petedg
Well-Known Member
Any thoughts on the sailing performance? Can she make 6 to 8 knots in a blow?
Westerly Konsort Duo
- Thread starter petedg
- Start date
chinita
Well-Known Member
I had one which I sailed from Hull to Anglesey via Caledonian Canal. Then two summers cruising Southern Ireland.
I don't think i ever made 8 kts. Perhaps 6.5 kts motorsailing.
There are, however, massive plusses. We sailed in all weathers (the maiden voyage being two days from Hull to Hartlepool on 2 January, we had to shovel snow from the cockpit before leaving). Set up the GPS, bang on the Autohelm and eat bacon butties in the warmth of the deck saloon.
Great accommodation apart from the dinette arrangement which can restrict 'lounging'. Fabulous heads and hot pressurised shower, great linear galley, huge forward berth.
Engine access good, tankage good and masses of storage underneath the cockpit sole.
Bilge keel a Godsend and we saved a lot in marina fees by drying out in little harbours. Our mooring, back in 1999 in Beaumaris cost £400 to have laid and £80.00 pa to the Council.
Some people hate them, calling them 'sheds'. That did not apply to the family arriving at the same times as us in Kilmore Quay in their Nic 35. Hammered by a gale, soaked, cold and miserable they said they would gladly swap with us on the spot.
Hold their value. I would have to pay more now than when i sold her in 2001.
Now, cue the naysayers
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Let us be honest: it's just as well there are so many people, critical of substantially-superstructured motorsailers...
...because there aren't enough boats out there, to offer all of them a warm dry place to steer from!
I love motorsailers. To me, they sum up something like the car vs motorbike usability, at sea...
...I wouldn't object to a Harley Davidson, for the handful of warm summer days we enjoy each year. If it were my third vehicle, after the saloon & 4x4, then I could accept the rarity of its usefulness; but, as long as I can only afford ONE vehicle, it must have a roof!
Yachtsmen in the UK seem to regard their boats as being like impractical 3rd vehicles, which they can afford not to want to use very often. When I can afford a yacht, I'll want basic comfort on board, regardless of season! Why buy a boat with an exposed helm?
Likewise, the Duo's bilge keel that frees the sailor to all those low-tide locations which his finned cousin mustn't touch...
...if flush-decked 30' yachts repaid their crews with as much performance over hefty motorsailers, as bikers enjoy over gridlocked cars, then there'd be some reasoning in their owners' choices. But how much faster is a fin-keeled Konsort, than a bilge-keeled Duo?
Without even the exception of boorish racing types (who'd otherwise be wholly occupied, urging a ball into a goal), we don't actually, seriously sail to get anywhere quickly...so why compromise usability and elementary comfort, for a slight performance advantage?
I'm so glad that so few people see it this way...
...there aren't enough sensible designs for everyone, out there!
View attachment 19024
...because there aren't enough boats out there, to offer all of them a warm dry place to steer from!
I love motorsailers. To me, they sum up something like the car vs motorbike usability, at sea...
...I wouldn't object to a Harley Davidson, for the handful of warm summer days we enjoy each year. If it were my third vehicle, after the saloon & 4x4, then I could accept the rarity of its usefulness; but, as long as I can only afford ONE vehicle, it must have a roof!
Yachtsmen in the UK seem to regard their boats as being like impractical 3rd vehicles, which they can afford not to want to use very often. When I can afford a yacht, I'll want basic comfort on board, regardless of season! Why buy a boat with an exposed helm?
Likewise, the Duo's bilge keel that frees the sailor to all those low-tide locations which his finned cousin mustn't touch...
...if flush-decked 30' yachts repaid their crews with as much performance over hefty motorsailers, as bikers enjoy over gridlocked cars, then there'd be some reasoning in their owners' choices. But how much faster is a fin-keeled Konsort, than a bilge-keeled Duo?
Without even the exception of boorish racing types (who'd otherwise be wholly occupied, urging a ball into a goal), we don't actually, seriously sail to get anywhere quickly...so why compromise usability and elementary comfort, for a slight performance advantage?
I'm so glad that so few people see it this way...
...there aren't enough sensible designs for everyone, out there!View attachment 19024
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Rivers & creeks
Well-Known Member
You talk a hell of a lot of sense Dan. I dont get the need-for-speed thing in family sailing, we really enjoy sailing and don't want to get there a quick as possible so we can spend more time in the marina. Last week we tramped along at never less than 6 knots along the East Coast coming back from Tollesbury, gradually we were overtaken by half a dozen faster yachts, with crews in full foul weather gear huddled in their cockpits. All five of us from one year old upwards were in T shirts in the wheelhouse. It's a different kind of sailing where the journey itself is the destination and getting there faster than the next guy is immaterial. On the way to Tollesbury a few days earlier the weather was quite unpleasant, we were the only yacht in sight and made the trip again at never less than 6knots. An open cockpit clearly would have meant we wouldn't have bothered and it obviously had the same effect on everyone else on that bank holiday. Shame, because it was a hell of a good sail down the coast.
robertj
Well-Known Member
I do believe you're right!
I am accused by my better half of being a fiddler, before getting lambasted here I mean tweeking all the time.
This irritates her but keeps me happy as my aim is to get every last ounce out of her.
I get passed on a regular basis and some I pass but it's down to the limitations of your boat and as long as you've got her going to her full potential in my case i would be more than happy.
To trim whilst in the comfort of a motorsailor/pilot house is becoming rather attractive as our climate isn't the best.
This I agree makes the boat more useable you will be out when I'm moaning about the weather.
I am accused by my better half of being a fiddler, before getting lambasted here I mean tweeking all the time.
This irritates her but keeps me happy as my aim is to get every last ounce out of her.
I get passed on a regular basis and some I pass but it's down to the limitations of your boat and as long as you've got her going to her full potential in my case i would be more than happy.
To trim whilst in the comfort of a motorsailor/pilot house is becoming rather attractive as our climate isn't the best.
This I agree makes the boat more useable you will be out when I'm moaning about the weather.
Searush
Well-Known Member
Is that possible or practical? I like the idea of a Pilot house twin keel, but haven't yet found one to meet my needs (& pocket) better than SR, but not one of them has had easy access to sheets from inside the pilot house & most do not have a clear view of the sails so that you can see what you are trimming.
Once set up, all sails up & pulling on your course, you can retreat indoors for a cup of tea & to steer, but any change of course/conditions requires some poor soul to go outside to tack/ re-trim or reef etc.
Indoor sailing is a fine dream, but generally not practical. Now if you are just using it as a MoBo, that's a different situation!
robertj
Well-Known Member
Is that possible or practical? I like the idea of a Pilot house twin keel, but haven't yet found one to meet my needs (& pocket) better than SR, but not one of them has had easy access to sheets from inside the pilot house & most do not have a clear view of the sails so that you can see what you are trimming.
Once set up, all sails up & pulling on your course, you can retreat indoors for a cup of tea & to steer, but any change of course/conditions requires some poor soul to go outside to tack/ re-trim or reef etc.
Indoor sailing is a fine dream, but generally not practical. Now if you are just using it as a MoBo, that's a different situation!
I agree but to pop on your coat go out for a minute then pop back in surely is the best way?
Or in my case just sheet trim etc with ease but cold and wet!
Carduelis
Well-Known Member
I've sailed one a fair bit. She is as good off the wind as any 28 footer of her age, but obviously suffers a bit otherwise.
It all depends what you want to do. I suspect the approach of most owners if it gets nasty, is just to 'drive' home from the inside steering position with the heating on and a mug of tea in their hand.
She isn't a pretty boat, but she is immensely strong, has massive storage below the cabin sole, and is very comfortable and easy to handle. A good design for a couple + occasional guest who want to spend long periods aboard but aren't in too much of hurry to go anywhere.
If you want to average 6-8 knots under sail best save up for a 50 footer.
Plan for 4 knots and be pleasantly surprised with 5.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Which B/K Westerly was it, that was affected by hull-strength issues when she squashed into soft mud on the ebb, and wasn't able to lift out when the tide returned? It was mentioned here last year. Some separation of the buoyant hull from the 'cemented' keel.
Searush
Well-Known Member
Which B/K Westerly was it, that was affected by hull-strength issues when she squashed into soft mud on the ebb, and wasn't able to lift out when the tide returned? It was mentioned here last year. Some separation of the buoyant hull from the 'cemented' keel.
That is normally attributed to early Centaurs.
