Hello everybody,

I am a new member on the forum and looking to acquire a WS in the next few years. I have started to read as much as I can about WS boats, their pluses and their minuses, as I am trying to make myself a head on the topic.

To be honest, I am already in love with them.That being said, I certainly understand that the final decision will probably be more influenced by the nature of the given occasion than by any other concerns, but I would pretty much appreciate to get as much information as I can to properly evaluate the difference between the two vessels and choose the one best fitted for my needs. I am thus turning to current or past owners to learn more from their own experiences. I am now especially looking upon WS28 and WS32, but in the final both of them might not be the right choice...

Until now, I will essentially describe myself as a costal navigator. I am located in Quebec and sailed down the St. Lawrence River many times. As I now see it, my navigation plans won't change very much in the foreseeable future. I essentially sail singlehanded or in crew of 2 or 3 (max) people. If ocean-crossings and southern trip is certainly an interesting enterprise that I will love to undertake at the right moment, it won't be the principal purpose of the vessel. What I want is essentially more to push further exploration of the isolated coasts of northern North America (North Shore of Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland coasts, maybe the Arctic isles and Greenland coasts). However, these trips will certainly have their good share of long off-shore passage, rough sea condition, and isolated anchoring. This why I am looking toward a well-recognized seaworthy vessel.

Given that information, I am thus instinctively more inclined to look after the WS28 than the 32. Appart from budget considerations (that are of great importance to me), I thought the the WS28 will be more adapted to these kind of "mixed" trip, that required a good salty boat but that aren't neither a multi-years circumnavigation projet. Being aware that WS are reputed as "slow" boat (nothing that bothers me a lot), I am however thinking that the lesser displacement of the 28 will be more suited for trip that aren't 3-4 weeks straight run but that will implies at some point frequent stop at anchorage and marinas. Also, it seems to me that design "improvements" on the 28 shall not be of no importance.

However, even if they seem to me at first sight better for my needs and more affordable, they are also much rarer (one golden opportunity just slip between my fingers because I was still to ambivalent :( ...) This is why I am asking myself if paying the additional price for the WS32 might be worthy enough (or even not a bad choice). The only thing that currently seem superior for me in the WS32 is that it as more storage, a better headroom (i'm 6' 3'' tall), and may probably be better suited for that once-or-twice-in-a-life-time ocean-crossing.

So, this is why I am anxious to hear what those who have sailed these boats in similar of different conditions might think of my own judgment and attitude.

Thanks to all !

Thanks for the info Mark !

Do you (or anyone else) have comments upon navigation and sailing experience themselves ?

I would also like to have comments on teck deck. I love them (and the boat that slips between my fingers have one) but never have one myself. Many people choose to remove the wood and put Awlgrip or the equivalent instead. Should it be necessarily considered as an upgrade on an old boat or is it just the laziest option (feel how dichotomous and partial I am on this one).

Thanks again to everybody!

Have never experience leaking reak decks on out 32 because if they're correctly installed the screws do not penetrate the cabin top so there's no way for water to get in.  Cap rails are another animal altogether and for me at least they're a challenge to keep sealed.

With reefing, the way I think about it is to reduce sail fore or aft of the mast (staysail, Yankee, main) so as to keep the sail area balance fore and aft.  Then no weather or lee helm.

If you're interested in a 32 in very good condition I have a US registered boat for sale in Souris, PEI, Canada.

Haven't listed it yet Julien but you can contact me by phone on PEI (902 659 2519) or by email at ralph.weiland@ogtrt.com.  The boat is USCG registered but has had GST paid on it so it can legally stay in Canada.