colhel
Well-Known Member
I don't know anything about these. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Ta
Col
Ta
Col
Thoughts on a Westerly Tiger please
- Thread starter colhel
- Start date
bert49uk
Well-Known Member
The Westerly 28, Cirrus and Tiger( taken from Westerly owners club)
(First published in WOA magazine No. 57, Winter 1996)
In 1966, Westerly decided to broaden the appeal of their range with some faster yachts. They chose John Butler (their first out of house designer) for a range of three boats, starting with the Westerly 28 which was launched in 1967, then the Cirrus (22ft) in 1968, and on to the Tiger (25ft) in 1969. They were marketed as cruiser/racers, although I’m not sure that the phrase was in common use at the time.
There was a Half Ton Cup version of the Westerly 28 advertised, but no records remain so that I cannot tell whether any were built. The standard boat was fitted with the 7hp Volvo MD1 diesel, and two layouts were offered, one with 4 berths and a chart table, and one with a dinette and two quarter berths.
The first brochure showed a moulded in lead keel, but this must have proved expensive as later ones talk of the keel as being iron, and bolted on. The keel was placed very far aft, with most of her buoyancy forward of it, which is unusual to say the least. All the range was similar, but the 28 was exaggerated. I wonder why?
It may be that few 28s were made, as I have only seen one example in all my years of selling Westerlys. The brochure talks of her being “in the top ten” of the 1967 Yachting World Rally. My guess is that there were less than a dozen types of boat in the Rally, so that she may not have gone down too well. If there are any past 28 owners out there, get in touch, I would love to know more, or if you have one as you read this, can I have a sail?
The Cirrus was the next off John Butler’s drawing board, and here he had a notable success. She was outright winner of the 1968 YW Rally, and 398 were built in five years of production. They must indeed have been a revolutionary concept as they provided a dinette, galley and quarter berth, a separate heads and asymmetric forward berths, one of which was 7ft long. All this with six foot headroom and a good big cockpit.
The great thing about the Cirrus, to my mind, is that they look so much more the pocket yacht, than the big dinghy of their modern day counterparts. Somehow, a 7 hp MD1 diesel was crammed in to the tiny engine space, although they were also offered with the 6 hp Vire petrol or an outboard.
Yachting Monthly described her as “a good all rounder” and I think this is the important thing about her. She was a fast, close-winded, solidly built yacht, with good wide sidedecks and a good cockpit. To be able to add an excellent and cunningly wrought interior to this must have been what was to make her Westerly’s top selling boat till then.
As an aside, Laurent Giles had been playing with a 26ft design in 1964 which was shelved due to lack of interest. With the Cirrus’ interior in mind, could she have been the boat that inspired David Sanders to wring improvements out of 1964 design that became the Centaur in 1969?
The last of this range was the Tiger, which has secured her place on the all-time favourites list, along with the Centaur, Konsort, Fulmar and Conway. She was first produced in 1969, alongside the Centaur, and continued in production until 1976, when they replaced her with the fin keel version of the Centaur, called Pembroke.
The layout is just like the Cirrus, with the asymmetric berth forward, but is big enough to accommodate an L-shaped saloon settee, and just about allows use of both quarter berths. In short, everything the Cirrus had but more of it and on a much longer waterline which would allow the consistently higher speeds necessary for comfortable Channel crossings.
The YW rally of 1969 is only recorded as saying that she had “very good performance”, which is rather an understatement for a boat that was to win the cruiser division of the Round the Island race a couple of decades later.
The standard engine was the 10hp MD1B, which gave her 6 knots if the brochure is to be believed. The rig was a standard Bermudan sloop, with the dreaded roller boom reefing, which was so much a feature of the early Seventies.
284 Tigers were built over 8 years, as against 97 Pembrokes over the following 4 years. A lot of the Tigers appeal lies in her looks which is something the Pembroke can’t match. How would the Westerly marque have turned out in John Butler’s hands if Laurent Giles hadn’t produced the Centaur, I wonder?
(First published in WOA magazine No. 57, Winter 1996)
In 1966, Westerly decided to broaden the appeal of their range with some faster yachts. They chose John Butler (their first out of house designer) for a range of three boats, starting with the Westerly 28 which was launched in 1967, then the Cirrus (22ft) in 1968, and on to the Tiger (25ft) in 1969. They were marketed as cruiser/racers, although I’m not sure that the phrase was in common use at the time.
There was a Half Ton Cup version of the Westerly 28 advertised, but no records remain so that I cannot tell whether any were built. The standard boat was fitted with the 7hp Volvo MD1 diesel, and two layouts were offered, one with 4 berths and a chart table, and one with a dinette and two quarter berths.
The first brochure showed a moulded in lead keel, but this must have proved expensive as later ones talk of the keel as being iron, and bolted on. The keel was placed very far aft, with most of her buoyancy forward of it, which is unusual to say the least. All the range was similar, but the 28 was exaggerated. I wonder why?
It may be that few 28s were made, as I have only seen one example in all my years of selling Westerlys. The brochure talks of her being “in the top ten” of the 1967 Yachting World Rally. My guess is that there were less than a dozen types of boat in the Rally, so that she may not have gone down too well. If there are any past 28 owners out there, get in touch, I would love to know more, or if you have one as you read this, can I have a sail?
The Cirrus was the next off John Butler’s drawing board, and here he had a notable success. She was outright winner of the 1968 YW Rally, and 398 were built in five years of production. They must indeed have been a revolutionary concept as they provided a dinette, galley and quarter berth, a separate heads and asymmetric forward berths, one of which was 7ft long. All this with six foot headroom and a good big cockpit.
The great thing about the Cirrus, to my mind, is that they look so much more the pocket yacht, than the big dinghy of their modern day counterparts. Somehow, a 7 hp MD1 diesel was crammed in to the tiny engine space, although they were also offered with the 6 hp Vire petrol or an outboard.
Yachting Monthly described her as “a good all rounder” and I think this is the important thing about her. She was a fast, close-winded, solidly built yacht, with good wide sidedecks and a good cockpit. To be able to add an excellent and cunningly wrought interior to this must have been what was to make her Westerly’s top selling boat till then.
As an aside, Laurent Giles had been playing with a 26ft design in 1964 which was shelved due to lack of interest. With the Cirrus’ interior in mind, could she have been the boat that inspired David Sanders to wring improvements out of 1964 design that became the Centaur in 1969?
The last of this range was the Tiger, which has secured her place on the all-time favourites list, along with the Centaur, Konsort, Fulmar and Conway. She was first produced in 1969, alongside the Centaur, and continued in production until 1976, when they replaced her with the fin keel version of the Centaur, called Pembroke.
The layout is just like the Cirrus, with the asymmetric berth forward, but is big enough to accommodate an L-shaped saloon settee, and just about allows use of both quarter berths. In short, everything the Cirrus had but more of it and on a much longer waterline which would allow the consistently higher speeds necessary for comfortable Channel crossings.
The YW rally of 1969 is only recorded as saying that she had “very good performance”, which is rather an understatement for a boat that was to win the cruiser division of the Round the Island race a couple of decades later.
The standard engine was the 10hp MD1B, which gave her 6 knots if the brochure is to be believed. The rig was a standard Bermudan sloop, with the dreaded roller boom reefing, which was so much a feature of the early Seventies.
284 Tigers were built over 8 years, as against 97 Pembrokes over the following 4 years. A lot of the Tigers appeal lies in her looks which is something the Pembroke can’t match. How would the Westerly marque have turned out in John Butler’s hands if Laurent Giles hadn’t produced the Centaur, I wonder?
joha
Well-Known Member
Had one for nearly 7 years I think she was No 225. Great wee boat! I cruised all over the west coast and Northern Ireland in her. A seaworthy boat capable of decent speed and well built.
J
J
colhel
Well-Known Member
Thanks for info. Maybe it's me but the Tiger seems to be overshadowed by the Centaur/ Pageant etc.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The Tiger, being fin-keeled, would certainly out sail a Centaur but has a little less accomodation. I've not sailed a Tiger but had a Cirrus from new for a couple of years and she was certainly outstanding in many ways. The Tiger was a good boat but probably didn't give as much improvement on the Cirrus as some of the newer boats coming in at the time. After the Ecume de Mer came along, the older designs didn't really get a look in. The Sadler 25 is an example of the newer style, though a lighter displacement and livelier motion is a price it has to pay.
ianat182
Well-Known Member
Bought my Westerly Tiger (T182) in 1984 and still have her, still regularly sailed and used to race her with pretty fair results in Club Pursuits. Her original owner bought her in 1073 and launched in 1974,He used her for sailing instruction in his Sea School and sailed her to the Baltic,lost her prop in the Kiel Canal and again entering Brighton on the return trip!He reckoned she'd done 12000 miles when he sold her the year prior to me buying her.She has been a sound boat and excellent performer in all winds, points better without the genoa which I had cut down to about a 110% blade like foresail. Under spinnaker or cruising chute she sparkles on the reaches and and down wind accepts the extra power, though best with a poled spinnaker than the chute.In strong winds I reef only the mainsail, but could furl the foresail if necessary,but either by luck or other she always has a light to neutral helm.Construction quality is very good though I have modified the shoud attachments spreading the load internally with stainless plate brackets,I keep all the rigging tight.
The MD1B engine originally fitted I replaced with the VP2010A some 4 years ago with no major fitting problems and it was a much more flexible and quieter unit,though the old one was reliable enough for the years she lasted. Accommodation and storage is plentiful and sleeps 4 comfortably. One problem is that I cannot fit a stove with an oven due to lack of gimballing space.
I know of one Tiger near to me that has been for sale for about 9 months that looks very well kept and newer than mine, but I think with the original engine and a white hull.
Comparing the two Cirrus and Tiger there is little in it for speed and handling and I've sailed both, the extra couple of feet length is ueful. Prices hover around the £6-8000 mark and are good value especially for a new starter to sailing. Manouvering in reverse is a doddle under power ,and she will turn in almost her own length ahead. Her speed under power and clean bottom approaches 6.25 kts, thats a 3 bladed prop. Under sail I've had 9kts showing with a 1.5 kt assist of tide down to Yarmouth from Calshot and very little tweaking of the cruising chute!
I have taught novices to sail her with no problems in their handling of her.
iana t182
The MD1B engine originally fitted I replaced with the VP2010A some 4 years ago with no major fitting problems and it was a much more flexible and quieter unit,though the old one was reliable enough for the years she lasted. Accommodation and storage is plentiful and sleeps 4 comfortably. One problem is that I cannot fit a stove with an oven due to lack of gimballing space.
I know of one Tiger near to me that has been for sale for about 9 months that looks very well kept and newer than mine, but I think with the original engine and a white hull.
Comparing the two Cirrus and Tiger there is little in it for speed and handling and I've sailed both, the extra couple of feet length is ueful. Prices hover around the £6-8000 mark and are good value especially for a new starter to sailing. Manouvering in reverse is a doddle under power ,and she will turn in almost her own length ahead. Her speed under power and clean bottom approaches 6.25 kts, thats a 3 bladed prop. Under sail I've had 9kts showing with a 1.5 kt assist of tide down to Yarmouth from Calshot and very little tweaking of the cruising chute!
I have taught novices to sail her with no problems in their handling of her.
iana t182
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newtothis
Well-Known Member
onesea
Well-Known Member
Not sailed a tiger but have plenty of happy fond memories of a Cirrus.
Would recommend the Cirrus, I have also heard the advantages in the Tiger are not that great against a Cirrus.
Would recommend the Cirrus, I have also heard the advantages in the Tiger are not that great against a Cirrus.
ianat182
Well-Known Member
Yes NEWTOTHIS ! 1973 of course!
ianat182
ianat182
Fergus
Well-Known Member
Hey col
I have owned a tiger and a pageant and would def recommend the tiger over the pageant for sailing, but the opposite for accommodation. The tiger would be a step up for you in space - I would think just make sure you get a good 'un!
I have owned a tiger and a pageant and would def recommend the tiger over the pageant for sailing, but the opposite for accommodation. The tiger would be a step up for you in space - I would think just make sure you get a good 'un!
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colhel
Well-Known Member
ianat182,
I've sent you a PM.
Fergus,
I didn't know you had a Tiger? Your exploits in the Pagaent are well known to me
. I'm surprised when you say the Pagaent has more accomodation, I thought it would be the opposite. The worry for me is the age of the Westerlys, our present boat is in good nick and kept to good standard. Value wise there won't be a lot in it, but I would be buying a boat that's a lot older and possibly a new can of worms. also as you well know, I have got a very sensible Wife, which under normal circumstances is a bonus, but when it comes to upgrading, it isn't.
Col
I've sent you a PM.
Fergus,
I didn't know you had a Tiger? Your exploits in the Pagaent are well known to me
. I'm surprised when you say the Pagaent has more accomodation, I thought it would be the opposite. The worry for me is the age of the Westerlys, our present boat is in good nick and kept to good standard. Value wise there won't be a lot in it, but I would be buying a boat that's a lot older and possibly a new can of worms. also as you well know, I have got a very sensible Wife, which under normal circumstances is a bonus, but when it comes to upgrading, it isn't.Col
Seajet
...
I know of a Pageant with a fairly new engine going potentially very cheap, if of interest to anyone.
No personal connection.
No personal connection.
