The Westerly Conway 36 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Westerly Conway 36, a centre-cockpit ketch, was designed by Laurent Giles and built in the UK by Westerly Marine Ltd.

'Weohgi', a ketch-rigged Westerly Conway 36, winter-sailing off the south coast of England.

A Westerly Conway centre-cockpit ketch.

Published Specification for the Westerly Conway 36

Underwater Profile: Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 35'9" (10.90m)

Waterline Length: 30'3" (9.22m)

Beam: 11'2" (3.40m)

Draft: 6'0" (1.83m)

Rig Type: Ketch or sloop

Displacement: 16,182lb (7,316kg)

Designer: Laurent Giles

Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1975

Year Last Built: 1978

Owners Association: Westerly Owner Association

Published Design Ratios for the Westerly Conway 36

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: Not known

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 44.4

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 260

4. Comfort Ratio: 31.5

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Westerly Conway 36

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1. Her Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of the Westerly Conway 36 isn't known, but word has it she's no slouch.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 44.4 means that the Westerly Conway 36 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 260, tells us the Westerly Conway 36 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 31.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Westerly Conway 36 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Westerly Conway 36 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

More about the Westerly Conway...

The Westerly Conway 36 is a center cockpit, aft cabin monohull with a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder. It has a sloop or ketch rig, with a deck-stepped mast and swept-back spreaders. It is a moderate displacement sailboat that is suitable for offshore cruising and island hopping and was available in two versions A and B, as shown in the sketch below.

Westerly Conway Accommodation Layouts

Both versions had four or five berths in total, depending on the layout of the saloon.

Westerly went on to build several other versions on this 36' hull:

The Solway, like the Conway, had a centre-cockpit but with twin keels;
The Galway had twin keels and an aft-cockpit;
The Medway had a deep fin keel and an aft cockpit.
All were available as sloops or ketches.

Accommodation

The Westerly Conway 36 has a spacious and comfortable interior that can accommodate four or five people. The layout may vary slightly depending on the version and the owner's preferences, but here is a typical example:

The forward cabin has a V-berth with storage underneath and shelves on the hull sides. There is also an opening hatch for ventilation and light.

The forward head is located to starboard, next to the forward cabin.

The saloon has a L-shaped dinette to starboard that can convert into a double berth if needed. To port, there is either a single settee or another U-shaped dinette that can also convert into a double berth.

The galley is located at the foot of the companionway steps, either to port or starboard depending on the layout. It has a two-burner stove with oven, a sink with hot and cold water, a refrigerator or icebox, and plenty of storage space for food and utensils.

The navigation station is similarly located at the foot of the companionway steps on the opposite side to the galley. It has a large chart table with drawers, an instrument panel, and an electrical switchboard.

The aft cabin is accessed either from the cockpit or from the saloon, depending on the version. It has either two single berths or one double berth, with storage underneath and shelves on both sides. There is also an opening hatch for ventilation and light.

The aft head is located to starboard, next to the aft cabin. It has either an en-suite access from the aft cabin or an access from the cockpit or the saloon, depending on the version.

The interior of the Westerly Conway 36 is finished in warm and cozy Sapele wood (a type of African hardwood). The headlinings are white vinyl or fabric. The upholstery is blue or beige fabric or leatherette. The flooring is teak or carpeted plywood.

Hull and Deck
The hull of the Westerly Conway 36 is made of solid fiberglass with longitudinal stringers for stiffness. The keel is a fin keel with lead ballast that provides good stability and performance. The rudder is skeg-hung for protection and control.

The deck of the Westerly Conway 36 is made of fiberglass with balsa core for strength and insulation. It has a molded non-slip surface for safety and grip. It has a raised coachroof that provides good headroom and visibility inside. It has a deck saloon with large windows that let in plenty of natural light and offer panoramic views.

The cockpit of the Westerly Conway 36 is either aft or center, depending on the version. It has either a tiller or a wheel steering, with a compass, an engine control panel, and an instrument pod.