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Vulcan 34 Westerly
Designer: Jack Laurent Giles  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Vulcan 34 Westerly

Designed by the renowned Jack Laurent Giles and built by Westerly Marine from 1980 to 1984, this distinctive twin-keeled cruiser represents British yacht building at its most practical. With only 42 hulls produced during its four-year run, the Vulcan 34 has become a sought-after example of thoughtful coastal cruising design. The twin-keel configuration stands as this yacht's defining characteristic, allowing access to shallow harbors and the ability to dry out safely on beaches or in tidal waters. This feature makes her particularly well-suited for exploring the challenging tidal ranges and shallow anchorages common around British and European coasts. The substantial 6,971-pound ballast provides excellent stability despite the unconventional keel arrangement. With a comfort ratio of 30.1 and capsize screening formula of 1.88, she strikes an ideal balance between seaworthiness and livability for extended coastal cruising. The masthead sloop rig with 570 square feet of sail area delivers respectable performance while remaining manageable for couples or small crews. Her fiberglass construction ensures durability, while the generous 11.75-foot beam maximizes interior volume. This yacht excels as a comfortable coastal cruiser for those who value the flexibility of twin keels over ultimate sailing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 34.00 ft / 10.36 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.42 ft / 8.66 m
Beam 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Max Draft 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 15,602.00 lb / 7,077 kg
Ballast 6,971.00 lb / 3,162 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 570.00 ft² / 52.95 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Twin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Jack Laurent Giles
Builder Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1980
Last Built 1984
Number Built 42
Associations Westerly Owners Association
Related Sailboats ["Gk 34 Westerly" · "Rival 34" · "Contest 34" · "Oday 34" · "Catalina 34"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.66
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 44.68
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 303.43
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 30.1
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.88
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.14 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,193.19 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 60
Fuel Capacity 60 gals / 227 L
Water Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
How It Compares

vs. Contest 34, Oday 34, Rival 34

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
34.0 ft
Contest 34
34.0 ft
Oday 34
34.0 ft
Rival 34
34.0 ft
LWL
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
28.4 ft
Contest 34
27.6 ft
Oday 34
28.8 ft
Rival 34
24.8 ft
Beam
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
11.8 ft
Contest 34
11.2 ft
Oday 34
11.3 ft
Rival 34
9.7 ft
Displacement
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
15 lbs
Contest 34
16 lbs
Oday 34
11 lbs
Rival 34
11 lbs
Ballast
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
6 lbs
Contest 34
7 lbs
Oday 34
4 lbs
Rival 34
4 lbs
Sail Area
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
570 sq ft
Contest 34
484 sq ft
Oday 34
524 sq ft
Rival 34
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
—
Contest 34
186 s/nm
Oday 34
153 s/nm
Rival 34
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
14.7
Contest 34
12.1
Oday 34
16.5
Rival 34
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
44.7 %
Contest 34
—
Oday 34
—
Rival 34
39.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
30.1
Contest 34
34.4
Oday 34
23.3
Rival 34
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
1.88
Contest 34
1.76
Oday 34
2.00
Rival 34
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
303
Contest 34
—
Oday 34
—
Rival 34
347
Hull Speed
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
7.1 kts
Contest 34
7.0 kts
Oday 34
7.2 kts
Rival 34
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Vulcan 34 Westerly ★
—
Contest 34
1.1
Oday 34
2.5
Rival 34
—
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