Introduced at the 1993 London Boat Show as the Ocean 490, it was a seven-inch-longer, improved rebranding of the Oceanmaster. Only one Ocean 490 was completed before the remaining boats took the Ocean 49 name. Sister yachts are the Oceanmaster and W490. Production ran from 1993 to 1998, with around 20 hulls estimated.
Design and Construction
The Ocean 49 measures 48.5 feet overall, with a 42.08-foot waterline and a 15.08-foot beam. Displacement is 28,935 pounds. The hull and deck are both solid fibreglass.
Its fin keel carries 11,684 pounds of lead ballast and draws 7 feet, while steering is by a spade rudder. The ballast-to-displacement ratio is 40.38, and the displacement-to-length ratio is 173.36. The capsize ratio is 1.97, with a comfort ratio of 27.4.
Rig and Handling
The Ocean 49 has a masthead sloop rig and a cutter configuration. The cutter arrangement points to manageable offshore sail plans, while the 7-foot-draft fin keel and substantial lead ballast suit long passages. The spade rudder provides directional control. Hull speed is 8.69 knots, reflecting the boat’s long waterline.
Accommodations
The divided interior provides three cabins, two heads, and six berths. The forward and aft cabins each have a double berth and en-suite head with shower. A port cabin contains two single berths that convert into a double, while the saloon’s U-shaped settee provides an extra berth.
Verdict
The Westerly Ocean 49 is a rare, late-era Dubois cruiser from a fading British yard, with a divided three-cabin layout and a ballast profile suited to passage-making.
Pros
- Centre-cockpit cutter with three cabins and two en-suite heads
- Lead ballast and a fin keel for offshore work
- Improved Oceanmaster lineage designed by Ed Dubois
Cons
- Around 20 built
- Last Westerly model before the yard entered receivership in 1999
