BoatsWestsail 32

Westsail 32

Cutter · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · 1971–1981

A heavy-displacement fiberglass adaptation of William Atkin's Thistle design, built for offshore cruising

Designed by William Crealock, W. Atkin & Colin Archer.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder

See her sail

The Westsail 32, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Into Oblivion

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43
CoastalBluewater

At 1.64 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.64
LightHeavy

419 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 419
EasygoingPowered-up

15.6 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.6
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~88% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~75% of boats her size on file

Compared with 428 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Westsail 32, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Westsail 32 is a 9.8-meter cutter-rigged sailboat designed by William Crealock, W. Atkin, and Colin Archer, built by Westsail Corp. from 1971 to 1981. It features a long keel with a transom-hung rudder and displaces 8845 kg. The design is a fiberglass adaptation of William Atkin's THISTLE, with 834 hulls built, including 31 Kendall 32s and approximately 400 sold as kits or bare hulls. The Westsail 32 is known for its bluewater capabilities; solo sailor Josh Wright crossed the Pacific from California to Hawaii and then delivered a boat from Hawaii to Japan.55:44 Aboard *Into Oblivion*, the owner successfully launched after 20 months on the hard, restarting the engine and refrigerator.16:53 Jerome Rand, aboard the Westsail 32 *Sparrow*, managed AIS contacts and squalls during a passage toward the Providence Channel, noting the importance of propane conservation.0:29 Rand later experienced a knockdown in the North Atlantic aboard *Mighty Sparrow*, where wind-against-current conditions caused a violent roll, tearing loose an external structure and necessitating repairs to the GPS antenna and solar panels.45:14

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

Little WingA Westsail 32 named Little Wing demonstrates offshore sailing performance, sail trim techniques, and equipment management while navigating coastal and open water passages.Sailing Into OblivionJerome Rand shares technical expertise, maintenance insights, and offshore passage planning for Westsail 32 owners while coaching sailors for solo long-distance voyaging.Sailing On SV Glorious - Westsail 32 #42The owner of the Westsail 32 cutter SV Glorious documents the vessel's ongoing legacy and occasional sailing excursions along the Pacific coast.

Seen 88 times across 5 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Westsail 32 on video

Hauling Your Boat Out Made Easy, EP#450Jerome Rand's Rockport boatyard tips cut haul-out anxiety with one key move: photograph your boat in the slings.Sailing Into OblivionSailing Into Oblivion Podcast EP#449 Adventures with Mazi and Teddy @WashupssailingA couple shares their experience retrofitting a sailboat and transitioning from Florida marina life to coastal cruising.Sailing Into OblivionMatt Rurtherford Returns to the Show, EP#429 with Atlantic Waves background LoopMatt Rutherford details his solo nonstop Arctic circumnavigation attempt, departing Lunenburg in July.Sailing Into Oblivion@Sailing With Phoenix | Oliver returns to the show!Jerome Rand and Oliver discuss refit logistics, Cape Horn timing, and sea trial strategies for a circumnavigation.Sailing Into OblivionReality of a Refit with Colin Denker, EP#418Colin Denker's Westsail 32 refit in Beaufort, South Carolina tests motivation, procrastination, and liveaboard endurance.Sailing Into OblivionExercise, Sailing to Charlston, and what's next, EP#417A delivery passage from Fort Pierce to Charleston highlights the risks of overconfidence after easy sailing conditions.Sailing Into OblivionThe Engine Lives! EP#405A worn Perkins 4108 lift-pump lever caused two months of fuel-starvation problems aboard Into Oblivion.Sailing Into OblivionLiving Life and Facing Fear with Shane Pollard, EP#406Jerome Rand and Shane Pollard discuss managing fear and anxiety during solo offshore sailing and adventure writing.Sailing Into OblivionChartering a Yacht with Ian Pedersen, EP#407The Moorings operates 200-plus boats in the BVI across a tiered bareboat qualification system.Sailing Into OblivionSolo Show Updates, EP#408Jerome Rand discusses boat market trends, upcoming speaking engagements, and plans to move his Westsail 32 north.Sailing Into OblivionSelf-Steering Systems, EP#409An Aries wind vane paired with a tiller pilot powers a Westsail 32 through offshore passages on minimal solar.Sailing Into OblivionFireside Podcast from JeromesTown EP#410A solo sailor discusses using the moon and stars for night navigation and managing travel delays.Sailing Into Oblivion

Also on YouTube

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Westsail 32 may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

2seen for sale
1seen sold
2channels weighed buying one
US$150,000Median asking

For sale

  • A specific 1979 Westsail 32, Hull 802, named Montana, is being reviewed and is currently offered for sale at $150,000 after a significant refit

    from Lady K Sailingseen October 20257:26

  • Friend of the show Colin Denker is selling his Westsail 32 due to relocation, it has significant upgrades but also requires some projects

    from Sailing Into Oblivionseen October 2026watch

Sold

  • Marc and Steph sold their Westsail 32 after listing it for under six months on Yacht World; the sale was influenced by Jeromes videos and thorough documentation

    from Sailing Into Oblivionseen March 20266:28

Weighed buying

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.6
Displacement / length
418.6
Comfort ratio
42.9
Capsize screening
1.64
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1081
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1971–1981
Units built
834
Designer
William Crealock, W. Atkin, Colin Archer
Builder
Westsail Corp

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Downeaster 329.75 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement Bob Poole cutter with a long keel, designed for stable, comfortable offshore cruising
NEW 2026 BOAT AUCTION - END OF SUMMER6:03from Sailing Solé
Hans Christian 339.98 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Harwood Ives for comfortable, steady offshore passage-making
Hans Christian 33: The Tiny Bluewater Legend Nobody Sellsfrom Practical Sailor
Nauticat 3310.11 mSame hull family0.4 m longerSiltala's inaugural production model, this long-keeled ketch offers a stable, high-comfort platform for extended cruising
Our camper is for sale | Renovated 1993 Toyota Itasca Spiritfrom cruisincasa
Cape Dory 3310.07 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1980s production masthead sloop with a 41% ballast ratio, occasionally factory-fitted with a Volvo diesel
EP#248 Cruising the Bahamas with @SailinWithTrout30:03from Sailing Into Oblivion
Allied Yachts Luders 3310.06 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bill Luders-designed masthead sloop featuring a long keel and heavy displacement for stable, classic offshore cruising
33 Foot Sailboat for Less Than $10,000!0:55from Lady K Sailing
Rustler 319.58 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a long keel, evolved from the North Sea 24 and sharing lineage with the Twister 31
Air Tools: The Secret to a Perfect Finish | Practical Boat Owner0:07from practicalboatowner

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Westsail 42A William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stabilityWestsail 28A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, refined through production updates to improve sail area and handlingWestsail 43An aft-cockpit cruiser featuring a long keel and versatile rig options, including cutter, ketch, and yawl configurationsWestsail 39A Robert Perry-designed cutter with a production history spanning three different names and international builds.Westerly 33A center-cockpit masthead sloop offered with fin or bilge keels, designed for stable cruising and long-range comfort

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Westsail 32, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Westsail 32

The newsletter

New boats, new stories. Every week, everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analysed. No noise.

Report an issue