Westerly Typhoon 37 Sailboats for Sale

The Typhoon 37 is architecturally descended from the legendary Westerly Fulmar: more boat in every direction, with a larger, more refined interior, a bulb keel that carries ballast lower than the Fulmar's, and a high-quality deck package that was genuinely impressive for its time. The fractional rig gives the boat excellent upwind ability and a mainsail that can be depowered quickly via the backstay adjuster — a genuine virtue for short-handed cruising couples who may be pushing into a headwind at the end of a long passage. The closed transom and deep cockpit are old-school British features that will feel familiar to anyone coming from earlier Westerlys, though buyers accustomed to modern bathing platforms and swim steps should note the lack of transom access.

Layouts on the Used Market

Both the two-cabin and three-cabin interior arrangements appear on the used market, though the three-cabin version is the more common find. In the two-cabin configuration, the aft cabin is notably spacious — closer to a proper double stateroom than the pinched quarter berths typical of the era — with real floor space and a settee. In the three-cabin version, this aft space is divided into a smaller double quarter cabin on one side and a single cabin opposite, trading some comfort for the extra sleeping berth. Ex-charter examples are not uncommon, and prospective buyers should probe the provenance of any three-cabin boat accordingly, since charter use leaves its own kind of wear.

Forward, the Typhoon was offered with either a conventional double V-berth or a pair of offset singles at different heights — an arrangement that gives each person genuine foot space rather than the usual compromise. Swapping between the two is reportedly not prohibitively complex, so the forward arrangement need not be a dealbreaker. Both configurations include an en suite heads forward. The galley and chart table were praised at the time of introduction as among the best Westerly had ever fitted to a yacht: the galley sits to port near the companionway with a two-burner stove, oven, sink, and dedicated cold storage, while the starboard nav station faces forward with proper chart table area. The interior woodwork is dark teak, which reads traditional rather than contemporary but is robust and ages well.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples are typically well-equipped by the time they reach the market. Electronics packages — chartplotter, radar, and AIS transponder — are found across most of the fleet, reflecting the long active lives these boats have had in the hands of serious cruisers. Autopilots are similarly commonplace, as is some form of cabin heating, a practical necessity given that the bulk of these boats spent their sailing lives in northern European waters. Spinnaker gear is regularly found aboard, with asymmetric spinnakers and gennakers appearing on boats fitted out for performance passages.

Dodgers and cockpit protection features are often seen, as are EPIRBs, life rafts, and solar panels — the latter a frequent owner-fitted upgrade that reflects how these boats have been progressively modernized for extended offshore use. Hot-water systems, originally sometimes absent or basic, have typically been upgraded. Electric winches and bimini covers appear occasionally, representing owner upgrades that vary boat to boat. Teak cockpit soles are sometimes found on more extensively fitted-out examples.

Engine fitment changed during the production run: earlier Typhoons carry the 28hp Volvo Penta 2003 diesel, while later examples were fitted with the Volvo Penta 2030, which is widely regarded as a more robust unit. Buyers should confirm which engine is fitted and factor its service history and hours into the survey scope accordingly.

What to Inspect

The Typhoon's construction is largely hand-laid chopped strand mat — the hull uses two layers of osmosis-resistant isophthalic gel coat and isophthalic resin for the first layer of laminate, which provides meaningful protection against osmosis. The deck moulding uses a foam core rather than balsa, which is less likely than a balsa core to develop problems in the event of moisture ingress, but any foam-cored deck should still be carefully sounded for delamination, especially around fittings and high-traffic areas. A competent marine surveyor should perform a full osmosis check on the hull bottom regardless of the protective laminate schedule — the boats are old enough that history matters more than original specification.

The engine compartment deserves close attention. The Volvo Penta 2003 fitted to earlier boats is a serviceable unit but benefits from knowing its full service history; the 2030 that replaced it is considered the stronger long-term choice. Inspect the stern gland, seacocks, and any raw-water system components with care — these are items that accumulate wear quietly on a lightly maintained cruiser.

The fractional rig is a structural asset for sail handling, but inspect the mast base carefully whether it is keel-stepped or deck-stepped, as each arrangement has its own typical failure points. The backstay adjuster and associated chainplates should be examined by the surveyor. Biaxial reinforcement was used strategically in the laminate, but chainplate areas on any fiberglass boat of this age merit close attention. The inner forestay and its deck attachment — a feature that allows a staysail to be set — should be checked for wear and security.

The bulb keel is a defining asset of the design, carrying ballast low and conferring stiffness that exceeds what the ballast-to-displacement ratio alone might suggest. Inspect the keel-hull joint thoroughly; any signs of movement, staining, or cracking at the join warrant investigation before purchase.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Westerly Typhoon 37 fleet is small — roughly forty hulls were built before the model was revamped — and the boats are concentrated primarily in the United Kingdom, with additional examples found across the Netherlands and Portugal. This is not a yacht that appears frequently on brokerage sites, and buyers may need patience. The Westerly Owners Association (westerly-owners.co.uk) is an active resource and a sensible first port of call for locating boats and tapping into owner knowledge before committing to a survey.

The design's relative scarcity has kept values firmer than comparable-era production cruisers of similar length. Buyers who are willing to look patiently and commission a proper survey will find a yacht that genuinely rewards sailing, is easy to manage short-handed, and carries a heritage of quality construction that most contemporary competitors simply did not match.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm engine model (2003 or 2030) and obtain full service records and hour count
• Commission a full osmosis survey on the hull bottom
• Sound the foam-cored deck thoroughly, paying special attention to fittings and high-traffic zones
• Inspect the keel-hull joint for any movement, staining, or stress cracking
• Survey chainplates, inner forestay deck fitting, and mast base (whether deck- or keel-stepped)
• Verify the layout variant (two- or three-cabin) matches the original build record; check for ex-charter history
• Review standing and running rigging age and condition given the fractional rig's reliance on the backstay for depowering
• Check all seacocks, stern gland, and raw-water system components for age and serviceability
• Confirm safety equipment (life raft, EPIRB) is in-date and properly certified
• Contact the Westerly Owners Association for model-specific technical advisories and owner network access