1979 O'Day 25 vs 1979 Westerly Fulmar — Comparison

1979 O'Day 251979 O'Day 25
VS
1979 Westerly Fulmar1979 Westerly Fulmar

Specifications Side by Side

Specification1979 O'Day 251979 Westerly Fulmar
General
ManufacturerO'DayWesterly
Year1979–19841979–1986
TypeSloopSloop
CountryUSAUK
DesignerC. Raymond HuntEd Dubois
Dimensions
LOA7.62 m (25.0 ft)9.75 m (32.0 ft)
LWL6.25 m (20.5 ft)8.00 m (26.2 ft)
Beam2.74 m (9.0 ft)3.20 m (10.5 ft)
Draft1.07 m (3.5 ft)1.07 m (3.5 ft)
Weight
Displacement1,769 kg (3,900 lbs)4,990 kg (11,001 lbs)
Ballast726 kg (1,601 lbs)1,814 kg (3,999 lbs)
Sailing
Sail Area27.2 m² (293 ft²)36.0 m² (388 ft²)
Hull MaterialFiberglassFiberglass
Keel TypeFinBilge
Engine & Tanks
Engine7 HP18 HP
Fuel Capacity30 L (7.9 gal)68 L (18.0 gal)
Water Capacity45 L (11.9 gal)136 L (35.9 gal)
Accommodation
Berths56
Cabins12

Performance Comparison

SA/D Ratio (Higher = more sail power per displacement)
1979 O'Day 25
18.90
1979 Westerly Fulmar
12.53
Ballast Ratio (Higher = more stability)
1979 O'Day 25
41.04
1979 Westerly Fulmar
36.35
Capsize Ratio (Lower = safer offshore)
1979 O'Day 25
0.91
1979 Westerly Fulmar
0.75
Comfort Ratio (Higher = gentler motion)
1979 O'Day 25
16.00
1979 Westerly Fulmar
22.41

Detailed Comparison

The 1979 O'Day 25 and 1979 Westerly Fulmar represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1979 O'Day 25 is a 1970s design by O'Day from USA, while the 1979 Westerly Fulmar is a 1970s offering from Westerly from UK. The 1979 O'Day 25 was penned by C. Raymond Hunt. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar was designed by Ed Dubois.

In terms of size, the 1979 O'Day 25 measures 7.62m (25.0ft) overall with a beam of 2.74m, compared to the 1979 Westerly Fulmar at 9.75m (32.0ft) with a 3.20m beam. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar is 2.13m longer than the 1979 O'Day 25. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar displaces approximately 182% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the 1979 O'Day 25 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.90 and 27.2 m² of sail area. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar, with an SA/D of 12.53 and 36.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. The 1979 O'Day 25 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the 1979 O'Day 25 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.91). The 1979 Westerly Fulmar has a comfort ratio of 22.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 41.0% for the 1979 O'Day 25 and 36.4% for the 1979 Westerly Fulmar, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the 1979 O'Day 25 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 45L of water capacity and 30L of fuel. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 136L water and 68L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The 1979 Westerly Fulmar is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.

For racing: The 1979 O'Day 25 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.

For liveaboard: The 1979 Westerly Fulmar offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.

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