The Konsort was designed to feel larger than its length, and it succeeded. Its beam of just over ten and a half feet gave it interior volume that practically matched the yard’s 31-foot sisters. A full bow, broad stern, and generous freeboard made clear that the hull was shaped for volume rather than grace. Practical Boat Owner called her no beauty, but she was never a cheap boat, and well-equipped, well-maintained examples hold their value.
Design and Construction
The Konsort has a solid hull laminate of chopped strand mat, reinforced with rovings in high-stress areas. The deck is balsa-cored, and the bow carries the distinctive knuckle found across the Westerly range. Whether fin, twin, or the rare swing variant, the keels bolt to shallow moulded stubs. The yard issued every hull with a Lloyds construction certificate from its in-house surveyor.
Most buyers chose twin keels; about 150 of the 704 boats were built as fin-keelers. The hull later provided the basis for the Konsort Duo motor-sailer, demonstrating the platform’s flexibility.
Inside, the absence of moulded liners sets the Konsort apart. All teak and teak-faced plywood is bonded directly to the outer hull, giving the cabin a hand-crafted feel and a warmly woody character. Westerly’s trademark blue non-slip deck paint, along with a teak toerail rather than an aluminium one, completes the traditional appearance. Konsorts are known for having relatively few structural weaknesses.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
A conventional masthead rig of modest proportions sits above the coachroof. The boom is long enough to lead the mainsheet to a traveller across the wide transom, where it is easy to reach but clear of the cockpit.
The transom-hung rudder provides predictable steering. Testers found the Konsort light on the helm and beautifully balanced when sailed neither too high nor too deep, heeling no more than 15 degrees in between. Pushed hard upwind in 25 knots, she plugged along at 4 to 4.5 knots and tacked through roughly 90 degrees. The babystay could interfere with the overlapping genoa, however, making short-tacking laborious.
The Konsort is stiff and under-canvassed in light airs, yet she can carry full sail when others reef. Reaching in a breeze is her element, with speeds of 7 knots recorded at times. The fin-keel version is faster and makes less leeway than the twin-keeler, while its lower centre of gravity adds a little stiffness.
Accommodation and Cockpit
With no aft cabin, the saloon lies farther aft in the beamier part of the hull. It is larger than those on most boats of this size, with wide, parallel settee berths and full standing headroom throughout. Forward, a heads compartment to port and a hanging locker to starboard separate the forecabin from the saloon.
The quarter berth and chart table are to port, but they share the same seat, which also forms the head of the berth. As a result, the chart table and quarter berth can’t be used at the same time.
The absence of an aft cabin also allows for a deep cockpit. It comfortably seats four, and the flat-topped coaming gives the helmsman a secure perch. A large locker sits beneath the starboard seat, while the gas bottle is stowed at the stern. Below, the engine box projects between the chart table and galley and doubles as scarce galley workspace.
Engines
Engines were mainly Bukh and Volvo diesels. The Bukh 20 or Volvo 25hp were typical period installations.
Known Issues
Westerly used orthophthalic resins until the mid-1980s, and osmosis is quite common on these hulls. The deck gelcoat is also prone to UV star-crazing.
Chainplates can fatigue and corrode where they pass through the deck, although they are simple to replace. The hull reinforcement that distributes keel loads also deserves inspection, particularly on fin-keelers, where depth beneath the floorboards along the centreline is lacking. Early plywood sections were less robust than the foam-cored parts used from 1981 onward. Boats that have been grounded or poorly shored face the greatest risk. Keel bolts that have been glassed in rather than gelled over warrant suspicion.
The transom-hung rudder is easy to inspect but vulnerable. Its gudgeons and pintles are connected by a rod that isn’t especially robust, though it is simple to change.
Below decks, the most common complaint is the “Westerly droop”: the vinyl headliner separating from the deckhead.
Refits and Ownership
For owners refitting a Konsort, the directly bonded woodwork responds well to sympathetic work, while the Lloyds certificate provides a useful historical anchor.
The boat remains sought after by sailors who want something solid, roomy, forgiving, and easy to handle. A well-kept example with the common upgrades retains its price.
The Verdict
The Konsort is a roomy, forgiving coastal cruiser that offers accommodation and manners beyond what its length might suggest. Its main shortcomings are modest performance in light airs and a handful of well-understood, age-related faults.
Pros
- Interior volume close to that of a 31-foot sister, with full headroom
- Direct-bonded teak joinery and a Lloyds-certified solid hull
- Stiff, balanced, and easy to handle alone or with a crew
- Twin-keel option suited to drying moorings and shallow creeks
Cons
- Common osmosis and deck star-crazing associated with early resins
- Under-canvassed in light airs, with laborious short-tacking when using the overlapping genoa
- Chart table and quarter berth can’t be used at the same time
- Modest transom-rudder hardware and prevalent headliner droop
