WESTERLY CENTAUR (available) – £7,999

Year: 1975

LOA: 7.92 m

Beam: 2.53 m

Draft: 0.90 m

Construction: GRP

Hull/Keel: Twin

HIN: 366405

Description:

‘Fyliki’ is a very safe, strong sailing yacht, and at 8m in length is ideally suited to the short seas around the Thames Estuary, but equally will withstand any sea and indeed many have crossed the Atlantic. Going forward there are some changes the new owner will want to make to the furnishings etc. but she is ready to go cruising. Since the engine was rebuilt in 2018 it has been extremely reliable. She has been owned by the current owner for 14 years. The Westerly Centaur was designed in 1968 by Jack Laurent Giles as a more modern and roomier replacement for the existing Westerly 25. She was probably the first mass-production yacht to have had the design tank-tested before a prototype was built, and this, plus Laurent Giles’s earlier experience with bilge keel designs, was probably the reason for the Centaur’s good performance under sail. Looking at a roomy boat with good headroom and a powerful diesel makes many people regard Centaurs as motor-sailers. They are not – they actually sail very well, although as bilge-keelers they are always going to be slower to windward than similar sized fin-keelers. Unusually for Westerly, the ketch rig versions were not sold under a different name. The same hull was also used for a centre-cockpit version, but this was sold as a Westerly Chieftain. The sailing performance is helped by carefully designed bilge keels which are handed port and starboard with a two degree toe-in, so that once the boat heels under sail the more vertical leeward keel is developing lift to windward. Most Centaurs had 25hp Volvo diesels, though a few were built with different engines, usually the smaller 13hp Volvo, though some had 25hp or even 30hp Watermota diesels. Above deck, the Centaur remains popular because her deep cockpit and wide side decks serve to create a sense of safety when aboard. Another reason for the continuing popularity of Centaurs is the fact that they are a stiff, powerful boat. Whether sailing or motoring, the Centaur’s handling is always predictable. As with all other Westerly Marine yachts the Centaur was massively built. This was partly a result of previous building experience within the company and also a reflection of the state of GRP technology at that time. All Centaurs were built to Lloyds specifications which meant that the building processes were rigorously monitored and all materials had to be approved by Lloyds in order that a certificate could be issued. Although long out of production they still represent excellent value for money, and offer a very tough, seaworthy and spacious (for 26’) yacht at low cost.

Engine(s) & Electrical:

Volvo Penta MDIIC, 25hp diesel (rebuilt in 2018). Engine hours: 150. Maximum speed: 10kts. Engine last serviced: 2023. 2 batteries charged from the engine. Solar panel.

Accommodation & Below Deck:

6 berths, 2 cabins, 1.8m headroom, curtains, chart table, saloon table, sea toilet, galley sink, gas cooker, coolbox, pumped cold water system.

Deck & Canvas:

Anchor, warps, fenders, boarding ladder, opening ports, forehatch, boathook, sprayhood, bimini cover, dodgers.

Navigation & Safety:

VHF, compass, navigation lights, Furuno 39 GPS, Clipper echosounder, liferaft (2020), floating lights, 2 lifejackets, foghorn, first aid kit, lifebouy, harnesses, gas detector, bilge pump.

Miscellaneous:

Viewings are by appointment only. For an instant insurance quote call Euromarine Insurance Services on 01843 603345 or click on the link below: www.astonlark.com/euromarine/

Disclaimer:
The particulars detailed herein are intended to give a fair description of the vessel, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. These particulars are supplied on the understanding that all negotiations shall be through Highway Marine Ltd who are acting as brokers for the vendor. The vendor is not selling in the course of a business unless otherwise stated. The prospective purchaser is strongly recommended to check the particulars, and where appropriate, at his own expense, to employ qualified independent agents to carry out a survey, and/or any mechanical and electrical checks.