Anonymous wrote:

I already posted this question on the 42/43 area, but thought I'd ask again here.

I've run across a Westsail 43 that's claimed to be 1985. When I asked the seller about the year, as when I look at Wikipedia it would lead me to believe Westsail, as a company, went out of business in 1981.

He said that somebody in Costa Mesa California had bought the molds and laid up some more boats. Is this the case?

If so, would the Costa Mesa hulls be considered to be the equal or better than actual Westsail hulls? Seems like the hulls will only be as good as the company that built them.

Thanks for any info you can give me. Hate to buy a boat and then find out all sorts of reasons I shouldn't have done that.

DZ

Don: 

Please review the link below - there are a lot of details about the production of "Westsail" vessels pre and post bankruptcy.  https://www.westsail.org/westsailcorporation

A vessel survey by a qualified person should give you a reasonable idea of the current condition of the vessel. Usually the survey includes an out of the water inspection of the hull. Beyond the condition of the hull there is the standing/running rigging, sails, engine/transmission/prop, plumbing, electrical et al to consider. 

IMHO until you own a used boat for a while it is impossible to know everything that needs fixing no matter who built it or when a boat was built. Even new boats have things that need fixing. 

Also there are many channels on YouTube about fixing up old boats that may be of assistance. 

If you post the links to the vessel under consideration - we could comment on what is seen. 

HTH

Jay Bietz