Westerley Storm 33 or Bene 331

benw

benw

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 May 2008
Messages
543
Location
Baston Lincs, Boat Royal Harwich YC
Visit site
As the family grows we are looking at yachts with aft cabins. Our Sadler 32 is a great yacht that does us very well except with three kids and a dog now getting a little cramped.
A non negotiable however would be sailing performance in heavy weather - we are happy to be out there in a bit of a blow and want a boat that is safe and strong.
Any views on the Westerly Storm 33 OOD or Beneteau 331 from owners or those who have similarly considered such yachts.
Any other offerings we should be considerring in the 40 -55k market around 33-35ft?
Many thanks,
Ben
 
Have a look at the Moody 34 or 346. More space, fin or twin versions, seaworthy and within price range. Slightly bigger but much better, you could pick up a M37 for that price.
 
If it's a straight choice between the two, I'd go for the Storm 33. I've owned one for seven years now and find it very good in all conditions, especially heavy weather. Only complaint about the Storm is that most were fitted with Volvo Penta 2002 engines.

We replaced ours with a Nanni 29hp and the boat is a lot more controllable, responsive, reliable, etc. PM me if you want more info.
 
GrahamM376 said:
Have a look at the Moody 34 or 346. More space, fin or twin versions, seaworthy and within price range. Slightly bigger but much better, you could pick up a M37 for that price.
Click to expand...

I had a M346, found the berths a bit cramped, aft too narrow and forecabin too short, Bill Dixon must be a short arse.
 
benw said:
As the family grows we are looking at yachts with aft cabins. Our Sadler 32 is a great yacht that does us very well except with three kids and a dog now getting a little cramped.
A non negotiable however would be sailing performance in heavy weather - we are happy to be out there in a bit of a blow and want a boat that is safe and strong.
Any views on the Westerly Storm 33 OOD or Beneteau 331 from owners or those who have similarly considered such yachts.
Any other offerings we should be considerring in the 40 -55k market around 33-35ft?
Many thanks,
Ben
Click to expand...

I'm a bit surprised by your alternatives. I looked at a Storm 33 last year and found it way too cramped for us as a cruising boat. Not much bigger than your Sadler 32 (which was also too small). The 331 by comparison is huge! It sounds like you want all the qualities of a Sadler 32 in a Beneteau type body...I don't think it exists. What about a Sadler 34? That would have worked for us if we could have found a good one.
 
I know the selection may seem interesting however it is quite simply based on two things:
1. I know the Storm is well regarded in heavy weather and offers an aft double cabin
2. The 331 sounds like its sailing characteristics are not completely compromised by the internal space offering
Both are available in a local brokerage.

Just to throw a complete spanner in the works will also be viewing at the weekend a Tyler 42 semi long keel ketch at the very top end of our budget. But do I really want to be manouvering a 42 fter close too even with a bow thruster and pay for increased berthing charges? She looks a treat and for my plans of passagemaking further afield could be worth a serious look.

I am struggling with coming into the 2000's in terms of boat design!
 
benw said:
I am struggling with coming into the 2000's in terms of boat design!
Click to expand...

Join the club!! I struggled with this for the past year or so, then the wife pointed out that we mainly use the boat as floating holiday home so let's get real and forget all the heavy weather / offshore stuff. She's probably right :D
 
bluedragon said:
Join the club!! I struggled with this for the past year or so, then the wife pointed out that we mainly use the boat as floating holiday home so let's get real and forget all the heavy weather / offshore stuff. She's probably right :D
Click to expand...

So you're after a 'Boat Show Boat' ?! Remind SWMBO of that WHEN in heavy weather...

My abiding memories of the Westerly Storm are microscopic cockpit lockers and a sink ( as in washing up ) at way too high level,(I'm 5'9" and it was chest high) but I'd still prefer it in heavy weather compared to a Moody; if going for a Boat Show Boat rather than a sailor's choice like a 101, of course this gives up accomodation...
 
An odd choice. To my mind the "heavy weather" bit is overdone. Nobody (in the mass market) makes boats like that anymore - but you see newer design boats all over the place with happy families cruising in them. You can't escape the fact that they don't always bash to windward as well as older, narrower designs - but do you want to do that through choice? In my experience (10 years with a Bavaria 37) they bang around a bit but never feel unsafe and nothing breaks. Have a look at the boats charter companies and sailing schools use - they don't buy them just because they are cheap - they do the job in all weathers with a wide range of crews.

The biggest weakness (particularly on earlier Beneteaus) is shallow draft, but most models now come with a deep keel which can be restrictive in areas like the east coast and Poole where I live. The extra draft does, however improve windward performance.

I am sure once you have tried a modern boat and learned to sail it you won't want to go back. Remember many owners of newer boats also had older boats when they were current and they don't in general go back.

Perhaps you should widen your search - £55k gives you a lot of choice and perhaps look a bit further up the size range. The difference between a 32 and a 36 is huge. You might also invest in a short charter of a modern boat to get the "in use" feel rather than the static view.
 
bluedragon said:
Join the club!! I struggled with this for the past year or so, then the wife pointed out that we mainly use the boat as floating holiday home so let's get real and forget all the heavy weather / offshore stuff. She's probably right :D
Click to expand...
And the best bit is that the AWB Bene will take more weather than you can! Been there done that and came out the other side thinking what was the prob! (46 knots on the wind speed at one time)
Stu
 
benw said:
As the family grows we are looking at yachts with aft cabins. Our Sadler 32 is a great yacht that does us very well except with three kids and a dog now getting a little cramped.
A non negotiable however would be sailing performance in heavy weather - we are happy to be out there in a bit of a blow and want a boat that is safe and strong.
Any views on the Westerly Storm 33 OOD or Beneteau 331 from owners or those who have similarly considered such yachts.
Any other offerings we should be considerring in the 40 -55k market around 33-35ft?
Many thanks,
Ben
Click to expand...
My first boat Bene 351, set off from Pwllheli, forecast 5-6 7 later, heading for Arklow. It got worse and worse, later turned out to be sooner! Turned around the North Arklow bank buoy. 40 kts from SW regular gusting 46kts. SWMBO said are we OK? Yup says I sawing at the wheel. Whats our options? says she, Dublin says I, about 60 miles away, 10 hours and Ive been helming 14, Im knacked. An hour later we were in Arklow, sun shining, sheltered from the wind. The boat wasnt even bothered, a big fat caravan according to some of the older smelly, traditional brit built boat owners! It looked after us that day, no probs
Stu
 
An alternative that springs to mind in that price range would be a Sigma 362. At 36' you could call it about 35'.

It has a cruising layout below and is not to be confused with the Sigma 36 which has racing accommodation.

But of course you could enter your criteria into something like ApolloDuck and have a gander at other alternatives.
 
Just thought I would add my tuppence worth on the Colvics? If you are looking for a solid safe and dependable sea boat you could do a lot worse than a Countess 33. I have a ketch version and while she is not the quickest in light airs she comes in to her own in heavy winds. Having, foolishly been caught out a few times in some very heavy weather in the Bristol Channel, she breeds huge confidence and her rig allows for a flexible combination of sailing plans. I often use the mizzen to steady her in a bouncy anchorage. Works a treat. The aft cabin is not huge but accommodates three smaller people reasonably well. good hight in the saloon but I would not recommend her for very tall people. But solid and steady she definitely is. Good luck with your search!
 
bluedragon said:
I'm a bit surprised by your alternatives. I looked at a Storm 33 last year and found it way too cramped for us as a cruising boat. Not much bigger than your Sadler 32 (which was also too small). The 331 by comparison is huge! It sounds like you want all the qualities of a Sadler 32 in a Beneteau type body...I don't think it exists. What about a Sadler 34? That would have worked for us if we could have found a good one.
Click to expand...

The Storm is as roomy if not roomier than the Sadler 34, the cockpit is also large, if a bit shallow. The speed and sailing performance is fantastic. I bought one last year on impulse. I did post on here my concerns about the engine, but I need not have worried the 2002 pushes it along at over 6 knots at 2000 revs. Both Sailing Today and Yachting monthly have done recent reports on them, well worth reading.
 
Seajet said:
So you're after a 'Boat Show Boat' ?! Remind SWMBO of that WHEN in heavy weather...

My abiding memories of the Westerly Storm are microscopic cockpit lockers and a sink ( as in washing up ) at way too high level,(I'm 5'9" and it was chest high) but I'd still prefer it in heavy weather compared to a Moody; if going for a Boat Show Boat rather than a sailor's choice like a 101, of course this gives up accomodation...
Click to expand...

Your memory is a tad defective. The Storm cockpit locker is HUGE and the galley has two sinks. True the sink and fridge access is not good for the vertically challenged but our Storm has a false floor in the galley area that makes life easier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top