1983 Westerly Sealord 39 | 38ft

The 1983 Westerly Sealord 39 is a rare and highly respected bluewater cruising yacht built during the golden era of British yacht manufacturing. Designed by the legendary Ed Dubois and constructed by Westerly Yachts, the Sealord 39 combines robust offshore capability, spacious liveaboard comfort, and excellent sailing performance into a vessel that continues to command admiration decades after production.

With only around 42 examples built between 1983 and 1987, the Sealord 39 remains one of Westerly’s rarer and more sought-after models. Designed as a serious offshore cruiser, the Sealord offers the ideal combination of strength, safety, comfort, and practical long-distance cruising capability.

“Faith” is an exceptional example of this iconic centre cockpit cruiser. Offering extensive accommodation, two heads, and a secure all-weather cockpit, she inspires confidence both offshore and in coastal waters. Her deep, protected cockpit, solid construction, and proven seaworthiness create the reassuring feeling that she is capable of taking her crew virtually anywhere in comfort and safety — while always bringing them home again.

Design & Construction

The Westerly Sealord 39 was designed for sailors seeking a true offshore cruising yacht with the comfort and practicality required for long-distance passages or extended liveaboard life. Built with Westerly’s renowned fiberglass construction and solid engineering, the Sealord is known for being exceptionally robust and seaworthy.

The centre cockpit layout provides several key advantages for offshore cruising:

• Enhanced cockpit protection
• Improved safety in heavy weather
• Better visibility while underway
• Increased privacy between cabins
• Spacious aft accommodation

The yacht’s fin keel configuration delivers excellent sailing performance while maintaining offshore stability and directional control. The hull shape and displacement provide a comfortable motion at sea, making long passages less tiring for crew and guests alike.

The current owner, who spent much of his life around boats and worked alongside renowned boatbuilder Peter Nicholls, specifically admired the Westerly Sealord’s solid construction when first seeing the model at the 1983 Boat Show. Years later, when the time came to purchase his own cruising yacht, the Sealord 39 remained the only boat that fully met his requirements.

Recent Upgrades & Refit Work

Purchased by her current owners in 2021, “Faith” has since benefited from a cosmetic refit including completely renewed upholstery throughout the vessel, complementing significant work that had already been completed in previous years.

Major upgrades completed prior to the current ownership included:

• New standing rigging
• New electrical systems
• New helm chart plotter
• New diesel heating system
• New fire safety equipment
• New battery inverter

The yacht also benefits from a modern Yanmar diesel engine installed in 2014, with only approximately 955 engine hours recorded, providing outstanding reliability and efficiency for extended cruising.

Sailing Performance

The Westerly Sealord 39 was designed to satisfy sailors seeking both comfort and capable offshore performance. Despite her spacious cruising layout and substantial displacement, she remains a rewarding and confidence-inspiring yacht under sail.

Key sailing characteristics include:

• Strong offshore capability
• Stable and comfortable motion underway
• Excellent heavy-weather manners
• Secure and protected centre cockpit
• Easy sail handling with furling systems
• Strong directional stability

The in-mast furling mainsail and furling genoa setup simplify sail handling considerably, making the yacht ideal for short-handed cruising or long-distance passages where safety and ease of operation are priorities.

Sail inventory includes:

• Furling mainsail
• Furling genoa
• Genoa
• Storm jib
• Asymmetric spinnaker

The deep cockpit offers excellent protection from spray and weather while maintaining a solid and secure feeling underway.

Interior & Accommodation

One of the Sealord 39’s greatest strengths is its exceptionally spacious and versatile interior layout. Designed with extended cruising and liveaboard comfort in mind, the yacht offers flexible accommodation, abundant storage, and excellent separation between living spaces.

Forward Cabin

The forward accommodation features:

• Large double berth with infill
• Hanging lockers
• Separate heads compartment
• Shower attachment

Main Saloon

The saloon is spacious, warm, and highly social in layout, offering:

• Full wraparound seating
• Convertible double berth
• Large folding dining table
• Excellent entertaining space
• Rich traditional wood finishes

The recent upholstery refit gives the interior a fresh and updated appearance while maintaining the yacht’s classic offshore cruising character.

Galley

The galley is practical and very well equipped for extended cruising, featuring:

• Refrigerator
• Cool box
• Stainless steel sink
• Gas cooker
• Extensive storage space

Navigation Station

The dedicated navigation station provides a traditional offshore navigation setup with:

• Full electrical switch panels
• Navigation instruments
• Gauges and monitoring systems
• Excellent workspace

Aft Cabin

The aft cabin provides excellent privacy and comfort, making the Sealord ideal for liveaboard cruising or extended family use.

Accommodation aft includes:

• Double berth to starboard
• Single berth to port
• Additional heads compartment
• Extensive storage
• Easy access to systems and engine space

A connecting corridor between the saloon and aft cabin further improves onboard storage and includes an additional berth.

Deck & Exterior

The exterior of “Faith” presents exceptionally well and benefits from several important upgrades and maintenance improvements.

Highlights include:

• GRP decks with no teak overlay
• New hatch covers
• New sprayhood
• New wheel cover
• Glass windows reseated by current owner
• Freshly polished hull
• Recent antifouling over reduced copper coat

The absence of teak decking reduces maintenance requirements while keeping the yacht looking clean, bright, and modern.

The reseated glass windows avoid the UV crazing often found on older acrylic installations and contribute to the yacht’s overall excellent presentation.

Electronics & Equipment

The yacht is comprehensively equipped for offshore cruising and comfortable liveaboard use.

Electronics & Navigation

• Depth sounder
• Log-speedometer
• Wind speed and direction instruments
• Navigation center
• Chart plotter
• Autopilot
• Compass
• VHF radio
• Radio/CD player

Electrical Equipment

• Shore power inlet
• Inverter

Interior Equipment

• Diesel heating system
• Hot water system
• Refrigerator
• Marine heads
• Manual bilge pump

Exterior Equipment

• Cockpit cushions
• Swimming ladder

Engine & Mechanical

“Faith” is powered by a modern and highly regarded Yanmar 4JH3E diesel engine, installed in 2014.

Engine Specifications

• Engine Make: Yanmar
• Engine Model: 4JH3E
• Engine Year: 2014
• Power: 56hp
• Engine Hours: 955
• Drive Type: Direct Drive
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Propeller: 3-Blade Alloy Propeller

The relatively low engine hours combined with the modern installation make this a major advantage for long-term ownership and offshore reliability.

Specifications

Dimensions

• Length Overall (LOA): 38.48 ft
• Length at Waterline (LWL): 32.51 ft
• Beam: 13.16 ft
• Draft: 5.51 ft

Hull & Construction

• Hull Material: Fiberglass
• Hull Shape: Monohull
• Keel Type: Fin Keel

Deck Equipment

• Windlass: Manual Windlass

Overall Impression

The 1983 Westerly Sealord 39 is a serious offshore cruising yacht with rare pedigree, exceptional build quality, and highly practical long-distance cruising accommodation. Combining Ed Dubois performance design with Westerly’s renowned construction standards, the Sealord offers the strength and confidence required for bluewater passages alongside the comfort expected of a true liveaboard cruiser.

“Faith” stands out as a particularly attractive example thanks to her extensive upgrades, modern Yanmar engine, refreshed interior, updated systems, and impressive overall presentation. Spacious, secure, and highly capable, she represents an outstanding opportunity for sailors seeking a proven centre cockpit cruiser ready for serious adventures afloat.