Westerly
Westerly Storm 33
The Westerly Storm 33 is one of Northern Europe's most recognisable late-1980s British performance cruisers. Designed by Ed Dubois for Westerly Marine and built from 1986 to 1993, roughly 141 hulls left the yard — an aft-cockpit cruiser-racer with solid hardwood joinery that still attracts UK expat owners in Scandinavia. With 10.1 m LOA, 3.23 m beam, and about 5,252 kg displacement, the model suits couples and small families cruising the Baltic, Skagerrak, and North Sea. Dubois drew a responsive hull with Lloyd's-specification GRP and an interior built from hardwood and plywood rather than moulded liners — a solid feel that ages well when portlights and chainplates are maintained. The Storm Cruiser variant from 1989 shares the hull with a shorter rig and more cruising amenities; most Cruiser examples are twin-keelers. Listings on British portals and Nordic imports show price spreads driven by keel configuration, engine upgrades, and whether the boat retains original Westerly joinery. Buyers often compare against Westerly Seahawk 34, Sadler 34, and Moody 34 at similar LOA. Nordic buyers should compare asking price against documented rigging, bilge-keel fairing, and rudder bearing play — 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 Storm 33 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 cockpit or new plotter does not cancel unknown rigging age, bilge-keel grounding wear, or moisture at chainplates. That is why survey discipline matters more here than brand romance. For Nordic ownership, Westerly Storm 33 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 Storm 33, build a simple survey scorecard: bilge-keel fairing and grounding history, rudder bearing play, portlight and chainplate bedding, rigging age, and Storm Cruiser rig verification. 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
- 10.1 m
- Beam
- 3.23 m
- Model
- Westerly Storm 33
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 10.1 m
- Beam
- 3.23 m
- Production years
- 1980–1989
Typical problems
- What bilge-keel fairing issues appear on Westerly Storm 33?
- Twin-keel grounding wear and fairing cracks are common on UK imports — professional survey before pricing against fin-keel alternatives.
- What rudder bearing play issues appear on Westerly Storm 33?
- Aft-cockpit layouts concentrate rudder loads; play warrants survey and possible rebuild before offshore seasons.
- What portlight sealing issues appear on Westerly Storm 33?
- Solid hardwood joinery shows water stains quickly when portlight seals fail — compression-test all units before purchase.
- What Storm Cruiser rig confusion issues appear on Westerly Storm 33?
- 1989+ Cruiser variants carry shorter rigs — verify sail inventory matches advertised performance claims.
- What chainplate leak issues appear on Westerly Storm 33?
- Chainplate bedding failures often show as ceiling stains — moisture mapping before purchase; rebedding runs 6,000–20,000 kr per zone.
Design History
Westerly Marine introduced the Storm 33 in 1986 as Ed Dubois continued modernising the yard's range with performance-oriented hull shapes and practical cruising layouts. The aft-cockpit design targeted owner crews who wanted sailing response without sacrificing interior volume — solid hardwood joinery replaced moulded liners, giving the type a durable feel that still reads well on survey reports when maintenance is documented. Production ran from 1986 to 1993; registry and Westerly Owners Association sources cite approximately 141 completed hulls.
The Storm Cruiser variant appeared in 1989 with the same hull and deck but a shorter rig, larger engine option, and more cruising amenities below — most Cruiser examples are twin-keelers. Westerly later rebadged the Storm lineage into the Regatta 330 range as the yard restructured in the early 1990s.
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 Storm 33 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 | 10.1 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 | Service intervals and saildrive |
| Rigging reserve | 7,000 | 20,000 | Standing rigging age |
| Deck / structural reserve | 6,000 | 22,000 | Portlight bedding, moisture follow-up |
| Total annual | 70,000 | 180,000 | Excludes major refit years |
Annual ownership for Westerly Storm 33 is predictable when service records are complete. Berth, storage, and insurance dominate fixed costs in Sweden. Bilge-keel layouts and solid joinery add survey focus on grounding wear and portlight sealing. 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 Storm 33
Hull, Keel and Underwater Body
- Moisture-map the underwater hull; document osmosis or barrier-coat history on Westerly Storm 33 GRP of this era.
- Inspect keel-to-hull joint, bilge-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; open nearby interior access if damp stains appear.
- Inspect portlights and hatches for seal compression — solid joinery shows staining quickly when seals fail.
- Verify chainplate areas internally for rust staining or soft laminate.
Rig and Sail Systems
- Confirm standing rigging age with invoices; verify Storm Cruiser shorter-rig configuration against sail inventory.
- Inspect mast step, spreaders, and terminals for corrosion or fatigue marks.
- Operate furling and reefing systems under realistic load.
Machinery and Systems
- Review engine and saildrive 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.