42' Westsail Westsail 42

The main photo is a shot from the start of the Marion-Bermuda Race, with owner and famous US newscaster, Walter Cronkite at the helm! The Westsail company custom built this 42 for Walter, and by the particular details and superb joinerwork, they did a very good job. These boats have a habit of wandering afar, and perhaps Fiona, owned by Eric Forsythe, is the best testament of their potential with over 250,000 logged miles on Fiona and Eric still moving around the globe and at over 85 years old! (see YouTube to visit the boat doing some of the chilly voyages, like Northwest Passage, Cape Horn, and everything in between). Definitely the Land Rover of the Sea.

As well as being an ultimate safe offshore vessel, the 42 is very comfortable in port. With the pilothouse arrangement, the galley and dining table are at eye level to see out thru the large bronze ports. This particular hull might be the only one with the mid port opening, allowing great ventilation.

Another desirable feature is the nav/office area between the galley and aft cabin...with fold out seat and big prism over the table. Also, the engine room has 2 prisms for day natural lite. After Walters ownership, the boat was donated to the Naval Academy, and then on to private ownership. In the past 7 years she has become a new boat, except for the brass builder's plaque. New equipment throughout from engine and engine room design, all new painting and varnishing, new cushions, rigging, chainplates, toilettes, hull Awlgrip deck repainting, new SS tanks, refrigeration and because Walter, she has the only teak cockpit. The rig is now a cutter the chainpates etc. are still there for the yawl rig...however the mizzen consumes the aft deck and for that reason it was removed.

The Westsail 42 has the little ship feeling with the proper bulwarks, planked bowsprit, and very sociably sized cockpit. It is a great live-aboard at harbor or, in case of this boat, she has had details modified for high latitude sailing.

The boat has very much renewed in the last 7 years as well as making some successful voyages including a trip from Florida-Newfoundland-Portugal-Argentina-Caribbean by the previous owner, a single-handed sailor. The present owner, a licensed Captain for over 40 years, is available for delivery and any modifications needed. Below is a list of some of the updates. Also, the owner will sell it as a turnkey boat. It is presently in yard storage but launching is included at the time of launch, new house and engine batteries installed.

Stainless Steel water and fuel tanks
Bomar hatches
Force Ten Stove
New sails, rigging, and chain plates
Yanmar 75 HP/ and complete engine room renewal
New heads
Waeco fridge/freezer
New Paratec sea anchor
Revere Extreme Life Raft- still in date
New batteries to be installed
Recent hull awlgrip and deck cabin sides and decks newly painted
New bottom paint
New paint on the spars
All interior surface and lockers painted and varnish renewed
Cushion and fabrics renewed
Electronic updates include RayMarine ST 70 autopilot, Garmin Map GPS740S, AIS VHF/GPS, ACR GlobalFix EPIRB/GPS

New Lewmae Anchor Windlass
Self tailing winch replacements
Sunbrella tan bimini

Additional details upon request. In general, the boat has been very correctly equipped....and, in anticipation of a Cape Horn voyage, the mast step was renewed and the compression post was changed to schedule 80 steel.