Am I missing something??

[Kerouac]

I'd more or less settled on a Centaur for my year long (or so) trip to the Med from the UK. I'm not too bothered about speed but feeling secure in frisky weather, and accomodation (hence the choice of Centaur) are important.

I'm getting more and more worried when I read about keel problems with the Centaur, especially when drying out on mud. I've considered the Albin vega, Sabre 27, Halycon 27 and Leisure 27 but none of the above seem to have the same sturdiness and good rep (except the Vega - which doesn't have the accom).

Am I missing a boat in the £12,000 range with solid seaworthiness and good accom that I haven't come across or is the Centuar keels problem exaggerated?

 

[yachtlindandy]

look at Macwester Wight you should be able to get one requiring some tlc for your budget ,i did and its great.

 

[RJD393]

What about the Trapper 500 0r if you can afford it the 501? On the other hand any keel problems with a Centuar should have shown up by now.

 

[MacW]

Sabre also a good boat,less boxy than Centaur,withgood accom. nicer cockpit.Rare one with wheel steering on www.myboatdetails.com.
Usual ,no connection etc.
Pete

 

[Lizzie_B]

Halcyon27 is very tough boat although she looks more 'delicate' than a Centaur. My personal favourite is the Elizabethan 29, tough, seaworthy, sails like a dream and reasonable accomodation.
If Centaur purely concerned by reported problems with bilge keels, look for a Westerly Pembroke which is the fin keeled version of the centaur.

 

[Lizzie_B]

Oh- and the Nova 27- there are lots more. Good yacht guide is a good starting point.

 

[pragmatist]

I think you'll find there has been quite a lot of discussion about the keel problems in the mags and on the PBO forum - might be worth a search. I seem to recollect that in the vast majority the problem has been fixed but sure there are others out there with detailed info - might be worth posting on PBO ?

 

[BlueChip]

There is a very active Westerly Owners Yahoo news group, you can sign up for the discussion list through the - Westerly Owners Association web site.

There is also an extensive list of used Westerlies for sale on the web site

There are over 2,000 WOA members in the WOA and something like 400 of these members have Centaurs, the WOA have a members insurance scheme and the underwriter is Navigators & General (Eagle Star)

If there was any serious risk of ongoing keel problems these Centaurs would be uninsureable, a phone call to Navigators or one of the specialist Westerly Surveyors listed on the site should give you the unbiased and independant information you need to know about this issue and put your mind at risk.

 

[bobfrost]

Contessa 26?

 

[charles_reed]

Freudian slip

Well I suppose anyone trying to sail anywhere in a Centaur has a mind at risk, either from le cafard or boredom.

 

[Kerouac]

Re: Freudian slip

Charles_reed what do you drive?

 

[Sybarite]

http://ybw.yachtworld.com/core/uk/listin...amp;searchPage=


John