Westerly Renown 32 Buyer's Guide
The Westerly Renown 32 is the centre-cockpit ketch variant of the builder's 31-foot family, designed by Laurent Giles and produced from 1972 to 1980. On the used market she appeals to families and blue-water hopefuls alike: a solid, dry cruiser with a split cockpit, aft and forecabins, and a rig that lends itself to shorthanded sailing. Because the type shares its hull moulding with three sister models and was offered in sloop or ketch form, buyers should confirm exactly which configuration they are looking at before negotiating.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most Renowns you will encounter are centre-cockpit ketches with the mizzen mast stepped on the cockpit traveler. Below, the saloon settee to port and galley to starboard define the main living space, with a berth and chart table aft; later boats moved the galley aft and swapped the chart table to port. The forecabin vee-berth converts to a double, and the aft cabin — reached from the cockpit — holds two singles but is tight and loses headroom when the hatch is closed. Five or six berths across three cabins is the norm, with one head positioned off the forecabin passage.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The consequential upgrades to look for cluster around power and energy, and sail handling. The original Volvo MD2B diesel on a fixed three-bladed prop has often been replaced, so confirm what sits in the spacious, dual-access engine bay. Roller furling on the genoa is a key sail-handling upgrade that, paired with the cockpit-mounted mizzen, makes the boat easy to manage short-handed. Some owners have added fixed wheelhouse covers over the centre cockpit, a structural modification worth inspecting for watertightness and sightlines.
What to Inspect
The aft cabin is compact and has no headroom when the aft hatch is shut, so check the hatch seals and any associated bedding for past leaks tight aft cabin access. Where a fixed wheelhouse cover has been fitted, examine the join to the original coachroof for cracking or poor drainage. Given that many original engines have been replaced, verify the current installation's mounts, stern gland, and access through the lifted forward cockpit sole or the companionway front panel engine replacement history. The iron fin keel and half-skeg rudder should be checked for corrosion at the shoe and bearing play.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm sloop versus ketch and centre versus aft cockpit; test the aft hatch and cabin seals; verify the engine installation and access; inspect any added wheelhouse cover; and assess the iron keel and skeg rudder. The Renown rewards a careful survey with a steady, dry, family-capable cruiser at a modest scale.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Westerly Renown 32. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $21,018 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contessa 32 | 32' | $ 32,972 | 68 | 20 |
| Sadler 32 | 31.5' | $ 22,191 | 47 | 10 |
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| Morgan 32 | 31.92' | $ 27,200 | 6 | 1 |