Westerly Fulmar 32 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Ed Dubois·1979 – 1992·~437 hulls·Westerly Marine Ltd.

Approximate drawing

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Hull Type: Monohull · fin
Rig: Fractional Sloop
LOA: 31.83' · 9.7 m
Disp.: 9,900 lbs · 4,491 kg
First year: 1979

The Westerly Fulmar 32 emerged in 1979 from the drawing board of Ed Dubois and ran in production at Westerly Marine between 1979 and 1992, with 437 hulls launched over that span anchor. It is a monohull sailboat that built a name as a dependable cruiserracer, sitting deliberately between comfort and pace rather than excelling at one to the ruin of the other.

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Measurements

Imperial Metric

Dimensions 01

Length Overall: 31.83 ft
Length on deck: 31.83 ft
Waterline Length: 26 ft
Beam: 10.92 ft
Draft: 5.25 ft
Maximum Headroom: —
Air Draft: 42.5 ft

Construction & hull 02

Construction: Fiberglass
Hull Type: Monohull
Keel Type: Fin
Rudder: 1× Spade
Ballast: 4,210 lbs (Iron)
Displacement: 9,900 lbs
Water Capacity: 27 gal
Fuel Capacity: 23.8 gal

Rig & sails 03

Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop
Mainsail luff: 39 ft
Mainsail foot: 13 ft
Foretriangle height: 36.5 ft
Foretriangle base: 11.6 ft
Forestay Length (estimated): 38.3 ft
Sail Area: 465 sqft

Calculations 04

Sail Area to Displacement Ratio: 16.13
Ballast to Displacement Ratio: 42.53
Displacement to Length Ratio: 251.46
Comfort Ratio: 22.84
Capsize Screening Ratio: 2.03
Hull Speed: 6.83 kn

Design and Construction

The Fulmar 32 carries a fiberglass hull and iron ballast, with a spade rudder that gives precise steering control. Displacement is around 11,000 lbs, and the boat's immersion rate of 216 kg/cm speaks to its stability and load-carrying capacity anchor. Two keel configurations were offered: a fin keel for enhanced performance with a draft of 5'6", and a twin keel option that lets the boat dry out on tidal flats at a shoal 4'0" draft. The length overall is 31'11" with a beam of 10'9", proportions that keep the hull manageable yet roomy enough for the cruising role Dubois intended.

Rig and Handling

The Fulmar 32 sports a fractional sloop rig with a mast height around 43 ft and a sail area near 505 sq ft. Its sail-area/displacement ratio of 14.95 and capsize screening value of 1.96 place it firmly in the cruising spectrum rather than the out-and-out racer, yet the reputation as a reliable cruiser-racer is well earned through that balance. The spade rudder's precise steering complements the fin keel's performance orientation, while the twin keel serves those who prize the ability to take ground on a falling tide. Sheet geometry is conventional for the size, with genoa and jib sheets around 9.7 m and a mainsheet of 24.3 m, all sized to 12 mm diameter.

Accommodations

Below, the Fulmar 32 is equipped with seven berths and a galley, a layout that supports its cruising brief without pretending to be a condo afloat. The beam of just under 11 ft and the 31'11" hull provide the volume those berths require while keeping the boat's displacement and handling in check.

The Verdict

The Westerly Fulmar 32 is a considered design from Ed Dubois' early Westerly years: a fiberglass monohull that balances comfort and performance and earned its cruiser-racer name across 437 hulls. The choice between fin and twin keel lets an owner match the boat to ground or speed, and the spade rudder keeps handling sharp.

Pros