westerley fulmars

[jonjo]

Re: Foot prints in layup

> surveyor suspected that the workers followed bad practice

This reminds me it is such a lottery buying an old second-hand yacht from all but a few select builders. I think the re-basement of second-hand yacht values has further to go before buying a 15+ year old yacht makes financial sense.

Why oh why doesn’t Bavaria start manufacturing a Rustler 36 copy or a Rival 34 scaled Rival up to 38 feet?

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[PeterGibbs]

Re: westerley fulmars - part 2

The points you raise:

1. Headlinings - Westerley's have this problem that after some years the soft furnished headliners can begin to descend - ie detatch. They are a plastic cloth stapled or glued on the reverse to 3 ply that forms the headlining. I dealt with this as it arose - an easy DIY issue with Copydex - no probs. At least the panels can be removed - something you cannot do with newer boats where the headlining is a one piece moulding.

2. All bilge keels will produce slamming when heading into larger waves. It is not a negligable sound, let's be candid, but when the wind is whistling through the rigging it is not soul-destroying either. If this were the case the UK would not have spawned so many keel versions in the past. They still sell new today but I think it fair to say fewer new boats are sold with bilge keels - the fashion is weakening as folks realise that the additional 30-40 cms keel depth with a fin are not an impediment to enjoyable coastal sailing. The notion of resting on mud beds and creeks with twin keels is a nice Arthur Ransomism - the angle of repose hardly ever induces happiness in the 1st mate!
I have now gone to fin and will not return to bilge - I advocate fins today.

3. Cost? UK built boats of any quality or pedigree of this length come with the 30-36k£ tag I think. A cheaper buy will probabaly have problems that will not net a saving when it has all been put to rights. The main costs with the Fulmar could be engine (£6k new / 4.5k reconditioned) rigging (0.7k) Sails (? depends on the quality etc)
For a little more a new continental build can be purchased but the accessories to get afloat will set you back several thousands over list. Might be better to move up later?
I detect that older UK builds are slowly loosing value but even so if you had, say, 3-4 seasons with a '84 fin Fulmar you would recover most of that on resale (private - not agency) A new boat will definitely not recover its outlay.

Hope this helps,

Good hunting,

Peter Gibbs


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[vvv]

I have had the fortune to do most of my cruiser sailing aboard 2 fulmars owned by seatrain sailing school out of orford. Both my daughter and I have become pracrtical day skippers during that time and I also did a week's passage trip of over 250 miles aboard one. My day skipper was done in force 7 gusting 8. THey are astonishingly good. Forgiving, robust, well built, comfortable. I wish I could afford one.

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[spudnukem]

Many of the Westerley sea school boats from Hamble point that jonjo mentions were returned to the factory as the webs in the hull that the shroud chainplates fasten to were coming away from the hull shell, it was blamed on two different resins at the time. This problem affected only the second fleet, the first 11 were built 1986 ish and the second lot about 1989 ish.

I used to work at westerley sea school so know the boats well. Have been throught a couple of 70 knot squals with three reefs and storm jib, never batted an eyelid.

If you see a fulmar of 86 or 89 vintage and its got a white plastic 90 degree elbow stuck in the transdom to deflect the exhaust downwards its probly an ex sea school boat.

First fleet all had musical names, Melody, Minuet, Overture, Lullaby, Prelude, Nocturne, Symphony, Sonata, Rhapsody(bent mast but faster),Bolero (had a big collision once, Cowes week 87) plus one other cant remember name.

Second fleet used same names ie Melody II plus twelth boat was Cantata, and a privately owned one that was chartered was Hakuna Matata.

Hope this helps.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

Hi, I recently bought a Fulmar Project called Nocturne II! On the deeds it states it's from the school. Would you have any knowledge of her? All the best. Robert

 

[Frogmogman]

Hi, I recently bought a Fulmar Project called Nocturne II! On the deeds it states it's from the school. Would you have any knowledge of her? All the best. Robert

Well, I suppose Easter is coming up, so resurrection is quite topical !!

 

[spudnukem]

Well, I suppose Easter is coming up, so resurrection is quite topical !!

Ha! Big project from the hull up. Knew what I was taking on and had fun doing the work over the last season. Solid even so. Got it for beer money so nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Other hobby is vintage motorcycles so used to piles of scrap slowly coming together! Ask me again in two years ;-)

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Ha! Big project from the hull up. Knew what I was taking on and had fun doing the work over the last season. Solid even so. Got it for beer money so nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Other hobby is vintage motorcycles so used to piles of scrap slowly coming together! Ask me again in two years ;-)

Well, I suppose Easter is coming up, so resurrection is quite topical !!

Haha, this post is 19 years old!!!!

 

[spudnukem]

Haha, this post is 19 years old!!!!

Yup but the original poster was online this morning! Love digging up history...

 

[burgundyben]

Hi, I recently bought a Fulmar Project called Nocturne II! On the deeds it states it's from the school. Would you have any knowledge of her? All the best. Robert

Indeed, it would have been me that commissioned her when new.

They had a hard life.

Some went back to the factory to have grp repairs where the chainplates are secured.

I knew then inside out, every bolt and screw, but it was 30 years ago.

 

[spudnukem]

Indeed, it would have been me that commissioned her when new.

They had a hard life.

Some went back to the factory to have grp repairs where the chainplates are secured.

I knew then inside out, every bolt and screw, but it was 30 years ago.

Hello! Thanks for answering. I've had anecdotal history of her from the previous owner. It had been on the hard at my club in the Medway for at least 18 years! Westerly droop was Westerly carpet. I've made some, to me, reasonable changes ie moved the fuel port to the combing and in fact the tank was still 2/3rds full. Very sorry state but knowing it needed a full refit I decided to give it a go. Left her last autumn with the entire inside ground down to the fibreglass. Would love to chat about her if you wouldn't mind - would be great to see what you remember about her. All the best and cheers

 

[Tranona]

You need to get in contact with Concerto who posts here. Not only is he THE expert on renovating Fulmars but lives your way. No doubt he will be along soon.

 

[spudnukem]

You need to get in contact with Concerto who posts here. Not only is he THE expert on renovating Fulmars but lives your way. No doubt he will be along soon.

Cheers - know of him well and know the Concerto when I see her from the Copper Rivet gin house. Thanks matey

 

[europe172]

Thank you for warnings about a bilge keeler - will stick to the fin !

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The bilge will slam less if reefed in heavy wind , too much heel exposes the keel root to the wave chop. I don’t find it much of a problem as the boat will sail faster with the reef in

 

[Concerto]

Cheers - know of him well and know the Concerto when I see her from the Copper Rivet gin house. Thanks matey

You are welcome to come and have a chat onboard Concerto in the next fortnight. She is in a bit of a mess at present as I am fitting a new pressurised hot and cold water system with a shower, plus a fridge unit in the cool box and a new electrical panel. Just before the end of the month I am off up the East Coast and stopping when I get to the Shetland Islands before working slowly down the West Coat and returning at the end of September.

You should enjoy and learn a lot for this PowerPoint presentation showing the progress and changes I have made over the past 8 years. The YouTube video was taken in Spetember whilst she was the Westerly Owners Association boat at the Southampton Boat Show.

https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/3/3f/Concerto.pdf

If you are not a member of the Westerly Owners Association, then you will find it well worth the £17.50 annual membership fee. The discount on the WOA insurance policy is greater than the membership cost.

 

[ashtead]

Having visited concerto at SBS it was certainly an informative display and hopefully he or others will do likewise in future years. Maybe you will be back again in Solent after your trip .

 

[spudnukem]

You are welcome to come and have a chat onboard Concerto in the next fortnight. She is in a bit of a mess at present as I am fitting a new pressurised hot and cold water system with a shower, plus a fridge unit in the cool box and a new electrical panel. Just before the end of the month I am off up the East Coast and stopping when I get to the Shetland Islands before working slowly down the West Coat and returning at the end of September.

You should enjoy and learn a lot for this PowerPoint presentation showing the progress and changes I have made over the past 8 years. The YouTube video was taken in Spetember whilst she was the Westerly Owners Association boat at the Southampton Boat Show.

https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/3/3f/Concerto.pdf

If you are not a member of the Westerly Owners Association, then you will find it well worth the £17.50 annual membership fee. The discount on the WOA insurance policy is greater than the membership cost.

Thank you very much Concerto. I am indeed a Westerati Club member and I have studied your video and pdf with great concentration. The invite is appreciated but I live and work up in North Wales and sail all summer in Kent (I never make things easy on myself!) so will miss this window though I will be sailing on my brother in laws Storm up to Holy island too this summer! Maybe catch up in September.


I was just flabbergasted that a member actually may of been the commissioning officer for my boat when it first came out of Waterlooville. Amazing! I just love digging up the history of my 'other women' weather they are vintage motorcycles or yachts. Stay safe and have a brilliant season.

 

[Frank Holden]

Indeed, it would have been me that commissioned her when new.

They had a hard life.

Some went back to the factory to have grp repairs where the chainplates are secured.

I knew then inside out, every bolt and screw, but it was 30 years ago.

You probably know my boat then - Westerly Serenade. You may even recall her falling out of the Travelift - I only found out about that a few years after I bought her
I bought her in Thailand in 1994.
I have kept her in South America - mainly in the 'southern cone' - for the last 19 years. That is apart from a run back to NZ in 2014 for a 'half life' NZ$100k refit.
Bonzer boat.
Bit about her travels here
2020.2 Chilean Anchorages.pdf

 

[Concerto]

Having visited concerto at SBS it was certainly an informative display and hopefully he or others will do likewise in future years. Maybe you will be back again in Solent after your trip .

I am aiming to be back in Southampton for the Southampton Boat Show. Concerto will be in Ocean Village and I will be at the show every day either on the Westerly stand or on whatever boat they have there or possibly on the Cruising Association stand. So if anyone did want to vist Concerto at the end of the show day, just let me know as it will be quite possible. After the end of the show I will complete my Round Britian trip and return to Chatham.

 

[Concerto]

Thank you very much Concerto. I am indeed a Westerati Club member and I have studied your video and pdf with great concentration. The invite is appreciated but I live and work up in North Wales and sail all summer in Kent (I never make things easy on myself!) so will miss this window though I will be sailing on my brother in laws Storm up to Holy island too this summer! Maybe catch up in September.


I was just flabbergasted that a member actually may of been the commissioning officer for my boat when it first came out of Waterlooville. Amazing! I just love digging up the history of my 'other women' weather they are vintage motorcycles or yachts. Stay safe and have a brilliant season.

Robert

That is a long way to be from your boat. I have a friend who is restoring a Fulmar in North Wales at present, so it might be worth contacting Steve via the WOA forum to look at his boat. He considers me as his mentor, but only because I have done most of the jobs and can tell him how to do them. He spent a long time on Concerto at the boat show picking my brains and seeing my solutions, besides the numerous online chats.

The strange thing is I expect to be moving to Cheshire in about 4 years time and will be moving Concerto to North Wales. Then the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland will become my new cruising grounds.

At the Southampton Boat Show I had a long chat with burgendyben about his time working for Westerly Sailing School. Some of the tales of damage to the school boats was quite horrific. All of the Fulmars were named after musical terms. However, my Concerto was not a school boat despite them having 2 Concertos in the fleet. In fact at the show I met the daughter of one of the original co-owners of Concerto, it is such a small world.

 

[spudnukem]

Robert

That is a long way to be from your boat. I have a friend who is restoring a Fulmar in North Wales at present, so it might be worth contacting Steve via the WOA forum to look at his boat. He considers me as his mentor, but only because I have done most of the jobs and can tell him how to do them. He spent a long time on Concerto at the boat show picking my brains and seeing my solutions, besides the numerous online chats.

The strange thing is I expect to be moving to Cheshire in about 4 years time and will be moving Concerto to North Wales. Then the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland will become my new cruising grounds.

At the Southampton Boat Show I had a long chat with burgendyben about his time working for Westerly Sailing School. Some of the tales of damage to the school boats was quite horrific. All of the Fulmars were named after musical terms. However, my Concerto was not a school boat despite them having 2 Concertos in the fleet. In fact at the show I met the daughter of one of the original co-owners of Concerto, it is such a small world.

It's these small(?) connections that give history meaning to me. I'll look up Steve - thanks. Don't give me nightmares matey! I knew it was an old school barge with all that entails but also knew it was a total refit. I'm lucky - my job allows a lot of time in summer and winter in Wales to repair stuff! It's been a heartbreaking (realising the PO had left holes open) and I had to rebuild all the engine surround and nav station, some soft core upfront but its getting there. This year I hope to start making her look better! I've learnt so much and enjoyed every second. People write off some of these old boats but if they were solid enough to start with I think its worth it! PS Ill would swap it for an Oceanlord if pushed! (;-))