Westerly
Westerly Seahawk 34
The Westerly Seahawk 34 is one of Northern Europe's most recognisable late-1980s British centre-cockpit cruisers. Designed by Ed Dubois for Westerly Marine at Hamble and built from 1984 to 1988, roughly 125 hulls left the yard — a family cruiser that replaced the Discus 33 and bridged the gap between Fulmar 32 and Corsair models. With 10.4 m LOA, 3.33 m beam, and about 5,408 kg displacement, the model suits couples and small families cruising the Baltic, Skagerrak, and North Sea. Dubois drew a fractional sloop with protected centre-cockpit helm positions and a spacious interior unusual for sub-35-foot production boats of the era. Fin-keel and twin-keel variants appear on UK and Scandinavian imports — survey focus follows Westerly sandwich-deck practice: stanchion base leaks, osmotic blistering on deck sections, and companionway drainage on centre-cockpit layouts. Listings on British portals and Nordic brokerage sites show price spreads driven by keel configuration, Volvo Penta diesel upgrades, and whether standing rigging invoices are complete. Buyers often compare against Westerly Storm 33, Moody 346, and Fulmar 32 at similar LOA. Nordic buyers should compare asking price against documented rigging, keel fairing, and chainplate bedding — cosmetic refreshes rarely replace deferred structural maintenance. Expect 70,000–180,000 kr annual baseline in Swedish marinas with realistic technical reserves. FairHelm tracks Westerly Seahawk 34 listings because these hulls trade steadily on Blocket, Scanboat, and German brokerage sites. Buyers are rarely choosing between "good" and "bad" boats — they are choosing between documented maintenance and deferred work. A polished teak cockpit or new plotter does not cancel unknown rigging age, twin-keel grounding wear, or moisture at chainplates. That is why survey discipline matters more here than brand romance. For Nordic ownership, Westerly Seahawk 34 works as a coastal weekender with occasional longer passages when equipped for cold-water sailing: reliable heating, solid ground tackle, and a realistic technical reserve beyond berth and insurance. Compare adjacent models in FairHelm's [model guides](/en/yachts/models/) and read survey notes before committing a deposit. The cheapest asking price on Blocket is rarely the cheapest boat to own over three seasons. When you shortlist a Westerly Seahawk 34, build a simple survey scorecard: sandwich-deck moisture mapping, centre-cockpit companionway drainage, twin-keel fairing and grounding history, rigging age, and chainplate integrity. Westerly Owners Association archives and yard quotes from Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Helsingør help you separate cosmetic refresh from structural deferral — especially on boats marketed as "ready to sail" without invoices.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Production
- 1980–1989
- LOA
- 10.4 m
- Beam
- 3.33 m
- Model
- Westerly Seahawk 34
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 10.4 m
- Beam
- 3.33 m
- Production years
- 1980–1989
Typical problems
- What sandwich-deck osmosis issues appear on Westerly Seahawk 34?
- Stanchion bases and deck sections blister on pre-1990 Westerly layup — moisture mapping before purchase; localized treatment runs 25,000–80,000 kr.
- What centre-cockpit drainage issues appear on Westerly Seahawk 34?
- Companionway and cockpit drain paths concentrate water into interior joinery — trace staining before accepting "dry boat" claims.
- What twin-keel fairing issues appear on Westerly Seahawk 34?
- Bilge-keel grounding wear and fairing cracks need professional survey on UK imports; movement warrants conservative pricing.
- What chainplate leak issues appear on Westerly Seahawk 34?
- Chainplate bedding failures often show as ceiling stains — rebedding runs 6,000–20,000 kr per zone at Nordic yards.
- What Volvo Penta service gaps appear on Westerly Seahawk 34?
- MD22-era installations need complete cooling and exhaust records; neglected service costs 8,000–25,000 kr before first season.
Design History
Westerly Marine introduced the Seahawk 34 in 1984 as Ed Dubois modernised the yard's cruising range after the Laurent Giles era. The model used a shared Dubois hull platform that also underpinned the Falcon 34 and related variants — a centre-cockpit layout aimed at family cruising with protected helm positions and practical interior volume. Production ran from 1984 to 1988 at Hamble; Westerly Owners Association sources cite approximately 125 completed hulls before the Seahawk 35 added a sugar-scoop transom extension.
Westerly positioned the Seahawk between the Fulmar 32 and larger Corsair models, filling the gap left when the Discus 33 left production. Fin-keel and twin-keel options shaped resale patterns: UK listings favour bilge-keel convenience while Scandinavian imports often carry fin-keel drafts.
Mid-production changes were mostly interior trim, engine options, and deck hardware rather than fundamental hull revisions. That means survey condition, winter storage history, and rigging invoices usually matter more than the model year printed on the brochure. When you evaluate a Westerly Seahawk 34 on Blocket, treat the maintenance story as part of the specification — not a footnote after the asking price.
Annual Ownership Costs
| Cost item | Low (SEK) | High (SEK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina berth | 22,000 | 48,000 | 10.4 m class, Stockholm/Gothenburg |
| Insurance | 8,000 | 22,000 | Agreed value and cruising area |
| Haul-out + winter | 12,000 | 28,000 | Yard package varies by region |
| Antifouling + hull care | 6,000 | 16,000 | Materials and labour |
| Engine / drivetrain | 5,000 | 16,000 | Volvo Penta service intervals |
| Rigging reserve | 7,000 | 20,000 | Standing rigging age |
| Deck / structural reserve | 6,000 | 22,000 | Sandwich deck, bedding follow-up |
| Total annual | 70,000 | 180,000 | Excludes major refit years |
Annual ownership for Westerly Seahawk 34 is predictable when service records are complete. Berth, storage, and insurance dominate fixed costs in Sweden. Centre-cockpit layouts and sandwich-deck construction add survey focus on companionway drainage and stanchion bedding. Keep a separate technical reserve so routine season costs stay stable — especially on Blocket boats marketed as "ready to sail" without invoices.
Pre-Purchase Survey Checklist
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist: Westerly Seahawk 34
Hull, Keel and Underwater Body
- Moisture-map the underwater hull; document osmosis or barrier-coat history on Westerly Seahawk 34 GRP of this era.
- Inspect keel-to-hull joint, twin-keel fairing, and backing structure for movement or recurring grounding cracks.
- Check rudder bearings and steering linkage under load during sea trial.
Deck and Hardware
- Test bedding at stanchions, tracks, and winches on sandwich-deck sections; open nearby interior access if damp stains appear.
- Inspect centre-cockpit companionway seals, hatches, and portlights for compression and core moisture at corners.
- Verify chainplate areas internally for rust staining or soft laminate.
Rig and Sail Systems
- Confirm standing rigging age with invoices; treat unknown age as near-term replacement on club-used hulls.
- Inspect mast step, spreaders, and terminals for corrosion or fatigue marks.
- Operate furling and reefing systems under realistic load.
Machinery and Systems
- Review Volvo Penta diesel service including cooling, exhaust elbow, and mounts.
- Audit batteries, charging, and owner-added electrical work for safe fusing.
- Check tanks, bilges, and hoses for age-related seepage.