westsail 32

rtwfamily · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

If you have any knowledge of the westsail hulls/boats please give me all the information you have. I am looking at one that was bought as just a bare hull and the owner built it out to his specs. After talking with him extensively he seems to know what he was doing. He built it out in '85 and has sailed it many years. He is getting to old now and wants to give/sell to somebody who will love it as he and his wife have. I saw some good things listed about the westsail 32 on the bluewater cruisers section. Any advice?

Cruisingdreamspress · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

If I were to do another solo circumnavigation and decided to do so in a 32 foot boat or smaller I would choose a Westsail. I have sailed on one many times including a voyage around Cape Scott on the top of Vancouver Island and down the coast to Tofino. This can be and was a knarly piece of ocean and I was glad to be on a strong, blue water sea boat like the Westsail. Her virtues include: tremendous storage, full keel, tiller steering, cutter rigged and a kindly motion in a seaway. She heaves-to well and is forgiving to mistakes made by the crew. Off the wind she sails like a witch. Because of her wide beam carried forward she sails well dead down too. That wide beam, however, hampers her pointing ability as compared to a racing boat and trying to sail closer to the eye of the wind than 45 degrees is pinching. There is one other limitation not often mentioned with this vessel and that is the prop. It is not far below the water line. If a skipper is trying to motor directly into a chop or head sea, the wide beam carried forward will slow his progress. Hobby horsing will then cause the prop to spin in the air. Best to fall off at times like these and tack to windward. The engine can still be used if time is a factor to get some where but by tacking at say 35 to 40 degrees to the wind the prop remains in the water where it belongs.

rtwfamily · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

Wow, thanks for the wealth of knowledge that you have provided me. What does "sails like a witch" mean? Is that a good thing or a bad?

djodenda · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtwfamily

Wow, thanks for the wealth of knowledge that you have provided me. What does "sails like a witch" mean? Is that a good thing or a bad?

Glad you asked.... I'm curious

too

rtwfamily · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

If there is somebody else that can share some insight on a owner built westsail 32 please jump in and give me your opinions.

Delirious · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtwfamily

If there is somebody else that can share some insight on a owner built westsail 32 please jump in and give me your opinions.

Which owner? Seems to me there can be no generalities for the ones completed in marinas, barns, or backyards. Some are gems, some are junk. There are a lot of folks in the world who can turn $50,000 worth of parts into a $30,000 sailboat while a few who can produce a $100,000 result from the same.

Get it surveyed.

chris_gee · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

There is a Westsail owners' site which will provide all you need. Try Google.

Delirious · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

A review on the Westsail 32 by Jack Horner for BoatUS

BoatUS.com: Boat Reviews by Jack Hornor, N.A. - Westsail 32

Production information & original drawings

WESTSAIL - WORLD CRUISER YACHT CO.

The "official" Westsail 32 organization

Westsail Owners Association: Yacht Family Pictures

rtwfamily · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

Thank you for the links
I have found them useful

rtwfamily · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

I have intentions of crossing oceans with my wife and two very young kids and want them to be as safe as possible and I don't care how long it takes to get there.