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New Westsail 32 owner!

  • April 13, 2014 12:15 PM
    Quote
    Message # 1536984
    Deleted user
    Hey guys,

    My wife and I are both new to sailing and new owners of a Westsail 32.  The boat - or should we call it a yacht, not sure?  has been sitting for over 12 months in a lagoon.  I know this is a broad question but where should we start.  our thoughts are
    • Hull scrub
    • service the motor - a yamnar 39hp
    • scrub teak deck & possibly re caulk TBC
    • in fact just scrub everything 
    • clean out and sterilise water tanks
    • check all rigging - no idea how to do this!!
    • polish hull
    Then we will look at getting into the internal refit, etc  are there anything we should check out right off the batt.  know problems or problem areas etc?

    we are going into this completely blind so any help advise would be amazing - thanks in advance and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

    Cheers

    Jay
  • April 13, 2014 3:38 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1537030 on 1536984
    Anonymous

    Jay,

    You've asked a huge question with an answer probably too lengthy for this forum.  It's not surprising that your first inclination is to clean the vessel, but quite honestly, I think your second response should be to make peace with the fact that you're not going sailing anytime soon.

    These vessels are robust but also old enough to potentially cause loss of life if not in good order.  I would start with two initiatives.  Firstly begin reading all you can about these vessels.  This site and Bud Taplin's Westsail Parts Company are good places to start.  Additionally, buy yourself a few good books on cruising boat electrical and mechanical systems.

    Secondly, I would divide the vessel up into the various systems that your safety relies on and do a thorough survey of each one.  As an example, this would include (but not be limited to) plumbing system, sanitary system, electrical, ground tackle, standing rigging, running rigging, navigation / communication systems, propulsion systems and on and on.  You will almost certainly discover items need immediate attention and others that can wait as 2nd priority.

    If these are systems you either don't or can't understand...then get help!  Don't assume anything.  Your new love may look like a boat, but it has the potential, if not in good order, to really spoil your life!

    Good luck, don't hesitate to spend money on what's needed and consider naming your new boat Perserverance.

     
  • April 13, 2014 5:39 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1537080 on 1536984
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Jay: 

    Welcome to the WOA web site and forums ... and congrats on the new to you Westsail !!

    Paul has laid out many ideas for you to think about - and I'll add a few also. 

    First if you are a regular members -- the Member's Area - becomes available that includes the Westsail FAQ area with many fixes that members have detailed with photos and written instructions. Of course the forum's remain available for you to search and ask questions etc.

    I also notice that your forum membership details don't include your location - if I knew your location there maybe other Westsailors in your area.

    Bud Taplin's Westsail Parts Co offers the Westsail owners manual, email/forum/phone support and he has great prices on replacement parts for your Westsail.  If you know the vessel hull number he may have a history of your boat.

    So what to do - and in what order?   (This sounds like a great subject for our site - I'm hoping many other members will chime in and later I'll consolidate.)

    Make sure she doesn't sink!  Are you sure the thru hulls are closed - just because they look closed doesn't mean the valve is closed.  Make sure that all your thru hulls/sea cocks and open to the sea fittings are NOT BRASS - you want bronze and/or a material like marelon.  

    Then start in the engine room and work your way out and up.  Do you have the maintenance records for your vessel?  hours on the engine / type of engine - age of the standing rigging?

    I also recommend you take a lot of pictures of your vessel for your records - and post them on line a public site where we can view the pics:)  I use googles Picasa here is my site and also the WOA has a Picasa albums with a link at the bottom home page.

    This is a small start ...

    Do stay in touch

    Jay Bietz

    WOA Webmaster

      

    Last modified: April 14, 2014 5:14 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • April 13, 2014 8:13 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1537137 on 1536984
    Anonymous
    Jay

    All of the previous comments are great advice. We recently purchased our W32 and we were highly intimidated. We started with the basics; Thru hulls, bilge, and electrical. We spent many weeks just going over every inch of her. One to make sure she was sound and secondly to make sure we knew where things were and how they worked. Take your time once you are certain she is sound. 

    We found the knowledge from this website to be incredibly helpful as well as the Westsail FB page. Members here and on Face Book are always willing to help out with any questions.

    Good luck and enjoy your new boat!
  • April 13, 2014 10:49 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1537188 on 1536984
    Deleted user
    Thanks guys for all the info, we will defiantly take it all on board.  We will more than likely start a blog detailing our restoration of our WS 32.

    We will post some pics soon, and order a copy of the maintenance manual as top of our list.

    Cheers
  • April 14, 2014 2:21 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1537223 on 1536984
    Deleted user
    Welcome Jay !


    This was the original condition of Rhapsody when I got her in 1996. I started with the free stuff. Cleaning, scrubbing and getting rid of years of accumulated stuff.

    Have fun.
    Last modified: April 14, 2014 2:28 AM | Deleted user
  • April 15, 2014 7:24 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1538047 on 1537080
    Deleted user
    Jay Bietz wrote:

    Jay: 

    Welcome to the WOA web site and forums ... and congrats on the new to you Westsail !!

    Paul has laid out many ideas for you to think about - and I'll add a few also. 

    First if you are a regular members -- the Member's Area - becomes available that includes the Westsail FAQ area with many fixes that members have detailed with photos and written instructions. Of course the forum's remain available for you to search and ask questions etc.

    I also notice that your forum membership details don't include your location - if I knew your location there maybe other Westsailors in your area.

    Bud Taplin's Westsail Parts Co offers the Westsail owners manual, email/forum/phone support and he has great prices on replacement parts for your Westsail.  If you know the vessel hull number he may have a history of your boat.

    So what to do - and in what order?   (This sounds like a great subject for our site - I'm hoping many other members will chime in and later I'll consolidate.)

    Make sure she doesn't sink!  Are you sure the thru hulls are closed - just because they look closed doesn't mean the valve is closed.  Make sure that all your thru hulls/sea cocks and open to the sea fittings are NOT BRASS - you want bronze and/or a material like marelon.  

    Then start in the engine room and work your way out and up.  Do you have the maintenance records for your vessel?  hours on the engine / type of engine - age of the standing rigging?

    I also recommend you take a lot of pictures of your vessel for your records - and post them on line a public site where we can view the pics:)  I use googles Picasa here is my site and also the WOA has a Picasa albums with a link at the bottom home page.

    This is a small start ...

    Do stay in touch

    Jay Bietz

    WOA Webmaster

      

    Thanks so much for the Info!  We don't really have much info on the boat at all - we know it we re-powered with a new yanmar motor in 2010 and thats about it really! so we really are going in blind.  Buds service manual is a definite purchase.  

    Re: Thru hulls - no idea what these are or where to find them, but it seems like a VERY important thing to learn!!!  Is the a list of basic check before you set out in the open sea.  e.g. the thru hulls are closed etc?

    Like we said start with the free stuff, and work from there - one of our first things will also be adding netting around the safety rails as we have 20 month old very active twins and we want them to be involved on the boat, but also safe.  Any recommendations of where to buy netting?

    Feel privileged that there is such a passionate following of these boats.

    Thanks again, and we will try to upload some pics tonight.
  • April 15, 2014 12:55 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1538369 on 1536984
    Deleted user
    A few pics for those interested 

    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/8.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/6.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/1.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/5.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/2.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/9.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/4.jpg
    http://www.westsail.org/resources/MemberAlbums/12957905/Sandshoe/3.jpg


    Interesting to note the unusual "dog house"

    Thoughts and comments welcomed!
    Last modified: April 15, 2014 1:15 PM | Deleted user