Westerly Griffon 26 Mk II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The line ran from 1979 to 1989 in three variants: Mk I, Mk II, and Club. The Mk II featured smarter teak joinery, which the more basic Mk I lacked. Roughly 450 hulls were built across all versions—far fewer than the number of Centaurs produced. The design had a solid-fiberglass hull with a robust Westerly layup that earned a good reputation for strength.

Design and Construction

The Griffon measures 26 feet LOA, with a 21.58-foot waterline and a 9.25-foot beam. Displacement is 6,000 lb, including 2,717 lb of ballast. The hull is solid fiberglass/GRP throughout, while the Mk II’s refined interior trim distinguishes it from the plainer earlier model.

Keel options across the range included the common twin bilge keels, a fin keel, and a rare lifting keel. The bilge-keel version is the arrangement most buyers associate with the Griffon.

On deck, wide sidedecks have good moulded non-slip and a full-height guardrail. The pushpit incorporates a gate for boarding by way of a folding transom ladder, with stowage on either side for man-overboard gear and an outboard motor.

Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling

The Griffon has a sturdy masthead sloop rig, with a single pair of straight spreaders and a full complement of cap shrouds, aft lowers, a babystay, and a split backstay. Rotostay headsail furling and cockpit-led reefing lines were standard. The mainsheet track is mounted on the afterdeck, although the relatively short boom compromises the sheeting angle.

Writing in Yachting Monthly, test sailors found the tiller sensitive but not too prone to weather helm, despite the unbalanced, transom-hung rudder.

The bilge-keel version doesn’t like being sailed too close to the wind and makes about 8–10 degrees of leeway. Ease her to around 45 degrees apparent in a Force 4–5, however, and she moves along nicely at 6 knots or more. For a 26-footer, the Griffon is known for steady, reasonably brisk performance and a sea-kindly manner when pushed hard. Under power, she manoeuvres easily in port.

Cockpit and Accommodation

The cockpit is secure and practical, with 2 m-long seats and a spacious working area. Its footwell is properly sized for bracing when the boat heels, while the wide, flat-topped coamings are high for safety and angled for comfort. A deep cockpit locker contains the water and fuel tanks, and two large drains are fitted at the aft end of the cockpit sole.

Below, the Griffon provides a double berth in the forepeak and another double quarter berth beneath the cockpit. The saloon berths can serve as singles, and headroom is 1.83 m (6 ft). The galley is minimalist and there’s no shower, but the boat does have an enclosed heads compartment. All Griffons are comfortable and practical both above and below deck.

Engines and Ownership

Many Griffons retain their original 13 hp Volvo or Bukh engines. Some have been re-engined, often with a 20 hp Beta.

The deck layout supports singlehanded sailing, and the Griffon is a good, economical choice for a couple or small family. Its forte is coastal cruising, along with secure and comfortable short- to medium-range offshore passages.

Known Issues

Some early bilge-keel Griffons had a problem with their keel attachment and were reinforced by Westerly under a recall. Although the recall concerned early boats, anyone considering a Mk II should verify the work against the individual hull’s history.

The Mk I’s basic finish and lack of teak joinery mark a generational difference rather than a defect in the Mk II.

The Verdict

The Griffon 26 Mk II is a practical, well-built pocket cruiser. It trades outright speed for a secure cockpit, a sensible rig, and comfortable coastal accommodation. Dubois’s replacement for the Centaur succeeds as an economical, sea-kindly 26-footer, and its known structural caveat was addressed by the builder through a recall.

Pros