Tempest
New member
April's Yachting Monthly is looking at all the Westerly boats made. It has prompted me to post this article about the likely demise of Westerly - unless we do something about it! The Westerly moulds went to Scotland to be resurected and built again but things went wrong and now they are due to be cut up and scrapped at the end of this month.
However, in January of this year, we visited the site in Scotland, accompanied by a former Westerly employee. The original intention was to make use of the purpose built premises there, and possibly take advantage of regional enterprise grants.
It became clear that this was not feasible, in part because of the lack of suitably skilled labour, but equally because it was not well placed geographically for any form of ‘start up’, especially one that was heavily reliant upon voluntary input.
After careful thought, it was decided that the two versions of the Fulmar, fin and bilge keel, should be the only moulds to be saved, together with all the moulds for parts such as rudder, locker lid, heads, etc. Three possible sites have been identified for safe storage pending first builds. The decision over which, will depend on where construction is most likely to take place. Subject to negotiations with Stirling Council, who want us to dispose of the remaining moulds, it is planned to bring the two moulds down by road in March.
This will obviously be a costly exercise. Some initial soundings have been taken, particularly with Ed Dubois, who did not sell the rights to this design. He is supportive of such an initiative, provided that construction meets his standards, and those of Lloyds. Of course CE marking is required.
Once the moulds are safe, we shall have six months in which to decide how best to proceed, and of course find about four potential buyers.
Contact for expressions of interest, offers of help or just more information
Richard Bull, rja.bull@btinternet.com
Graham Langford, Ridgeway9@aol.com
<hr width=100% size=1>
However, in January of this year, we visited the site in Scotland, accompanied by a former Westerly employee. The original intention was to make use of the purpose built premises there, and possibly take advantage of regional enterprise grants.
It became clear that this was not feasible, in part because of the lack of suitably skilled labour, but equally because it was not well placed geographically for any form of ‘start up’, especially one that was heavily reliant upon voluntary input.
After careful thought, it was decided that the two versions of the Fulmar, fin and bilge keel, should be the only moulds to be saved, together with all the moulds for parts such as rudder, locker lid, heads, etc. Three possible sites have been identified for safe storage pending first builds. The decision over which, will depend on where construction is most likely to take place. Subject to negotiations with Stirling Council, who want us to dispose of the remaining moulds, it is planned to bring the two moulds down by road in March.
This will obviously be a costly exercise. Some initial soundings have been taken, particularly with Ed Dubois, who did not sell the rights to this design. He is supportive of such an initiative, provided that construction meets his standards, and those of Lloyds. Of course CE marking is required.
Once the moulds are safe, we shall have six months in which to decide how best to proceed, and of course find about four potential buyers.
Contact for expressions of interest, offers of help or just more information
Richard Bull, rja.bull@btinternet.com
Graham Langford, Ridgeway9@aol.com
<hr width=100% size=1>
