Sadler 29 or westerly 33

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Lynnwell

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I am new to looking for a beginners yacht but not new to the sea as I worked on a prawn boat for ten years.
As I've been looking into a sailing yacht the choice is vast and I'm looking for any views and advice would be greatly appreciated. We are not looking for a racing yacht but a comfortable cruising one for me and the missus and perhaps a couple of friends
 
You will receive masses of advice I am sure, so good, some not so. I owned a Westerly Discus (basically the same as a 33) for many years and also a Sadler 290 (NOT a 29). Both were great boats and served me very well in different ways. You are right, the choice is vast and you have picked 2 that would be just fine IMHO. However, if you are not sure, why not start small and cheap to see what you really want and move up in size if you decide that's for you? Better that than over boat yourself, as so many people seem to do. The real fun bit is looking around and choosing, so enjoy the experience!
 
Graham376 said:
There are many variations of Westerly 33s over many years, including the Discus and Storm so, it depends which you are looking at. I would say the Westerly is a better offshore boat but, there's nowt wrong with Saddlers, we used to sail in company with a 29.
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The 33, Discus and Storm are three different boats. The 33 and the Discus share the same hull, but there a lot of other differences, the Storm is a completely different boat.
 
Lynnwell said:
I am new to looking for a beginners yacht but not new to the sea as I worked on a prawn boat for ten years.
As I've been looking into a sailing yacht the choice is vast and I'm looking for any views and advice would be greatly appreciated. We are not looking for a racing yacht but a comfortable cruising one for me and the missus and perhaps a couple of friends
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The Westerly will be massively bigger inside.

Most 33s are ketch rigged, the sloop is very rare.

I'd also look at the westerly Fulmar. Much more roomy than the Sadler, sloop rigged and lots more of them around to choose from. Look for one that has been re-engined.
 
I would second looking at a Fulmar, many say it's the best boat Westerly ever produced. I have no doubt Concerto will be along eventually to sing their praises even more.
 
You are on a similar path to us

We just bought a Sabre 27 as a "trial boat" and feel pleased about that. The anxiety I had in spending 5k was significant. If I'd been spending 30k+ as our 1st boat I think I'd have exploded. And we are learning loads already.

Take a look at Moody 33, 34 35s in their various iterations with the aft cabin. They look like a great compromise for 30 - 40k and even come in bilge keel form. Space for friends to visit
 
Lynnwell said:
I am new to looking for a beginners yacht but not new to the sea as I worked on a prawn boat for ten years.
As I've been looking into a sailing yacht the choice is vast and I'm looking for any views and advice would be greatly appreciated. We are not looking for a racing yacht but a comfortable cruising one for me and the missus and perhaps a couple of friends
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Of the two, the Westerly every time. The Sadler is a decent sea boat but has horribly narrow side decks and the speed of a floating skip.
 
Both perfectly good boats. The Westerly will have longer legs but take more time and money to maintain. I had a Sadler 29 for many years and it took us happily across the Channel and a North Sea for many years. It was a fin, which is better for passage-making than the bilge. Accommodation is adequate, even good for a couple for a few weeks. The Westerly will have more space but be more of a handful, with more complex systems and the weight on lines and rigging will be greater, needing more care. Both should keep their value reasonably well and be easy enough to sell on. On the whole, if the OP lacks experience, the Sadler might be the better option and the more enjoyable, which is not to say that one or other is the 'better' boat. As for speed, we cruised in company in the Sadler at much the same speed as a Sadler 32 fin keel. This would be adequate for many people though not up to modern standards.
 
Sandyman said:
Take a ganda at a Sigma 33
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The Sigma is a heck of a lot of boat for the money - probably half the price of a Fulmar and they appear to sail very well (have a look at Just Because). We regularly club race a Maxi 1000, Hanse 315 and Sigma 33 against each other and they are very well matched.
 
John Willis said:
You will receive masses of advice I am sure, so good, some not so. I owned a Westerly Discus (basically the same as a 33) for many years and also a Sadler 290 (NOT a 29). Both were great boats and served me very well in different ways. You are right, the choice is vast and you have picked 2 that would be just fine IMHO. However, if you are not sure, why not start small and cheap to see what you really want and move up in size if you decide that's for you? Better that than over boat yourself, as so many people seem to do. The real fun bit is looking around and choosing, so enjoy the experience!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply and its a bit of a huge marketplace at the minute for us. My girlfriend isn't as used to the sea as myself so I wanted to find something that is quite steady and have enough room for her as I think if I go too small she might not like it so I wanted one that felt secure for her and quite roomy and definitely it needs to easy to handle until we get more experience
 
Lynnwell said:
Thanks for the reply and its a bit of a huge marketplace at the minute for us. My girlfriend isn't as used to the sea as myself so I wanted to find something that is quite steady and have enough room for her as I think if I go too small she might not like it so I wanted one that felt secure for her and quite roomy and definitely it needs to easy to handle until we get more experience
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That my friend is why I advised you take a serious look at a Sigma 33 :) A three week cruise on one was enough to convince my wife she could manage the liveaboard life at sea : ) Still going strong after 15 years.
 
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richardbrennan said:
I would second looking at a Fulmar, many say it's the best boat Westerly ever produced. I have no doubt Concerto will be along eventually to sing their praises even more.
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What me? The W33 are great cruising yachts, as are Sadlers. You could add the Sadler 32, rather than the 29, as it will give you more internal space. However the Fulmar, which I am a Westerly Owners Association Boatline member (specialist on the Fulmar) is a generation later in hull design than a W33. They are certainly one of the best yachts that Westerly built for being easy to sail and perform well. My Fulmar is a fin keel, but they also come in twin keel and the rare lift keel version (only 6 built). You could add the Westerly Konsort, Merlin and Tempest to your list.

Just to show I am not totally biased, I would also suggest you add the Moody 29 and Moody 31 to your list. They were built in the same factory as the Sigma 33. The Sigma 33's were generally used as a race boats and many are in need of major internal improvement from excessive use. They would not be on my list.

For the best advice it would be heplful to know your budget and expected area for sailing. Berthing can be very expensive near the Solent and other areas may require you to dry out every tide. Joining a club will also be a wise move as they may have cheaper moorings and members who can help in learning to sail and having a social side as well. The usual advice is to try and decide on the boat you want to own and then find the best condition one on the market.
 
Concerto said:
What me? The W33 are great cruising yachts, as are Sadlers. You could add the Sadler 32, rather than the 29, as it will give you more internal space. However the Fulmar, which I am a Westerly Owners Association Boatline member (specialist on the Fulmar) is a generation later in hull design than a W33. They are certainly one of the best yachts that Westerly built for being easy to sail and perform well. My Fulmar is a fin keel, but they also come in twin keel and the rare lift keel version (only 6 built). You could add the Westerly Konsort, Merlin and Tempest to your list.

Just to show I am not totally biased, I would also suggest you add the Moody 29 and Moody 31 to your list. They were built in the same factory as the Sigma 33. The Sigma 33's were generally used as a race boats and many are in need of major internal improvement from excessive use. They would not be on my list.

For the best advice it would be heplful to know your budget and expected area for sailing. Berthing can be very expensive near the Solent and other areas may require you to dry out every tide. Joining a club will also be a wise move as they may have cheaper moorings and members who can help in learning to sail and having a social side as well. The usual advice is to try and decide on the boat you want to own and then find the best condition one on the market.
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On the flip side re Sigma's - as a Sigma fan - you get a lot of boat for your buck, with a bit more performance orientation than most of the other boats proposed. That extra quarter to half a knot in moderate winds makes a big difference when eventually you fancy a longer passage or two.

; rather than buy small and then trade up, you could buy one of those Sigmas and invest in modernising her over a period . Just an option.
 
RJJ said:
On the flip side re Sigma's - as a Sigma fan - you get a lot of boat for your buck, with a bit more performance orientation than most of the other boats proposed. That extra quarter to half a knot in moderate winds makes a big difference when eventually you fancy a longer passage or two.

; rather than buy small and then trade up, you could buy one of those Sigmas and invest in modernising her over a period . Just an option.
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All boats that are 30+ years old will need some improvement and modernisation, but a Sigma 33 is not really a cruising boat and not one I would suggest for someone wanting to learn to sail, especially with a girlfriend has no experience of being on the water.

For the OP he may find the presentation I made in January to the RYA London and South East conference might give a feel for a full renovation on my Fulmar. It has also cost about £25,000 on top of the purchase price. https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/3/3f/Concerto.pdf Hence my advice to buy the best condition boat of his prefered choice. He will sail more and learn faster.
 
Things I check when looking over a boat with the intention to buy:

can you stretch out fully in your berth?
can you stand fully upright to get dressed and cook? (Not necessarily at the same time....)
can you get good, easy access to the systems you need good, quick easy access to?
is there somewhere convenient to hang up soaking wet kit that won’t soak anything else inside the boat While it dries?
are the bilges dry? If not - why not?

There loads of good quality boats for sale for not a lot of money- try to see as many as you can to get an idea of what you like.
 
RJJ said:
On the flip side re Sigma's - as a Sigma fan - you get a lot of boat for your buck, with a bit more performance orientation than most of the other boats proposed. That extra quarter to half a knot in moderate winds makes a big difference when eventually you fancy a longer passage or two.

; rather than buy small and then trade up, you could buy one of those Sigmas and invest in modernising her over a period . Just an option.
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I am looking to spend a maximum of 25k and we are based on the wash so that is our immediate sailing waters and hopefully round to the north Norfolk coast
 
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