeared from the face of the earth? I don't say the mass market is always right, just that when something becomes THAT SCARCE there is usually a good reason it failed to take the world by storm. Or stealth. In the 80's didn't they promise us the Scheel Keel would dominate the world within ten years? Did anyone count to ten yet?
Hellosailor If everybody sailed a Catalina, or a Farr 38, or an old shoe like many on this site own and love the world would be a very boring place. I wonder how many Sailnet members own boats that are based on designs from the early part of the last century or even earlier? How many sail schooners? How many sail Bristol Channel Cutters - based on the Falmouth Working Cutters? How many would lust after a design like the Westerman 40? We all know or should that sailing is the world's most expensive way to travel slowly. If one picks a Westsail or an old schooner or a racing tri they all enjoy what they sail. Enjoyment is not measured in speed for all. Character and style rate highly with many. Variety can be found even in some designers portfolios. The Westerman 40 is designed by Nigel Irens who also designed Idec and many other racing tris. A lot of designs are regional and just as the east coast has its share of boats harking back to a century ago England has its unique designs. Twin keel boats are very common in the UK - not so much here but they can be found. They can represent good value and are often very solid cruisers. If you want to race you won't buy one. The same can be said for a Westsail 32 or that old schooner. Should they be denigrated? I don't think so. How many twin keel boats have you sailed by the way? Respectfully Brian
Hi Jeff Thanks for the information regarding comparing the Westerly’s, I would expect a fin keel to be slightly faster than a bilge keel due to the extra wetted surface (extra drag) and on a cruising boat that shouldn’t be much of an issue, I am sure that the Bluebird’s would have been faster if they were a fin keel configuration, I also agree because I had a conversation with Robin Riverdale about the fact that the modern bilge keel boats were a traditional boat with slight modification and two plates just stuck on, they didn’t necessarily have the angles and toe in as the boats Robin had produced. I haven’t sailed in the more recent Bluebird’s they were more along the lines of the moody etc. Its interesting what you said regarding the fact you couldn’t keep up with the fin keeled boat when in the bilge keeled boat, but could when the other way round, how much time/distance were you loosing/making?? Hellosailer It probably was a radical new design in the 1920’s and when Robin built the first one and he must of thought he could better with the design, that was why he built the successive ones. Another fact is that they still build bilge keelers (well they do in the UK) now however it’s quicker, less work and less expensive to build a fin keel as a bilge keel and at the bottom line this is what the customer wants. This is why they aren’t too popular in non tidal waters (well minimal rise and fall). I would not like to pay to have a hand built steel boat built now, it would be prohibitively expensive. If I took you out sailing and didn’t tell you the boat was a bilge keeler I doubt you would think the boat was slow… Life would be very boring as Mitiempo says if we all stood by a standard fin keel, he brings up a few good points. Also having a boat with a bit of character, history makes for some of the fun, after all that’s why we sail…… Respectfully Michael
Michael, "slow" is a relative concept. Bluebird might be a fast boat, for many reasons. And equally important a sweet boat, what used to be called "yar". But these days, if a boat can't qualify for a negative PHRF rating, well, she may not be slow but she's also not fast. (G) Odds are there's a lot lost in getting to that negative PHRF rating, but there's also a market still for "better" boats, and twin keel variations simply haven't taken any market share that I know of--aside from places where the water is so poorly disciplined that it slips away right out from under the boats at least once or twice a day. (VBG)
A couple quick notes here, first of all, I certainly agree with Mitempo's point about the desirability to have a diverse collection of boats available to suit the diverse range of tastes out there. In my own case, I have enjoyed owning and sailing a very wide range of boats, and in particular have enjoyed seeing their virtues and liabilities. Although I currently own and lean towards modern performance sailing craft, I certainly enjoyed owning and sailing my 1949 wooden Folkboat or my 1939 Stadel Cutter which was based on the 1800's era pilot schooner George Steers. I want to clarify that I do think that there are venues for which a bilge keel boat makes sense but based on my experience with bilge keels. It is only because of the venues in which I sail, and my tastes in how i sail that I can't imagine a circumstance in which a bilge keel boat would make sense. With regards to HelloSailors comments about the Scheel Keel, although the Scheel Keel as originally patented by Henry Scheels is comparatively rare today, the basic principles of the Scheel Keel design concept (a bulb keel whose shape is opimized to minimize drag, increase endplate effect while lowering the vertical center of gravity of the boat) is widely used today in everything from basic production cruisers to grand prix race boats. Jeff
Hi Gonesailin40, It's probably too late to be of help to you now - you've probably got your boat! However, for what it's worth, the Westerly Centaur is very highly thought of here in the UK. They are one of the most popular yachts ever built, you see more of them around than practically any other type. I have never owned one myself but have sailed them and have had friends who have owned them. They are very seaworthy boats, and sail better to windward than people generally expect a bilge keeler to. There's a surprising amount of room in them and they are generally well built. I think that you need have no qualms about buying one, they're good. Regards, Ben (UK)
I have been sailing a Westerly W 25 for several years. She is as she came from the factory and I am loth to change anything. Pointing? Well I am slower but I go upwind close hauled with in 2 or 3 degrees of the best. Bow on W 25 is a bit blunt so to keep speed I need to bear off a bit. Certainly a bit slower but when the rest head in I am still happy. Very stiff and hard to knock down. I have been out when the sane stay ashore. The Westerly's or mine are slege hanner tough. Hit a cement block at 7 k with starboard bilge keel. Beached her to check damage and nothing. Cement block.. knocked chunk out of that... but hope it does not happen again. Rust? Never mind they are cast. Chip it out if you want and fill and smoth. Lay the epoxy on wax paper and lay it into place smoothing to shape. You or I at least end up sneaking into places maybe one sould stay out of as they draw so little water and I ofen beach to explor with a stern anchor out and bow tied to tree or rock. The W 25 has three keels. Center and two bilge. Rudder is protected by the center keel. Resale? You get one of these and why sell it? This one stays in the family and grand children are learning to sail on her. Mine saled over to Nova Scotia from Ireland. Owners manual says she will ride out any storm. I hope I never need to find out but I expect she would do much better than 90% of what goes past me on race day. ( I do not bother with races but when any sail boat comes along face it you are racing? ) Not for everone but I love the old lady.
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13 Most Popular Bilge Keel Sailboats Worth Considering
One of the main advantages of bilge keel sailboats is their ability to maintain lateral resistance, allowing them to sail close to the wind and perform well in choppy conditions. They also have two keels that provide stability and allow the boat to stand upright even when the tide goes out. If you're looking for a sailboat that can handle shallow waters and dry out on the beach, let me introduce you to 13 of the most popular bilge keel sailboats worth considering.
The 13 most popular bilge keel sailboats that are worth considering are the following: Snapdragon 747, Snapdragon 890, Snapdragon 600, Achilles 24, Westerly Centaur, Westerly Griffon, Westerly Pageant, Sadler 32, Moody 33, Westerly Konsort, Moody 346, Hunter Horizon 26, and Fisher 25.
The Westerly Konsort is a bilge keel sailboat that is known for its stability and comfort. It is a popular choice for family cruising. Let's learn more about each sailboat, including its features, specifications, and performance.
The Snapdragon 600 is a smaller bilge keel sailboat that is known for its good performance and easy handling.
The bilge keel design of Westerly Centaur can help reduce heeling and improve upwind performance, but it may also create additional drag and reduce overall speed.
The bilge keel design of Westerly Konsort provides excellent stability and allows the boat to sit upright on the mud or sand when the tide goes out.
The bilge keel of Westerly Griffon provides excellent lateral stability, which makes the boat less prone to rolling in rough seas.
The Sadler 32 is another bilge keel sailboat designed for easy handling, even for novice sailors, with a simple rigging system and a responsive helm.
The Snapdragon 747 is a popular bilge keel sailboat that is known for being easy to handle and comfortable to sail. It has a spacious cockpit and a cozy interior that can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a length of 24 feet and a beam of 8 feet, making it a good choice for day sailing or weekend trips.
In terms of performance, though it is not the fastest sailboat on the water, it is reliable and stable. Its bilge keels provide good stability and allow the boat to sail close to the wind, making it easy to handle in a variety of conditions. The boat's sail area is around 240 square feet, which is sufficient for most sailing needs.
The Snapdragon 890 is a bilge keel sailboat designed by Thames Marine in the 1970s. Instead of having a single keel in the center of the boat, it has two keels that are located on either side of the hull. This design allows the boat to sit upright on the ground when the tide goes out, which can be useful for coastal cruising and exploring shallow waters.
Get to understand more about bilge keel in this article.
In sailing, the Snapdragon 890 is known for being stable and easy to handle. The bilge keel design helps to reduce heeling and increase stability, which can be especially helpful in choppy or windy conditions.
The boat has a moderate sail area, with a mainsail of around 200 square feet and a genoa of around 150 square feet. This means that it can be easily handled by a small crew or even single-handedly.
Like the Snapdragon 890, the Snapdragon 600 has a bilge keel design that allows it to sit upright on the ground when the tide goes out. This can be useful for coastal cruising and exploring shallow waters. The boat has a displacement of around 2,500 lbs, making it lighter than the Snapdragon 890.
The boat has a moderate sail area, with a mainsail of around 100 square feet and a genoa of around 70 square feet so it is perfect for a small crew or even for solo sailing.
The Achilles 24 is a bilge keel sailboat that was designed by Oliver Lee in the UK in the early 1960s. Like other bilge keel sailboats, the Achilles 24 is designed to be stable and easy to handle.
The boat has a moderate sail area, with a mainsail of around 140 square feet and a genoa of around 150 square feet. One of the key features of the Achilles 24 is its spacious interior.
The boat has a large saloon area, a galley, a chart table, and a separate head compartment. It can accommodate up to four people, making it a great choice for weekend cruising or short trips.
In terms of sailing performance, the Achilles 24 is known for being a responsive and well-balanced boat. It can be easily driven by its sails and can handle a variety of wind conditions. The boat has a relatively narrow beam, which helps to reduce drag and increase speed.
The Westerly Centaur is a bilge keel sailboat that was designed for coastal cruising and has a reputation for being a sturdy and reliable boat. The bilge keel design is intended to provide greater stability and the ability to take the ground, which can be useful for exploring shallow waters and anchoring in tidal areas.
Although the Centaur is not known for being a particularly fast or performance-oriented boat, it is a comfortable and safe cruiser that can handle a variety of conditions. The bilge keels can help to reduce heeling and improve upwind performance, but they may also create additional drag and reduce overall speed.
Want to weigh the pros and cons of bilge keels ? Here's an article you might find helpful.
The design of the Centaur is fairly traditional, having a spacious interior with good headroom that can accommodate up to six people. The cockpit is also roomy and well-protected, which can make it comfortable for extended cruising.
The Westerly Griffon is a popular bilge keel sailboat designed by Ed Dubois and built by Westerly Yachts in the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1989. It is known for its stability and ease of handling.
The bilge keels provide excellent lateral stability, which makes the boat less prone to rolling in rough seas. The Griffon also has a relatively shallow draft, which allows it to access shallow anchorages and marinas that are off-limits to deeper-draft boats.
The Griffon's design is characterized by its spacious and comfortable interior, which features a large saloon, a galley, and two private cabins. The boat is also equipped with a head and shower, which makes it suitable for longer trips. The cockpit is also well-designed, with ample seating and good visibility.
In terms of features, the Griffon is equipped with a number of standard amenities, including a roller furling genoa, a mainsail with lazy jacks, and a self-tailing winch. The boat also has a variety of optional features, such as a diesel engine, a windlass, and a chartplotter.
The Westerly Pageant is a bilge keel sailboat, which means it has two keels instead of one. This design allows the boat to sit upright on the ground or on a low-tide seabed, making it easier to access shallow waters.
In terms of performance, the Westerly Pageant is known for being a stable and sturdy boat, with good handling and maneuverability. It has a moderate sail area and a relatively low displacement, which makes it a good choice for cruising and day sailing.
The design of the Westerly Pageant features a spacious cockpit and a comfortable interior with two cabins, a saloon, and a galley. The boat can accommodate up to six people, making it a good choice for families or small groups.
The Sadler 32 is a bilge keel sailboat designed by David Sadler in the 1970s. It is known for its excellent sailing performance and sturdy construction, making it a great choice for cruising and offshore sailing.
The bilge keel design allows the boat to be more stable and sail in shallow waters. The boat is also able to handle strong winds and rough seas with ease.
Despite its relatively small size, the Sadler 32 has a spacious interior that can comfortably accommodate up to six people. The boat has a large saloon area, a well-equipped galley, and plenty of storage space. The Sadler 32 is designed to be easy to handle, even for novice sailors, with a simple rigging system and a responsive helm.
The Moody 33 is a popular bilge keel sailboat designed for cruising and coastal sailing. It was first introduced in 1974 and remained in production until 1985. This boat is known for its sturdy construction, excellent performance, and spacious interior.
Since the Moody 33 has a bilge keel design, this means that the boat has two keels, one on each side of the hull, which provide excellent stability and allow it to stand upright on a hard surface. This design also allows the boat to sail closer to the wind and makes it easier to maneuver in tight spaces.
The Moody 33 has a spacious cockpit with ample seating for the crew, and the deck is designed for easy handling of sails and rigging. The boat is powered by a reliable diesel engine and has a fuel capacity of 20 gallons (76 liters).
Below the deck, the boat has a comfortable living area with a full galley, a head with shower, and sleeping accommodations for up to six people. The interior is finished in teak and offers plenty of storage space for extended cruising.
The Westerly Konsort is a popular bilge keel sailboat that was designed and built in the UK. It is a sturdy and reliable cruiser that is well-suited for coastal and offshore sailing.
One of the key features of the Konsort is its bilge keel design which provide excellent stability and allows the boat to sit upright on the mud or sand when the tide goes out. This makes it easy to explore shallow waters and anchor in tight spots.
The Konsort has a moderate displacement and a relatively low sail area, which makes it easy to handle even in rough conditions. The boat is also known for its good upwind performance and its ability to maintain speed in light winds.
It has a spacious and comfortable interior that can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a large saloon with a U-shaped seating area, a galley, and a navigation station. There are also two private cabins, one forward and one aft, as well as a head with a shower.
The Moody 346 is a popular bilge keel sailboat that was designed by Bill Dixon and built by Moody Yachts. This boat is known for its excellent performance, design, and features, making it a great choice for sailors of all levels.
In terms of performance, the Moody 346 is a fast and responsive sailboat that is easy to handle in a variety of conditions. It features a long waterline, which helps to provide excellent stability and maneuverability. The bilge keels also help to reduce the boat's draft , making it easier to navigate in shallow waters.
The design of the Moody 346 is both practical and elegant. The boat features a spacious cockpit and a comfortable interior, with plenty of room for living and entertaining. The interior is finished in high-quality materials and features a range of amenities, including a galley, a head, and sleeping accommodations for up to six people.
In terms of features, the Moody 346 is well-equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable sailing experience. The boat comes with a range of navigation and communication equipment, as well as safety features like a life raft and safety harnesses. It also features a range of storage compartments, making it easy to stow gear and supplies.
The Hunter Horizon 26 is a popular bilge keel sailboat that was designed and built by Hunter Boats in the UK. It is a versatile and practical boat that is ideal for coastal cruising and day sailing.
It is a stable and responsive boat that is easy to handle. Its bilge keels provide good stability and allow the boat to sail in shallow waters. The boat also has a moderate sail area and a well-balanced rig, which makes it easy to control and maneuver.
In terms of design, the Hunter Horizon 26 has a classic look with a sleek and modern profile. It has a spacious and comfortable cockpit that can accommodate up to four people.
The boat's interior is well-designed and features a large saloon, a galley, and a separate head compartment. The boat also has plenty of storage space, making it ideal for longer trips.
The Fisher 25 is a classic bilge keel sailboat that was designed by Wyatt and Freeman in the late 1960s. It is a popular choice among sailors who are looking for a sturdy and reliable cruising boat that can handle a variety of weather conditions.
This boat is known for its stability and seaworthiness. The bilge keels provide excellent stability both at sea and in harbor, and the boat's heavy displacement and full keel design make it easy to handle in rough weather. The boat has a moderate sail plan that is easy to handle, and it can be sailed single-handed or with a small crew.
The Fisher 25's design is classic and timeless, with a traditional look that is both elegant and functional. The boat has a spacious cockpit that provides plenty of room for relaxing and entertaining, and the interior is cozy and comfortable, with ample storage space and a well-designed galley.
The boat is also built to high standards using high-quality materials, and it is known for its durability and longevity. The hull is made of solid fiberglass, and the deck and cabin are constructed of marine-grade plywood and fiberglass. The boat's rigging and hardware are also of high quality, and the boat is designed to withstand the rigors of offshore sailing.
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Westerly boats for sale
Westerly is a yacht manufacturer that currently has 34 yachts for sale on YachtWorld, including 2 new vessels and 32 used yachts, listed by experienced boat and yacht brokers mainly in the following countries: United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain and Grenada. YachtWorld offers a diverse array of models, showcasing a comprehensive range of ...
CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY)
Twin Keel: Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop: LOA: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m: LWL: 21.33 ft / 6.50 m: ... CHIEFTAIN 26 (WESTERLY) Download Boat Record: Notes. The CENTAUR was Westerly's most successful model and, in anything close to this size range, the most popular British production sailboat ever. It's thought that all are bilge/twin keelers and a few ...
Westerly sailboats for sale by owner.
Westerly preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Westerly used sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. Search. Avoid Fraud. ... 26.11' Catalina 250 MK II Wing Keel Westbrook, Connecticut Asking $24,000. 32.5' Pearson Vanguard Bishops Marina Clubfoot Creek off Neuse River, North Carolina Asking $25,500.
Ladyship: Reinventing a Westerly Pageant 23
Ladyship started life in 1971 as a twin-keel Westerly Pageant 23, exported from England to a Westerly dealer on the lower Chesapeake Bay.She moved from there to an owner in Virginia and somehow ended up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she had a couple of owners. We suspect she might have been sunk at some point, possibly the victim of a hurricane, as we found hidden mud debris inside her that ...
8 of the best bilge-keel sailing yachts
Westerly Fulmar This Ed Dubios designed 32-footer, built from 1980 onwards, represented something of a departure for Westerly from its mainstay range of chunky cruisers and secondary line of IOR inspired raceboats. ... The company produced its first twin keel boat, the RM900, in 1989 and since then it has sold more than 10 models from 8-13.6m ...
Westerly Sailboat Boats for sale
69' Westerly Centaur 26 ft sailboat, inboard Volvo 25 h.p. diesel, twin keel, with trailer, tiller steering, 4 sails, roller furling for head sail, 6' 4'' cabin head room, sleeps 6, head , galley, ice box, restoration is 75% completed. 6500 lb heavy duty construction built to Lloyds of London standards. $6500/Possible trade for motorcycle.
Merlin 28 Twin keel (Westerly)
Sailboat specifications. The Merlin 28 is a 27'1" (8.25m) cruising sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1984 and 1990 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 151 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching.
Fulmar 32 Twin keel (Westerly)
Sailboat specifications. The Fulmar 32 is a 31'10" (9.7m) cruiser-racer sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1980 and 1991 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 435 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching. The Fulmar 32 is as well listed, on Boat ...
Why twin keels are making a comeback
There have been many design variations that come broadly under the term bilge keels. Strictly speaking, bilge keels are in addition to a long central keel, fitted near the bilge, where the hull turns from the bottom to the side of the boat. Traditionally, these were non-structural, shallow and long, largely intended to reduce rolling.
1972 Westerly 26 Centaur, Alderson West Virginia
Hard to find Westerly Centaur 26 twin keel coastal cruiser! The Westerly 26 CENTAUR = Westerly's most successful model and, in anything close to this size range, the most popular British production sailboat ever. It's thought that all are bilge/twin keelers This boat was built in England for the North Sea- strong and dry and rigged for single ...
Westerly Yachts For Sale Near You
About Westerly. Westerly Yachts are prominent for their strong and well-built construction and were one of Europe's leading production builder of fiberglass composite sailboats. They have manufactured yachts from the mid-1960's through the 1970's and 1980's before it terminated its trading. Commander Denys Rayner, a popular yacht designer ...
Westerly Fulmar 32 MH Twin Keel
Westerly Fulmar 32 MH Twin Keel is a 31 ... 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. 18.01 <16: under powered. 16-20: good performance >20: high performance.
Westerly Konsort: space, security & good performance
Come 1978, the next boats up in Westerly's range were the 31-footers: the Renown, Pentland, Berwick and Longbow, between them offering a choice of sloop or ketch rig, twin or fin keels and aft or centre cockpits.. Like the Centaur, they sailed better than they looked but were discontinued shortly after the arrival of what was to be the last model from the drawing board of Westerly's long ...
Westerly Centaur
The Westerly Centaur is the finest small yacht in the world. At 26 feet and four tonnes it is small enough to be easy to single hand and big enough to take the rough stuff. I am confident that a Centaur could handle almost anything the British Climate can throw at it apart from the truly bonkers day when only an arse would be out in a 26 footer .
Griffon 26 Twin keel (Westerly)
The Griffon 26 is a 26' (7.93m) cruising sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1979 and 1989 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 454 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching. The Griffon 26 is as well listed, on Boat-Specs.com, in Fin keel version (see all the versions compared).
MERLIN 28 (WESTERLY)
Also available with twin/bilge keels: Draft: 3.36'/1.025m; Ballast: 3,329 lbs / 1,510 kg With an extended stern it became MERLIN 29 (1990). Sail area: ... For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. Draft (min) is with the board up. ...
Twin Keel sailboat?
The first was a Westerly 25 built in 1967. The drag is increased and they can't point quite as well as a single keel boat. The second twin keel boat I owned was a 35" custom design that was bought from me by her designer and some changes made, most notably the change from single rudder to twin sailing rudders and a centreline rudder for powering.
KONSORT 29 (WESTERLY)
Twin Keel model - draft: 3.2'/.98m. A Pilothouse 'DUO' model was also available. In popularity, of all Westerly models, second only to the CENTAUR. Sail area: ... For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. Draft (min) is with the board up. ...
13 Most Popular Bilge Keel Sailboats Worth Considering
The 13 most popular bilge keel sailboats that are worth considering are the following: Snapdragon 747, Snapdragon 890, Snapdragon 600, Achilles 24, Westerly Centaur, Westerly Griffon, Westerly Pageant, Sadler 32, Moody 33, Westerly Konsort, Moody 346, Hunter Horizon 26, and Fisher 25. The Westerly Konsort is a bilge keel sailboat that is known ...
Twin keel
The placement of the twin keels also allows the boat to stand upright when out of the water without additional support, as opposed to a single-keeled boat that would fall over if water levels dropped. ... Similar vessels are produced by Westerly and Moody. HEOL 7.4 twin lifting keels, a current model. The HEOL 7.4, design by Martin Defline is a ...
FULMAR 32 (WESTERLY)
FULMAR 32 (WESTERLY) Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions ... Available with twin keels; Draft: 1.22m/4.0'. A few also were delivered with a lifting keel (6). Sail area:-Main: 253 ft² / 23.5 m² ...
Westerly Sailing Yachts for sale UK, used Westerly Sailing Yachts, new
Tidy example of a Westerly Pageant A loved boat but the chance to get a larger boat came along so need to let her go. Recent restoration work over the last winter including: Hull and topside polish and wax New antifouling New non slip deck paint Refinished teak Main sail refurbished New sheets New cockpit floor deck New switch panel and fuse box New raw water strainer New Bluesea ACR duel ...
WESTERLY 21
WESTERLY 21. Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions Hull Type: Twin Keel: Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop: LOA: 21.50 ft / 6.55 m: ... A sail area/displacement ratio below 16 would be considered under powered;
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Westerly is a yacht manufacturer that currently has 34 yachts for sale on YachtWorld, including 2 new vessels and 32 used yachts, listed by experienced boat and yacht brokers mainly in the following countries: United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain and Grenada. YachtWorld offers a diverse array of models, showcasing a comprehensive range of ...
Twin Keel: Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop: LOA: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m: LWL: 21.33 ft / 6.50 m: ... CHIEFTAIN 26 (WESTERLY) Download Boat Record: Notes. The CENTAUR was Westerly's most successful model and, in anything close to this size range, the most popular British production sailboat ever. It's thought that all are bilge/twin keelers and a few ...
Westerly preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Westerly used sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. Search. Avoid Fraud. ... 26.11' Catalina 250 MK II Wing Keel Westbrook, Connecticut Asking $24,000. 32.5' Pearson Vanguard Bishops Marina Clubfoot Creek off Neuse River, North Carolina Asking $25,500.
Ladyship started life in 1971 as a twin-keel Westerly Pageant 23, exported from England to a Westerly dealer on the lower Chesapeake Bay.She moved from there to an owner in Virginia and somehow ended up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she had a couple of owners. We suspect she might have been sunk at some point, possibly the victim of a hurricane, as we found hidden mud debris inside her that ...
Westerly Fulmar This Ed Dubios designed 32-footer, built from 1980 onwards, represented something of a departure for Westerly from its mainstay range of chunky cruisers and secondary line of IOR inspired raceboats. ... The company produced its first twin keel boat, the RM900, in 1989 and since then it has sold more than 10 models from 8-13.6m ...
69' Westerly Centaur 26 ft sailboat, inboard Volvo 25 h.p. diesel, twin keel, with trailer, tiller steering, 4 sails, roller furling for head sail, 6' 4'' cabin head room, sleeps 6, head , galley, ice box, restoration is 75% completed. 6500 lb heavy duty construction built to Lloyds of London standards. $6500/Possible trade for motorcycle.
Sailboat specifications. The Merlin 28 is a 27'1" (8.25m) cruising sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1984 and 1990 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 151 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching.
Sailboat specifications. The Fulmar 32 is a 31'10" (9.7m) cruiser-racer sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1980 and 1991 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 435 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching. The Fulmar 32 is as well listed, on Boat ...
There have been many design variations that come broadly under the term bilge keels. Strictly speaking, bilge keels are in addition to a long central keel, fitted near the bilge, where the hull turns from the bottom to the side of the boat. Traditionally, these were non-structural, shallow and long, largely intended to reduce rolling.
Hard to find Westerly Centaur 26 twin keel coastal cruiser! The Westerly 26 CENTAUR = Westerly's most successful model and, in anything close to this size range, the most popular British production sailboat ever. It's thought that all are bilge/twin keelers This boat was built in England for the North Sea- strong and dry and rigged for single ...
About Westerly. Westerly Yachts are prominent for their strong and well-built construction and were one of Europe's leading production builder of fiberglass composite sailboats. They have manufactured yachts from the mid-1960's through the 1970's and 1980's before it terminated its trading. Commander Denys Rayner, a popular yacht designer ...
Westerly Fulmar 32 MH Twin Keel is a 31 ... 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. 18.01 <16: under powered. 16-20: good performance >20: high performance.
Come 1978, the next boats up in Westerly's range were the 31-footers: the Renown, Pentland, Berwick and Longbow, between them offering a choice of sloop or ketch rig, twin or fin keels and aft or centre cockpits.. Like the Centaur, they sailed better than they looked but were discontinued shortly after the arrival of what was to be the last model from the drawing board of Westerly's long ...
The Westerly Centaur is the finest small yacht in the world. At 26 feet and four tonnes it is small enough to be easy to single hand and big enough to take the rough stuff. I am confident that a Centaur could handle almost anything the British Climate can throw at it apart from the truly bonkers day when only an arse would be out in a 26 footer .
The Griffon 26 is a 26' (7.93m) cruising sailboat designed by Dubois Naval Architects (United Kingdom). She was built between 1979 and 1989 by Westerly (United Kingdom) with 454 hulls completed. The Twin keel version allows a shoal draft and stability while beaching. The Griffon 26 is as well listed, on Boat-Specs.com, in Fin keel version (see all the versions compared).
Also available with twin/bilge keels: Draft: 3.36'/1.025m; Ballast: 3,329 lbs / 1,510 kg With an extended stern it became MERLIN 29 (1990). Sail area: ... For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. Draft (min) is with the board up. ...
The first was a Westerly 25 built in 1967. The drag is increased and they can't point quite as well as a single keel boat. The second twin keel boat I owned was a 35" custom design that was bought from me by her designer and some changes made, most notably the change from single rudder to twin sailing rudders and a centreline rudder for powering.
Twin Keel model - draft: 3.2'/.98m. A Pilothouse 'DUO' model was also available. In popularity, of all Westerly models, second only to the CENTAUR. Sail area: ... For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. Draft (min) is with the board up. ...
The 13 most popular bilge keel sailboats that are worth considering are the following: Snapdragon 747, Snapdragon 890, Snapdragon 600, Achilles 24, Westerly Centaur, Westerly Griffon, Westerly Pageant, Sadler 32, Moody 33, Westerly Konsort, Moody 346, Hunter Horizon 26, and Fisher 25. The Westerly Konsort is a bilge keel sailboat that is known ...
The placement of the twin keels also allows the boat to stand upright when out of the water without additional support, as opposed to a single-keeled boat that would fall over if water levels dropped. ... Similar vessels are produced by Westerly and Moody. HEOL 7.4 twin lifting keels, a current model. The HEOL 7.4, design by Martin Defline is a ...
FULMAR 32 (WESTERLY) Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions ... Available with twin keels; Draft: 1.22m/4.0'. A few also were delivered with a lifting keel (6). Sail area:-Main: 253 ft² / 23.5 m² ...
Tidy example of a Westerly Pageant A loved boat but the chance to get a larger boat came along so need to let her go. Recent restoration work over the last winter including: Hull and topside polish and wax New antifouling New non slip deck paint Refinished teak Main sail refurbished New sheets New cockpit floor deck New switch panel and fuse box New raw water strainer New Bluesea ACR duel ...
WESTERLY 21. Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions Hull Type: Twin Keel: Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop: LOA: 21.50 ft / 6.55 m: ... A sail area/displacement ratio below 16 would be considered under powered;