Design and Construction
The Ocean 33 pairs a modern hull shape with a traditional interior layout, the hull itself showing moderate freeboard and flared bow sections that promote dryness and buoyancy. On deck, wide side decks ease movement forward and, in the words of one tester, carry just the right camber to make the boat appear to stand up better when heeled. The cockpit is large and comfortable with high coamings, teak seats and sole for grip and warmth, and a layout carried over from the Fulmar, Storm, and Typhoon — safe and reassuring rather than reinvented. Construction was well-made, strong, and sensibly laid out on deck. A white fiberglass hull with blue stripes and a molded nonskid deck complete the picture, with raised coachroof sections granting headroom below.
Rig and Handling
The sloop rig is a fractional 15/16ths configuration on a deck-stepped aluminum mast with two sets of swept-back spreaders and internal halyards. That rig lowers the centre of effort, making her stiffer, while the swept-back spreaders permit a runner-free setup. A boom with internal reefing simplifies sail handling. Testers found she tacks easily, accelerates well, and goes where steered. In a Force 2 breeze on a close reach she was making 3 knots seconds after the sails were set and climbed past 5.5 knots as she was trimmed, and flat out the log showed 7.5 knots, adjusted to a honest 7. Wide side decks and high, forward-mounted cockpit winches round out a deck plan built for short-handed efficiency.
Accommodations
Below, the boat sleeps six with a single head and a pure-Westerly feel of solid teak and lovely joinery, if not always harmonious transitions between woodwork and worktops. The forward cabin carries a proper double berth with a port-side extension that lets a seven-foot sailor lie flat, while the after cabin is light and airy with two ports and an escape hatch. The saloon gives two good seaberths, a folding table, and a decent cooker at last, though testers noted a lack of lockerage there. The chart table surface is enormous, extending under the instrument faces, and the galley — to port — carries a Corian-style work surface described as wonderfully practical, with a matching curve behind the heads toilet for throne-like comfort. A "passage" forward lets the crew sit dry under the sprayhood with a good lookout, and the companionway's first step drops a foot to spare awkward contortions when the hood is up.
Known Issues
The only recurring notes from trial reports are interior quibbles: a shortage of saloon stowage and joinery that does not flow seamlessly into the worktops, leaving a slightly unsophisticated feel. These are cosmetic and practical rather than structural.
Refits and Ownership
The standard engine is a 20 hp Yanmar saildrive, whose compact footprint lets the hot-water tank tuck where a propeller shaft would have run, preserving usable under-bunk lockers. A sister design, the GK33, shares the Ocean's hull and deck but drops the teak rubbing strake and deck, adopts a 7/8ths rig, and uses vacuum-bag moulding to save half a ton while matching stiffness — useful context when evaluating a used Ocean 33 against its lighter sibling. Only 33 were built, so every example is a small part of Westerly's final chapter.
The Verdict
The Ocean 33 is a seriously quick yet handy and well-mannered cruiser with a genuinely practical seagoing interior, the last and one of the most refined expressions of the Dubois-Westerly partnership. She rewards the sailor who values stiffness, easy tacking, and a protected cockpit over vast saloon stowage.
Pros
- Fractional 15/16ths rig with swept spreaders gives stiffness without runners
- Fast under light air and handy in close quarters
- Spacious, bright interior with practical Corian surfaces and forward passage
- Safe aft cockpit derived from proven Westerly models
Cons
- Limited lockerage in the saloon
- Joinery transitions feel slightly unsophisticated
- Only 33 built, so sparse presence on the used market
