Sybarite
Well-known member
Several years ago a French magazine did a comparative study of some boats as to their suitability for a bit of fun and games on board.
Idle musing - Westerly Berwick / Renown / Pentland or something else
- Thread starter scruff
- Start date
Several years ago a French magazine did a comparative study of some boats as to their suitability for a bit of fun and games on board.
scruff
Well-known member
I knew I liked the French & their priorities!
Pete7
Well-known member
Of course they are
One of the nice things I like about the 31ft Westerly's is the cockpit is only a couple of steps down to the saloon so easy for living on board. Sailed in company with a Longbow down to the West Country a couple of years ago, both of us single handed. There was a small difference in speed but that could have been down to me having new sails.
How about a 33 Mk 2 for £17k
http://www.moodyowners.info/threads...sale-beaumaris-anglesey-priced-reduced.16243/
I know there is a budget, but will it stretch to £27K
http://www.moodyowners.info/threads/moody-346-fin-keel-1987.15862/
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scruff
Well-known member
That 346 does seem like good value. As per previous, I'm not.going to make any purchases this season. I've tentatively broached the subject at home, and it was not shot down in flames.
As the next step I need to arrange a long weekend with a settled high and a nice f3 to sell the idea more.
I'll try and visit a Westerly this season if I see one through a local broker, that way we can see if the condition/ layout woks for us. Failing that we will have a peruse at the Clyde second hand boat show in October. There seems to be no end of options at this price point.
As the next step I need to arrange a long weekend with a settled high and a nice f3 to sell the idea more.
I'll try and visit a Westerly this season if I see one through a local broker, that way we can see if the condition/ layout woks for us. Failing that we will have a peruse at the Clyde second hand boat show in October. There seems to be no end of options at this price point.
Vegable
Member
We had a Renown for 18 years with 4 kids and an Old English Sheepdog sailing out of Arisaig, N.W. Scotland around the Western Isles. It never ever frightened us and we had great times. 3 of my kids are betweem 6'3" and 6'5" and could stand upright in the centre of the saloon and didn't have to duck when the boom comes across. They are easy to work on and with the centre cockpit versions are very dry. I haven't sail in the aft cockpit versions.
I've now got a 38' Westerly. I've found that the Renown was only marginally slower than my Oceanranger and that both of them top out at around 7.5 knots. I have had the Oceanranger at 8.2 knots on a beat and I once had the Renown recording 10.8 knots on a broad reach surfing across the Irish Sea. The point being these are sea-kindly boats designed and built for sea-worthiness rather than nowadays where the design criteria is for comfort in the marina.
If you like fiddling, and I'm a compulsive tweeker, then the ketch rig is wonderful to play with. The ketch rig is also great in strong winds. Your first reef is to lower the main and sail just under genoa and mizzen and she's beautifully balanced. If I was in a lazy mood, I would often sail that way.
On the negative side the Westerly 31s, the Berwick, Longbow, Renown, and the Pentland do need a bit of wind to get going. These early Westerlys were built in the early days of fibreglass and were built of thick material so they are heavy. Westerly also didn't mix up the fibreglass powder and resin very well so there are pockets of dry powder found if you grind back the body of the boat. I tackled the severe osmosis in the rudder and was very suprised to find lots of pockets of powder. As a consequence, osmosis blisters are a common problem on the hulls and you will need to check if your choice of boat has been treated.
As has already been mentioned, the other common problem is drooping headlining. Westerly used foam backed headling and the foam disintigrates after around 20 odd years and so lost grip of the headlining, hence the droop. If it hasn't been sorted it will be immediately obvious when you enter the cabins. It's a dirty messy job to remove and replace.
A last negative is the fact that these boats are 40 years old or so and the interiors are a dated 1970s design. There were 1000 of them made with a roughly even split of 250 of each design so you should be able to find one of them that suits you!
Having said all this, we loved our boat, I wrote articles about her, and have written a lot on the Westerly Wiki about servicing various bits on the boat. If you want more info or would like to chat about it send me a P.M. (I am an unashamedly Westerly man so can't advise on other boats or make good comparisons!)
Lastly, have a look at the Westerly Owners Association website. You don't have to join anything to get on it and it and the Wiki is full of useful stuff.
Enjoy hunting. It's the only bit about boating that doesn't cost you anything!
Mike
Editted, Smiley didn't work.
I've now got a 38' Westerly. I've found that the Renown was only marginally slower than my Oceanranger and that both of them top out at around 7.5 knots. I have had the Oceanranger at 8.2 knots on a beat and I once had the Renown recording 10.8 knots on a broad reach surfing across the Irish Sea. The point being these are sea-kindly boats designed and built for sea-worthiness rather than nowadays where the design criteria is for comfort in the marina.
If you like fiddling, and I'm a compulsive tweeker, then the ketch rig is wonderful to play with. The ketch rig is also great in strong winds. Your first reef is to lower the main and sail just under genoa and mizzen and she's beautifully balanced. If I was in a lazy mood, I would often sail that way.
On the negative side the Westerly 31s, the Berwick, Longbow, Renown, and the Pentland do need a bit of wind to get going. These early Westerlys were built in the early days of fibreglass and were built of thick material so they are heavy. Westerly also didn't mix up the fibreglass powder and resin very well so there are pockets of dry powder found if you grind back the body of the boat. I tackled the severe osmosis in the rudder and was very suprised to find lots of pockets of powder. As a consequence, osmosis blisters are a common problem on the hulls and you will need to check if your choice of boat has been treated.
As has already been mentioned, the other common problem is drooping headlining. Westerly used foam backed headling and the foam disintigrates after around 20 odd years and so lost grip of the headlining, hence the droop. If it hasn't been sorted it will be immediately obvious when you enter the cabins. It's a dirty messy job to remove and replace.
A last negative is the fact that these boats are 40 years old or so and the interiors are a dated 1970s design. There were 1000 of them made with a roughly even split of 250 of each design so you should be able to find one of them that suits you!
Having said all this, we loved our boat, I wrote articles about her, and have written a lot on the Westerly Wiki about servicing various bits on the boat. If you want more info or would like to chat about it send me a P.M. (I am an unashamedly Westerly man so can't advise on other boats or make good comparisons!)
Lastly, have a look at the Westerly Owners Association website. You don't have to join anything to get on it and it and the Wiki is full of useful stuff.
Enjoy hunting. It's the only bit about boating that doesn't cost you anything!
Mike
Editted, Smiley didn't work.
Last edited:
zstand
New member
Hi MikeWe had a Renown for 18 years with 4 kids and an Old English Sheepdog sailing out of Arisaig, N.W. Scotland around the Western Isles. It never ever frightened us and we had great times. 3 of my kids are betweem 6'3" and 6'5" and could stand upright in the centre of the saloon and didn't have to duck when the boom comes across. They are easy to work on and with the centre cockpit versions are very dry. I haven't sail in the aft cockpit versions.
I've now got a 38' Westerly. I've found that the Renown was only marginally slower than my Oceanranger and that both of them top out at around 7.5 knots. I have had the Oceanranger at 8.2 knots on a beat and I once had the Renown recording 10.8 knots on a broad reach surfing across the Irish Sea. The point being these are sea-kindly boats designed and built for sea-worthiness rather than nowadays where the design criteria is for comfort in the marina.
If you like fiddling, and I'm a compulsive tweeker, then the ketch rig is wonderful to play with. The ketch rig is also great in strong winds. Your first reef is to lower the main and sail just under genoa and mizzen and she's beautifully balanced. If I was in a lazy mood, I would often sail that way.
On the negative side the Westerly 31s, the Berwick, Longbow, Renown, and the Pentland do need a bit of wind to get going. These early Westerlys were built in the early days of fibreglass and were built of thick material so they are heavy. Westerly also didn't mix up the fibreglass powder and resin very well so there are pockets of dry powder found if you grind back the body of the boat. I tackled the severe osmosis in the rudder and was very suprised to find lots of pockets of powder. As a consequence, osmosis blisters are a common problem on the hulls and you will need to check if your choice of boat has been treated.
As has already been mentioned, the other common problem is drooping headlining. Westerly used foam backed headling and the foam disintigrates after around 20 odd years and so lost grip of the headlining, hence the droop. If it hasn't been sorted it will be immediately obvious when you enter the cabins. It's a dirty messy job to remove and replace.
A last negative is the fact that these boats are 40 years old or so and the interiors are a dated 1970s design. There were 1000 of them made with a roughly even split of 250 of each design so you should be able to find one of them that suits you!
Having said all this, we loved our boat, I wrote articles about her, and have written a lot on the Westerly Wiki about servicing various bits on the boat. If you want more info or would like to chat about it send me a P.M. (I am an unashamedly Westerly man so can't advise on other boats or make good comparisons!)
Lastly, have a look at the Westerly Owners Association website. You don't have to join anything to get on it and it and the Wiki is full of useful stuff.
Enjoy hunting. It's the only bit about boating that doesn't cost you anything!
Mike
Editted, Smiley didn't work.
I would like to message you some Westerly questions if you are open to that, but don't seem to be able to send PM's. Any ideas? Thanks!
Concerto
Well-known member
Mike has not been on this web site since 4 Dec, so doubt he will respond if you sent him a message.
For specific questions may I suggest you join the Westerly Owners Association Forum, its free. As Mike says there is so much information available on the web site and the Westerly Wiki.
For my sins I am a WOA BoatLine member (specialist knowledge) for the Fulmar, as I am an owner, and may be able to help with general questions. If I cannot answer your questions then I should be able to find someone who can.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
I’d be interest to know why you need to ask questions by private message. It’s a forum where knowledge is shared and the pm facility is supposed to be for information that you really don’t want in the public domain (such as your phone number etc).
V1701
Well-known member
I wouldn't fixate on any particular makes/models, see what's available for your budget and treat each on it's merits. I think M33 is a good suggestion but you should also look at '80's/'90's euro boats around 30' that have a double aft cabin & aft heads, you might like that style of boat and they are lively to sail. Go see lots of boats & take the missus with you, she'll need to be on board as well...
Bodach na mara
Well-known member
As this thread is nearly 4 years old it may not only be the fiance that scruff needs to take along but possibly the kids as well.I wouldn't fixate on any particular makes/models, see what's available for your budget and treat each on it's merits. I think M33 is a good suggestion but you should also look at '80's/'90's euro boats around 30' that have a double aft cabin & aft heads, you might like that style of boat and they are lively to sail. Go see lots of boats & take the missus with you, she'll need to be on board as well...
By the way scruff, did you buy a boat in the end, and if so, what?
RogerJolly
Active member
Didn't catch on it was an old thread 'till this bit 'Maybe look at spending a bit more and going for a Ben/Jen/Bav? Loads around at good prices......'