sailboatdata westerly centaur

Westerly Centaur – the best small yacht in the world – probably

The Westerly Centaur is the finest small yacht in the world.  At 26 feet and four tonnes it is small enough to be easy to single hand and big enough to take the rough stuff.  I am confident that a Centaur could handle almost anything the British Climate can throw at it apart from the truly bonkers day when only an arse would be out in a 26 footer .  The space below is genius. A miraculously large bog is  provided and  five good berths. . Five adults  lived on mine for for two weeks - it was bloody crowded but feasible as long as the weather behaved. These boats sail brilliantly on all points of sail.

Of course all boats go well down or across the wind and given the blow a Centaur can really get a good chat going. . Upwind, admittedly,  they are not the same as a single keeler but if treated properly they go well upwind.  Centaurs like to be sailed just slightly over from upright. Then those canted and slighlt toed in twin keels  start to suck you up towards where the wind is coming from. But if you let her heel too much then that uphill keel stops working so well - you can feel it misbehave long before you see it cavitate -  The rudder tells you when the flows are not right.

Upwind sailing in a Centaur

The boat demands slightly more of you than than the fin or long keeler. When the gust come for those lazy wallahs they just brace their feet against a handy bit of cockpit, take one more suck on their pipe and let the physics do the rest as the boat heels to the wind and stays on track. With twin keels a bit of dinghy experience help. When the gust comes s -  either ease the main through the puff, or if you can't be arsed tto trim the main then just stuff her into the gusts a bit. When you look at my son came aboard the fist thing he did was to length the tiller exrension. In the film below you can see him sailing her like a laser dinghy he played the main - in and out that cleat  all the time. It was good to see.

The first centaur , Harmony the one I bought for £1,  was built in 1979 - the year after Westerly revamped the design of the keels and added a skeg.  She also had a lovely mainsail - a real driving force . Harmony felt good on the tiller - upwind you could steer her by feel alone. The £1 was really a sort of loan agreement. I did her up, sailed her for a year and then split the final price with the previous owner - three months of hard graft though.

The second boat - Lily M  - which cost me £5,500 was a different kettle  of fish. She was built before they change. With good old dependable, easy to reef,  flat as a pancake small mainsail Lily M felt like stirring jam. But trim her right and keep an eye on where she thinks she is pointing as opposed to where she really is pointing and she would go along rather nicely.

When I put the big blue ghoster on her - she was a real pleasure to sail though

They were both excellent boats but felt entirely different. How much was the main and how much the changed  keels and rudder I cannot say.

Bloody good boats

What the Centaurs gave me was the freedom to know that if the weather turned  bad and, as long as the engine would run, then by switching on the engine and shoving that big powerful bow into the teeth of the crap weather she will probably take you safely to wherever you want to go.  The prop with 20 hp going through it  is not half hidden behind a keel - it is running in clear flow  - it grabs water from between the keels and shoves it backwards. That negative pressure between the keels makes her hunker down like a six tonner - she feels bigger under power.

With lots of yachts they feel smaller, somehow less certain about themselves  under power than under sail.  Centaurs handle bloody brilliantly under engine. They are also s also great in marinas. Bugger prop kick I reckon - it hardly exists.r. She is completely under control going forwards at almost any speed so coming into and out of marinas is a piece of cake. In reverse things are less certain unless you get some way under - then you have pretty good control and you can stop her on a sixpence with enough engine revs - she onl;y weight four tonnes after all.

However, reversing around marinas at high speed in reverse and doing what look like emergency stops is frowned upon. So steady and forwards is the name of the game. if you do clonk anything she only weighs four tonnes so aim for the pontoon and not the Beneteau. The pontoon will survive unscathed the Centaur will have just one more ding of many. Any boat 40 years old will have been owned by idiots or got too close to idiots who own other boats.

Centaurs  deliver all this and bugger me they don't fall over when the tide goes out.

I am from East Anglia - flat scenery and 20 feet of tide. They do not need boatyard cradles either which can be a great saving.  You can ground her so easily that antifoul paint is no needed.

I shall miss  sailing a Centaur. Fekkin brilliant little yachts.

22 Responses to “Westerly Centaur – the best small yacht in the world – probably”

A mere speed hump for the adventure – you’ll be back up in bonny scotland in no time :)

Noticed that you mentioned the next 12 films would be west coast ones – are you going to do the Forth, Tay and Moray ones after that?

I confess that it is a bloody big hump Paul N – I have been forced to sell the filming platform and both cameras are knackered, corroded and out of date

Humps for a filming sailor don’t come much bigger than that and finding a way back into the position I was in this time last year will be tough – really tough. Both Eleanor and I think it is likely to be impossible -0 but I am up for tryimg. Ten years into this thing. I get defeated but I seldom quit.

THE BOSS has told me to focus completely on the west coast – sadly no-one cares about the east coast – her words not mine

The solent films did well for hits (but not taps) because people have sailed there. Hopefully the west coast ones will get lots of hits – my job, says THE BOSS is to try to turn as many of those hits into taps as I can.

No-one dreams about sailing up to Perth but they do dream about the west coast of scotland, the outer hebrides and st Kilda

priorities – set by her I should say – and she is “THE BOSS”

this might turn out to be a bump I damn I hope that is all it is – or it could be the end. I have no idea which it will be at this stage of the game. I aim to go down waving at the very least.

On the bright side, So far everything she has told me to do has worked to one degree or other. I have met her targets. The strategy set by me s ended with me selling the boat – her strategy seems to be a good one.

You will know what happened when I start blogging about sailing again rather than blogging about making films about sailing. I am sure you know what I would rather be doing – sailing.

Back to the editing desk to make what may well be the 12th to last film

Your probably right about the interest in the West coast, especially places like st kilda but on the other hand part of the KTL charm/USP was going to places well off the beaten track and unglamorous sailing areas as well as watching you work the tides to get up rivers that nobody else would bother with.

Does seem a shame to not use the footage you got in 2015 – how about launching a KTLTV2 channel on YouTube where you could stick up rougher/shorter clips and keep the full fat ones on the main KTL channel? Could also be a good home for some of your vlogs that you used to do.

Quite a few other youtubers do that and it means you can keep the interest high which might drive more visitors to here to keep tabs on things and hopefully be persuaded to chip in a bit….

I will only do that if eleanor says to do it. I have a feeling she will tell me to concentrate on the 12,000 non tappers. There are some lovely films there, and the cornwall stuff as well. I have gone broke. I have to swim to the nearest shore – if I can mix metaphors that way. I have to dance to youtube’s tune until I drop dead from exhaustion. You are the first person to ask about that material N – what does that tell you. besides – KTL is unique – there is nothing like it on the web. A sailing series without tits – who would have thought it.

i’m sure you (and Eleanor) are right – work the numbers so you can get the bish bosh to carry on must be the priority, i guess you can always come back and use the other stuff. Just thought that smaller, more regular bits might drive the youtube traffic – seems to be what other (non sailing) channels do these days.

Dylan – I now spend fourteen quid going to the cinema in Colchester, and that’s not including the parking and popcorn. Say £14 for a 90 minute film, therefore I’m happy to chip in the odd £7 for 45 minutes of your hilarious commentary and cinematic-quality photography. So make your movies and the “taps will come”. Best, -Jason

your wonderful taps may come – but I no longer believe in good fairies

the fact is that 4,000 people a day go to the KTL cinema and around 3,990 people walk out without paying – most days it is worse than that. It has been averaging ten taps a day since I put the reminder up and people realised that I have sold the boat – before then it was about ten a week.

I have been making these films for google to give away free for the past two years. The wet smelly stuff hit the fan with the selling of the filming platform – the cameras are rusty and out of date.. To get back in the game is a massive hill to climb. I have 12 chances to prevent the demise of KTL. The project is on life support at the moment. Eleanor and I are trying to pull something out of the ashes. I am hopeful but not optimistic. She is neither.

If I can get just a tiny percentage of those 12,000 regular users to tap in then then I can start again. But to start again looks like a big pile of money to earn from 12 good films none of which have tits in.

Two bits of advice – buy google shares and start downloading the films before they disappear.

Raise the maximum tap amounts listed some more. Yes, I did see the suggestion somewhere to buy two taps, but it’s not obvious enough. There will be some people who micro payments, e.g. paetroen, works for, and others, like me, who would rather buy the occasional round.

http://dartmouth.boatshed.com/fisher_freeward_25-boat-231107.html

Is this any good? £10 grand cheaper, new (ish) engine, hard top (sort of) and will sail better.

I am sure that you can see past the fact that she’s a bit in need of a scrub up. You can do a lot with £10 grand.

Just a suggestion.

Didn’t realise you had film of the East Coast & Cornwall in the can. I would be a real shame not to see this material. I believe your original concept of sailing as close to the coast and up each river to be a sound aim. Who else has done that and rewarded us with great footage and tales of how people lived in these less well known places. Although a little reluctant at first to accept that you need a more suitable & expensive boat for Scotland, I am with you on that decision. We got into sailing because of you and the idea it was something we could do on a limited budget in retirement (having not sailed before). Like you have significant costs traveling from Yorkshire to the IoW to sail, so we go for longer to compensate. One downside is we can’t just go for short breaks when the weather suits. The heated & dry cabin makes good sense particularly for two on board. It’s no fun being cold & damp, we might have put up with this when younger, but you have worked all you life for a bit of comfort! I do love your positive commentary while wearing 6 jumpers, a real pro! The next film must be drawing closer, looking forward to that. Your bank balance should improve by not forking out marine fees so that’s a positive. Oh and it would be interested in the issues with cameras on board, how you decide what to replace them with etc. Scotland 2018 and those islands will happen

Dylan, okay the Scottish west coast.. I’ll probably won’t ever sail there myself. Instead I still hope to do some sailing on the east and south coast of Britain in the near future. So those earlier films were an inspiration in themselves. I’m obsessed by visiting Wainfleet, for instance, get up the creek and on my bike to Wainfleet after that, to visit the local Brewery (Bateman’s) But I already was wondering whether it was time again to show some appriciation. So let’s see those 12 films and surely I will “bestride the foothills of niceness like a colossus among men” (your words!)

You might resume writing and editing film for Small Boat Advisor and other publications or video outlets in the U.S. to raise awareness of your journeys. That might help, but you really need a significant long term sponsor. International liquor, beer, wine conglomerates might be likely targets. You would have to sell your personality–not difficult. You would have to be filmed downing shots or pints or whatever of their products in pubs, bars–not difficult. We Yanks, who don’t know a firth from a forth, or anything, really, about the west coast of Scotland–or care much–respond to colorful personalities. So this tuppence worth from someone who began watching in the time of the Slug and the Beast but who has lost his way in the intricacies of Centaurs and such.

I have bought several books (on fishing) from a company where the author does not publish until the required amount of people have committed to buy. It seems to work well with books on a variety of subjects only get published once they are a financially viable proposition. If, as said in a previous post, you publish a tickler on youtube but hold back on the full length film until the required cash is committed I am sure that the’freeloaders’ will feel more inclined to tap the button. Good luck young fellah ! (I will log on and give another tap or two for luck !).

I did column on small craft advisor – and PBO – they pay terrible money – $100 a thousand. There is also no real movement from magazines to the web – THE BOSS says that print media is on such a slide that it counts for very little.

the problem is that the youtubers would soon learn that all you get from KTL is a teaser – so they don’t click on it. I think that putting the witty reminders in the films seems to work – well it did for round 1 anyway. If they object they can come to this website and watch it with no reminders in but they might have to catch a glimpse of a pay pal button

THE BOSS says trailers do not work – bloody hell – working under a dictatorship here. You will also note when the films are re-posted about a third of them will have my jowly ugly fizzog on them – as per instructed by herself

another move that another youtuber i subscribe to does is release films a month early to subscribers – could you do that maybe? Upload them to a private link and email that to folk that tap a wee while before the go live on youtube. Not sure i agree with the boss about teasers – again, other subscribers i watch do teasers for their paid content and it’s certainly worked for me.

Hang on a minute! I dream of sailing up to Perth. It’s part of my 2017 plan. I was waiting for you to post the instructional video :-)

we got to the bridge of earn as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJwVgra0a2o

Dylan, I was about to pay you “because I think it would help you to take a future boat to a future place”. Instead, as you suggest, I will watch the next 12 films and pay on a film by film basis. I am so sure that the films will not disappoint us that this should be a good deal for me and many of us. Probably not for most of the freeloaders. So, if for a moment you forget about them, what do we non-freeloaders need to tap per film to get your project going again? I’m sure you can do some math with expected tap numbers. I suggest this because I cannot believe that all of us MOBs will stand by, just watching your project go down the drain. Btw cheer up about your age. I am your age, I know you can’t count on it and you must do things while you can and while you don’t know how long it will last, but I just met a guy who sailed solo across the Atlantic twice at 61 and he’s still sailing at 74.

Thanks Peter,

well not all films are equal. Not all films hit the right note with everyone – some love the marina tours – some say they make them feel sick. Some day they loved it most when I was sailing solo in the slug – other said it is much better with jill, jake, Danie and Eleanor around. Some even want to know about the dog. So pay according to how much you enjoyed each film. If it was a pile of crap and a waste of your time then pay not a penny. If, on the other hand, it was as good as your last trip to the cinema or box set you downloaded then that gives you an upper limit.

I think the film by film blokes average $5

I very rarely get a $1 tap – but that is better than nowt and I do not know the man’s circumstances

I do get bigger taps but those are generally from blokes who hav downloaded them all to their hard drives so some of them chip in the value of a complete set of 8 seasons/double DVD sets.

I used to get paid $25 per four hour DVD, That was ten cents a minute, Now on the films, more people are watching them, but with the past low tap rate I was averaging 0.004 cents per minute watched.

which is why I ran out of money. things are very different.

Now then, if you have read any of the previous discussions THE BOSS says that you have to get into the mindset that you are paying not for a future uncertain supply of films but on the pleasure what you have just watched brought to you – and how much you would have paid for that as a game of thrones box set or netflix.

pay a price for the entertainment you have just had – were you there with me, did it make you feel more relaxed about Trump and American Democracy.

When you watch and maybe enjoy and pay for need for speed 6 you are not paying in the hope that a bloke in england will buy another boat.

That is what she says – what I say is….. fek I will blow every penny on sailing and cameras – you know I will.

But right now there is no way of guaranteeing that I will ever raise the cash to buy that fisher.

So whatever you decide to pay please pay for what you have just seen – not for what you hope to see,

That way if you go back and start watching the old films and you find one that you go – bloody hell that was good then send me $5 and a note saying why you liked it.

It will make me feel good, you feel good and I will do my best to make films in the style you really enjoyed.

you are an exceptionally good man for asking.

I am learning a lot about the difference between the Americans and the Europeans

for us Europeans money is embarrassing – the yanks are much more relaxed around the stuff for some reason. This is a first for me. never done it this way…. made a film, got people to watch it and then say – pay me what it is worth to you.

For about 5,000 old blokes who watch everything I make on youtube it is not worth anything other than the time they “donated” watching the films. Lots of them are old sailors who would not know a paypal button if hit them in the face. But who could resent an old now shorebound old sailor sailor coming for a sail down the west coast of scotland with an “agreeable old englishman in an unexceptional boat”” – not my words

Anything you pay will be greatly appreciated

My plan is to do the dutch side of the north sea when I am 72

Very well Dylan. These are good indications for tapping for all of us. If you have seen a film that you like, new or old: the average bloke taps $5.

And finallly, you name a date for going over to the dutch side. You’ll love the Wadden Sea. Gives both of us an incentive to keep sailing at least until we’re 72.

Incredible! Harmony was our childhood boat! Sad to see how neglected she got but fantastic to see you bring her back to life. Where is she now out of interest? Would love to see her again. So many things still on her that we put on. Lovely memories of the boat and completely agree with your comments.

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New owner of Westerly Centaur needs tips & advices

• Thread starter ALESSANDRA
• Start date 15 Jun 2013
• 15 Jun 2013

Hello everyone, I have just passed my day skipper and I bought a Westerly Centaur. I have no experience with boat. I need advice on what type of routine maintenace I should do, things to check, spare parts to hold on board or whatever you think it should be useful for someone who is starting this journey should know! Thank you so much Alessandra  

Congratulations on your new boat! A Centaur will look after you well as you learn, and it is an excellent starter boat. It is well worthwhile joining the Westerly Owners Association; I save more than the cost of membership on discounts for insurance and berthing alone each year and it is a fantastic resource about your boat. It has an excellent online forum. There are a number of things to check out; bedding of keels, window seals and the age of the sails and rigging. Your surveyor should have looked at these? The key thing about a Centaur is often the engine, as any that have not been re-engined are probably going to need to be soon (although there are numbers of Volvo MD11's still going strong). If it has not been done, then get a copy of the workshop handbook and get to know your engine well; doing your own repairs and servicing will save you a fortune. Good luck and happy sailing!  

Well-known member

Check the prop shaft couplings regularly. I don't know if they all have the same type of "cush" rubber-in-a-cup coupling, but they are prone to failure, with potentially disastrous consequences.  

That's a big question! FWIW here are my thoughts. Are you completely new to sailing? If so then a lot of what you want to know will apply to all kinds of sailing boats and you will learn a lot just by reading the posts on the forum. If it is just a Centaur that you are interested in then the Westerly Owners Association web site has a lot of information on it. What you have to do to your boat depends a lot on what condition the boat is in. Did you have a survey? If so what did it say needed doing? Bear in mind that the newest Centaur will be over 30 years old and things break and wear out. If the boat has been well looked after then you may have little to do, if it has been neglected, like mine, you may still be working on it several years later. There will always be a lot of things to do, you need to prioritise between essential and desirable. Before you go on your first sail make sure that the engine has oil in it, that it starts, that cooling water comes out the back, that the sails go up and down (or in and out for roller headsail reefing), that there are no loose strands in your rigging wire and it is reasonably tight, that your VHF radio and depth sounder work (as a minimum) and probably most important that all your seacocks turn on and off and don't let the water in! If you have the money then you can pay someone to look after your boat, if not then you have to learn fast! There are books on boat maintenance, Practical Boat Owner magazine has useful info as does this forum. As for spares, perhaps the most important is a spare impeller for the engine and a spanner to take the cover off with! The rest will depend on what kind of sailing you do, if you are going round the world then you need 2 or more of everything, if you are going daysailing then probably very little. You asked a very broad question and I am sure that other people will think that I have missed out important things. Good luck and enjoy your boat!  

• 16 Jun 2013

Active member

Buy at least three fuel filters. If your system has multiple filters buy three of each. Learn how to change the filters and bleed the system. Now put the tools you used in a bag with the extra filters so if you have a problem with the fuel filters and this is the most common problem with diesels you can deal with it. Now go sailing and enjy your boat.  

• 17 Jun 2013

richardsn9 said: Congratulations on your new boat! A Centaur will look after you well as you learn, and it is an excellent starter boat. It is well worthwhile joining the Westerly Owners Association; I save more than the cost of membership on discounts for insurance and berthing alone each year and it is a fantastic resource about your boat. It has an excellent online forum. There are a number of things to check out; bedding of keels, window seals and the age of the sails and rigging. Your surveyor should have looked at these? The key thing about a Centaur is often the engine, as any that have not been re-engined are probably going to need to be soon (although there are numbers of Volvo MD11's still going strong). If it has not been done, then get a copy of the workshop handbook and get to know your engine well; doing your own repairs and servicing will save you a fortune. Good luck and happy sailing! Click to expand...

Was your boat surveyed prior to purchase? If so the survey will probably have a list of items you will need to address - it might be worthwhile calling your surveyor and asking the same question. If you bought without survey then perhaps pay a surveyor to go through the boat with you, and again, talk over what you need to do in terms of maintenance. Briefly - there are at least 4 separate systems you will need to be familiar with. Rig, including mast and sails standing and running rigging. Engine Electrical system Plumbing systems. You need to be able to know your boat to the extent that if a friend comes aboard and asks.. a) What does this do b) Where does this go c) How does this work ..about any item on board, you should know the answer. So, head down to your boat and whatever your gaze rests on, ask your self honestly whether you could explain the above, and if not, find out! Btw I am still doing this myself. One item (actually a collection of items) I would recommend - bungs. Each seacock should have it's own bung kept nearby, and preferably attached. Cheers and enjoy!  

RobBrown said: http://www.tb-training.co.uk/ Click to expand...

Apart from engine servicing, many "maintenance" issues are largely cosmetic - just like painting a house. The rig does need to be inspected annually, checking for signs of wear and tearas do all the chainplates, etc. Generally check that everything that should be fastened together still is. if you have a survey report, the most common format starts with a description of how the boat is built and goes through all the systems, so you can aquaint yourself with everything by going around the boat with the report and looking at everything and reading the explanation of its function and construction - so long as she got a clean bill of health, that should get you through this season. Most people haul the boat out at least once a year and do any underwater tasks - change the anode, check the stern gear and rudder and scrape and antifoul. A lot of internal jobs are also much easier whilst ashore as access is easier, particularly when carting tools and parts from the car. it also gives you a chance to talk with owners of other boats who will usually be happy to talk about maintenance and projects and maybe lend a hand. Rob.  

The general advice about DIY is sound just attend to the bits which demand attention or look a bit dodgy. Working around the boat will improve your knowledge and expertise for when you may really need. Building up the tools as you go along is well worthwhile. If you find you need a 'special' or particular tool for a job then ensure you keep it where you know where it is.  

As you learn about your boat and discover all the shortcomings and things you absolutely must do according to the different forum posts and websites, make a little list - which probably won't be so little and will probably bring on severe palpitations as you start to cost it. Now, most important, don't do anything to fix anything that ain't ackcherly broke until you've owned the boat for a year and are starting to know what works for you and what doesn't. As an example, most Centaurs (maybe all) were sold with roller reefing on the mainsail. There are plenty of folk out there who think it's dire, and you won't go to windward with anything less than a full main; actually, I'm one of them, I fitted slab reefing to my old Snapdragon and it transformed her. However, if that's what you've got, you probably won't actually die if you stick with the old setup for a bit. Then you can decide if it's worth doing for you and think more clearly about what's involved. You could spend thousands on a new boom and all the kit or hundreds on a kit - or you could work out what you need and buy the bits and a few yards of string for a whole lot less. If you reckon you're going to need a new main in a year or two, you'd be better off just living with the present system and specifying reefing points on the new sail so they're there when you're ready to do the slab reefing.  

Good chioce of boat. My advice is to enjoy her on the water as much as you can over the summer and be prepared to do jobs over the winter. get into the habit - sail in summer and work on her in winter. if you try and get her perfect before you sail you wont enjoy her as much as you should. Make a note of jobs/things you could and should be doing on her When you get to next winter tackle jobs in this order First - things that protect her (eg anti freeze) Second - routine maintenance Third - improvements such as new nav gear When it gets to spring stop doing jobs and enjoy her whenever the weather is suitable cheers Martin  

No doubt you're keen to get afloat,so a starting point could be for you to carry out an inspection of all the gear that will be needed to leave your mooring. Make up a checklist for joining the boat, including the unlocking of the hatch, and a second version for leaving the boat remembering the keys.! Mine briefly is : Car keys in pocket. Unlock hatch Load gear and provisions Keys from locker to ignition switch, Turn Battery 'On' Switch on VHF Insert Navigation cartridge to GPS and switch ON Turn on raw water seacock to engine Turn Stern gland greaser one turn Start engine(check throttle in Neutral) Remove sail cover. Set ensign and or burgee Single up mooring lines, pickup buoy ready. Leave mooring under power The return to mooring checklist: Boathook ready for pickup. Pick up mooring,secure fore and aft,fit tubing on mooring lines through fairleads. Stow boathook below. Stop engine. Ignition key to locker Battery switched off Switch off VHF Switch off GPS, return cartridge to locker Check car keys in pocket Engine seacock off Check raw water filter and remove any weed from filter,replace cover. Turn stern gland greaser one turn Check all other seacocks particularly the heads and sink. Turn off the gas bottle at the isolator and at the gas bottle. Flake the sails and fit the sail cover. Lower any ensigns or burgees and stow below Collect all personal gear and litter and lock the boat. If furling jib ensure the sail is tightly furled and secure with short lanyard to prevent unrolling in windy weather. If moored fore and aft pay particular attention to the wind direction so that you do not get blown onto your mooring lines when released or picked up, tide strength and direction also important in this aspect as you may be caught by your propellor, rudder or keel(s) if unlucky. Make this decision before releasing any mooring warp. Most of the Westerly clan have similar arrangements/layouts and interchangeable gear, I own a Westerly Tiger(Fin Keel) similar in most respects to your Centaur, I think a bit faster though! Good luck, there's plenty of technical as well as practical advice on these fora and almost as many varied opinions too, but all well intended. ianat182  

• 18 Jun 2013

Alessandra, Welcome to the club ! The Westerly Owners Assoc is a good source of all things Westerly including the Centaur. If/when you decide to venture beyond London, please pm me and we'll arrange a meet at Ramsgate and discuss Centaurs -I have one - over a drink or two !!! Good sailing David  

• 31 Oct 2016

Does anybody know the height of a Westerly centaur from the bottom of the keels to the top of the cabin. A transport firm has asked me for these measurements.  

Mike Smith said: Does anybody know the height of a Westerly centaur from the bottom of the keels to the top of the cabin. A transport firm has asked me for these measurements. Click to expand...

Minchsailor

Join the owners association ASAP. Loads of advice.  

VicS said: I am surprised that a boat transport firm does not know the essential dimensions of such a popular boat Click to expand...

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• 1 Introduction
• 2 Centaur Statistics
• 3 Centaur Brochures
• 4 Buying Guide
• 5 The Centaur Definitive Guide
• 6 More Photos
• 7 Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades
• 8 Contributed Graphics and Plans
• 9.1 Official Westerly Documents
• 9.2 Magazine Publications
• 9.3 Web sites and blogs
• 9.4 YouTube Channels and Videos

Introduction

First shown at the 1969 London Boat Show the Centaur production run reached 2,440 before the design was replaced by the Griffon in 1980. A variety of engines were origianally fitted with the 25hp Volvo MD2B and 23hp MDIIC being the most popular.

Centaur Statistics

Centaur brochures.

Westerly Centaur Brochure here: Westerly Brochures

Buying Guide

Thinking of buying a Centaur ? Find all you need to know here: File:CENTAUR PURCHASE ADVICE.pdf Paul Shave's Article Buying a Centaur

The Centaur Definitive Guide

(First published in WOA magazine No. 51, Winter 1993)

Dennis Rayner’s designs had launched Westerly as a successful company, but by 1967 it was felt that fresh ideas were needed for a new range for the 1970’s. Jack Giles of Laurent Giles had recently launched "Bluebird of Thorne", a 50 foot twin keeler, for which he had done extensive tank testings. The tank testings decided it; he was the man to approach for state of the art twin keel designs.

The first effort was a bit of a disaster, since Laurent Giles had come up with what amounted to a development of the existing Westerly 25, which David Sanders thought was "all curves and no substance." David Sanders was very disappointed and said so to Jack Giles who immediately perked up and said "so you want a proper yacht?"

At this stage I can do no better than to produce the words of Jack Giles from his press release of March 1969:

Westerly Centaur L.0.A.: 26ft. L.W.L.: 21ft. 4ins. Beam: 8ft. 5ins. Draft: 3ft. Working sail area: 341sq ft. T.M.: 6 tons Designers: Laurent Giles & Partners Ltd. Builders: Westerly Marine Constructions Ltd.

To be commissioned to design for Westerly Marine was indeed a challenge. With the resources of their own Research Department allied to a highly developed production line and a keen Buying Office there seemed to be a danger of too many outside pressures working on the Designers.

In practice we found that this was not so, providing trouble was taken to appreciate and allot priorities to the requirements of the various departments concerned and provided we were prepared to work within a reasonable, but tight, time table.

The first result of this co-operation, the "Centaur", has a very low waterline over beam coefficient, a clean canoe body and twin bilge keels of aero-foil section.

The power installation has its propeller working in clear water and the balanced skegiess spade rudder provides ample control under sail or power.

Under sail the boat performs remarkably well to windward at a very modest angle of heel and under power did all that was expected of her and, in addition, showed unusually good handling characteristics when going astern.

The layout below decks is spacious for a boat of only 26 ft, overall having four comfortable 6ft. 6in. berths, a separate toilet compartment and a dinette arrangement which can be converted into an additional double bunk. Despite the space below decks, there is still a 6ft. 6in. self-draining cockpit, a feature of the boat which has appealed to the American market to which an appreciable number of "Centaurs" have already been exported. 20.3.69

The Centaur was officially launched at the London Boat Show 1969, and was an immediate hit worldwide, as can be seen from the press release. She was, and is, the perfect family yacht for all the reasons that Jack Giles outlined, but also because she was reasonably priced, and thoroughly well made. On the subject of maintenance and value, it is particularly important to have a steady replacement programme for any yacht so that her equipment, such as sprayhood, sails and instrumentation, is not dreadfully out of date or simply "clapped out." On the other hand, it is important to guard against the thought that spending £2,500 on vertical roller reefing will add significantly to the boat’s value.

More Photos

Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades

Fitting a Quick Genius 12v windlass to a Centaur

Centaur Sink

Fitting Barton Single line reefing from Sailing Today Dec 2011

Centaur Main Cabin Wall Cupboards

DIY cockpit seating teak substitute

Centaur Cutless Bearing Removal and Replacement

Removing the Propeller Shaft

Centaur Rudder bearings

Removing a Centaur Water Tank

Presentation by Winston Waller to East Coast Group Winter Workshop 2013 about how he treated his Centaur hull [ Epoxy Treatment of Centaur Hull ]

Removing a MD2B from a Centaur Pictures of Removal

Raising a Centaur Mast using a Gin Pole

Contributed Graphics and Plans

• Centaur B Layout (PNG)
• Centaur B Layout (PDF)

Official Westerly Documents

Centaur Manual

Magazine Publications

• PBO Centaur 50th Rally Article PBO No 638 May 2019
• Yachting Monthly June 2016
• PBO Centaur Ketch Article PBO No 403 July 2000 (Available as a reprint)
• PBO Centaur Article PBO No 354 June 1996 (Available as a reprint)

Web sites and blogs

• Laurent Giles Archive - Plans/Notes for the Centaur
• Roger Ball's blog about K391 - A Gentleman's Yacht
• Ian Norton's Centaur blog

YouTube Channels and Videos

• The Sailing Dutchman
• Second Chance Sailing
• Steve Jenkinson
• Easy Sailor - Sailing to Ostend on a Westerly Centaur
• Oli Banks - Centaur POV Tour

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• Westerly Centaur

The Westerly Centaur Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

If you are looking for a small, sturdy and affordable sailboat that can handle a variety of conditions and destinations, you might want to consider the Westerly Centaur 26.

This classic British cruiser was designed by Jack Laurent Giles and built by Westerly Marine between 1969 and 1980, with over 2,400 units produced.

It is one of the most popular and successful models in the history of British boatbuilding, and still has a loyal following among recreational sailors and enthusiasts.

Published Specification & Design Ratios for the Westerly Centaur

Underwater Configuration:   Bilge keels and spade rudder

Hull Material:  GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall:  26' 0" / 7.92m

Waterline Length:  21' 4" / 6.5m

Beam:  8' 5" / 2.57m

Draft:  3' 0" / 0.91m

Rig Type:  Masthead Sloop

Displacement:  6,700lb / 3,039kg

Designer:  Laurent Giles

Builder:  Westerly Marine Ltd (UK)

Year First Built:  1969

Year Last Built:  198

Number Built:  2,444

Owners Association:   Westerly Owners Association

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.6

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 41.8

Displacement/Length Ratio: 308

Comfort Ratio: 26.7

Capsize Screening Formula:   1.8

read more about these all-revealing Key Performance Indicators...

More about the Westerly Centaur...

The Westerly Centaur, a 26-foot twin-keel cruiser designed by Jack Laurent Giles, is one of the most popular and successful British production sailboats ever built. With over 2,400 hulls completed, the Centaur has a loyal following of owners and admirers who appreciate its practicality, versatility and charm.

The Centaur is a sloop-rigged monohull with a fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored foredeck. It has a shallow draft of 0.9 meters, thanks to its twin keels, which also allow it to dry out on tidal moorings or beaches. The Centaur has a spade rudder and a tiller steering system, although some models have been retrofitted with a wheel.

The mast is deck-stepped and the rig is simple and easy to handle. The sail area is 30.1 square meters, which gives the Centaur a moderate performance in light to moderate winds. The boat is not very close-winded and tends to develop weather helm when overpowered, so reefing early is advisable. The boat is not designed for heavy weather sailing, but it is safe and stable in most conditions.

The Centaur is powered by a Volvo MD7A diesel engine, which provides enough thrust for manoeuvring in marinas or motoring in calm waters. The fuel capacity is 45 litres, which gives the boat a decent range under power. The engine is located under the cockpit sole and can be accessed through removable panels.

Accommodation One of the most impressive aspects of the Centaur is its spacious and comfortable interior, which offers generous standing headroom of at least 6 feet throughout. The boat can sleep up to six people in two separate cabins and the saloon.

• The forward cabin has a double berth with a V-shaped infill, a hanging locker and storage shelves.
• The saloon has two settees that can be used as single berths, a folding table that can seat four people, and ample storage space under the seats and behind the backrests.
• The galley is located on the port side of the companionway and has a two-burner stove with an oven, a sink with a manual water pump, and several lockers and drawers for storing utensils and provisions. The water capacity is 64 litres.
• The navigation station is opposite the galley and has a chart table with storage underneath, an electrical panel, and space for mounting instruments.
• The aft cabin is accessed through a door on the starboard side of the companionway and has two single berths that can be converted into a double berth with an infill cushion. There is also a hanging locker and storage shelves in this cabin.
• The head is located between the saloon and the forward cabin and has a marine toilet, a sink with a manual water pump, and a mirror.

The Centaur had three different layouts for the interior, named A, B and C:

• Layout A had six berths: a double berth in the forward cabin, two single berths in the aft cabin, and two settees in the saloon that could be used as single berths.
• Layout B had five berths: a double berth in the forward cabin, a single berth in the aft cabin, and two settees in the saloon that could be used as single berths.
• Layout C had four berths: two single berths in the forward cabin, and two settees in the saloon that could be used as single berths.

The interior of the Centaur is well-ventilated by several opening ports and hatches, and well-lit by overhead lights and reading lamps. The upholstery is usually blue or beige, depending on the model year, and the woodwork is teak or mahogany. The overall impression is cosy, homely and inviting.

Hull and Deck The hull of the Centaur is solid fiberglass with a white gelcoat finish. It has a moderate freeboard and a flared bow that helps to keep the deck dry in choppy seas. The deck is fiberglass with a balsa core in the foredeck area, which reduces weight and improves insulation. It has a molded nonskid surface for safety and traction. The deck layout is simple and functional, with wide side decks that allow easy access to the bow or stern.

The cockpit of the Centaur is large, deep and safe, with raised teak slats for seating comfort. It has two lockers for storing fenders, lines etc., as well as an engine access panel under the sole. There is also a bathing ladder on the stern that can be used when the boat is afloat or dried out.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Other sailboats in the Westerly range include:

I wrote this article using GPT-4, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model, as a research assistant to develop source material. I wrote the final draft in its entirety and believe it to be accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Dick McClary, creator and owner of sailboat-cruising.com

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USED BOAT: Westerly Centaur

• Chris Beeson
• June 22, 2016

A staggering 2,500 of these 26ft Laurent Giles-designed twin-keel cruisers were built over 15 years from 1969, with several variations of interior. What does Dick Durham make of her?

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

Westerly Centaur review 

See the January 2013 issue of Yachting Monthly for the full test

What’s she like to sail?

She’s not the most close-winded of boats and weather helm will develop when pushed hard in a breeze unless you reef early. Sailing her effectively upwind in a seaway demands a bit of skill and, though safe enough if you get caught out, she’s not really designed for heavy weather. But she’s a good family cruiser, ideal for those upgrading from dayboats or dinghies. As Daniel said, she can be sailed like a dinghy with the helmsman perched up on the cockpit coaming, steering with a tiller extension. The mainsheet traveller is at the back of the cockpit, leaving plenty of space for crew to relax in her large, deep and safe cockpit with raised teak slats for seating, but sheets tend to catch around the exposed ends of the slats.

Most Centaurs don’t have halyards and reefing lines led back to the cockpit, and Daniel found out why when he fitted clutches on the coachroof. ‘It was a complete waste of time and money,’ he admitted. ‘There was so much friction that I’ve re-reeved them and do all the sail-handling work at the foot of the mast.’

What’s she like in port and at anchor?

Centaurs with spade rudders will turn in their own length, but are difficult to reverse in a marina. Those with skegs are easier to handle going astern, but have a wider turning circle. Her relatively light, shallow hull with high windage can be skittish at anchor, but she can creep close inshore to find better shelter. The bathing ladder on the stern can be used whether you’re afloat or dried out.

Down below, Centaurs are remarkably roomy, with generous standing headroom – at least 6ft throughout. There is a double berth with V-shaped infill in the forward cabin. The door of the port-side heads hinges round to make the forecabin en suite if desired. The hanging locker, opposite, will take five sets of oilskins.

The saloon – more comfortable than you’ll find on most boats of this size – has two well-proportioned settee berths with a drop-leaf table between them and a quarter berth on the port side aft. The galley is to starboard: a sink, a gimballed two-burner oven with a grill for toast, and just enough worktop space to prepare a decent meal at sea or in port.

Would she suit you and your crew?

If sleek lines are among the factors you apply for boat-buying, the Centaur probably won’t light your fire. Nor should you expect thoroughbred performance and handling under sail, although she can still be exhilarating in the right (or wrong) conditions. Westerly produced the Pembroke, a fin-keeled version of the Centaur, to address the aversion some folks have for bilge keels, but then you would not be sitting upright on a glorious sandy beach, or enjoying the savings to be made with a drying mooring.

In essence, she is a proper family cruiser, with a fairly comfortable motion at sea, an easily handled but not under-canvassed rig, a good-sized cockpit and plenty of living space. Cabin layout varies, and many Centaurs have no dedicated chart table, but most can sleep up to five adults in reasonable comfort.

Few people would consider the Centaur an ocean cruiser, but she’d run just as happily before the Trade Winds as any other yacht.

Coastal daysailing is her forte, with the odd jaunt across open water in fair or moderate weather to, say, France, Holland or Ireland. And with two thousand of these boats in harbours and creeks around the UK, it isn’t hard to find a good one at a fair price.

Facts and figures Price £8,000-£12,000 LOA 92m (26ft) LWL 6.50m (21ft 4in) Beam 2.59m (8.5ft) Draught 0.91m (3ft) Displacement 2,790kg (6,150 lb) Ballast 1,271kg (2,800 lb) Engine 7-25hp diesel inboard, or petrol outboard Berths Five Sail area Mainsail 161sq ft, genoa 240sq ft, No 1 jib 133sq ft Designer Laurent Giles Builder Westerly Marine Construction Owners’ Association www.westerly-owners.co.uk

Centaur 26 westerly

The centaur 26 westerly is a 26.0ft masthead sloop designed by laurent giles and partners ltd and built in fiberglass by westerly marine construction ltd. between 1969 and 1980., 2444 units have been built..

The Centaur 26 westerly is a heavy sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is very stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally very small. There is a very short water supply range.

Centaur 26 westerly for sale elsewhere on the web:

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CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY). Built by Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. and designed by Jack Laurent Giles, the boat was first built in 1969. It has a hull type of Twin Keel and LOA is 7.92. Its sail area/displacement ratio 14.63. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Volvo, runs on Diesel.

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the centaur 26 (westerly).

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) was designed by Jack Laurent Giles.

Who builds CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY)?

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) is built by Westerly Marine Construction Ltd..

When was CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) first built?

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) was first built in 1969.

How long is CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY)?

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) is 6.5 m in length.

What is mast height on CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY)?

CENTAUR 26 (WESTERLY) has a mast height of 8.84 m.

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Westerly Centaur Yacht / Sailboat

Westerly Centaur Yacht

The Westerly Centaur is very spacious with plenty of headroom and was built with a choice of three different interior layouts. The headroom and powerful diesel engine often make people mistake Centaurs as motor-sailers, but they actually sail very well, although as bilge-keelers they are always going to be slower to windward than similar sized fin-keelers.

There were a number of minor variations between Centaurs built in different years. Westerly Centaurs built up to the mid-70s had unsupported spade rudders, whilst later boats had half skegs.

Very early boats are distinguishable by round and not rectangular forward ports, and sometimes also had shrouds attached directly above the forward of the main saloon windows – a cause of leaks, and sometimes some stress cracking of the gelcoat around the windows

Westerly Centaurs are prone to repetitive drying out, particularly on sand or mud, placing excess sideways “splaying” pressure on the keels. This problem is curable by adding reinforcing layers of GRP to the interior of the keel roots. Another problem with the earlier Westerly Centaurs was that the shroud attachment points on the coachroof were fitted above the portlight and inadequately tied in to the hull/deck structure.

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Length : 7.9m Beam : 2.6m Weight : 3039kg Sail Area : 294 sq ft

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Centaur Ketch

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 25th March 2020

Centaur's main features

Centaur's main dimensions, centaur's rig and sails, centaur's performances, centaur's auxiliary engine, centaur's accommodations and layout.

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• Sailboat Guide

Westerly Marine

Westerly Marine Inc. 3535 W. Garry Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92704 ph 714.966.8550 fx 714.966.2144 e-mail: [email protected] www.westerly-marine.com

Associations

• Quarter Ton Class
• Half Ton Class
• Flicka 20 Website
• Westerly Owners Association
• Alan Andrews
• Bruce Bingham
• Carl Schumacher
• Denys Rayner
• Ian Proctor
• Jack Laurent Giles
• John A. Butler
• Michael Pocock
• Ron Holland
• Thomas Wylie

68 sailboats built by Westerly Marine

Westerly Centaur 26

Westerly Konsort 29

Westerly Pageant 23

Westerly fulmar 32.

Westerly Cirrus 22

Westerly 22

Westerly Griffon 26

Westerly GK 24

Westerly Berwick 31

Westerly Discus 33

Westerly Tiger 25

Westerly Nomad 22

Westerly Longbow 31

Westerly Pentland 32

Westerly Renown 32

Westerly 33.

Westerly Nimrod 18

Westerly Warwick 21

Westerly gk 29, westerly merlin 28.

Westerly Jouster 21

Westerly storm 33, westerly seahawk 34.

Westerly Konsort 29 Duo

Westerly Tempest 31

Westerly Corsair 36

Westerly oceanlord 41.

Westerly Pembroke 26

Westerly oceanquest 35, westerly oceanranger 38.

Westerly Chieftain 26

Westerly Riviera 35

Westerly Falcon 34

Westerly regatta 260.

Westerly Solway 36

Westerly 21, westerly vulcan 34.

Westerly Sealord 39

Westerly seahawk 35.

Westerly 28

Westerly Typhoon 37

Westerly 30, westerly ocean 33.

Westerly Medway 36

Westerly oceanmaster 48, westerly merlin 29, westerly falcon 35, westerly regatta 330.

Westerly Spirit 26

Westerly regatta 290, westerly ocean 43, westerly oceandream 35, westerly regatta 370.

Westerly Kendal 23

Westerly kestrel 35, westerly regatta 310.

Andercraft 36

Westerly Conway 36

Westerly griffon 26 mk ii.

Westerly 25

Westerly Windrush 25

Westerly galway 36, westerly ocean 49.

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