Westerly Discus

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morrisjensen

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I'm thinking of buying a Westerly Discus and will be viewing one in a few weeks. Any pointers on what to look out for, questions to ask? I know about the Westerly cabin liners, this one has been replaced. A new quadrant is being fitted this week. I will be applying to the Westerly Owner Group once I have a boat. Cheers
 
The Discus was top of our list of possibles. We're buying a W33 instead!

The walk through on the Discus is awkward and the aft cabin cramped to the point of being (in our opinion) virtually useless

Whilst the extra pair of hanging lockers in the walk through would doubtless have their usefulness, they and the walk through itself come at the cost of the larger of the two cockpit cave lockers

In contrast, the older W33 has a genuinely usable two berths on the aft cabin

You may of course find that the Discus layout works for you
 
PS as you're a new user I appear to be unable to send you a private message. If you can, PM me or feel free to call me on my work mobile (see my signature) as I suspect I may have some useful info for you
 
The W33 and Discus share the same hull. The main difference is that the aft cabin on the W33 is separate, whereas the aft cabin on the Discus is a walk through, they also did an aft cockpit version of the Discus that was known as the "bridge deck", ketch and sloop rig were also options, as where fin and bilge keels.

You do not need to be an owner to join the WOA. They have a scheme that will put you in touch with current and previous owners of boats that you may find usefull.
 
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I've owned both a Discus and a W33.

For us, we much preferred the layout of the Discus, and found the stern cabin berth comfortable enough (we bought her in Sibari, southern Italy, and spent about 4 months aboard, sailing home... so we gave her a good trial).

I would consider having another Discus in the future.

Of no real relevance ... you must see this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InPL2odKoho

ps Bru .... i thought you were very close to getting the Vulcan? Really must get together for that beer and a yarn!
 
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NealB said:
ps Bru .... i thought you were very close to getting the Vulcan? Really must get together for that beer and a yarn!
Click to expand...

Indeed but to cut a long story (which I'll tell you ALL about over said beer!*) short, we ended up with a significantly reduced budget for Bigger Boat and had to sadly pass on the Vulcan.

Got everything crossed that the W33 passes muster with our surveyor next Wednesday, we've had more than enough setbacks over the winter as it is

Vis the Discus and the W33, I suspect one man's meat is another man's poison :)

Critically, for our specific needs, the aft cabin on the Discus wasn't somewhere I could use to sit and play my travel guitar nor would it have been particularly good for two singleton guests. And we much preferred the prospect of the v-berth as our master cabin.

But our requirements are quite specific and probably fairly unusual

* PS On that score I'll be around Fambridge a lot more than I'm not from next week onwards now that we've finally moved house.
 
Bru said:
Indeed but to cut a long story (which I'll tell you ALL about over said beer!*) short, we ended up with a significantly reduced budget for Bigger Boat and had to sadly pass on the Vulcan.

Got everything crossed that the W33 passes muster with our surveyor next Wednesday, we've had more than enough setbacks over the winter as it is

Vis the Discus and the W33, I suspect one man's meat is another man's poison :)

Critically, for our specific needs, the aft cabin on the Discus wasn't somewhere I could use to sit and play my travel guitar nor would it have been particularly good for two singleton guests. And we much preferred the prospect of the v-berth as our master cabin.

But our requirements are quite specific and probably fairly unusual

* PS On that score I'll be around Fambridge a lot more than I'm not from next week onwards now that we've finally moved house.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about the Vulcan ..... still, black holes in finances are very topical at the moment, even amongst old Etonians: you're in good company!

We used to sleep in the stern cabin on the Discus, but the on V berth on the 33. This meant, for us, that the 33's stern cabin ended as a shed (very useful, of course, but wasn't an effective use of space, for us).

As you say ..... it's a very personal view!

I brazenly play my guitar (as badly as ever), in the saloon. I'm blessed in that jos is very tolerant of the noise.

A Fambridge beer sounds very appealing.
 
NealB said:
We used to sleep in the stern cabin on the Discus, but the on V berth on the 33. This meant, for us, that the 33's stern cabin ended as a shed (very useful, of course, but wasn't an effective use of space, for us).
Click to expand...

As someone who has spent a lot of time on a W33 over the years I can tell you that the Discus with its walk through is a much more practical option than the 33. The aft cabin just basically ends up being used as a lazarette. Think why nobody has outside toilets anymore at home, pain in the ass at sea if you're back there too. They're both great boats though and will look after you in a blow. I've actually had a bilge keel '33 ketch surfing down waves with the analogue speedo on the stop past 10kts many years ago. If you get one with a good Mercedes OM636 engine then you'll be onto a winner. The engines are pretty legendary. Sure, there are lighter and slightly more econimical alternatives these days but the 636 will last forever if well maintained.
 
We've got one and I would honestly say we would not swap her even if we won the lottery. It would be a complete refurb, but not a swap. Brilliant boat. Stable, comfortable, sails like a dream, aft cabin is cosy but fine for two medium-sized adults who love each other (!). Very comfortable motion (high comfort ratio) so wife hasn't ever been sick on passage. Wonderful boat. Happy days.
 
NealB said:
I've owned both a Discus and a W33.

For us, we much preferred the layout of the Discus, and found the stern cabin berth comfortable enough (we bought her in Sibari, southern Italy, and spent about 4 months aboard, sailing home... so we gave her a good trial).

I would consider having another Discus in the future.

Of no real relevance ... you must see this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InPL2odKoho

ps Bru .... i thought you were very close to getting the Vulcan? Really must get together for that beer and a yarn!
Click to expand...

N

I so nearly failed to click the link - it is a wonderful film - one of the very best

I started a new thread for it because more people should see it

D
 
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I did a WOA Cruise some years ago where one of the other participants was a couple that had a W33. They very thoughtfully stocked the aft cabin with enough home made plum wine to see the whole fleet of a dozen or so boats through the two weeks of the cruise. So I can testify with certainty that whatever other uses there are for the W33 aft cabin, it makes an excellent wine cellar!
 
richardbrennan said:
I did a WOA Cruise some years ago where one of the other participants was a couple that had a W33. They very thoughtfully stocked the aft cabin with enough home made plum wine to see the whole fleet of a dozen or so boats through the two weeks of the cruise. So I can testify with certainty that whatever other uses there are for the W33 aft cabin, it makes an excellent wine cellar!
Click to expand...


Jolly good! So that's me, my guitar and a load of wine (or beer or scotch or whatever). Happy days :D
 
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