nor'west 33 sailboat review

Review of Westsail 33

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.

The Westsail 33 is equipped with a long keel. A full keel provide a better directional stability than a similar boat with a fin keel; on the other hand, better directional stability means also that the boat is more difficult to handle in a harbour with less space.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.50 - 1.60 meter (4.92 - 5.22 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Westsail 33 is 1.56, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Westsail 33 is about 179 kg/cm, alternatively 1006 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 179 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1006 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 20m 2 (215 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Westsail 33 it would be a great help.

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• Sailboat Guide

1981 Nor'West 33

• Description

Seller's Description

SALE PENDING 3/21 Will delete posting when sale is complete.

1981 Nor’West 33 - Full keel, proven bluewater cruising boat ready-to-go with a beautiful teak interior, brand-new Beta 25 diesel engine, monitor windvane, solar panels, new wiring, new running rigging, huge amounts of storage, and more!

This boat has been across the Pacific to French Polynesia, Hawaii and back to the West Coast, sailed through the Panama Canal and up to Maine, and is now ready and waiting for your cruising dreams in Beaufort, South Carolina!

As big believers of “go small, go now”, we’re confident you won’t find a better boat at this price.

Designed by Chuck Burns and built in Alameda, CA, she’s similar to a Mason 33 or a Cape Dory 33.

You will love: - Beta 25 diesel engine (2017) - Monitor windvane self-steering (2013) - Harken Mark IV - Unit 1 Furler (2018) - B&G Vulcan 9 3G Radar/Chartplotter (2018) - Topsides painted in Alexseal ‘Aristo Blue’ (2017) - Teak & holly cabinsole (2019) - Dodger and bimini with removable windshield (stamoid and makrolon) (2018) - 200w flexible solar panels (2018) - Huge amount of ventilation, storage and “extras”!

Price is $29,900 firm. Currently located in the water at Lady’s Island Marina, South Carolina.

See www.withbrio.com/norwest-33-sailboat-for-sale for additional details and pictures.

Equipment: Design: 1981 NorWest 33 Length: 33′ Beam: 10′ Draft: 5’3″ Airdraft: 42′ Headroom: 6’2″ Engine: Beta 25hp Cruising speed: 5.5 knots Max motoring speed: 6.7 knots Water: 80 gallons in 2 integral tanks Diesel: 30 gallons in 1 aluminum tank Single berths: 2 (quarterberth and starboard settee) Double berths: 2 (Vberth and port settee that has a foldout)

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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• Sailboat Reviews

When the McCreary brothers (Michael, a naval architect, and George, a business major) got out of college, they built a boat in their garage. The next year, 1980, they formed a company and introduced a snappy 28-foot performance cruiser. In 1985, in the midst of boatbuilding’s grimmest times, they opened a plant and launched the Caliber 33.

Now Caliber offers a four-boat line, and its newest boat is a 47-foot “Long Range Cruiser.” The company’s business philosophy begins, “though no longer a backyard operation, we still believe that smaller is better.” While we have to wonder how their progression from 28 to 47 feet bears that out, Caliber’s position, practices and products all reflect the brothers’ brand of “small is beautiful.” Neither volume nor custom builders, they have staked out a somewhat unique piece of the waterfront.

The 33 was discontinued prior to 1990 and fewer than 70 were sold. Still, it was large in building Caliber’s reputation and identity. She is a peculiar blend of tradition and innovation, of security and performance, of practicality and pizzazz. All of the owners we heard from were “satisfied.” One called the 33 his favorite boat over six decades of sailing. The brothers received very good ratings, too, for listening to owners, dealing with problems and refining the boats.

The Design Halsey Herreshoff once let slip the family’s secret, that Nathanael Herreshoff drew the masterstroke stem of the classic New York 40 “using a straightedge.” It looks like many of the Caliber’s lines were drawn the same way. The sheerline, house crown, house edge and cockpit coamings are, in designer McCreary’s profile drawing and sail plan, dead straight. The real boat, however, is not as angular as the blueprint. Trim, accents, curved toe-rails, stripes and refraction all bend and soften those knife-edges; the boat has a “sharp” look and (because most sailboats depend on fair curves for their appeal) the 33 is distinctive. Its bowsprit confuses the line of the stem, the stern is a bit too upright to be sexy, house and coaming are a touch blocky, but she gets second looks.

What sets the Caliber 33 apart from the smallcruiser crowd, though, is its stability. Depending on which brochure you believe, the displacement is variously reported as 11,400 pounds and 13,000 pounds. Same with ballast: 5,500 or 6,100 pounds of internal lead. For a well-above-average ballast/displacement ratio of about 48 per cent, it should be stiff. Low deadrise angles in the way of the keel, firm bilges and sections aft that are relatively flat add form stability.

Several years ago, we told George McCreary we’d like to test sail one of his boats. He declined. In the April 1996 issue, we asked for Caliber 33 owners to volunteer taking a PS editor sailing. Many responded, for which we are grateful. We ended up going out with Allan Barry, owner of a 1987 model in Marion, Massachusetts.

Under single-reefed main and genoa rolled-in one third, we were hard-pressed to heel her 20 degrees on the wind in 20 knots of true breeze. Our test model had the standard draft of 4′ 6″; a shoal draft model with 4′ 0″ draft and 500 pounds more ballast was offered.

Michael McCreary arranged the other elements of the design—a somewhat tall rig, smoothly modeled waterlines and a fairly long sailing length to minimize wetted surface—to make the 33 a rewarding boat to sail. Still, his first priorities seem to have been “big boat” feel and motion, a large interior and notable stability. That he managed this and still kept the displacement/length ratio at 198 (or 226, again depending on displacement) helps explain why so many cruising owners report satisfaction with her all-round performance. However, its medium-sized sailplan coupled with the parasitic drag of a big skeg/ rudder assembly and big keel, plus its overall heft, make light air a weak point.

Construction The 33 was among the quietest boats we’ve sailed. In 5′ Buzzard’s Bay slop, the creaks and groans that can come with torquing and pounding in a seaway were absent. Caliber glasses the bulkheads and furniture to the solid-glass hull (as opposed to employing an interior “pan”). That is no automatic assurance of soundness; the precision of fit and bedding plus the care and materials that go into the glassing are all variable, but our 10-year-old test boat seemed well made. Caliber calls for double taping at all points and quadruple taping of structural bulkheads.

The fiberglass deck is cored with 3″ squares of plywood. Where most builders today use balsa, sometimes employing plywood for areas where compression is a concern (such as under hardware), the Caliber 33 has plywood throughout. It’s heavier than balsa and if it gets wet (hardware bedding wears out), localized delamination would be a likely consequence.

The McCrearys have trademarked their hull-deck joint. The “Quad-Seal” joint gets its name from the four separate seals against water penetration incorporated in the process. Most interesting, we felt, was the “gasket” formed by a ring of copolymer tape around the inboard end of the joint between hull and deck flanges. George McCreary explained that the tape forms a seal when hull and deck are joined. The remainder of the space between the hull and deck parts is sealed with 3M 5200. The joint is capped with an aluminum toe-rail (through-bolted on 6″ centers), and faced with a rubrail (stainless steel with cushioned rubber backing.) The tape gasket forces the sealant outboard, into the joint, rather than letting it escape into the boat. Caliber uses carriage bolts that fit square holes in the toerail so that tightening the bolts won’t cause them to turn and disrupt the seal. There are simpler, quicker ways, but George McCreary said, “We almost never get leaks, and when we do it’s usually from deck hardware.” Only one Caliber owner wrote about a leak, and it was traced to a stanchion base.

Caliber uses large, closely-spaced floor timbers; over-sized standing rigging and spar section; chainplates bonded with extra fiberglass; extra glass in the way of the engine beds and shaft log; stainless propeller and rudder shafts; steel rudder backbone, and cast bronze rudder shaft stuffing box.

Our owner was surprised and distrubed when, shortly after he took delivery, his anchor platform/ bowsprit, splintered in a heavy head sea. “We realized that it was too light,” said McCreary, “so we made the platform heavier, cut relieving slits in it, and went from schedule 80 to schedule 160 pipe for the support structure. We also used to weld the base in place. We changed it to a bolt-on nose piece, which made it much easier to repair.”

Interior When the 33 appeared, making a “stateroom” by enclosing an over-sized quarter berth (to starboard) with a bi-fold partition was something of an innovation. Owners say that it has worked well, “a bit cozfor two,” a fine sea berth, and an appreciated “catch all” underway. One owner put a hand rail next to the folded doors because people grabbed the doors so often negotiating the companionway.

The companionway is broad, wider at the top than the bottom, and has four wide, gradually-spaced steps. Without a full bridge deck, getting up and down and fitting through are very easy. A rail to port (to prevent lurching into the galley) would make it even more secure. To blue-water purists, the opening might seem overly large. McCreary says the companionway boards lock in place, which is advised in heavy weather.

The galley is well-sited and efficient; stowage received high marks from owners. The owners of our test boat also customized utensil stowage with cutouts for their own pots and pans. It’s good to see a back-up foot pump for freshwater (70-gallon tank capacity) and seawater. Counter space extends beneath the wrap-around cabinets. Near the companionway and served by a small overhead hatch and porthole, the galley is well ventilated.

The fold-up table opens up the saloon (6′ 3″ headroom), though one owner reported having to beef up its bulkhead hardware.

Wood and white overheads, teak panels and trim, a teak & holly sole…the 33’s interior is traditional. It avoids “teakiness” with woods chosen from the bright side and ample natural light but is more conservative than memorable.

All non-cosmetic fiberglass used to be painted brown, but the owners of our test boat convinced the McCrearys to lighten up with white.

The navigation station could be bigger. Perhaps as a trade-off, the head is quite large. You can enter from either the saloon or forward cabin without disturbing the other space. The V-berth is 7′ long, but the taper forward (for foot room) restricts the useable length.

Performance Depending on the ballast figure used, the sail area/ displacement ratio of 15.2 (with 13,000 lbs. displacement) or 16.3 (11,400 lbs.) is quite an accurate window on her performance—better than some, but not as good as many. Many dedicated cruisers in this size range have hit the market over the past 10 years. Many incorporate advances in foil design, rig geometry, weight-sensitive construction, even hull shape. These modern boats might not deliver everything they promise, but the Caliber 33 enjoys none of them; as a result, its performance is “traditional.”

Handling is another story. Time and again, owners call the 33 “agile,” “nimble” and “lively.” Its generous, skeg-hung rudder gives superior control.The considerable beam helps the boat stand on its feet and, while large, its girth is well-modulated so that she has a regular hull shape with consequent good manners under sail. When you start heeling, control remains good and helm builds only gradually. Weather helm occasionally becomes an issue over 18 knots, but shortening sail is an acceptable cure. Whiplash is not a problem, but neither is boredom.

Negotiating a narrow, winding channel and picking up a mooring under sail, our test boat did all that we asked. Beating to a weather mark in big seas and moderate air, she was much more efficient cracked off slightly than when we tried to point up to around 35° with the apparent wind.

The deck layout is conventional. Inboard shrouds allow tight sheeting angles and make it easy to go forward. Our owner replaced the standard winches with bigger ones and was happy that he did.

Reefing and traveler controls do their job. Several owners praised the quality, size, and placement of standard hardware: “Just what I would have bought myself.” Our owner felt the need to install a winch dedicated to the roller furling controls. “We don’t put on roller furling ourselves, so we leave that to the owners,” McCreary said.

The 3-cylinder (28-hp.) Yanmar 3GM 30F diesel provides good reserve power. Our boat cruised at better than 6 knots at 2800 rpm in flat water. Exhaust grime staining the transom was a problem for several owners. Engine access is from both companionway and sail locker and was rated excellent by a number of owners. Fuel capacity is 26 gallons. The prop is a 15″ x 11″ three-blade, which will give good powering performance, but substantial drag under sail. As one owner noted, switching to a feathering prop can add up to an extra knot of boat speed. Two owners reported that the prop shaft came loose from the engine coupling.

Conclusion This is a pleasant boat to sail, but there are going to be other boats, sometimes even smaller boats, that inch by you in the course of port-to-port or relaxed daysailing. Catch your competition when the wind is on the beam and over 15, however, and you can puff out your chest. The 33 is large enough and workable enough below that some couples might choose to live aboard, but they would have to be a dedicated pair.

It is built well. In fact, compared to most production sailboats today, it is overbuilt. Someone had to pay for the materials that went into her. As a used boat that should make her something of a bargain.

Her motion is more gradual and kindly than lighter boats. Her draft (4’6″) is convenient, but she’s not great on the wind. There are hatches where there should be hatches; several are on the small side. Perhaps with 11 opening house ports there’s no need to cut bigger holes in the deck.

We liked this boat and the care with which the McCreary brothers put her together.

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Thoughts on WestSail 32

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We have been reading articles on these boats for a while. Are there other boats that are comparable in price, space, strength, and displacement? We like these boats, but would like to keep an open mind to other possibilities.  

In my opinion, here is the deal with the Westsail 32''s. There are lots of boats that offer equal or better space, strength, seaworthiness and carrying capacity for essentially the same price. Most of these sail on a longer waterline and have a longer overall length. In a general sense that results in better speed, ease of handling in a blow, and a more comfortable motion. The other issue is that many of these boats were kit built by amateurs and while build quality of the home builts can be quite good, it often isn''t. I have mentioned before an amatuer finished version which has concrete and steel ballast that was substantially lower in weight and density than the design called for. These boats do have their big fans but to me, depending on how you look at it they are short, expensive to buy and maintain, cramped, not especially seaworthy or offering comfortable motion when sized by their displacement and only look roomy and seaworthy when sized by their length on deck. Respectfully, Jeff  

Here''s another view, of a specific W32 which I think is very representative, that underscores Jeff''s points: My boat is currently moored outboard a W32 that''s been taken to Europe & back; it''s clearly capable of the kinds of sailing for which it was supposedly built. (So are many others). My boat is the same displacement, same LOA, same sail area (altho'' I have more sail carrying options in light winds, since mine is a ketch), same mast height. My boats LWL is 33'' (vs. 27'' for the W32), my beam 13'' (vs. 11''), has 3 sea berths (vs. 1), a sit-down nav station (vs. stand-up right at the companionway), an additional large cabin, and a stand-up separate shower stall (vs. tiny head modified to take a shower faucet). My cockpit is large (too large, some would think) with coamings that provide backrests on all sides. A fair amount of protection is provided on the wind by the dodger and cabin trunk. A bimini provides good overhead sun protection, altho'' it can be ''reefed'' when sail handling and/or sail trimming must be done. The W32 cockpit has no backrests nor any barriers to water sloshing down the side decks sweeping under the crew''s bottoms before entering the cockpit well. The bimini possible on this boat is by necessity very small. In cold weather, there is virtually no protection except for one person to sit on the companionway bridge-deck, just under/behind the small dodger. Stowage space aft is at a minimum due to the pointed stern. (How these unsuitable features were not viewed in total contrast to the advertised view of the boat is IMO because W32''s were marketed in South Seas/tropical cruising venues, as tho'' protection from the cold, the sun, the wind and the occasional angry wave were unimportant). This W32 was owner completed. The current owner, a very technically competent fellow, has spent huge amounts of time (tho'' not lots of money) to correct wiring, mechanical and other problems. The cosmetic problems remain to be addressed. This was done as part of a total refit. While I''ve added many systems to my boat related to offshore sailing, the basic boat (hull, deck, interior) remain untouched except as care & maintenance have required. From a design standpoint, it''s hard to understand where the interest in a W32 comes from. But then, we all know the answer: it''s the romanticized view of our boat - any boat - that seems to shape our view, and this boat does have the sizzle in some folks minds, even if it''s light on the steak. Jack  

Jack, I thought you had a Pearson 424 ketch. Do you still have this boat? Dave  

Dave: Yup, a ''79 Pearson 424. All the comparisons I gave above reflect WHOOSH as she sits in Satellite Beach, FL today. Jack  

Jack and Jeff On people's gratuitous views of some types of boats, such as the Westsail 32, please keep in mind that in all things, one man's meat is another man's poison. I find it quite offensive that so many people, without any first hand knowledge of a boat feel unconstrained in making venomous pronouncements about the virtues, or more frequently, the lack of virtues of certain types of sailing boats. Here are some quotes that spring to mind - from people who have a far greater right to make pronouncements: " But some (sailing) people will tell one almost anything. I do not so much mind them telling me such nonsense, but I do think it is unreasonable of them to expect to be believed." Eric Hiscock. And, more pertinent: "Due to circumstances or mood, a man may call his ship a mean ***** or a wet brute, but he will not stand for such liberties from the beach. If he understands and makes allowances for her shortcomings, then a special relationship exists, and a vessel will sometimes give an extra quality that there is no name for." Charles A. Borden, Sea Quest . So - keep your uninformed opinions to yourself.  

Laurent Giles described as part of his design philosophy that a yacht should have the utmost docility and sureness of maneuvering at sea, in good or bad weather Click to expand...

Every boat is a series of compromises. Back in the heyday of the W32, it was heavily promoted as a rugged, safe boat, and its price reflected the heavy promotion. Even then, it was known as the wetsnail 32, and it appealed more to safety conscious sailors than to performance oriented sailors. The boat is notoriously slow to weather. I remember the delivery crew who took 30 days to do the 800 mile baja bash under sail when the engine conked out. I also knew a man who had to be rescued when he could not make the 80 mile sail from Trinidad to Greneda when the wind went northeast. OTOH, a W32 did well in the downwind races from California to Hawaii, and most cruisers minimise thier time spent going to weather anyway. BTW, the Pearson cruisers are also pretty slow to weather, and some posters still like them... They are tough little boats--I know of one which bounced across the reef into the lagoon in New Caledonia--boat survived, but unfortunately the skipper was washed off and lost. However, I do know one which was lost at sea with all hands in a blow off Madagascar. I haven't priced W32's in a while, but if the premium prices over comparable boats have disappeared, they could be a reasonable purchase. Boats are like women--some prefer skinny blondes, some prefer curvy redheads.  

Jack - I think it would be more appropriate to compare your Pearson to vessels of similar LOD, not LOA. The Westsail has a mile of bowsprit and boomkin which contributes nothing to waterline length or accommodations. Geoff R - By your standards I guess I should take offense at your comments regarding Jeff & Jacks knowledge? Or do you have some first hand experience regarding that? JomsViking - How did Laurent Giles get in here?  

FSMike said: Jack - I think it would be more appropriate to compare your Pearson to vessels of similar LOD, not LOA. The Westsail has a mile of bowsprit and boomkin which contributes nothing to waterline length or accommodations. Click to expand...

Hey guys, This is a pretty darn old thread that just got dredged-up. Jack ("whoosh") hasn't been around for quite a while so isn't likely to step in and explain himself anytime soon. So I will just say that I don't find his dimensional comparisons altogether inappropriate (he did say "LOA", after all.) Besides the performance advantages, I think another unstated point may have been that he pays the same mooring fees as a Westsail 32 and yields the benefit of a much more commodious boat. That's a valid point, in my opinion. As for the Westsail's perfomance: Many owners readily admit that sailing to weather is not the boat's strongpoint. But these boats could be sailed fairly advantageously on a reach and downwind through the trades. My sailing mentor sailed his W32 to NZ and back (from California). When they reached harbor in the Marquesas after a long run over from San Diego, they compared passage notes with the dozen or so other boats in the anchorage that had come via the same route. As it turned out, they were the smallest boat by several feet (with a few Peterson 44s among them). But they had clocked the shortest passage time -- by a margin of several days. No, they hadn't all departed at the exact same time, but this anecdote does show that there's more to passage speeds than just a boat's performance specs.  

JohnRPollard said: Hey guys, So I will just say that I don't find his dimensional comparisons altogether inappropriate (he did say "LOA", after all.) Besides the performance advantages, I think another unstated point may have been that he pays the same mooring fees as a Westsail 32 and yields the benefit of a much more commodious boat. That's a valid point, in my opinion. As for the Westsail's perfomance: Many owners readily admit that sailing to weather is not the boat's strongpoint. But these boats could be sailed fairly advantageously on a reach and downwind through the trades. My sailing mentor sailed his W32 to NZ and back (from California). When they reached harbor in the Marquesas after a long run over from San Diego, they compared passage notes with the dozen or so other boats in the anchorage that had come via the same route. As it turned out, they were the smallest boat by several feet (with a few Peterson 44s among them). But they had clocked the shortest passage time -- by a margin of several days. Click to expand...

I agree it is an old thread but the comparison by Whoosh is valid as both his Pearson and the Westsail do have almost the same displacement (the Pearson is 1500 lbs heavier), a valid comparison between designs. There are both a Pearson 424 and a Westsail 32 in my marina and I recently did some electrical work on the Westsail. Slow as we all know and not my type of boat but it's construction was hard to fault. And I was everywhere from the engine bilge to most lockers and the main bilge. The rig is solid and the bulwarks add about 8" to the lifeline height for more security. I can see how Snider Vick (promoter of the Westsail in its heyday) was so successful. He sold dreams as much as boats and the Westsail certainly fits the dream. I do agree with Jeff that construction of the home builts was all over the place, as with most any home finished boat.  

This is an interesting thread for me, as I am looking for a 'westsail32-type' boat. I won't be in the market for about 6 more months, but when I get there, I plan to buy. Would anybody be able to list boat types that are similar, in addition to the pearson 424? There are a few posters who mention that such boats are common, but my knowledge of boats ends about the time they graduate past trailer sailors. So what other hulls fit that westsail32 concept? I'm thinking, specifically, of a price range in the 35K-45K range (asking.. these days, price is always negotiable, of course), moderate to heavy displacement, 32-ish feet (comfort for a cozy crew of two), cutter rigged, tiller steering, full or nearly-full keel, and generally designed to be a friendly sailing and live-aboard vessel. I also like that the rudder is transom hung, though obviously most boats are sporting skeg-hung rudders much past that 28 foot range, right? Anyway, I'd love a list of other boats to check out/look up if you guys have time. Thanks!  

CapTim said: Would anybody be able to list boat types that are similar, in addition to the pearson 424? ...Anyway, I'd love a list of other boats to check out/look up if you guys have time. Click to expand...

I think that anyone considering Westsail 32 should read "Rescue in Pacific" Amazon.com: Rescue in the Pacific: A True Story of Disaster and Survival in a Force 12 Storm… or just look at this year "Pacific puddle jump" Pacific Puddle Jump News 3 Westsail 32 entered, one sunk, one dismasted and abounded, one reported missing deadline, arrived later. No bashing here, just some food for thoughts.  

CrazyRu And then there is Satori, the Westsail that survived the Perfect Storm. Everybody left via the Coast Guard but the boat survived without them. And Robin Knox Johnson's Suhaili, the boat in which he circumnavigated non-stop singlehanded (the first to do so), a boat very similar to a Westsail built in wood. CapTim The Pearson 424 is not much like the Westsail. About the only thing they have in common is a similar weight and that they are both boats. The Pearson is 11' longer, 6 1/2' longer on the waterline, 2' beamier, and has a displacement/length ratio of 243 vs 429 for the Westsail, and has a rudder on a skeg. The Pearson also probably has twice the cubic area inside. But it is an interesting comparison of 2 very different boats that weigh more or less the same. The reason it is an interesting comparison is that if you are getting a boat built they tend to price by the pound if similarly equipped and built of the same materials. Why do you want a boat like a Westsail? Just asking. A boat that is really similar to the Westsail but larger would be the Alajuela 37 The Westsail is based on the Kendall 32 but they are quite rare, and it was based on Atkin's Eric. Other similar boats are Hans Christian, Lord Nelson, Union Cutters, Tayanas, Prairie Cutters, and Babas. Probably one of the better performing of this type, the Pacific Seacraft 31, was designed by Bill Crealock, the designer who really developed the Westsail (Kendall) from Atkin's Eric. Here's a link to a Westsail site WESTSAIL - WORLD CRUISER YACHT CO. with a lot of information about them. Here's a review of the Westsail Westsail 32 Review : Bluewaterboats.org As nicely done as some of the Westsails are, I personally like a lighter boat with the beam not carried as far forward. On Wikipedia the Westsail is described as roomy because of this and it also suggests that the weight of a large amount of supplies doesn't affect the performance. I think the design itself limits performance and a few thousand pounds more makes little difference.  

mitiempo said: ...Probably one of the better performing of this type, the Pacific Seacraft 31, was designed by Bill Crealock, the designer who really developed the Westsail (Kendall) from Atkin's Eric... Click to expand...

Forgot the picture.  

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Whats anyones opinion about the Westsail 28?  

mitiempo said: ....Even though I was wrong about the Crealock PSC 31 it does have some of the "offshore look" of the Westsail while being a much better sailing boat.... Click to expand...

CapTim I am of the belief that the shape of the hull below the water is more important than that above the water. Avoiding fat ass extremes of course. Most boats will rise to a sea, although the Westsail with its weight maybe not so much. A moderate displacement boat like the Pacific Seacraft 31 is not handicapped by having a transom in my opinion. I can't think of too many canoe stern boats currently being built - if it made that much difference there would surely be more. I have never seen a Westsail that didn't have a lot of exterior wood to varnish or cetol. Go to Boats for Sale, Yachts for Sale, Used Boats, Power Boats, Motor Yachts and search by size, price or whatever and look for ideas - a good resource.  

The story of Satori is a failure - but not of the boat. As I posted earlier I am not a Westsail fan, but I do not consider them unsafe. Obviously a home finished boat can be iffy but if well done they are more solid than most and well suited to offshore use. As far as Suhaili vs the Westsails in the Queen Elizabeth storm, the weather Knox-Johnson met in his circumnavigation was severe at times as well. Maybe the difference is the sailors?  

CapTim, Someone mentioned earlier as an alternative to the Westsail is the Southern Cross 31. About 6K lighter but with all of the other characteristics you listed. Wife and I looked at one yesterday and were both very impressed. Many circumnavigations/crossings and a great owners site (but requires membership to get to the good stuff). Good luck.  

cool.. thanks for the heads up. What's a reasonable price for a southern cross 31?  

CapTim Here are the ones listed on Yachtworld. Some are the heavier Mariah which is older and almost the same as a Westsail. pacific seacraft (Sail) Boats For Sale  

Another alternative is the Elizabethan 30 or 33.  

Or Contessa 32 and Hustler 30  

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