Westerly Owners Association

Dont forget that the 'sunken' or at least 'about to sink' apparent weight in water is NOT the same as its 'deadweight'...it is actually less. In the sinking state, without bouyancy, as far as the water is concerned the boat is now simply a dense solid mass of GRP material (ignoring the engine for no...

I've always understood the grill should NEVER be fitted as a scoop. While sailing you may back-pressurise the cooling system and force seawater past the impeller (particularly if its old or worn) and into the system when the engine is not running. Without exhaust pressure at the manifold seawater ca...

Unless your engine is very much bigger than normal you should not have any problems. Most engine boxes breathe in cold air from the bilge area and there should be ample flow below floorboard level from your bilges into the engine box. Surveyors used to advise limiting any upper apertures to the box ...

I overhauled the wheel brake on my OR last year using the kit from Edson. Not too difficult a job, but you may need to dismantle first to find out what else you may need to order. You need to keep the braking parts free of any lubricants or other contaminants, especially when oiling/greasing the cha...

If it helps, I traded up from 5 yrs with a Storm to an Oceanranger (now 6 yrs). I've just done a double transatlantic (incl NW Europe, Canaries, WIs, Azores, ~10,000 miles) in her and have nothing but praise for her performance. Also did an Azores and back race in her. In reasonable conditions we ca...

Apologies for the delay. Only just seen your posting. Last year I fitted a new Beta 38 to my Oceanranger. Same engine room as yours. Did the majority of work myself, but got the feet done by the local Beta agent/fitter (TS Marine). For warranty purposes, I also got them to crane the engine into the ...

Don't understand your question Nigel. A transformer is an Alternating Current (AC) device and transforms (up or down) an AC voltage. A battery supplies only direct current (DC) at a set voltage and can not on its own operate a transformer. That small black box on a lead that comes with many devices ...

I have this on my Oceanranger which has a similar rig. The inner forestay is a few inches below the main forestay at the masthead. When in use it is attached via an adjustable tensioning device which has quickrelease shackles to a large U-bolt on deck. The U-bolt is just over the anchor locker bulkh...

Have you tried Trafalgar Yachts in Fareham? They hold many spare Westerly rudders and the plans for most of them.

Performance Polar Diagrams are really only of value for One Design boats kept in class. For (older) cruising boats there are too many variables for them to be of value. A boat with a furling main and genoa will sail totally differently to one with a performance racing main and genoa. Boats with a fu...

14" sounds a little too small. I've got the original V2003 engine and a big beefy 17.5" 3 blade prop. This was a replacement for her original 2 blader which I've still got. If you'd like me to measure the original OR prop (which is in my loft somewhere) let me know.

The Oceanranger is totally adequate for whatever long distance cruising you need. Many including mine, have been back and forth across the pond. They were designed with ocean ranging in mind, rather than marina hopping and river boating. Several have done RTW trips, and one has done a complete circu...

What do you guys do with your engines? I've had volvo engines for many (35+) years and covered many 1000's of miles without blowing them up! Get to know and understand your engine, keep the revs low, and service regularly is the answer with any engine. If you ignore these basics, you will find you h...

I've got an Oceanranger with a V2003 engine (29HP) and I've got by OK for many years, including round Britain & Azores and back. It's true it's a little underpowered when punching into a head sea, but my engine has survived 20 years without any major problems (touch wood). On the other hand, I k...

I have an Oceanranger, probably with similar anchor arrangements. I have 2 anchor lockers...the original one fwd and a 2nd one fitted under the port bunk (under the pillow/bulkhead end, full depth but only occupying the first 2ft of length of the bunk). The hawse pipe is on the port deck and a drain...