WESTSAIL 43


"SONG"
Factory Finished Hull #59 - Mfgr.Hull Number - JMI 43 CO4 K788
Built 1988 - Manufactured by Jomarco
- Basic Specifications -
Draft 5'- 8"
Displacement: 32,000 lbs.
Ballast 12,000 lbs.
LOA 42'-11"
LWL 33'- 4"
Beam 13'-0"
Sail Area 1187 Sq. Ft.
 Cutter Rig Engine: Perkins
Model 4-154
HP: 62
Water Capacity: 200 gals
 Fuel Type: Diesel Fuel Capacity: 200 gals


HISTORY:

HOW DID "SONG" BECOME A 1988 MODEL WS 43 ?

The Westsail Corporation's production of W43's was primarily in the mid 1970s and a bankruptcy occurred in early 1977. A second bankruptcy in 1980 resulted in Westsail being sold at auction. Jomarco Yachts of Santa Ana, California acquired ownership of Westsail assets at the auction and rights to continue production of the W42, W43, and W28. Jomarco began planning, designing and tooling a new model of the W43 to take advantage of new technologies and to keep the W43's in production.

Design recommendations and goals were:

  1. To use the hull and deck molds without modification.
  2. Take full advantage of new fiberglassing technology. The weight and amount of glass applied in building the new W43's was greater than the older production. Actually the new W43's were built to the same standards as Jomarco's much larger Jomar 55 medium displacement cruiser. Resin content was reduced and a much stronger glass was specified for the layup. Structurally, the new boats are substantially stronger and stiffer.
  3. To strengthen the cabin top. It was redesigned for much greater strength.
  4. To add 1000 lbs of lead ballast. Total of 12000 lbs of lead ballast.
  5. To shorten the mast tube length to 53 foot.
  6. To shorten the boom.
Design changes include added headroom, a very large 7 ft X 8 ft. forward bunk with couch, a 56" wide aft berth, a direct drive engine placement, a 4.2 KW generator, very large refer/freezer, teak ceilings throughout, ½ inch solid teak sole, a teak deck, a large nav station, a powerful "mizzen post" which serves as a radar antenna mount, a cockpit enclosure support and an outboard-engine handling hoist.

Interior redesign produced a complete new set of interior patterns plus molds for new head and engine room pans. The new W43 design included NO CHANGES IN HULL OR DECK SHAPE. All changes were interior and were for functional, structural, or technical reasons. "Song's all teak interior is of a very high quality. Great attention was given to joinery. Exterior trim is also teak.

Building of four W43's was underway at the Jomarco factory when a new federal luxury tax of 10% was imposed for 1986 on new boat sales. Most builders across the entire nation were put out of business. Jomarco's 55' cruiser was in its eighth year of production and tooling for the W43 was complete. The luxury tax ended all Jomarco production of Jomar 55s and Westsails. "Song" was the last W43 produced, a 1988 model, and she was the fourth boat in a production series. "Song" is a one-owner boat, berthed in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Mr. W.I. B. Crealock, designer of the Westsails, advised the new builders that the Westsails are designed for circumnavigations, are great sailing boats and are powerfully built.

In early 1988 "Song" castoff on her maiden cruise from Southern California to Spain. This was a perfect opportunity to experience the magic of Mr. Crealock's design. The first leg was about 750 nm to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California. It was the first of nine long legs to Bayona in NW Spain near Vigo. "Song's crew of two, a couple in their sixties, arrived in Spain without incident. There they sang the praises of their fabulous and comfortable sailboat-home. The maiden cruise from San Diego to Spain in five months, with 68 days in ports, helped the crew meet a date with history in the Aegean Sea of Greece. "Song" proved a powerful sailing vessel, sea kindly and a comfortable home at sea and in port.

We thank you Mr.Crealock. All you promised is true. She is terrific under sail.

One of "Song's Atlantic crossings took a southerly course from Las Palmas in the Canaries to Antigua arriving in 20 days and averaging over 6 nm per hour. With a normal crew of two and no use of downwind sails this is an example of how "Song" performs. One of the two crewmembers celebrated his 66th birthday on the voyage and was rested and ready to celebrate at Nelson's Dockyard upon arrival. Seakindly? Indeed!!

Some of "Song's other favorite ports of call and cruising areas include Panama, Bermuda, the Azores, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Majorca, Sardinia, Tunisia, Malta, Crete, Rhodes, Turkey from Kusadasi to Antalya, much of Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy with Sicily, French rivers and canals to Belgium and Holland, Paris for six months, England, Ireland, Madeira, Canary Islands, Antigua, St. Maarten, Virgins, Bahamas, US coast from Ft Lauderdale to Halifax with many ports each way, the Chesapeake.

PARTIAL REFITTING OF "SONG" IS UNDERWAY:

"Song" has been undergoing a refitting, which is well underway. Some of the work completed includes: DESCRIPTION OF "SONG" AND THE W43 DESIGN:

"Song" is equipped for easy sail handling with headsail, staysail and mainsail furling systems. A big whisker pole and two fabulous spinnaker chutes, or snuffers, simplify handling the spinnaker and drifter.

The autopilot replaces several crewmembers. A bank of three 200+ amp batteries meets power demands. A manually controlled alternator and fully controllable battery charger work with the 4200-watt generator and the engine driven alternator to easily meet power demands.

The cockpit cover system is functionally very helpful, especially for foul weather and night passages. It works in harmony with the dodger and the powerfully strong "mizzen mast" to support the cockpit cover system.

The dodger will lay flat for max visibility. Then there are many options with the dodger in the up position. A cockpit overhead cover shades the cockpit. Then side curtains can be added as desired to enclose any part of or the entire cockpit (while retaining visibility). Thirty to fifty knot winds have been experienced for long periods with all curtains up. The meltimi winds of Greece and the Gulf du Lyon come to mind

The galley's location is perfectly central for easy and direct access to the cockpit. It is at the foot of the companionway on centerline and is in full view and access to all of the salon area. Using the generously sized companionway ladder may leave your hands free when "Song" is not heeled.

You will find the 3 blade feathering propeller very effective.

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Price: --- $ 149,000

Contact:
Don Jones
680 Mockingbird Lane
Plantation, Florida 33324
Phones: (954) 791 0968 or (954) 791 5815
Email: dblissj1@comcast.net
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