Westerly Seahawk

[Risa]

I looking to buy a Westerly Seahawk. It is a 1988 bilge keel model with a Volvo 28hp can anyone give me advise on the good and especially the bad points I need to look for. Is there a history of keel problems?? engine problems?? etc

Many thanks
Risa

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Keep about £5K aside to replace the VOLVO,

 

[dickh]

TRy the Westerly website - don't know the address but you should be able to find it easily from a search engine.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[vyv_cox]

Larger bilge-keeled Westerlys that dry on every tide have a chequered history of keel problems. I know of two, a Discus and another(?) on which one keel failed completely, sinking the boats. However, it must be said that there are many around that have not failed. Personally, I would not buy one that had lived on a drying mooring. GRP is very difficult to inspect thoroughly and even the best possible survey may not find a potential problem.

 

[burgundyben]

I used to work for Westerley Sea School in the late 80's/early 90's, we had a seahawk bilge Keeler, it was a horrid boat, sailing performance was terrible and some how it was more troublesome than the others we had at the time despite being built the same way and using the same kit. The volvo engine will be 2003, the turbo option would be much better as about 40 plus hp makes a big difference over the non turbo.

I also delivered one from the Westerly yard at Gosport to St Malo, we motored all the way due to lack of wind and it was a horrible wallowing pig.

Nothing specific I can put my finger on but I could not reccommend one to my worst enemy (if I had one), there are much better Westerlies of that vintage.

I am gonna spend it on wine, women and song, and blow the rest.........