help with buying a yacht.

[bry]

Thinking of buying either a westerly 26 ft. 1976. Or a Newbridge 23 1985.
both are in goog condition. Both are bilge keel. I have never sailed a bilge keeler.
Can any one help

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[DEJAVU]

When you say Westerly 26ft are you talking Centaur? Can give some advice on hard won experience if you are. Good solid boats but make sure the engine has been serviced regularly - v. expensive (£1000 for cylinder head). Also rigging - the earlier ones (mine was 1972) had a roller reefing system where the mainsail rolled arond the boom. Left a horrible sail shape once reefed. Keel bolts are another problem - check for any weeping from in the cabin. Reasonable boats to sail with windweard performance poorer than a fin. Hulls are solid

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[Rigger]

As with all Westerlys of that era the Centaur suffered the dreaded curse of drooping headlining.This occurs when the foam backing the vynyl decays over time to a horrid black powder,causing the vynyl to droop and eventually fall off.It is more of a problem in the forecabin where the lining is stuck directly to the ceiling rather than to plywood boards.Various methods have been used to rectify it (see westerly owners assoc website) with varying degrees of success.Although not critical to the structural integrity of the boat it is a pain and should be born in mind before purchase. (I'm not sure if the problem applies to the other boats your interested in)

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[sailorman]

WHY a bilge keeler, dont u want to sail????

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[bry]

Thanks for the reply. Of course I love sailing, Seems like you think bilge keelers are not for sailing. Am I right in assuming these boats dont sail very well? I have sailed many fin keelers but as I stated not bilgers. I'm not now looking for racing yachts but solid sea worthy boats which I can sail single handed and also teach grand children how to sail.

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[starboard]

To be honest the only time you notice the bilge keeler is in its lack of performance to windward against a fin keel....off the wind and down wind no appreaciable differance....a bilge keeler to many has become something like owning a Skoda....a perfect car in every respect but put off by the name!!

As for make without doubt go for the Westerly....to this day they have not built a boat that does not perform well nor built like a brick.

Good luck, Paul

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[PIGLETSDREAM]

You need to buy a Trapper 500/501. Fin Keel, fast very stable, almost viceless, very pretty, good accomodation, superb sea keeping and yes I am biased as I do have one.

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[butler]

Hi, i own a centaur when i sailed her first time i was supprised at the performance 6 knts without a problem, good windward performance, a lot depends on your sailing area will you dry out? you can visit a lot more places with a bilgekeeler, bilge keelers will sail alot better if the keels are splayed out like a centaurs.

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