westerly longbow ketch, any good? and some questions

[steve yates]

I've been pointed to one possibly for a good price.
Anything particularly good or bad about them? any advice form previous owners?

How easy are they to single hand?

Do they steer in reverse?

How much to replace the running rigging?

How much to get the headlining sorted?

What kind of price are sails for such a beast if they are knackered?

The engine is not the original and I think less than ten years old, but not been run for a few years, if it has problems should it be repairable reasonably or could it actually be a dead duck?

thx.

 

[Kelpie]

I know someone with the fin version, the Renown. He has had the boat for 20+ years so obviously quite happy with her. Sails really pretty well, and does well in local races- he's had a long time to get to know her of course! I don't think there are any issues with singlehanding, as he does a fair bit of that.
Get yourself a quick quote from Crusader for new sails, I always found them very helpful (other sail lofts available).
Do a rough tot up of the running rigging length; can you do it all in the same material? If so then you might get a better deal by buying a part reel. Try Barry 'boatropes' Edwards for a quote. That assumes you are happy to splice your own eyes or just use knots everywhere.

If you search the forum, there is a method of fixing the headlining using wooden slats, advocated by 'Searush' who doesn't seem to post here anymore.

Engine should hopefully be ok, so long as the bilges haven't flooded or other neglect. Do you know if it can be turned by hand? Probably best not to risk firing it up without a good look in the fuel tank and draining off any water or bug sludge.

 

[aquaplane]

The "Searush" cabin headlining method is what I inherited on my Centaur. Also what the new owner inherited 8 years later



I may be mistaken but all the four variants, center cockpit/ aft cockpit : Bilge keel / fin keel could be had in sloop or ketch versions. The fin keel aft cockpit Longbow could be a ketch.

There is a Renown (center cockpit fin keel) ketch for sale in Tarbert but it's still >£10K for now. Ill health forces sale.

 

[pvb]

I may be mistaken but all the four variants, center cockpit/ aft cockpit : Bilge keel / fin keel could be had in sloop or ketch versions. The fin keel aft cockpit Longbow could be a ketch.

Correct, all four versions had the choice of sloop or ketch, plus the choice of aft or midships galley. I had a Pentland ketch from new.

 

[Humblebee]

Westerly made their 31 footer in four versions, the fin keel sloop, fin keel ketch, twin keel sloop and twin keel catch. Mine's a Longbow ie fin keeled sloop. Very happy with it, sturdy, steady in the rough stuff, plenty of room for me, the boss, our dog and the cat. Doesn't steer particularly well in reverse but once you're used to it, it's OK. We modified the cockpit table from double pillar to single and reduced the size of the table at the same time. Result is a roomier cockpit but no facility to make a double bed there using the table. Doesn't bother us as there are still the two single bunks there. Westerly owners association have a good, helpful website and membership well worthwhile if you do but her.

 

[pvb]

Westerly made their 31 footer in four versions, the fin keel sloop, fin keel ketch, twin keel sloop and twin keel catch. Mine's a Longbow ie fin keeled sloop.

If you own one, I'm surprised you don't know much about them. The four versions were two versions of the aft cockpit design, the Longbow with a fin keel, the Berwick with bilge keels, and two versions of the aft cabin design, the Renown with a fin keel, the Pentland with bilge keels. All four versions could be supplied in either sloop or ketch configurations.

 

[richardbrennan]

Getting the headlining done professionally is expensive. I have now had the saloon and heads done, which was the better part of £2K and the aft cabin which was £1500, and the fore cabin will need doing soon. That's on an Ocean 33 which is obviously slightly larger but it gives you some idea. Kits are available from Hawke House for DIY, I have no experience with the slats method but it looks OK in the picture. A new engine will be at least £5K should you need it, and the running rigging about £1K again if you have it done professionally, new sails could be anything depending on spec, but £3k is probably not a bad ball park figure for a basic set.

On the positive side they were well built and sail remarkably well.

I hope this helps and I would endorse the recommendation to join the WOA.

 

[Concerto]

I would endorse the recommendation to join the WOA.

It only costs £15.00 per annum and allows access to articles published in the magazine from years past including owners improvements. Also worth joining the Westerly Owners Forum, which is free (link on the main WOA web site).

I know of a Longbow ketch owner who is very pleased with his boat having upgraded from a smaller boat and on a tight budget.

 

[KellysEye]

>How easy are they to single hand?

We had ketch and handling three sails is more difficult than two, you have to think how the boat is set up steerring wise. We were two handed

>Do they steer in reverse?

Should be fine it's long keels that have problems in reverse

How much to replace the running rigging?

You need to get a two or three quotes

>How much to get the headlining sorted?

As above.

>What kind of price are sails for such a beast if they are knackered?

As above.

>The engine is not the original and I think less than ten years old, but not been run for a few years, if it has problems should it be repairable reasonably or could it actually be a dead duck?

That's potentially a serious issue if you do need a new engine it usually needs a new shaft and prop. The new owner replaced out engine with a 50 HP Beta and and it cost £8,000. Kelpie's advice is good.

You haven't said what the boat costs but the all the questions you have asked could cost serious money, my instinct would be to find a sloop that doesn't need all that work and a working engine.

 

[davidej]

>How easy are they to single hand?

We had ketch and handling three sails is more difficult than two, you have to think how the boat is set up steerring wise. We were two handed

>Do they steer in reverse?

Should be fine it's long keels that have problems in reverse

How much to replace the running rigging?

You need to get a two or three quotes

>How much to get the headlining sorted?

As above.

>What kind of price are sails for such a beast if they are knackered?

As above.

>The engine is not the original and I think less than ten years old, but not been run for a few years, if it has problems should it be repairable reasonably or could it actually be a dead duck?

That's potentially a serious issue if you do need a new engine it usually needs a new shaft and prop. The new owner replaced out engine with a 50 HP Beta and and it cost £8,000. Kelpie's advice is good.

You haven't said what the boat costs but the all the questions you have asked could cost serious money, my instinct would be to find a sloop that doesn't need all that work and a working engine.

Wow !

Did he want it to plane?

 

[Tranona]

I've been pointed to one possibly for a good price.
Anything particularly good or bad about them? any advice form previous owners?

How easy are they to single hand?

Do they steer in reverse?

How much to replace the running rigging?

How much to get the headlining sorted?

What kind of price are sails for such a beast if they are knackered?

The engine is not the original and I think less than ten years old, but not been run for a few years, if it has problems should it be repairable reasonably or could it actually be a dead duck?

thx.

longbow a good choice.

For running rigging buy either reel ends or whole reels and do it yourself. You will find it is mostly 10 or 12mm. A reel of 100m is around £100 from somebody like Marine Scene and that will make 3 mainmast halyards or 4 mizzen. You can cut it to length yourself and no need to splice if you use Selden halyard knots for attaching shackles.

As you have seen there are much better and cheaper ways of dealing with headlinings than spending vast sums on OE type which will only go the same way in the future.

Sails, all 3 somewhere around£2500-3000, but lots of scope for saving money if you go secondhand.

Where you spend your money depends on how you are going to use the boat. Liveaboard, money on interior and cockpit tent, sailing obviously benefits from good sailing gear.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

I had a Pentland ketch, (1979 bilge keel, aft cabin). Loved it, ketch made for easy single handed by using mizzen, jib and diesel, Used to sail it off and on to our mooring on my own.
Only problem I had was with a knackered Volvo MD 2B which I hated.
One thing to be aware of is some Westerlies did suffer from osmosis. Our 1979 Pentland had to be treated twice by its previous owner when it was 6 years old, 1st attempt was by shot blasting followed by some Iternational Epoxy which was a complete failure and hull had to be planed to remove gel coat followed by VC tar which was a success.

 

[Quandary]

Steve
The engine is a shiny new Yanmar 30hp with less than 100 hours, fixed prop with new rope cutter,
There is a windlass, heating, hot water, (new calorifier) two new batteries, charger,
Winches, radar, instruments are old but I am told are serviceable. Several anchors, more warps and chain than you could use.
Sails have less than 1 season but I have not seen them out of the bags, standing rigging replaced, just one seasons use, running rigging a bit green.
New looking Furlex. Boatyard made rigid GRP doghouse cover over companionway with perspex screen and side windows.
Galley along stbd. side of main cabin, looks like original cooker?
Steering tight but I will help him sort it, good emergency tiller arrangement.
Antifouled and top sides polished, no visible blisters. (we keep them ashore for 6 months in every 12 here).
Headlining is drooping everywhere and needs doing, otherwise good to go round Ireland twice.