Westerly Sealord 39 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Westerly Sealord 39 means looking at a short-run Dubois center-cockpit cruiser built between 1983 and 1987, with only 42 produced. These are bluewater-oriented boats that have circulated as both private and ex-charter yachts, and the surviving examples carry the wear and refit history of four-decade-old fiberglass cruisers rather than showroom freshness.
Layouts on the Used Market
Both owner three-cabin and charter four-cabin arrangements are well represented among used Sealords, and ex-charter boats are common. The center-cockpit plan puts the helm atop the aft cabin with a deep lazarette under a cockpit seat, a u-shaped galley and full nav station amidships, and a v-berth cabin forward with its own head. Aft, the main cabin has a head and converts to a double with an infill. Buyers should decide early whether a former charter four-cabin hull's extra berths suit private use or simply mean more interior surfaces to maintain.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, heating, an inverter, a furling main, and a chartplotter are commonly fitted to Sealords, reflecting how owners have modernized these cruisers for living aboard and navigation. The original powerplant story matters more than stereo upgrades: early boats left the factory with a 36-horsepower Volvo MD17D, soon replaced by a 28-horsepower Volvo 2003 and then the turbocharged 42-horsepower 2003T, so confirm which engine sits in the boat you view. Period equipment such as a full dodger, bimini, large single-speed primaries, and a decent windlass should be expected but verified, and metal holding tanks plus a frequently minimal stove setup (stove-top only in one surveyed boat) are points to note for cruising readiness.
What to Inspect
Documented defects on this design center on water intrusion and structural attachment. Check the forward head for a bad leak and trim damage, and trace the deck at the forestay base for a crack that can admit water. Bilges and the engine compartment should be dry — standing water in either is a recorded fault. Inspect every cabin for soaked cushions and moldy wood, signs of leaks from several points. Several aluminum stanchions have cracked and a pulpit has wiggled; push and sight them carefully. Most critically, an overly tightened babystay has pulled a deck and bulkhead upward where the bulkhead was not well attached to the hull, opening a roughly half-inch gap at the sole — look for that separation. All port and hatch glass and all running rigging on a surveyed boat needed replacement, so budget accordingly.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts are typically found in the United Kingdom. Before committing, run through a short checklist:
- Confirm the installed Volvo engine model and hours
- Check the chainplate and forestay-deck junction for cracks
- Lift settee cushions in every cabin for damp and mold
- Test stanchion and pulpit rigidity
- Look for a bulkhead-to-sole gap near the babystay
- Verify port and hatch glass condition
- Inspect bilge and engine bay for standing water
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Westerly Sealord 39. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | 1 | $88,257 | — |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $88,257 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Westerly Sealord 39 listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $88,257 | 2 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 39 | 38.88' | $ 182,351 | 30 | 8 |
| Westerly Oceanlord 41 | 40.5' | $ 74,611 | 29 | 5 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,244 | 12 | 2 |
| Oyster Yachts 39 | 40.68' | $ 52,386 | 9 | 3 |
| Nicholson 39 | 39' | $ 101,835 | 8 | 3 |
| Westerly Sealord 39You are here | — | $ 88,257 | 2 | 1 |