Westerly Pageant query

[corp0193]

Hello,

Having spent far too long browsing the internet, I'm taking the plunge and going to view a Westerly Pageant 23 1974 in a few weeks time.

If anyone knows about this boat I'd appreciate any tips about things to look out for, or problems to ask about, or common problems these boats face.

Also what is the norm for getting to try sailing her when viewing a boat? And in a private sail rather than through a dealer, how does one arrange transporting a boat back to where I want to have her in the water - I think she would be too heavy to pull by a normal car?

Thanks for any advice - have been browsing on here for a while and everyone seems helpful and friendly

 

[VicS]

Read some more about the Pageant on the Westerly owners association website http://westerly-owners.co.uk/ see the Westerly range tab and follow the links to the review.

Specific questions may be answered on the WOA forum or the Yahoo discussion group. See the links on the home page above.

Decent solidly built boat..... not a racer by any means.

Probably be wise to be looking for one with a decent diesel engine. Early ones were fitted with a Vire 2 stroke petrol engine

Arrange trial sail with vendor. Be prepared to pay for the lift/launch one way.

Trailerable given a suitable trailer and vehicle but not by your average hatchback!

 

[Seajet]

The Pageant is a good family cruiser, while not the sharpest boat to windward she's deceptively fast on all other points.

Keep an eye out for osmosis, and the keel bolts need good examination, they were a bit under specified; the engine & anodes should be examined carefully like any boat.

Pageant No.1 is at my club, she's long since had a BMW engine, in fact on her second now.

As far as transport goes, she would definitlely require something like a RangeRover to tow, even with that have a look at the figures; it's a favourite pastime of plod to pull over towing vehicles and at least 2 'pursuit specials' escort them to a weigh bridge...

Transport by road generally seems to be more convenient, quicker and overall cheaper than a sea delivery, though going by sea with a seasoned skipper would give a good opportunity to get to know the boat.

 

[VicS]

Pageant No.1 is at my club, she's long since had a BMW engine, in fact on her second now.

That's interesting.
I am pretty sure the person i used to crew for owned P1 before I knew him.
I think he bought it as an ex-demonstrator or show boat direct from Westerly

He cruised the CI and a good bit of the adjacent French coast before moving on up to a Berwick.

 

[corp0193]

Thanks for your replies

 

[Seajet]

That's interesting.
I am pretty sure the person i used to crew for owned P1 before I new him.
I think he bought it as an ex-demonstrator or show boat direct from Westerly

He cruised the CI and a good bit of the adjacent French coast before moving on up to a Berwick.

I am not sure if the owner of No.1 I knew was the first, but Dennis didn't venture across the Channel in that boat as far as I know; he was a gifted designer & engineer on aircraft, and was involved in the Mach 2 Fairey Delta 2 'Faster Than The Sun' speed project, before joining Hawker / BAe Dunsfold as Chief of Design Liaison, Harrier & Hawk.

Dennis enjoyed going along sailing the variety of performance boats his son Mark had, but to my knowledge didn't take the Pageant across the Channel, his health was sadly against it.

 

[VicS]

I am not sure if the owner of No.1 I knew was the first, but Dennis didn't venture across the Channel in that boat as far as I know; he was a gifted designer & engineer on aircraft, and was involved in the Mach 2 Fairey Delta 2 'Faster Than The Sun' speed project, before joining Hawker / BAe Dunsfold as Chief of Design Liaison, Harrier & Hawk.

Dennis enjoyed going along sailing the variety of performance boats his son Mark had, but to my knowledge didn't take the Pageant across the Channel, his health was sadly against it.

Another coincidence. I knew a Chief designer of Hawk and Harrier. Gordon Hudson.
Owned a Hurley 22 when I first knew him but traded up to something a bit larger. Moored on the Hamble and I believe before moving to Kingston his office more or less overlooked his mooring.

Sailed with us once or twice. Good teller of yarns!

 

[Seajet]

I knew Gordon slightly,

for a Kingston type he was one of the best, and I went to a lecture he gave; like Dennis Warren with Pageant 1, he originated from Fairey at Hamble then Chilbolton in Wiltshire, as did most of our best people at Dunsfold Experimental and the pilot's office in the form of Mike Oliver, ex-Gnat Senior Test Pilot & racing driver in his spare time ( Dunsfold is the place where 'Top Gear' is filmed now).

I made a bit of a fuss when Dennis & just later Chief Harrier Inspector / draughtsman & Folkboat owner Charlie Solley passed away, with barely a mention in the club newsletter as despite all their achievements they weren't in the 'in crowd' of basically no hopers in the club; I printed out an obituary for Charlie ( I spoke at his funeral ) as it seemed no-one else was going to, and pasted copies around the clubhouse, this seemed to work as I heard people had read it then harangued the newsletter editor, ' I didn't know he did all this, why wasn't it mentioned ?! '

These people won the War for us, Charlie was on the Murmansk convoys looking after Swordfish biplanes - he didn't talk much of his experiences,like most veterans ( I also worked with one of the Dam Busters, Ray Grayston, but only learned that later ) but I learned Charlie had a phobia of North Easterlies; he once loosened up and told me the wind chill on the Murmansk route was such that they had to start the Swordfish engine on the carrier's hangar lift, if it reached deck level it had no chance of starting, too cold !

I try to think of Charlie, Dennis and their like when I wonder if it may be a bit windy for a pleasure sail.

 

[Paddy_N_Murphy]

My dearly departed Granpa had a Pag of about that age called Pagina, with Bilge keels. I t was out of Lymington for many many years, and I have my fondest happiest memories of Family holidays in her across to Gt Yarmouth, up creeks and Bembridge etc.

I don't know what I can offer in knowledge, but I do wonder how the bloody hell we managed to go away as a family of four and a Labrador for 10 days at a time in crappy UK summer holidays !!
In perspective I have to have 42ft+ for the wife and I in Med conditions to ensure a 'comfortable' week !!


(I am dying to know if Pagina is still afloat !!)

 

[ianat182]

Re transportation of the Pageant. My friends who recently purchased their Pageant had it transported from Salcombe on HiVac lorry to Lymington at very reasonable rates,and they also arranged for the lift and mast lowering at the Salcombe end.
You don't mention where the yacht is located but that transportation was in the low £100's for them and was a return load for the lorrydriver.
As mentioned above the bilge keels are a necessary check,many will have had reinforcement added,but if the boat concerned is afloat at all times they are not likely to be strained as if on a drying mooring. Check the engine of course,many now have Beta 10hp as replacements, that are reliable. If the boat is in Southern England there are several surveyors you could contact from this forum, Chrissie did the one above for instance.
Ballpark prices are from £6.5 to 8K with new engines and good sails etc.

They are an ideal first boat and often kept much longer than anticipated by the owners as they are roomy and easily sailed shorthanded,plus shallow draft. On the bonus side too, lots of owners and membership of the Westerly Owners Association is useful too.

ianat182

 

[elton]

Great little boat. I got one after I lost my Centaur.

Check the electrics for bodged, clueless, DIY 'improvements'. Check the windows for leaks with a hosepipe if possible. Pull the dipstick and look at the state of the oil and presence of water ingress (emulsiphication). Check the exhaust smoke for signs of excessive engine wear. Check how easy it is to start from cold, which means feeling the engine before starting. Engage forward, then idle, then reverse; listen for clunks and graunches and other funny noises. Check around the mast foot for cracks in the GRP. Check that all the sea cocks open and close - heads (in & out), galley sink, coolant. If possible, check the masthhead lights. Check the batteries. Check the tiller for rot and cracks, and see that it turns easily and fully. + what everybody else said.

 

[Simonpk]

My dearly departed Granpa had a Pag of about that age called Pagina, with Bilge keels. I t was out of Lymington for many many years, and I have my fondest happiest memories of Family holidays in her across to Gt Yarmouth, up creeks and Bembridge etc.

I don't know what I can offer in knowledge, but I do wonder how the bloody hell we managed to go away as a family of four and a Labrador for 10 days at a time in crappy UK summer holidays !!
In perspective I have to have 42ft+ for the wife and I in Med conditions to ensure a 'comfortable' week !!


(I am dying to know if Pagina is still afloat !!)

Is this her? http://uk.yachtworld.com/boats/1971/Westerly-Pageant-2357035/United-Kingdom

 

[Paddy_N_Murphy]

Is this her? http://uk.yachtworld.com/boats/1971/Westerly-Pageant-2357035/United-Kingdom

THANKS !

Do you know her ? Circumstances ?
Like I say the old boy sailed her more or less up to the end of his life single handled for the most. The wonderful story I remember is when heading up to his swinging mooring opposite the Royal Lym and when to crank up the Volvo Penta she would kick top life.

Ho-Hum, sailed her up the river, picked up the mooring single handed, and dropped the sails, and rowed ashore to a round of applause.
He was 80 that year !


A Few changes from when I was a boy, but largely the same !
I have the Barometer from the bulkhead in my Conservatory at home, and my Brother has the Ships clock.

My Mum will love it !

(must have a little dust in my office today )

 

[Simonpk]

Sadly no connection, just total coincidence. Just idly browsing around the web, saw the advert & the name rang a bell when I saw your post. Maybe the broker will have some good info for you.

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi
Very good boats. For any boat of that age/cost the condition of the engine is everything. It could cost almost as much as the boat to replace an old engine, say £5000. If the engine is an original, Volvo for example, forget it. If it has a nice fairly new Beta for example then go for it.

 

[mickywillis]

My Pageant

Zara is now 41 years old and still going strong.
She was re-engined with a Yanmar 1GM10 about 5 years ago and probably her greatest asset (along with in mast mainsail furling, which is fantastic for relative novices such as myself and the good lady)
Always draws admiring glances when the hull is buffed up (still extremely shiny) and the bilge keels have been reinforced and rebedded within the last 8 years, so no nasties there.
The interior has stood up really well in the last 40 years, there is no sign of osmosis anywhere and has had the headlining completely replaced.Even has the luxury of an electric toilet and a holding tank!! How many 23 footers can boast that?
We absolutely love her, the only downside is the boat can handle pretty much any weather thrown at her, its the owners who chicken out!!
If its a boat for just 2 of you, then perfect accomadation, may even be OK for 2 small adults and 2 small kids, but a 5 berth she is not (unless you are really friendly!!)
If you are near the South coast, PM me and you can come and have a sail on her.

 

[theguerns]

Hello,

Having spent far too long browsing the internet, I'm taking the plunge and going to view a Westerly Pageant 23 1974 in a few weeks time.

If anyone knows about this boat I'd appreciate any tips about things to look out for, or problems to ask about, or common problems these boats face.

Also what is the norm for getting to try sailing her when viewing a boat? And in a private sail rather than through a dealer, how does one arrange transporting a boat back to where I want to have her in the water - I think she would be too heavy to pull by a normal car?

Thanks for any advice - have been browsing on here for a while and everyone seems helpful and friendly

 

[theguerns]

hi I have sailed many of the pageants in my time and have just delivered one to a client in Vivaro in north Spain. I left Camaret in Brittany on a day with F6 and had a lovely sail and arrived in Spain 60 hrs. later she sailed well and didn’t feel like many small yachts of today's designes. The fact you can get them for a good price means that bringing them up to good order isn't to expensive. Very important get a good surveyor to look at her to give you an idea what the costs will be to get her in trim

 

[duncan99210]

hi I have sailed many of the pageants in my time and have just delivered one to a client in Vivaro in north Spain. I left Camaret in Brittany on a day with F6 and had a lovely sail and arrived in Spain 60 hrs. later she sailed well and didn’t feel like many small yachts of today's designes. The fact you can get them for a good price means that bringing them up to good order isn't to expensive. Very important get a good surveyor to look at her to give you an idea what the costs will be to get her in trim

Ho hum. This thread is over six years old, so I suspect that the OP has sorted his problems by now....

 

[Seajet]

The Pageant is still a very good capable cruiser, and a real bargain in today's market.

Do watch out for the engines though, my colleague Dennis Warren's Pageant number 1 ' L Gee ' named after designer Laurent Giles was on her FOURTH BMW engine the last I heard, these alloy jobs suffered serious corrosion.

I think most of them had Volvo engines, not great as they were raw water cooled but better lasting than the BMW's.