The model showed early commercial promise, but the arrival of the cheaper 36-foot Corsair in 1986 eclipsed it so thoroughly that the Sealord nearly ceased production altogether. What emerged from that narrow escape was a center-cockpit bluewater cruiser that has since earned a quiet reputation as a very popular long-distance cruising yacht.
Design and Construction
Ed Dubois drew the Sealord as a center-cockpit, fin-keeled monohull. It measures 38 feet 6 inches overall, 32 feet 6 inches on the waterline, and 13 feet 2 inches in beam. Displacement is 18,500 pounds, including 8,000 pounds of ballast.
The Sealord arrived late in Westerly’s independent era. The company had passed through liquidation and reconstitution by 1982, and the boat was among 17 Dubois designs produced for the marque between 1979 and 2000.
The hull is solid fiberglass. The deck is also solid fiberglass and has a non-skid surface. In a later owner account, the deck layout drew praise: the wheel is positioned so the helmsman can sit atop the aft cabin, hold the wheel, and still see forward. One cockpit seat lifts to reveal a very deep lazarette.
A ballast-displacement ratio near 43 percent and a capsize screening value of 1.99 describe a stiff, seaworthy hull rather than a lightweight racer.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a simple masthead sloop, with a single-panel mast and one set of spreaders. The builder described the configuration as essentially bullet-proof and unchanged from the first hull. The traveler sits aft of the helmsman, making it easier to adjust the mainsail from the wheel.
A ketch version was also available. It traded the sloop’s 352-square-foot mainsail for a 274-square-foot main and a 108-square-foot mizzen, while genoa area decreased only slightly. At least one owner converted a Sealord to a cutter, although that wasn’t the stock rig.
Under sail, the Sealord’s character is clear. She enjoys heavy weather and can be pushed quite hard, taking squalls in stride and feeling stiff, manageable, and wonderfully powerful as the wind builds. She is probably a little sluggish in light air, though one reviewer noted that the right sail plan might ease that weakness.
Engine and Performance Under Power
The original engine was a 36-horsepower Volvo MD17D. Westerly soon changed to a 28-horsepower Volvo 2003, then fitted the turbocharged 42-horsepower 2003T after the less powerful engine proved unpopular.
With a three-bladed propeller, the Sealord delivered good acceleration and stopping. Top speed under power was well beyond 7 knots.
Accommodations and Stowage
Below, the Sealord is arranged to carry people and gear across oceans. The manufacturer lists 10 berths and two heads, while a later survey counted eight berths. Either way, the layout is generous for a boat of this length.
Forward is a good-sized V-berth cabin with its own head and ample storage. The U-shaped galley has double deep sinks, cabinet space, a large fridge-freezer, and a built-in microwave. Opposite is a full-sized navigation table with stowage and sea berths aft of it.
The main cabin occupies the extreme stern. It has a full head, cabinets, and a hanging locker. One owner said the aft berth converted into a good double with a simple infill, while the saloon settees made two sound sea berths. The settee backs can be removed to create more lounging space, and storage runs above and below.
The deck aft of the cockpit is suitable for stowing a smaller dinghy. As a load carrier, one owner called the Sealord brilliant.
Known Issues
The Sealord isn’t free of faults, and buyers and owners should understand the problems documented on surviving examples.
A documented case involved a bad leak in the forward head, with significant water damage to the wood trim. The suspected source was a crack in the deck at the base of the forestay. The same boat had standing water in the bilges and a wet engine compartment, as well as soaked settee cushions in every cabin and mold forming on wet wood—the kind of pervasive leak that ruins interior soft goods.
Several aluminum stanchions were cracked, and the pulpit moved when it shouldn’t have. In another owner’s report, an overtightened babystay pulled the deck and bulkhead upward because the bulkhead wasn’t well attached to the hull. This left a gap about a half-inch wide at the sole.
All port and hatch glass needed replacement, and all the running rigging was worn. These are concrete service-history defects rather than abstract concerns.
Refits, Equipment, and Ownership
Owning a Sealord tends to involve attention to the issues above, as well as confirming which engine is installed. The original MD17D may look agricultural, but one owner called it nigh on indestructible. A viewed example had recorded 1,733 hours.
The holding tanks are metal. One viewed boat had only a stove-top propane burner rather than a full oven. Period equipment included a full dodger and bimini, large single-speed primary winches, and a decent anchor windlass.
With only 42 boats built, every Sealord belongs to a short production run that nearly ended early. One owner repeated the claim that it was Westerly’s best design, though that speaks more to the affection the boat inspires than to production volume.
The Verdict
The Sealord 39 was a Dubois-designed flagship that nearly disappeared under the pressure of the Corsair’s lower price. It nevertheless earned bluewater credentials through its stiff, heavy hull and forgiving temperament in heavy weather.
The boat is roomy, a superb load carrier, and fitted with a structurally simple rig. Surviving examples, however, may be plagued by deck-leak pathways, weak bulkhead attachment, and worn consumables.
Pros
- Stiff and powerful in heavy weather; can be driven hard
- Center-cockpit layout with a deep lazarette and excellent deck stowage aft
- Generous accommodations with two heads and convertible berths
- Simple, robust, single-spreader sloop rig
Cons
- Pervasive leak paths reported, including a forward-head leak, a crack in the deck at the forestay, and soaked cushions
- Poor bulkhead attachment reported; an overtightened babystay can lift the deck
- Cracked aluminum stanchions and a loose pulpit reported
- Probably a little sluggish in light air, according to a reviewer’s observation
