01-26-2012
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4
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Let’s try this one more time. Maybe we can have an intelligent discussion that will help someone to make a decision, even if the decision is that a Westsail is not for them. I’m the first to admit a Westsail isn’t for everyone, as most people reading this will never go cruising. I for one think that that for causal sailing most would be better off with a modern fin keel boat. But if you really want a bullet proof voyaging boat in that size and price range, you couldn't be better served then by a Westsail.
You can’t blame Westsailors for becoming indignant when the same falsehoods are regurgitated year after year, that they know from experience to be untrue. Here’s an example of how that misinformation can be so misleading. Nineteen years ago we were about to purchase a new Crealock 37, a recession hit, so we decided to go to the used boat market. At the same time the “Wetsnail” controversy arose in Latitude 38. We quickly decided that this would not be the boat for us. Fortunately we became friends with an older cruiser who had owned several boats and now had a Westsail. He convinced us to take another hard look at them. We’re glad we did. Had we listened to all the negative hype, we would have missed out on a great cruising boat. The real danger of this type of hyperbole is persuading someone not to even consider a boat that might be right for them, based on ignorance, not real world experience. To put it another way, you can’t make good decisions with bad information.
That said, here are a few Pros.
Affordability – For a true voyaging boat I believe them to be the best value on the market for their size and type. They’re a lot of boat for the dollar, one you can confidently take anywhere in world.
Sail ability – No doubt about it waterline rules and there’s no way around it. But they do sail quite well and are great at passage making. They’re awesome in heavy weather, but they really do sail best in 10/15 Knts. Forget the ratings game that doesn’t apply to cruising. The Sea of Cortez is notorious for light air. We did as good as any and better than most. Check the other post on this site “1000 miles to windward”. It’s not uncommon for a delivery captain to take 10 days for the average 35/40 footer to get to Ensenada. He got to San Diego in 12 and that’ a tough trip to weather.
Carrying Capacity – Tons of storage, the ability to carry a large load. The Crealock 37 which I still consider one of finest cruising boats there are, has a longer waterline but is still 4,000# lighter. A lot of 35/40 cruising boats have less carrying capacity than a Westsail. But this is still closer to a real world comparison than a Malo, especially when considering cost. We were next to a Malo in La Cruz, Mexico and they are awesome. Sailors that have come aboard remark that we have more storage and many times they had a larger boat.
Hull strength – 1” thick and bullet proof
Full keel – Some would consider this a liability and it is for around the buoy racing. But when surfing down a 30’+ wave, a boat that tracks like a train is a godsend. We know this firsthand.
Rudder – No rudder post or chain two worry about. A direct cause of several lost boats in the Pacific recently. The tiller is tied off with no binnacle in the way.
Engine access – Is really quite good on most boats. For routine maintenance access is through a door in the cabin, for repairs and extensive service the cockpit floor easily comes out for access to everything,
To be “fair and balanced” here are some cons, even though the critics have covered them well.
Cockpit – Even we call it the second most uncomfortable cockpit in a boat. But really not that bad with some thought.
Teak – There is a lot of teak to care for. Not much of a problem until it gets away from you and then it’ a bitch, which is why our boat is methodically maintained. Keep in mind some fine yachts still have a lot of teak such as Cabo Rico, Island Packet, Crealock and others.
Bomkin stays/tangs - Most boats have already gone to larger tangs but you still need to keep an eye on the stays especially if the exhaust drains on them. Some boats just remove the bomkin completely and run double stays to the hull.
No Westsailors I know believes they have the best boat, except for them, or the fastest. But we do know how wrong the critics are, especially without firsthand experience. Speaking of experience, I see thirty years here, thirty years there posted about experience. There’s no doubt there is a vast amount of knowledge and experience here. I also have a few “boat years “, but only considered myself an expert in a couple areas. When you talk about experience, Oregonian’s is hard to match. He has a lifetime working on boats, cruised the South Pacific several times on his Westsail, delivered 140 boats logging @160,000 nautical miles. That many ocean miles on that many boats, gives someone a perspective and real world experience that very few of us will ever attain.
I do know a Mariah 31, a burgundy trimmed beauty that’s an eye catcher. But I would still pick a Westsail owing to more carrying capacity and passage making ability. We don’t feel qualified to bash other boats even with a few “boat years”. Just the opposite, I can’t remember a cruising boat that we’ve been on that there wasn’t something we thought was “ way cool”. There’re very few boats under 35’ that will do as well as a Westsail in the real world of cruising, especially when considering carrying capacity, passage making and comfort. These opinions do not come from armchair pontificating, but from putting thousands of miles under our keel.
We are now preparing for our next voyage, Pacific Central America.
Jim
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