Alternatives to Westerly (Pageant & Centaur)

Judders

Judders

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I can't help thinking that because of the popularity of the Centaur, you pay a premium on both them and the Pageant. If you look at the cost of the Westerly Cirrus for example, they are a lot less as there is less of a market for fin keel Westerly's.

One can not help but assume that there must be good alternatives out there, but I am strggling to think of them! Any ideas?
 
Re: Alternatives to Westerly (Pageant & Centaur)

I think there are lots of alternatives:

- Hunter Horizon
- Tomahawk
- Snapdragon
- Cobra
- Leisure 27

There are lots of '70s and '80s bilge keelers around the 23 - 26 foot mark.

The Centaur is popular, though, for a good reason as it does a lot of things quite well. Many people would be better off with a Centaur as a starter boat than the current fashion of buying a new 36 footer straight off.
 
The average asking price for Centaurs 15 years ago was around 12k (I was looking at getting one then), and they usually seem to be around that mark today.
Whereas some other boats have appreciated in 2nd hand value, while some have possibly depreciated.
 
Re: Alternatives to Westerly (Pageant & Centaur)

Wise words, as you say, lots of twin keel boats around from 70's 80's.

Judders, look around the yards, Slipway at Emsworth have boats of the type you might be interested in. Find a good example of a suitable boat and consider that rather than settling on a particular make of boat which might be of questionable age and condition.
 
Hi
One advantage of Westerlies is that they were 'local' boats to the Solent area. Even now there are still a few local suppliers of bits and pieces who know about Westerlies and guys who used to work for them. I guess the main thing you have to watch is the condition of the engine but that applies to any boat of that era. Also if or when you want to sell you are selling something people know about. Like lots of products part of the price is due to their reputation.
 
One very good alternative to the Pageant is the Seamaster 23. We had one many years ago. Heavy, well made like Westerlies, but ours had a lifting keel. Brilliant for small children as we sailed right up to the beach and waded ashore. There was a substantial iron stub keel, as well as a very heavy plate, so a stiff little 4-berth boat with a good layout. I loved it.

They are around £5000, so cheaper than the Westerley equivalent.
 
A Westerly might be expensive but they are always in demand and there is a very healthy second hand market, so you will get that premium back when you sell.
If you use the WOA web site to sell you can easily save the brokers commission and advertising costs (ads are free for WOA members).
Look on our site at the sales and wants page here, where there are often up to 100 Westerly's for sale.
It's quite common that well turned out boats on the site sell in just a few weeks.
Read some of the testimonials on this page of often quite amazing success in selling and buying
 
Thanks all. The Seamaster does indeed look like a good alternative to the Pageant. They have very similiar features, layout and construction, but the Seamaster varries greatly in price. Does anyone else have any experience of them?
 
Its the market. Westerlies are popular so they cost more. Second hand boats are only worth what someone will pay for them, and many 'stick' in a price range, even though the actual value is falling. Good Corribees for example have sold at around the £2500 - 3500 mark now for nearly 20 years, while oGod ones go for around £1500 ...
 
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Thanks all. The Seamaster does indeed look like a good alternative to the Pageant. They have very similiar features, layout and construction, but the Seamaster varries greatly in price. Does anyone else have any experience of them?

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Yes - my old man had a bilge keeler for about 5 years based out of Fleetwood.
Same designer as Westerly (Laurent Giles?) Centaur etc, so they look almost identical (in fact everyone asks what model of Westerly it is!).
Lots of space for a 23footer - ours had a Bukh 10hp diesel. Heavy boats (not going to win any speed records), but the sort of boat that will look after you. Build quality seemed excellent - it took us all over the Irish sea without worry.

Lots of boat for your £5k and you get a 5 berth (double forepeak, pilot berth and saloon conversion), galley with hob and oven, heads, inboard diesel engine, ours also had a brand new set of sails and a cruising chute when we sold her.

If you want a Westerly then I couldn't recommend a Seamaster enough - but if you want something a bit sportier then see the suggestions above.

Price variations - usually by level of equipment (some have inboard diesels, some don't, and many won't have any nav equipment etc, some may also have a trailer), and keel type (they did a bilge and fin and a lifting keel - lift ones seem more expensive, fins not the common and a bit cheaper when they do come up, most people go for the bilge)


Good luck with the search

Jonny
 
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I can't help thinking that because of the popularity of the Centaur, you pay a premium on both them and the Pageant. If you look at the cost of the Westerly Cirrus for example, they are a lot less as there is less of a market for fin keel Westerly's.

One can not help but assume that there must be good alternatives out there, but I am strggling to think of them! Any ideas?

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Plenty as another has indicated with his list .... I would klike to add :

Colvic

Sunrider (I have one !)
Searider (same hull as Sunrider)

etc. etc.

Most are less money than the Centaur ... which IMHO is inflated pricing.

But the Centaur is a popular and rightly so pocket cruiser that does many jobs well - but none brilliantly.
 
Judders - what are you looking for? Why a bilge keeler? If I remember from before you were tempted with GK24s or Sonatas. Why not something a bit quicker this time?
 
The market dictates the price. There were loads of Laurent-Giles Westerlies built & sold because they exactly met market needs.

There are still loads around, but relatively few up for sale. people like 'em so they keep 'em. We've had our Pentland for almost 20years - and it STILL does exactly what it was designed to do - which is what we do - family cruising! Any one else had their current GRP yacht for 20years?
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A Macwester 27 or Atlanta Viking 8.5 more space for less money, solid and reliable

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Macwester test report in Sailing Today this month.
 
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Judders - what are you looking for? Why a bilge keeler? If I remember from before you were tempted with GK24s or Sonatas. Why not something a bit quicker this time?

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Well I guess it's not a terribly original story, but it seems to me that the best way to get leave to sail from SWMBO is to take SWMBO with me. She has been far keener since I bought Merit than I thought she would be and thus it seems to me that the next boat might be 'ours' rather than 'mine'. That means compromise, living space, a walk in, sit down heads etc. Hence the floating caravan approach.
 
You're looking for exactly what I was looking for this time last year for exactly the same reasons. I ended up with a Macwester 26 which I am very happy with. Cost, with new Beta 20, was half the price of a Centaur in similar condition.

She is a solid family cruiser that does exactly what it says on the tin.

BTW, they were build in Littlehampton which isn't far from Hayling Island. Have a look at www.macwester.org There's one with a broken engine up for £3,500
 
Well, this weekend we looked at a Seamaster 23, a Macwester 23, a Jaguar, an Elizabethan 23, a Samphire 23 and a Macwester 26.

The Elizabethan, whilst beautiful, is not the sort of thing we are looking for and the Jaguar (a quite modern one, not like the old Jag 22 with which I associate the name) was one of the worst pieces of design I have ever seen in my life. So they're out.

The Samphire was my favourate but sadly it is rule out by a lack of berths. There is a huge twin forward and a settee berth in the saloon, but in one of the most bizare designs I have ever seen, there is a foxhole quarter bether in the heads compartment. You'd either need to go in head first or sleep with your head on the bog! I loved the boat to bits but there is no way I'll be inviting my guests to do that!

I liked the Macwester 23 but the lack of a table in the saloon was a big downer and whilst the deep cockpit felt very safe, the seating was to low to helm from and the coamings were to sharp to sit on.

The Macwester 26 was in questionable condition and was already stretching the budget. I might go back with an expert and cost it up, because it certainly had the best accomidation.

The Seamaster however, looks like the winner, although all the ones we could afford will require a little work, and they're a lot older than the other boats that we looked at, I think the design works for us with a big galley and storage galore.

Thanks for your help folks, it probably saved us a lot of time.
 
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