A solid-fiberglass hull and deck, masthead sloop rig, and choice of bilge or fin keels place the Oceanquest firmly in the traditional heavy-cruiser camp. Its other defining feature is above-average interior volume for its length.
Design and Construction
Ed Dubois designed the Oceanquest 35 in the early nineties. Westerly Yacht Construction Ltd built both the hull and deck in solid fiberglass.
The boat has a 14,080-pound displacement and carries 5,700 pounds of iron ballast, giving it a ballast ratio of 40 percent. Its length-to-beam ratio is 2.89, while its DL-ratio of 319 places it among heavy cruisers rather than light-displacement racers.
Wetted surface is about 322 square feet, and the immersion rate is roughly 1,154 pounds per inch. This means the boat settles noticeably under load but holds its lines. With fewer than 100 boats built, the Oceanquest 35 remains a comparatively scarce Dubois cruiser.
Keel Options and Draft
Westerly offered the Oceanquest 35 with either a bilge keel or a fin keel. Depending on load, the bilge-keel version draws 3.94 to 4.24 feet, while the fin-keel model draws 4.49 to 4.79 feet. Both offer shallow-draft access to marinas.
The twin-keel option continues Westerly’s tradition of practical bilge-keel cruisers. The fin keel provides a more conventional single-keel profile for offshore tracking.
Rig, Performance, and Auxiliary Power
The Oceanquest 35 carries a masthead rig. Its sail-area-displacement ratio is 14.40, a moderate figure consistent with the boat’s heavy-cruiser classification.
Cruising speed is 6.0 knots, with a maximum of 7.0 knots, matching the theoretical displacement hull speed for a boat with this waterline. The capsize screening value is 2.03, which would not qualify the design for ocean racing under the standard test. However, its Motion Comfort Ratio of 25.9 suggests a settled motion profile in a seaway.
Auxiliary power comes from a 30-horsepower Volvo Penta MD2030 diesel driving a shaft leg. It provides a practical auxiliary range for maneuvering and battery charging.
Accommodations
The Oceanquest’s 12.27-foot beam supports a roomy three-cabin arrangement in many hulls. The teak-finished interior also provides above-average headroom for the class, useful for liveaboard comfort and passage-making.
In 1993, Westerly organized its model families into the Oceans, Regattas, and Victorias ranges. The Oceanquest belonged to the Oceans cruising tier, and its accommodations reflect that cruising mandate rather than the stripped-out approach of bareboats intended for charter.
The Verdict
The Oceanquest 35 is a thoughtfully specified heavy-displacement cruiser from Dubois’s late Westerly period. It combines a solid, traditional fiberglass structure with shallow-draft flexibility through the bilge-keel option.
Its modest sail plan and comfort-oriented ratios are better suited to relaxed coastal and offshore cruising than performance racing. The limited production run also means buyers should expect some individuality between hulls.
Pros
- Shallow-draft bilge-keel option opens access to marginal anchorages and marinas
- Above-average headroom and a teak interior suit liveaboard use
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and a 40 percent ballast ratio aid stability and ease of motion
Cons
- A capsize screening value of 2.03 excludes the design from ocean-racing acceptance
- The 14.40 sail-area-displacement ratio limits light-air acceleration
- With fewer than 100 built, spares and comparable sales data are thinner than for mass-market models
