W Windrush opinion

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
Following an exchange of messages with a fellow forumite, I wonder if I could canvas opinions of the Westerly Windrush? I understand that the sailing qualities may not be those of the 25 but my main concern is the lack of side decks. It has been suggested by my mum that climbing over the cabin roof to reach the foredeck could be a problem in anything of a chop. My son on the other hand reminds her that we do this regularly on Sophie (19' Seawych) in any case, as the quickest, easiest way to the pointy end.

I would really appreciate any observations/experience of these boats. Is the lack of side decks a problem? I can not imaging a company like Westerly building a pig in a poke. But am ready to be corrected!

Cheers chaps(esses)
 
Side decks

I don't know the Westerly Windrush though strangely there is a company called Windrush down the road who build catamarans and also did a Windrush Wildfire 25 that is by the by. I don't think there is any relationship. (just a good name)
I have seen a lot of small boats and sailed on many. A boat like the Macgreggor is one you might know which has no side decks. Yes it is daunting to climb from the cockpit up onto the cabin. Certainly othe boats even with narrow side decks seem easier to climb around rather than over. On the other hand a popular Australian design is the the Hood 23 with flush cabin ie right out to the gunwhale and flat right to the bow. It makes a great roomy cabin with sitting head height out to the sides. That doesn't seem to be such a step up to the cabin top from the cockpit.
Most small cabin power boats around here 16 to 18 ft have no side decks and are a real pain to get to the bow. Unless they have an opening windscreen. So perhaps a big opening fromty hatch on a yacht is one answer.
My little boat has min 25cms of side deck and I think I like it that way. Yes we do a lot of climbing to the bow for spin work.
I think if you look at boat considering buying it you will soon notice if acceess to the bow seems difficult via narrow side decks. good luck olewill
 
Go & have a look at one. The Windrush is quite a bit bigger than a Seawych so will tend to be steadier. I believe there is a decent forehatch that could be used, but it does take longer to go below & forward if you are in a hurry - especially if in overfalls when lots of stuff may have been thrown on the floor.

Fit it with roller reefing & you will only need to go forward when anchoring or mooring - and that will be in sheltered water. Lots of boats have no side decks, but the cabin top is usually relatively level & clear of obstructions. What is the Windrush like? Her slimmer sister, the 25 has a high domed cabin top to create headroom at the main hatch, the Windrush doesn't need to do that.
 
We had a 1968 Windrush as our family's first boat, 1975 I think it was.

If you know what a Nomad looks like, it's the same with 3' tagged on the back with an outboard on a guncarriage affair. The layup is thick, Albert's Mrs always liked the way the deck didn't flex when walking on it the way their Jaguar 22 did.

It's tripple keel and doesn't point very well. They hadn't done the tank testing/development that the Centaur and later Westerlys, and other bilge keelers, had the advantage of.

I can't remember feeling vulnerable going forward on the Windrush, but I was 18 and probably didn't know any better. You can always crawl if you feel exposed stood up. I do like the feeling of being in a slot I get with the Centaur though.

Our Windrush had 2 stretcher berths above the ¼berths, it was very cosy with 6 aboard, a couple or a family of 4 is fine. There is only standing headroom where the hatch slides forward which includes the galley, but that's the only place you would want to stand, except the head/forecabin.

I can't think of anything else just now, IM a phone number if you want a chat.
 
We have a westerly 22(circa 1961 ) aswell as the cat >the windrush is based on the same hull but with a longer cabin top and a bit longer stern. I like the lack of side decks, It gives a feeling of space down below as well as on deck, you don't get that feeling of your legs tripping each other up as you sidle down small sidecks The other thing is they are built so solid no deck flexing etc.We have been out in ours quite a few times in 7/8's In some really nasty wave trains and have never felt unsafe without ever taking water into the self draining cockpit. I like a good outboard rather than an inboard as you don't need a screwed down and gasketed cockpit floor for the self draining cockpit . Come to that not many boats of this size have self draining cockpits now. Incidental we have no floorboards in ours so we have 5ft 9 headroom in the cabin.
 
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Incidentaly we have had our w22 for 13 years bought it from a bloke who had owned twice over 15 years , and he phones me every couple of years to see if I want to sell it him back. but its so comfortable and feels so safe that it is unlikely we will sell, but have promised him first refusal if we ever do :)
ps He bought it back time first time because the then new owner had sailed it to holland and then had a heart attack ,so he bought it back sailing it from Holland to the Humber in mid January ..
I like her but dont think I would have fancyied that trip !:eek:
 
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Thanks Chaps (esses)

Thanks for the info chaps, we are going to look at the Windrush again this weekend. Hope to run up the engine for a few moments to check starting, odd noises and smoke etc. I gather (hope) it will be OK to run it for a very short spell in the yard, but wondered if I should stick a hose into the sea water inlet or would it be OK without?

Any views on running a diesel in the yard most appreciated, though come to think of it, there was a thread about this a while ago, I will look it up!

Thanks again all

Steve
 
Every time you start a diesel, it will be without water until the pump primes. It can take a few seconds for the water to come out of the exhaust.

Running an engine uncooled for a short while will not damage the engine, but more than a minute or so is likely to knacker the impellor. If the owner is stressed, pour a bucket of water into the intake filter on the seacock as it runs. You may need to push a cork, rag or other bung into the inlet to prevent it all running straight out of the inlet cock.

If running dry, the exhaust is not properly silenced so it will be noisy with lots of loud bangs. All you will learn from the test is if it runs at all & how easily it starts (or not) - unless the owner has pre-run it first!
 
Searush said:
Every time you start a diesel, it will be without water until the pump primes. It can take a few seconds for the water to come out of the exhaust.

Running an engine uncooled for a short while will not damage the engine, but more than a minute or so is likely to knacker the impellor. If the owner is stressed, pour a bucket of water into the intake filter on the seacock as it runs. You may need to push a cork, rag or other bung into the inlet to prevent it all running straight out of the inlet cock.

If running dry, the exhaust is not properly silenced so it will be noisy with lots of loud bangs. All you will learn from the test is if it runs at all & how easily it starts (or not) - unless the owner has pre-run it first!
Click to expand...

I bow to someone more knowledgeable , But I a bit paranoid about overheating. 2 months back have just replace the head gasket on a diesel and I hate doing head gaskets !:(
 
Engine itself wont get hot enough to do any damage running off load for a few minutes without water from cold, but the pump impellor will be damaged within a couple of minutes, and if the exhaust is rubber diesel hose an dmost of them are, that will get too hot very quickly and the inner rubber liner will be damaged. A minute at most from cold to avoid this sort of damage. Personally I never go more than 30 seconds or so with any engine runnning dry, to be on the safe side.
 
I think the Westerly Windrush should be a good sailing boat. In 1970 to 1972 I owned a Westerly 25 on Canada's west coast and spent an entire summer with her up the B.C. coast. I had a Volvo MD1 diesel. Shouldn't have sold her. She was named Sabrina. The measurements are nearly identical except for weight. Surprised the Windrush is so much heavier though.
Brian
 
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Westerly Windrush

Sophie19 said:
Following an exchange of messages with a fellow forumite, I wonder if I could canvas opinions of the Westerly Windrush? I understand that the sailing qualities may not be those of the 25 but my main concern is the lack of side decks. It has been suggested by my mum that climbing over the cabin roof to reach the foredeck could be a problem in anything of a chop. My son on the other hand reminds her that we do this regularly on Sophie (19' Seawych) in any case, as the quickest, easiest way to the pointy end.

I would really appreciate any observations/experience of these boats. Is the lack of side decks a problem? I can not imaging a company like Westerly building a pig in a poke. But am ready to be corrected!

Cheers chaps(esses)
Click to expand...

Some of these boats have little stanchions about a foot high and safety wires to stop one from falling overboard. Admittedly you'd need to be crawling rather than walking for the stanchions to be any help. All these boats had a rotofurler on the foresail so one doesn't need to go forward that often.
 
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