Westsail 42 / 43
Built 1974–? by Westsail Corp. (3 late hulls by Jomarco)
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About the Westsail 42 / 43
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1974–?
- Builder
- Westsail Corp. (3 late hulls by Jomarco)
- Designer
- William Crealock
- Length
- 42.92 ft
- Waterline
- 33.33 ft
- Beam
- 13 ft
- Draft
- 5.67 ft
- Displacement
- 31,500 lb
- Ballast
- 12,000 lb
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- cutter
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Number built
- 119
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel unknown
“SailboatData lists 200 gallons of fuel” — spec database, passageboats.com · “Fuel tanks, center and starboard, total 135 gallons in two tanks” — broker listing, westsail.com · “fuel tanks (200 gallons)” — search excerpt, svmysticeti.comBoats differ: a listing on the Westsail Parts site gives 135 gal in two tanks, an owner's site 200 gal, a spec database 200. The W-42/43 tanks sit under the cabin floor and many hulls were owner-finished. No builder figure was checked.
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Water unknown
“300 gallons of water (SailboatData, as quoted)” — spec database, passageboats.com · “Water, port, total 150 gallons in two tanks” — broker listing, westsail.com · “water tanks (200 gallons)” — search excerpt, svmysticeti.com · “100 gallon main tank and 2 wings tanks - 50 gallons each” — search excerpt, westsail.com150, 200 (100 + 2 x 50) and 300 gal are all reported for individual boats; the 300 rests only on a spec database. No builder figure was checked.
-
Holding unknown
Westsail Parts Co. offers a V-shaped polyethylene holding tank to fit under the forward berth of any Westsail, which suggests none was standard; no capacity is given.
-
Water heater unknown
No source was found. The Westsail Owners Association links a Westsail Corp pamphlet on the W42, but it couldn't be checked.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering pedestal cable
“WESTSAIL 42 (S-588): CLASSIC PEDESTAL STEERER/TAPERED; DISHED DESTROYER WHEEL; CHAIN & WIRE ROPE ASSY. W/HARDWARE; UPRIG” — spec database, edsonmarine.com · “W42 Steering Pedestal/ Merriman Yacht Specialties / broken idler pulley plate” — owners' association, westsail.orgEdson's Westsail 42 data sheet lays out a chain-and-wire pedestal with idlers and quadrant (a replacement layout, not proof of original fit); a Westsail Owners Association thread mentions a Merriman pedestal with an idler pulley plate on a 42. Both point to pedestal chain-and-cable, maker unsettled; the center-cockpit 43 wasn't checked.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on fuel tank, water tank — left blank rather than guessed.
The 42 is center cockpit; the aft-cockpit version from the same mold is the Westsail 43. Cutter, ketch and yawl rigs were offered.
Engines fitted
-
Perkins 4-236 — 85 hp, diesel, single
standard
Owners' association: the W43 factory manual called for the 4-236 (with 3:1 V-drive), and W42 owners run 4-236s too. A 1976 factory-finished W43 and a model review both list the 85 hp 4-236. Sailboatdata gives 65 hp (W42) and 82 hp (W43).Sources: westsail.org · westsail.com · listingsport.com · sailboatdata.com
- Perkins — 65 hp, diesel standard
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No source found.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
Perkins 4.236 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Perkins 4-236”
Launched by Perkins in 1964 and phased out in the late 1980s; one of the most-produced industrial/agricultural diesels ever, so internal engine parts remain plentiful through Perkins dealers, the official Perkins parts shop and aftermarket houses (e.g., Diesel Parts Direct). Marine-specific items are the harder part: owners report trouble sourcing raw-water exhaust elbows and the original raw water pump. TAD offers rebuilt exchange engines and rebuilds.
Parts sources: Trans Atlantic Diesels (TAD), Diesel Parts Direct, Perkins official parts shop
Common problems (2)
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Raw water pump leaks and hard-to-identify replacement cooling
Owners commonly see the raw water pump leaking and struggle to identify the exact Jabsco/Sherwood pump or find rebuild kits, since several original pump part numbers have been superseded or discontinued.justanswer.com · forums.ybw.com
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Exhaust elbows hard to source exhaust
Marine exhaust (raw water injection) elbows for older 4.236 installations can be difficult to find, pushing owners toward specialist suppliers or fabricators.trawlerforum.com
Maker’s service schedule (15)
| Engine oil & filter change 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 200 hrs or 4 mo | “4.236(M) Engines ... Every 200 hours or 4 months (whichever occurs first). Drain and renew engine lubricating oil (see p” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Fuel filters & water separator 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 400 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). Renew final fuel filter element.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Air filter / intake silencer 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 150 hrs or 3 mo | “Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). Clean air intake gauze or screen.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Drive belts inspect / replace 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 200 hrs or 4 mo | “Every 200 hours or 4 months (whichever occurs first). ... Check drive belt tension.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Valve clearance check / adjust 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 2,400 hrs | “Every 2,400 hours ... Check and adjust valve tip clearances.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Injector test / service 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 2,400 hrs | “Every 2,400 hours ... Service atomisers.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Transmission fluid change 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 400 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Renew gearbox lubricating oil.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Grease tachometer angle drive (where nipple fitted) 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 150 hrs or 3 mo | “Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... Grease tachometer angle drive connections (where nipple fitted” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Clean water trap 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 200 hrs or 4 mo | “Every 200 hours or 4 months (whichever occurs first). ... Clean water trap.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Check engine for oil and water leaks 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 200 hrs or 4 mo | “Every 200 hours or 4 months (whichever occurs first). ... Check engine for leakage of oil and water.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Lubricate dynamo rear bush (where fitted) 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 200 hrs or 4 mo | “Every 200 hours or 4 months (whichever occurs first). ... Lubricate dynamo rear bush (where fitted).” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Check hoses and clips 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 400 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Check hoses and clips.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Clean fuel lift pump sediment chamber 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 400 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Clean lift pump sediment chamber.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Drain and clean fuel tank 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 400 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Drain and clean fuel tank.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
| Examine and service starter, generator etc. 4.236(M) naturally aspirated marine | 2,400 hrs | “Every 2,400 hours Arrange for examination and service of proprietary equipment, i.e. starter, generator, etc.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net |
Service part numbers (3)
| Oil filter | Perkins 2654403 | “A genuine Perkins 4.236 oil filter - OE Part No. 2654403.” — dealer, parts4engines.com · “Oil Filter - 2654403 £15” — dealer, lancingmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Jabsco 10970 / 10970-21 pump |
Jabsco 1210-0001 | “4.236 / T4.236 10970 040 3/4" BSP Flange SK268-01 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com · “Sea Water Pump, 3/4" NPT threaded ports - Jabsco 10970 / flanged ports - Jabsco 10970-21” — dealer, lancingmarine.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Jabsco 10970 / 10970-21 pump |
Jabsco SK268-01 | “4.236 / T4.236 10970 040 3/4" BSP Flange SK268-01 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (9)
sailboatdata.com · westsail.org · westsail.com · listingsport.com · sailboatdata.com · passageboats.com · westsail.com · edsonmarine.com · westsail.org
Other Westsail models
- Westsail 28 1975–1979
- Westsail 32 1971–1981
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.