Westerly Storm 33 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The majority of Storm 33s afloat were configured as three-cabin layouts, and these are the more commonly encountered arrangement when shopping the used market. Ex-charter examples appear with some frequency, so it is worth establishing a boat's working history early in any negotiation — charter life can age interiors and running gear quickly, though it also means owners were generally diligent about engine servicing records. Two-cabin variants do exist but are less commonly seen. The aft cockpit arrangement is consistent across the model range, and the interior, while solid and well-constructed in typical Westerly fashion, carries the somewhat dated hardwood and plywood aesthetic that characterised the marque before the 1993 Regatta 330 rebadge refreshed the fit-out with lighter cherry woodwork. If interior modernity matters to you, the earlier boats show their age; if you value structural integrity and honest joinery over surface glamour, that same construction is a mark in the Storm's favour.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The Storm 33 has been out of production long enough that the used fleet carries a wide range of owner-fitted equipment, and the level of outfitting varies considerably from boat to boat. Autopilots, chartplotters, heating systems, wind generators, spinnakers, and spray dodgers are commonly fitted — these are the baseline extras you can reasonably expect to encounter on a well-maintained example. Radar, life rafts, dinghy davits, and asymmetric spinnakers appear on a good proportion of boats as well, reflecting the offshore and coastal passage-making role most owners have put them to.

Beyond that baseline, the Storm 33 has attracted genuine upgrading from committed owners. Inverters, gennakers, furling mains, electric winches, hot water systems, biminis, teak decks, AIS, and EPIRBs all appear as owner additions across the fleet. A few examples have been fitted out for extended bluewater sailing, and boats carrying the full complement of passage-making kit — watermaker, extensive electrical capacity, storm canvas — do appear occasionally. These heavier-equipped boats demand close scrutiny of the installations: amateur electrical work and added through-hulls are worth examining with care.

What to Inspect

The Storm 33's bilge keel variant is rare, and if you encounter one, it requires particular attention. The splayed bilge keels place substantial forces on the hull keel stubs, keel bolts, and hull-to-keel bonding over time, particularly on boats kept on drying moorings. Surveyors advise looking carefully for stress cracks on the moulded-in keel stubs and for tabbing or bonding breaking away from keel support webs, semi-bulkheads, and locker dividers beneath the saloon berths and saloon sole. Fin-keel examples — the vast majority of the fleet — did not suffer from the transverse floor beam cracking seen in smaller Westerly fin-keelers like the Merlin, because the Storm's keel support structure was more generous, with taller and thicker matrix beams made possible by the better headroom. However, cracking to keel support beams has been documented on Storms, so this area still warrants inspection on any example.

Early production models had a tendency to carry a list to starboard, caused by the location of the fuel and water tanks; this was easily corrected and is unlikely to be an ongoing issue on a well-maintained boat, but it is worth checking trim on older examples. The rudder bearings — strictly bushes rather than conventional bearings — are a maintenance item that sees regular replacement on older boats, and the procedure, while not complex, requires lifting the boat and removing the rudder. Confirm the condition and recent service history of the rudder bushes before purchase.

The hull's pronounced beam and dish shape means the galley top sits somewhat higher than on comparable yachts — an ergonomic quirk rather than a structural concern, but worth experiencing in person before committing. The wide, tapered stern is a defining feature of the hull and contributes to the Storm's lively performance in a seaway.

The deck and keel-deck joint deserve the same attention any GRP yacht of this vintage would receive. Check the mast step and chainplates for corrosion and any signs of water ingress into the surrounding laminate. Engine hours, cooling system condition, and the state of the Volvo Penta installation are all standard pre-purchase checks, but pay particular attention on ex-charter boats where higher utilisation may have shortened service intervals.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Storm 33 is primarily a United Kingdom market boat — the majority of the fleet has remained in British waters, and the secondary market reflects that. Occasional examples appear further afield in northern European waters, but if you are shopping from outside the UK, expect that travel will likely be involved in any serious survey. The Westerly Owners Association is an excellent resource for connecting with the broader owner community and sourcing the definitive guides specific to the Storm and its close relations.

For a buyer's pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm keel type (fin or bilge) and inspect keel attachment points, stubs, and bonding thoroughly on any bilge-keel example
• Check keel support beams for cracking on all variants
• Verify rudder bush condition and recent service history
• Inspect fuel and water tank placement and check for any port-starboard trim issues on early builds
• Review the electrical installation, particularly on heavily upgraded boats
• Establish the boat's charter or cruising history before the survey
• Confirm engine hours and service records for the Volvo Penta
• Contact the Westerly Owners Association for model-specific guidance and access to the definitive owner's guides