Westsail 42s

  • January 24, 2019 3:19 PM
    Message # 7127942
    Deleted user

      Can anyone help me with the interior headroom of a westsail 42 and 43. I would love to look into purchasing a westsail 42 very soon but I'm concerned about my 6'3" height. It will be a cruising live aboad for me. I'm in a leg cast and will not be able to look for myself for about 6 weeks. I do not want to set my Hope's on a westsail only to be disappointed by say a 6' salon height. As others have mentioned across the web, boats need to have accurate headroom displayed on listings. It would just make thing so much easier for us tall guys.

      George

  • January 24, 2019 3:42 PM
    Reply # 7127993 on 7127942
    Deleted user

    I may of found an answer, help in knowing the accuracy would be great. Outside of that this newbie says: nice platform for asking and sharing information.

    1 file
  • January 25, 2019 9:23 PM
    Reply # 7130118 on 7127942

    Hi George,

    Saw your post and I took some measurements while working on our W42 today. I am doing a pretty much complete re fit. :

    Engine, shaft, propeller, all tangs, chain plates, standing and running rigging, mast, travelers, rudder, pedestal, bowsprit, port holes, adding numerous extra ports, interior cabin sides, cut out deck on foredeck / reinforce and install large hatch, electrical , complete fuel and water tank removal and removal of all stringers and bulkheads in that area, redesign layout to accommodate tanks that can go through companionway and glass in new stringers and bulkheads.  In redesigning ours, I cut the furniture in areas that will allow the tanks to be removed w/o totally taking out all the furniture, hopefully the furniture and deck sole will be able to be installed and removable for possible future replacement / serviceability ( not in my life time ) . On and on :)


    Here are the Measurements:

    Height at companionway - 6' 3 1/2 "

    Height at step-down leading to main salon  / small area before cabin top steps down- 6' 9".

    Height in salon area after cabin steps down - 6'.

    Height  in passageway leading to aft cabin  -  5'. 

    Height in aft cabin / stateroom - 5' 11" 

    Height in engine room - 4' 10".


    Oh, whatever vessel you look at, take a very close look at fuel and water tanks. If they have not been replaced, they will probably will have to be replaces in the near future. This is a huge project. On our W42, the main tanks were sitting on the bottom of the upper bilge which is NOT a good way to go !! There were 1 1/2 " hole in them when removed and inspected.

    Hope this helps. Of course heights may / will differ with each individual vessel's layout.

    If I can help in any way, let me know. 

    Best regards,


    George

    S/V Cadence W42

  • January 26, 2019 11:51 AM
    Reply # 7130826 on 7127942
    Deleted user

      I can't  thank you enough for taking the time to help me with some great information. I truly had my heart set on a Westsail and I must admit I'm a little disappointed  with most sailboats when it comes to headroom. It seems like when I can find the needed headroom I'm no longer looking at a quality blue water boat. A Morgan 41or 43 classic is well within my budget with my needed head room but appears to the draft or bulkheads needed for major blue water sailing. 

      George I'm grateful for people like yourself who take the time to help guys like myself needing some first hand experience with a particular boat. I have not yet counted out a westsail 42 and hear you very clear on the tanks. All though I work as an industrial electrical contractor all my life I would hesitate before taking on such a large refit as you have. Sounds like you have a total labor of love going on with your boat, I have total respect and admiration for that. My self on the other hand I'm looking for a boat pretty well ready to go blue water, with a recent refit. I know I will have to pay for that, nothing is free. I have not sailed much in years and recently divorced I thought it was time for me to sail before sunset. So I will spend one or two years here on the west coast before expanding my travels with my growing experience. 

  • January 26, 2019 8:54 PM
    Reply # 7131289 on 7127942

    Yes, the best is to find a boat with a recent refit and one will have to pay for it as we talked about.

    Looking back, I wish that I had done that. But on the positive side, I will know this boat inside and out, and know what is in there and condition :) The former owner was not upfront about the condition of the boat and issues that I had asked him about and the surveyor was not of any added value.  The boat yard gave me an estimate of 85K to replace the tanks which was totally ludicrous !!!! They wanted to cut off the cabin top, take out the furniture, tank and replace the tanks and re glass the cabin top. !! They did not want to listen that there where other options like cutting up the tanks, taking them up through the companionway and bringing new smaller ones down the same way. That was years ago. And today the yard rates have gotten really high....

    I thought that I could have done a project each year as time went on while sailing the boat. But, as I worked on the boat, one issue lead into another and so on.  And with other obligations, here I am. Luckily I am capable of doing most of the work on the boat and am still in good health.  And of course, always learning.

    As we talked about on any boat, take a good look at the fuel and water tanks, and preferably make sure that they have inspection ports for each baffled section for inspection and cleaning. And that they have adequate ventilation around them to help prevent corrosion, etc.  On a prospective boat see if the owner / seller would be open to having the tanks pressure tested. 

    Also, I recommend looking at the prospective boat several times, seeing something new each time. On the first visit, one can get excited and miss certain details good or bad.  

    Westsail sailboats are stout seaworthy boats as are many others.

    Good luck in your search and endeavors . 

    Best Regards,

    George


  • September 18, 2019 6:00 PM
    Reply # 7888348 on 7127942
    Deleted user

    This is a very late reply. My  vessel was built with a dropped floor. I have two sons 6'5" and 6'4" who stand with no difficulty in most of the vessel. I scanned the other replies and the advice seems spot on. The only thing I would  about a 42 is my 300 pound 6'2" frame has difficulty maneuvering into the aft cabin. If you have any specific questions I'll be glad to answer them. I suspect that your cast is gone and you've made a decision by now.

    JTN

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