Older Westerly OceanLord

[Tinto]

Hi
Just joined the forum with hope of gleaning the benefit of the collective wisdom.

Concerning a late 80s Westerly Oceanlord: how many years is one of the likely to have left in them? There are not many for sale. Is that because people don’t sell them or because most have been scrapped due to needing major rectification work to Hull or the rig needing replacement?

I like the idea of a bigger boat but I don’t have 6 figures to play with and equally don’t want to buy something which is likely to be dead in a few short years time.

Thoughts and opinions gratefully received

 

[Sea Devil]

They last forever. Boats built in the 70s 80s were by Westerly, Moody,, Halmatic etc were very well constructed and a far heavier fibre glass layup than boats of today, I would not hesitate to buy one, Some of the ancillary equipment might be dated but if it works and does the job ...... Head linings can be an expensive problem

 

[Concerto]

If you are seriously considering an Oceanlord, then join the Westerly Owners Association (£15) and contact the BoatLine member for the Oceanlord. He is an owner and knows them well enough to advise potential buyers what to look out for. I am a Boatline member for the Fulmar and have assisted a number of potential owners with advice and review of any they were considering, leading to choosing the right boat for them.

 

[Kukri]

Ask Frank Holden of this parish who has been commuting between Tasmania and Patagonia and pottering around the Patagonian fjords, the Falklands, etc. in his Sealord for many years now..

 

[john_morris_uk]

Ask Frank Holden of this parish who has been commuting between Tasmania and Patagonia and pottering around the Patagonian fjords, the Falklands, etc. in his Sealord for many years now..

We too have sailed a Sealord for the last 14 years. For a reasonably priced slightly larger boat the Sealord and Oceanlord can be excellent value. (One of the few differences is the Oceanlord has a sugar scoop stern.)

 

[jordanbasset]

By coincidence there is one for sale next to me on the pontoon, looks in good condition and the owner spoke highly of her

 

[Tinto]

thank you for the information. Its what I suspected from general research on the subject, but good to know the Oceanlord was one of those boats that was built heavily.

 

[Tinto]

By coincidence there is one for sale next to me on the pontoon, looks in good condition and the owner spoke highly of her

hi,
can you tell me where that oceanlord is located and is it advertised on the net anywhere.? Be good to learn more about it.

 

[vyv_cox]

I am not certain that the boat you are interested in is built the same way but you might like to refer to Sails and Rig on my website. Westerly Oceanmaster.

 

[Sea Devil]

I owned a Westerly Ocean 43 designed by Ron Holland for six or seven years and a Moody 36 designed by Angus Primrose for a similar period. Of the 8 boats that I have owned in the past these two were amongst the best. Both sail really well, really comfortable to be in and easy to handle and very very, well built.

 

[pvb]

They last forever. Boats built in the 70s 80s were by Westerly, Moody,, Halmatic etc were very well constructed and a far heavier fibre glass layup than boats of today, I would not hesitate to buy one, Some of the ancillary equipment might be dated but if it works and does the job ...... Head linings can be an expensive problem

Well constructed? - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?521326-Westerly-heavy-osmosis

 

[Sea Devil]

Well constructed? - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?521326-Westerly-heavy-osmosis

I did post earlier that osmosis is a possibility in any boat - even a newish Bavaria... the link you posted included some cases the outer blue lamination is 5- 8mm thick.... Back in those days the layup was probably over the top but the vast majority have come through osmosis free or been treated on the way...

 

[pvb]

I did post earlier that osmosis is a possibility in any boat - even a newish Bavaria...

Osmosis is virtually unknown in newish Bavarias, a result of the high standard of the hull construction process.

 

[laika]

Is that because people don’t sell them or because most have been scrapped due to needing major rectification work to Hull or the rig needing replacement?

Per Sea Devil's response, the hulls are unlikely to die any time soon. Everything else is going to be replaced over time by attentive owners. As with any boat you're thinking of buying, if a piece of equipment needs replacing, factor the cost into your offer price. I would doubt there's many oceanlords around with entirely original equipment.

I have a MK 1 oceanlord, so exactly what you're talking about.
* There's probably plenty of well-maintained 2003Ts still going strong. Mine was DOA. Replacement factored into purchase price. I now have a modern yanmar I expect to still be going strong in 20 years' time
* My insurance co. asked for a rig replacement when I bought the boat. That was just a cost to be factored in
* The sails on a 10 year old boat are as likely to need replacing as the ones on a 30 years old boat
* I'm still using the original instruments but bridged into a more modern data network. I changed the original green screen plotter for a more modern one and added AIS
* I had the headlining replaced in 2013. Done professionally. ~£4k iirc? Hopefully will last another decade

The hull of my boat still looks lovely. The gelcoat on the topsides is thinning and I've been considering getting it professionally painted. Headlining on a boat that age will be a nightmare unless it's been done. Again, if it hasn't, factor it in. Anything is fixable. The cockpit teak needs replacing and that's on my to-do list for this summer.

The original owner of my boat clearly didn't skimp on cost: I will take the top-of-the-range 1991 harken stuff over budget modern stuff any day.

Top tip: Don't buy a wreck because it's cheap. Pay more for something someone has carefully maintained. The difference will rarely be enough to bring the wreck up to the standard of the well-maintained boat.

I've been looking at new boats in the same length category at boat shows over the past few years and I can honestly say that I'd be looking at north of half a million for anything comparable-but-better. I would only really replace my boat with something substantially different.

With the scraggy westerly red stripe replaced by a nice silver one, a freshly buffed hull and my nice new sprayhood my oceanlord aces the row-away test. In fact I often get "It's a westerly? really? It looks much more modern than that..."

 

[laika]

Well constructed? - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?521326-Westerly-heavy-osmosis

That doesn't look remotely like an Oceanlord. I am no expert on the changes in construction between 70s boats and those made at the end of the 80s. Mine was epoxy sealed when I bought it. Not the slightest hint of a blister on the hull. Can't say the same for the rudder unfortunately

 

[pvb]

I am no expert on the changes in construction between 70s boats and those made at the end of the 80s.

I don't think there were any real changes, the boats were still built in sheds by what someone here once described as "little men with buckets of resin".

 

[doug748]

I don't think there were any real changes, the boats were still built in sheds by what someone here once described as "little men with buckets of resin".

These threads always seem to attract trolls. Westerly owners hold steady, I have secured exclusive pictures of the little men:

 

[pvb]

These threads always seem to attract trolls.

As one of the few people who actually bought 3 brand new Westerly yachts in the 70s and 80s, and who visited the factory a number of times, I think I'm allowed to have a view on the subject. How many new Westerly boats have you bought?

 

[doug748]

As one of the few people who actually bought 3 brand new Westerly yachts in the 70s and 80s, and who visited the factory a number of times, I think I'm allowed to have a view on the subject. How many new Westerly boats have you bought?

You are either a slow thinker or I assume you got some satisfaction out of the first two.

 

[pvb]

You are either a slow thinker or I assume you got some satisfaction out of the first two.

There wasn't a huge choice in the market back then. I got rid of the first two before the bilge keels worked loose, fortunately, but not before the headlining fell off (replaced under warranty).