Westerly Griffon 26 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The overwhelming majority of Griffons you will encounter carry bilge keels rather than the fin or rare lifting-keel variant. Twin keels were the default choice for the boat's core British audience, who valued the ability to dry out on tidal moorings and trailerability. Fin-keel examples do appear and are worth seeking out if your sailing is primarily offshore, since they point somewhat higher and carry marginally less leeway. The lifting-keel version is uncommon enough that it is more of a curiosity than a mainstream option on the used market.

All three production variants — the Mk I, Mk II, and Club — share the same masthead sloop rig and core hull. The Mk I interior is the most utilitarian, with simpler joinery and a plainer fit-out. The Mk II and Club versions introduced smarter teak trim, upgraded upholstery, and generally feel more finished down below. The cabin arrangement is consistent across variants: a double berth forward, saloon settees that double as singles, and a quarter berth tucked under the cockpit. The heads compartment is a proper enclosed space rather than a curtained-off corner. Headroom in the saloon reaches a comfortable standing height for most sailors.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used Griffons commonly arrive fitted with autopilots and chartplotters, reflecting years of practical cruising use by owners who sail short-handed. Solar panels are a frequent addition, often mounted on a stern arch or pushpit frame, and the shorthanded setup ethos extends to cockpit-led reefing and a furling headsail. Most boats retain the Rotostay furling arrangement that was standard from new, though replacement systems are sometimes fitted.

Dodgers have become a near-standard feature on the used market, added by owners who discovered that the Griffon's open cockpit, while spacious, rewards some weather protection on coastal passages. AIS transponders are often seen fitted alongside the chartplotter. Among occasional owner upgrades, a furling mainsail occasionally replaces the slab-reefing system; biminis appear on boats used in warmer climates such as southern Spain; radar units, life rafts, and diesel heating systems turn up on more passage-oriented examples. Spinnaker gear and poles appear on the more racing-oriented boats in the fleet.

Many Griffons have been re-engined over the decades, so the original Volvo or Bukh inboard may have given way to a more modern Beta diesel of around twenty horsepower. Whether the original engine or a replacement is fitted, confirm service history and the condition of the engine mounts, heat exchanger, and cooling system.

What to Inspect

The single most important structural check on a bilge-keel Griffon is the keel attachment. Early bilge-keel models had a documented weakness in how the keels were bolted to the hull, and Westerly conducted a recall to reinforce the affected boats. Before purchase, establish whether the boat received this reinforcement — look for evidence of professional repair or strengthening work at the keel roots, and ideally obtain written confirmation. A surveyor familiar with Westerly products should probe the tabbing and glasswork in this area with care. On fin-keel examples, the same diligence applies to the keel-bolt condition and any signs of weeping rust stains around the sump.

The transom-hung rudder is exposed and takes knocks; check the pintles, gudgeons, and any play in the blade. The rudder itself should move freely without slop. Bilge-keel models can make leeway of eight to ten degrees on a close reach, which is normal for the design, but if the hull shows any sign of asymmetric loading or the keel root tabbing is soft, that is a structural concern rather than a design characteristic.

Inspect the standing rigging carefully. The masthead sloop rig uses a single pair of straight spreaders, cap shrouds, aft lowers, a babystay, and a split backstay — a conventional arrangement, but wire and terminals on older boats may be well past their safe service life. Check chainplates for weeping rust stains on the deck. The mainsheet track sits on the afterdeck; examine the track fastenings and any signs of delamination beneath it. Cockpit locker sealing and the integrity of the locker that houses the water and fuel tanks deserves attention, since moisture ingress here can go unnoticed for years.

Below decks, check the quarter berth and forward cabin for any signs of recurring damp, particularly around the chain-pipe and bow roller area. The GRP hull itself has a strong reputation for robustness, but osmotic blistering is possible on hulls that spent long periods in warm water — a moisture meter reading of the topsides and bottom is standard prudence on any boat of this vintage.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Griffon is most widely available in the United Kingdom, where the majority of the fleet has always been based and where the active class association helps owners stay connected. A meaningful number of boats have made their way to Spain, particularly the Mediterranean coast, and a smaller number circulate in North American waters. Buyers outside the UK may find fewer examples locally, but the boat's robust construction makes transatlantic delivery realistic for a committed buyer.

The Griffon rewards patient buyers who know what to look for. Because the fleet is modestly sized, a quality example takes longer to find than in larger classes, but the boats that have been properly maintained offer genuine coastal cruising capability in a package that is easy to handle solo or as a couple.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm bilge-keel reinforcement recall was completed; obtain documentation
• Professional survey with specific focus on keel roots, tabbing, and sump area
• Check rudder pintles, gudgeons, and blade for play or impact damage
• Inspect standing rigging, chainplates, and spreader bases for corrosion
• Confirm engine service history; identify original or replacement unit and assess condition
• Moisture-meter the hull, particularly the underwater sections and areas around chainplates
• Test furling headsail and any cockpit-led reefing systems under load
• Verify cockpit locker and tank compartment for water ingress
• Check forward cabin and quarter berth for recurring damp around fittings and through-hulls
• Establish variant (Mk I, Mk II, or Club) and keel type (bilge, fin, or lifting) before comparing examples