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Bad P.R.

  • March 22, 2012 4:17 AM
    Quote
    Message # 865767
    Anonymous member
    It is hard to believe how much P.R. damage that old wetsnail slur did, or how it persists year after year.

    Would anyone care to answer this woman's email?  Her email address is windwaysailing@gmail.com  I'm not even sure the email is serious.  It could be spam.  It was sent to editor@westsail.org

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    Good morning,

    I have been looking for a boat to solo circumnavigate and one of my possibles is the Westsail 32.

    She certainly is a lovely looking boat and being descended from the Eric has a good pedigree.
    I was surprised therefore to receive an email from a sailing friend in NZ telling me that there the Westsail 32 is known as the Wet Snail!

    Have you heard this term?

    Does this infer that the boat is slow and also very wet?

    Again with her waterline length and beam and her Colin Archer lines, I am surprised that either apply. I live in the UK but if I want a Westsail 32 I will be travelling to Canada or the US or so it would seem. Eventually after my global sailing, the boat will end up in Galway, West or Ireland.
    Thanks and look forward to your comments.
  • March 22, 2012 5:36 AM
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    Reply # 865819 on 865767
    Deleted user
    It would seem that given the apparent knowlege of the writer that they would already know the answer to this question.
    The answer is all over the internet.

    As a recent buyer of my long sought after W32 I find myself being selective with whom I share my joy.

    Whoever it was that came up with the name "wetsnail" sure came up with a catchy one.

    It sure beats the slang term for Beneteau which is Bendy-Toy.     OUCH!

    Carl
  • March 22, 2012 9:24 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 865981 on 865767
    Anonymous member

    Ahoy Dick,

    I will answer this person sometime later today. 

    Dave King
  • March 22, 2012 11:04 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 866043 on 865767
    Deleted user
    While I believe that it's a uphill battle and we'll probably never change all the unfounded criticism, we can change some.  It's important because it reflects on resale value which is something I think we should all be concerned about.  It seems they always remember a story about how a Westsail was sailing slowly and they passed it.  They never seem to remember when they were passed.  

    Dave and I went around and around with some knotheads on another site earlier this year. I can tell you that none had cruised a Westsail and were just regurgitating the nonsense they'ed heard.  I rarely go on other sites because of this and hadn't been on this one since 2005, the topic being the same.

    The best way is to be out sailing and cruising with the boat sailing as best as you can. We've changed a few minds while out cruising and hope to change more. Also we feel strongly enough about sailing as well as we can that we will be doing the Dave KIng modification next month.  Not just us, but a total of four Westsails will be hauled in Stockton Ca. doing the modification with Dave's help and supervision.

    Jim 
  • March 22, 2012 11:27 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 866115 on 865767
    Anonymous
    In Hollywood, it seems that in order to achieve or maintain celebrity status, an actor will bring attention to him or herself by getting arrested for drugs, drunken driving, claiming to be homosexual, exposing his genitalia in public. The public exposure means fame and $$$

    It seems that our boats come up in online conversation quite regularly and tend to stir up considerable passionate debate when they do. Sometimes I'd prefer to be just one of the little people and go completely unnoticed, but then I'd probably miss that reaction we all know so well when we divulge our boats brand. You know the one...."ahhh a westsail, that's a (stout, strong, beautiful, rugged,) boat"...that boat'll take you anywhere you wanna go..and so on.

    Maybe the reason our boats have retained their value reasonably well is specifically because of the notoriety.

    If I had it to do over again I'd still prefer a drubbing with the clever little Wetsnail moniker, over suffering the indifference many people display towards say, a Hunter or Catalina or worse a boat no-one has ever heard of before. Besides, it keeps us from getting too swell headed.

    Try reselling a "Bob Smith 32" and see how that goes. LOL!  Yup, I hope the Wetsnail name stays around for a while.
    Last modified: March 22, 2012 11:44 AM | Anonymous
  • March 22, 2012 11:44 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 866125 on 865767
    Anonymous member

    My response to someone writing or speaking about poor Westsail performance is to always directly ask them if that have ever sailed one.  The answer is usually "NO, BUT SOMEONE TOLD ME, OR I READ IT SOMEWHERE".

    Nuff said.
  • March 22, 2012 4:23 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 866297 on 865767
    Deleted user

    It's gotta be one of the best boats readily available to do a solo circumnavigation as the emailer has stated she wants to do. When sailing solo you need to rest while the boat takes care of itself, and balanced full keel boats like the W32 are better at that than than most modern designs. In my opinion, speed takes a backseat to safety and comfort when sailing shorthanded for long distances.

    That being said, a W32 sailed well is no slouch with the appropriate sail inventory.
  • March 22, 2012 7:15 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 866441 on 865767
    Anonymous member

    I have written to Dawn and answered her questions appropriately.  The request for information was honest.  She is quite a knowledgable boater but being in the UK did not have much access to the Westsail.  She is leary of information given on the internet, thus her request for info from us.  If she decides to go with a westsail she will do us all proud.  I will help her any way I can.

    Dave
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