36' Westerly model help

[DeepKeel]

HI All,

I had a very brief look at a very neglected boat, ashore, which I was told was a "36' Westerly". That's all the information I have at the moment. It has a fin keel, sloop rig, centre cockpit with an aft cabin accessed via a passage from the main saloon. I don't currently have the year of manufacture or any other details, except there is a placard in the saloon showing "Off. No. nnnnnn Reg Tons 12 15/100" which I assume means she was at one time on the lloyds registry? But I don't see her name there now.

Googling around I can't be sure which model this is. Any suggestions?

I am half wondering if it might be an interesting project, on first glance the fundamentals look good, but before I go back (it's a 4 hour drive away!) and do some serious poking around, am I right that these boats have balsa core decks? Any Westerley experts with comments on the likely state of the deck after years ashore or any other major gotchas to look out for? A quick tug on a couple of deck fittings didn't show any flexing. There's plenty of corrosion on the keel, but it's still mostly there, the join with the hull looks sound but far from 'fair'. What would be involved in dropping the keel and rebedding it?

 

[dankilb]

Like one of these, or its derivatives: Conway - Westerly-Wiki

Good solid boats, but if neglected could be a massive project!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Sounds like a Conway, or the later Corsair Westerly Corsair archive details - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers - yacht brokerage and boat sales

 

[DeepKeel]

Ah, thanks, it could well be a sloop version of the Conwy. I had discounted the Conwy as my Googling only showed ketch versions.

 

[dankilb]

The sloops are definitely rarer - but some were produced.

The Corsair has very different (Ed Dubois!) hull/deck mouldings, so that should be easy to identify.

Decks are cored. Having a good walk - or even jump! - around, ideally without shoes if the weather/state of the decks will allow, should help identify any soft spots.

Lots of structural and semi-structural ply joinery down below so pay that close attention too, if she’s sat long, with a view to fresh/rain water ingress and subsequent rot. Could be as much work in that as more obvious ‘structural’ repairs.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ah, thanks, it could well be a sloop version of the Conwy. I had discounted the Conwy as my Googling only showed ketch versions.

The Conway was available as a Ketch or sloop most were ketches. The Corsair replaced the Conway and was also available as a ketch or sloop, but most were sloops.

I don't see that being ashore has any relevance to the deck core. If any areas of core have degraded you can usually spot them as the deck will be very flexible.

 

[DeepKeel]

The Conway was available as a Ketch or sloop most were ketches. The Corsair replaced the Conway and was also available as a ketch or sloop, but most were sloops.

I don't see that being ashore has any relevance to the deck core. If any arwas of core have degraded you can usually spot them as the deck will be very flexible.

From the layout below, I'm pretty sure it's a Conwy (sorry, can't spell it the English way any longer!).

I have an idea that fresh water ingress into balsa is potentially more likely to result in rot than saltwater?

 

[PaulRainbow]

From the layout below, I'm pretty sure it's a Conwy (sorry, can't spell it the English way any longer!).

I have an idea that fresh water ingress into balsa is potentially more likely to result in rot than saltwater?

My point re the deck is, i don't see the relevance of the boat being ashore, it's going to get rained on etc wherever it is. If it has leaky deck fittings they will leak wherever the boat is. That's not to say you should not check the decks. As previously said by myself and Dan, soft spots are usually easy to spot.

Lots of other areas to be more concerned with than the balsa core. How long has the boat been standing, unused ?

 

[DeepKeel]

Lots of other areas to be more concerned with than the balsa core. How long has the boat been standing, unused ?

Ashore for 4 years. Unused/little used on a mooring for an unknown length of time before that.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ashore for 4 years. Unused/little used on a mooring for an unknown length of time before that.

Obviously check everything you can see, interior joinery etc, no doubt it'll have droopy vinyl. I'd carefully check the engine and associated electrical equipment. Check every piece of electrical equipment on the boat, batteries are likely to be no good and a lot of pumps etc don't like to be left standing long term. Perhaps take some pictures of anything of concern and post them on here. Your description of the keel doesn't sound great, post some pictures of that.

 

[ashtead]

I guess lots to worry about on old Westerly -really depends on if you can pick up for a song and have the time,budget and patience to re-engineering,rig,etc but you will never get the money back I suspect but don’t forget the westerly owners association or even taking an old westerly owner with you might be helpful. I’m sure utube videos might helpful on identification of model if not a Conway etc.

 

[Concerto]

Any old Westerly can be made to look good with time, money and effort, provided you have the necessary skills. You may find the links to the renovation of Concerto, my Westerly Fulmar, worth watching as they will give you lots of tips on how to do things.
https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/3/3f/Concerto.pdf
https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/8/86/Gel_coat_renovation_19May2020.pdf
https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/2/25/Interior_Woodwork_Concerto_PowerPoint.pdf
https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/1/17/Vinyl_Headling_Concerto_PowerPoint.pdf

Concerto was at the Southampton Boat Show last month as the Westerly Owners Association boat at the show. Here is the video of a walk round her and 4 other sailing videos.
Concerto at the Boat Show 2021

Concerto under spinnaker

Ghosting on the Medway

Salcombe to Isles of Scilly and back

Sailing from Chatham to Portsmouth and back

If you are seriously thinking of buying a Westerly then you can join the Westerly Owners Association (WOA) forum for free. This allows you to ask specialist questions to other owners. Joining the WOA is very worthwhile at £17.50 and has addition benefits of discounts from many suppliers, the best being the insurance deal with Navigators and General that offers free additional extras to their normal policy and a 10% discount - which is worth more than the membership fee.
Stay Safe! Your 3314 friends at WOA

 

[ashtead]

Having met him at SBS I can confirm Concerto is a mine of information and a real pleasure to meet. I guess you need to find his Conway brother now .

 

[DeepKeel]

Wow, thanks for those videos, Concerto looks fantastic. In fact, you have reminded me, the only time I have sailed a Westerly was many many years ago when I did my yachtmaster exam in the Solent in a hired Fulmar.

What I really need now is some pictures of below decks in a pristine Conway to persuade my other half. I cannot show her the dank and dilapidated state the boat is in now.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Any old Westerly can be made to look good with time, money and effort, provided you have the necessary skills. You may find the links to the renovation of Concerto, my Westerly Fulmar, worth watching as they will give you lots of tips on how to do things.

How much has Concerto cost so far Roger ?

 

[Tranona]

This one has reasonable interior shots - but just Google and you will find plenty more
theyachtmarket.com/en/boat-for-sale/2125659/

Be aware though that with such a relatively low market value a project boat has to be really cheap to justify the work and expense of getting it up to this level.

 

[jwilson]

Westerly Conway archive details - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers - yacht brokerage and boat sales shows a Conway in "good average" condition. Woodwork and upholstery generally OK, but areas of the usual Westerly headlining droop.

 

[dankilb]

We looked seriously at a Conway before we found Christina. The boat in question was well ‘sorted’ (Kemp spars, new sails, new Beta) and believe the owners bottom line was £30k(ish). This was just over two years ago. If that’s any help as a datum for a ‘good’ one.

She had just come back from Turkey and I had now reason to dispute the glowing reports on her seakindliness (and in particular, ability to sail where pointed with the comparatively long keel and balanced rig).

The one that really got away, though, was a rare aft cockpit example that went for £13k up on W Coast of Scotland while we were looking. Had even been MCA coded (within 10 years or so).

Shows there were bargains to be had…!

 

[Concerto]

How much has Concerto cost so far Roger ?

Excluding berthing and similar costs, just under £50,000. With the next few upgrades that are planned it will be just over that. I have never worried about the cost as this is the first secondhand boat I have bought and could have purchased a new 32ft yacht fully specced. All I have done is to bring Concerto as close to new condition as possible with a number of modern upgrades. This might seem excessive, but I have a boat exactly as I want it with lots of new equipment rather than equipment that could be 40 years old. I can honestly say I am enjoying my boat and know I am also enjoying my money rather than leaving for my offspring. On the other hand if I had bought a new boat, it would have cost about £150,000 - three times as much. This would generally depreciate at 8% per year, or £12,000 in year 1, £11,000 in year 2, £10,000 in year 3, etc. Compare this to the approximate £20,000 I might loose over the 8 years of owning Concerto.

Now factor in that my daughter went to university and hated being in the halls of residence, so I bought a flat close to the university. It was a probate sale and needed a little TLC before she moved in. For just over 3 years she paid me a discounted rent and then I sold it making a £12,000 capital gain. So, I have earnt more from the flat than the depreciation I will suffer on Concerto.

 

[Concerto]

Be aware though that with such a relatively low market value a project boat has to be really cheap to justify the work and expense of getting it up to this level.

Absolutely agree. I bought Concerto for £21,5000 in Dec 2013 and originally budgeted £12,000 to renovate Concerto. This will shortly reach £28,000 - but this does include plenty of upgrades that did not all need to be done. Nothing has been allowed for all the hours I have spent working on Concerto, which I have enjoyed doing.