1985 Westerly Konsort Duo 29

Westerly Konsort Duo 29: A Twin-Keel Cruiser Built for Two

1. General Information

The Westerly Konsort Duo 29 is a sturdy, twin-keel cruising sloop from Westerly Marine, built between 1985 and 1988 as a purpose-designed variant of the popular Konsort. Where the standard Konsort was aimed at family sailing, the Duo was developed after Westerly surveyed owners of the Centaur and other models to create a motorsailer conceived specifically for a couple to handle short-handed, with occasional berths for visiting friends. The result is a forgiving, easy-to-manage 29-footer that suits owners moving up from smaller boats, retired couples cruising at a relaxed pace, and anyone who values shoal-draught access to drying harbours and estuaries over outright speed. With a beam of nearly 11 feet on a hull just under 29 feet long, the Konsort Duo feels notably roomier below than its length suggests, and its generous fuel and water tankage give it real range for extended coastal and cross-Channel cruising rather than day-sailing alone.

2. Construction and Design

Laurent Giles, in one of his last designs for Westerly, drew a solid GRP hull with a balsa-cored deck, built to Lloyd's-approved standards typical of Westerly's yard. The twin fin keels, without bulbs, give the Konsort Duo a shoal draught of around 3'4" (1.01m), letting owners dry out alongside a harbour wall or explore shallower anchorages that a deep-fin cruiser could never reach, at the cost of pointing ability rather than outright stability. Below decks, the joinery follows Westerly's hallmark approach of bonding solid teak and teak-faced plywood directly to the hull rather than relying on a separate interior moulding, which gives the saloon a warmer, more hand-finished feel than many production boats of the era. The single heads compartment, separate hanging locker, and deck-saloon-style layout are all arranged around the needs of two people living aboard for extended periods, with stowage distributed generously through the saloon and forecabin.

3. Key Features

Twin fin keels for shoal-draught cruising. A draught of roughly 3'4" means the Konsort Duo can access drying moorings, tidal creeks and shallow anchorages that keep a deep-keeled cruiser offshore, trading some windward performance for practical access.

Generous tankage for extended cruising. With around 50 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of fresh water, the Duo carries far more reserve than most boats its size, supporting longer passages and more relaxed liveaboard cruising between refills.

A layout designed around two. Unlike the standard family-oriented Konsort, the Duo's accommodation was purpose-built for a couple sailing short-handed, with occasional berths kept for guests rather than a full family crew.

Masthead sloop rig with manageable sail area. A conventional masthead rig, with a working sail plan supplemented by genoa, solent, jib, storm jib and spinnaker options, keeps the boat straightforward to handle while still offering flexibility for different conditions.

Westerly build quality and owner support. Solid GRP construction, teak joinery, and one of the most active class owners' associations in the UK make the Konsort Duo an easy boat to maintain, upgrade and resell.

4. Summary

The Westerly Konsort Duo 29 suits a cruising couple, first-time owner-liveaboards, or a retired sailor looking for a solid, forgiving boat that will look after them rather than demand to be raced. Its shoal draught and twin keels reward those who cruise tidal coastlines, estuaries and drying harbours where deeper-keeled yachts cannot follow, while its unusually generous tankage extends its reach for those who want to cruise further without frequent stops. Buyers drawn to the Konsort Duo are typically prioritising comfort, practicality and low-drama handling over outright sailing performance, and value the reassurance of a well-supported, well-understood classic design with four decades of proven seaworthiness behind it.