Design and Construction
The Oceanquest 35 was designed by Ed Dubois in the early nineties and produced by the British yard Westerly Yacht Construction Ltd in solid fiberglass for both hull and deck. With a length-to-beam ratio of 2.89 and a ballast ratio of 40 percent using 5,700 pounds of iron, the 14,080-pound displacement hull carries a DL-ratio of 319, which places it firmly among heavy cruisers rather than light-displacement racers. The wetted surface measures about 322 square feet, and the immersion rate is roughly 1,154 pounds per inch, meaning the boat settles noticeably under load but holds its lines. Build volume stayed under 100 boats, making the model a comparatively scarce Dubois cruiser.
Keel Options and Draft
Westerly offered the Oceanquest 35 with different keel alternatives, a bilge keel and a fin keel. The bilge-keel version draws just 3.94 to 4.24 feet depending on load, while the fin-keel model draws 4.49 to 4.79 feet, both permitting access to shallow marinas keel alternatives with shallow draft. The bilge option continues a Westerly tradition of twin-keel practicality, while the fin provides a more conventional single-keel profile for offshore tracking.
Rig and Performance
The boat is built with a masthead rig and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 14.40, a moderate figure consistent with its heavy-cruiser categorization. Cruise speed is 6.0 knots with a maximum of 7.0 knots, matching the theoretical displacement hull speed for a boat of this waterline. The capsize screening value is 2.03, a number that by the standard test would not qualify the design for ocean racing, though its Motion Comfort Ratio of 25.9 suggests a settled motion profile in a seaway. A Volvo Penta MD2030 diesel of 30 horsepower drives a shaft leg, giving a practical auxiliary range for maneuvering and battery charging.
Accommodations
The interior is finished in teak and offers headroom above average for the class, a useful attribute for liveaboard comfort and passage-making. The builder organized its 1993 model families into the Oceans, Regattas, and Victorias ranges, and the Oceanquest belongs to the Oceans cruising tier. The 12.27-foot beam supports a roomy three-cabin arrangement in many hulls, consistent with the model's cruising mandate rather than bareboats stripped for charter.
The Verdict
The Oceanquest 35 is a thoughtfully specified heavy-displacement cruiser from Dubois's late Westerly period, offering shallow-draft flexibility through its bilge-keel option and a solid, traditional fiberglass structure. Its modest sail plan and comfort-oriented ratios suit relaxed coastal and offshore cruising more than performance racing, and the limited production run means buyers should expect individuality between hulls.
Pros
- Shallow-draft bilge-keel option opens marginal anchorages and marinas
- Above-average headroom with teak interior for liveaboard comfort
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and 40% ballast ratio aid stability and motion ease
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.03 excludes it from ocean-racing acceptance
- Sail-area-displacement ratio of 14.40 limits light-air acceleration
- Under 100 built, so spares and comparable sales data are thinner than mass-market models
