Are you the Westerly insider, ready to be tempted by a splendidly renovated Westerly 33?
Since 1984 this Westerly has sailed with me, it’s second owner. All this time, it was a highly appreciated family member, safely guiding my wife and my 2 sons through serious seas. With my sons being onboard starting two months of age, it will be no surprise that from the start I have taken good care of the ship.
With all the known qualities of the Westerly 33, this ship has a number of unique features:
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Extremely well adapted to safe ocean crossing with a 2 person crew.
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Equiped for sailing in the climate & circumstances in the Med, the Caribbean, etc.
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Recently restored to a ‘state as new’. Hull, deck, rigging and more.
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Reinforced keel attachments, significantly stronger than the famously rigid construction of other Westerly’s.
Below, these features are described in more detail. Following that is the equipment list.
(1) Ocean adaptations
In 2002 and in 2015, Njörd was adapted for it’s two Atlantic Ocean round-trips. The 2002 re-construction included replacement of the Mercedes OM 636 engine by the lighter, more efficient and more reliable Mitsubishi S4L2. Besides, adaptations for the ocean include:
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A solid hood construction, to offer an even better protection against the seas
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Double hatches for near-to-watertight closure, during heavy storms
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Strong attachment points for a drogue line
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A variety of provisions to prevent heavy components moving around the cabin, should the ship ever make a 360 turn
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Above the sliding frontage lockers on both sides, hidden space has been converted into four extra spaces for charts and other supplies
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A ‘luggage carrier’ on the aft cabin’s roof, from which drogue & life raft can easily be launched
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A larger steering wheel for lighter handling
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Enlarged fuel tank (Inox)
For more details, see the pictures of these modifications.
(2) Med adaptations
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An opening window in the solid hood, to let in a fresh breeze while anchored.
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A very practical, modular sun protection hood.
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A fixing point for the boardwalk, on the rear.
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An extra long anchor chain (90 Meters).
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Anti-chafing chains and springs, protecting the mooring lines on rough cays.
(3) Beautifully renovated
In 2024, I had the hull’s original gell-coat replaced by a splendid, strong new gell-coat layer. Using the best material that money can buy: AKZO’s AWLGRIB. In Oyster White, close to the off-white original, but less yellowish. After careful consideration, I decided to also restore the deck to its original state: I invested in brandnew Treadmaster antislip material. At the same time, I renewed standing and running gear & the guardrails, batteries and the anchor chain. Also I replaced the original manual anchor winch by an electric one.
(4) Re-inforced keel attachments
The hull’s keel attachments have been significantly reinforced. Both keels were removed; only to be re-attached after constructing additional GRP & fiber material, suited to deal with all kinds of forces on the keels. I had this done, after discovering an unknown weak point in the W33’s design:
In 2012, Njörd was anchored in a shallow bay south-east of Ameland (the Dutch Wadden), waiting for enough water to enter the harbor. There, an accident happened which caused a serious fissure on the spot where the port keel was attached to the ship. Fortunately, the keel’s weight and angle kept the fissure very narrow, protecting the ship from sinking. The cause of this damage: a sand hopper had entered the bay, started to maneuver there with full revs, at just 40 meters from Njörd. It’s turbulence hit the side of the Njörd, which at that moment had one keel free, with the other one stuck in the mud. This caused a strong turning force on the keel attachment. An unusual type of force for which the Westerly clearly had not been designed (There is at least one similar case, where a ground-bound Westerly Conway did actually sunk in Wells harbor, by forces at the turn of a spring tide). In 2013, the Njörd’s keel damage was repaired by Holland’s most professional fiber repair yard: Schaap Shipyards, Lelystad (who also produced two carbon Volvo Ocean Race racers). Proactively, hull reinforcements were constructed. Preparing Njörd’s keel attachments for every possible kind of force.
Equipment list SY “Njörd”
Engine: Mitsubishi S4L2, 1758 cc, 4 cylinders (2002, 3200 engine hours)
Autopilot Raymarine ST4000+
Windmeter Raymarine ST60
Depth Sounder Nasa Raymarine ST60
Log Nasa Target (currently not functioning)
VHF Standard Horizon Eclipse GX1300E
ePirb Ocean Signal E100
AIS Vespermarine WatchMate WMX850
Radar Raytheon Pathfinder SL70
Navtex Nasa Clipper Dualband
Bilge Pump (Automatic) ITT/Jabsco Par-Max4 (2023)
Bilge Pump (Manual) Henderson V
Electric Anchor Winch Lofrans (2023)
Built in fridge: Indel model UR080DF
Batteries:
- Instrument batteries (2023): 2 x Victron Deep Cycle AGM, 110 Ah each
- Engine battery (2017) Vega Powerstart 72 Ah, MF57412 Sealed Calcium
- Anchor Winch battery (2023) Vega Powerstart MFC31-1000 12V CCA 1000A, 110 Ah
Inverter Victron 12/450/25
Battery Charger 3-Channel Victron Blue Smart IP22 (2023)
Battery Management Controller Mobitronic 800-4000 (screen needs replacement)
Fire Extinguishers (recertified 2024) ELRO Smartwares 2 l. in each of the 3 cabins, an additional one in the pantry for Gas Fires; and a fire blanket
Liferaft 4 person Lazaras (next maintenance 2026)
Dinghy Highfield 4 persons
2 Lifebelts Marine Pool ISO Premium 300N (recertified 2024)