buying a centaur

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Thanks everyone for their previous help.
Still after more advice sorry.
Have just viewed centaur which i think could poss be the one. 1973 model good survey report Iam told from last year,
Has new mast rigging and boom,head lining done plus the usual things to keels.
Has a new engine or should i say new to boat,its a bukh 10 took a bit to start but when did sounded sweet, must add it hadn't been ran for six month.
Asking price 7500.
thoughts please
Thanks in anticipation.
 
I'd say that's still expensive for a 1973 boat, and the engine power is indeed marginal.

Centaurs like all boats are not commanding the money they were, probably particularly Centaurs due to the re-engining issue.
 
Seajet said:
I'd say that's still expensive for a 1973 boat, and the engine power is indeed marginal.

Centaurs like all boats are not commanding the money they were, probably particularly Centaurs due to the re-engining issue.
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Agree. Centaur asking prices are generally ridiculous. They sold well in the 70s (I bought one) but in the cold light of day in 2013 they're not that desirable.
 
Quite a difficult call. If £7000 is all you can possibly stretch to, and you are happy working on the boat and the BUKH yourself if need-be, then it seems a reasonable way to get afloat. Don't underestimate the overhead costs though .... mooring; insurance (even if only third-party); etc. If you can possibly get to the £15k range you will be looking at a vastly greater range of boats in the mid 1980 region, with essentially similar overhead costs.
 
Off the top of my head I'd ballpark £6-8k for an early Centaur. Condition is everything. If big ticket items need replacing, then that's going to ramp the purchase price up quickly. You typically won't pick up a Centaur for £2,000 but a bad one isn't worth even that (as is the case across the board for older yachts that have not been cared for, maintained or upgraded).

There are a lot of Centaurs around. Make sure you look at half a dozen examples, and you will start to spot a good one. Don't rush as it's not long until the end of the season. Set your sights on having your new boat in place for the start of next season.
 
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bendyone said:
Engine a bit under powered for the boat, Usually had 23HP when new.
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Not so. The earlier ones had small engines with the 23HP offered as optional extra, then Volvo gave Westerly a price they couldn't refuse on the 23HP and that became standard. 23HP is actually overpowered for the boat, ours used to dig a hole at anything over about 60-70% revs.
 
Seven thousand isn't cheap for a 1973 one, especially one that has been derated by putting a cheap engine in.

You should be able to get a sail away Centaur for that much with big ticket items having lots of life left.
 
There are a lot of Centaurs around. Make sure you look at half a dozen examples, and you will start to spot a good one. Don't rush as it's not long until the end of the season. Set your sights on having your new boat in place for the start of next season.[/QUOTE]

+1 and I would be a bit wary about the engine. Why compromise on it when you can get one with a nearly new replacement which starts first time!
 
A friend - who admittedly was lucky, right place right time - got a near immaculate late model Centaur with brand new 3 cylinder Nannidiesel ( wonderfully smooth compared to the original Volvo's ), reinforced keels and a lot of good electronics for less than mentioned here, though as I say he was lucky !
 
Seajet said:
A friend - who admittedly was lucky, right place right time - got a near immaculate late model Centaur with brand new 3 cylinder Nannidiesel ( wonderfully smooth compared to the original Volvo's ), reinforced keels and a lot of good electronics for less than mentioned here, though as I say he was lucky !
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Was he lucky? Or did he actually pay the right sort of price? As I said, most Centaur asking prices are ridiculous. If you know a friendly broker, ask what the real sale prices are (brokers have access to their own secret database of actual selling prices).
 
I do think he was quite lucky, the boat is very good even apart from the brand new engine, I've been out on her a few times now and have previous experience with late Centaurs.

It was a private sale from a seller who had already bought another boat, which obviously helps.
 
pvb said:
Was he lucky? Or did he actually pay the right sort of price? As I said, most Centaur asking prices are ridiculous. If you know a friendly broker, ask what the real sale prices are (brokers have access to their own secret database of actual selling prices).
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What about prices of other Westerlies around that size?
Like the Griffon or Tiger for example.
 
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alant said:
What about prices of other Westerlies around that size?
Like the Griffon or Tiger for example.
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Not sure, both of these were produced in much smaller quantities than the Centaur, so don't have the reputation. The Griffon had the crucial design fault which led to keel failure (and which probably contributed significantly to Westerly's failure).
 
Very few Tigers around, but usually asking prices lower than Centaurs. Griffon prices stronger, probably because younger boats, typically £14k. Keel problems should be solved as most were rectified under warranty.
 
pvb said:
Was he lucky? Or did he actually pay the right sort of price? As I said, most Centaur asking prices are ridiculous.
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Around ten grand for a solid twenty six footer in good condition doesn't sound ridiculous to me. Westerly sold 2,444 of them (plus another 97 Pembrokes) because they were good boats and for many people they still are good boats.

Exact age isn't really relevant, I think, because by now Centaurs have long stopped following a predictable depreciation curve: there is simply too much variation in age, usage, maintenance and equipment.

(I am not trying to buy or sell a Centaur and do not own a Centaur).
 
Its almost criminal what these boats go for now. I guess it reflects the times we're in and the age of the boats. I follow a couple of on-line brokerages concerning Westerly values and its interesting to see the later Dubois designs taking quite a tumble in price but thinking about it they're now 25 years old. The Giles era designs are going for peanuts especially the big stuff, from memory there was a Centaur on Lake Windermere that went for £2000 end of last year and a Longbow on ebay for £10500 couple of years back and that was a 1980 boat so right place right time does play a part.

From my own experience of building a new Centaur most of these older boats, unless fastidiously maintained are slowly becoming worthless because of the costs of replacing things, i did £600 last week on a propshaft, pss shaft seal, a new bronze fitting for the stern tube and a half coupling for the new engine add the cost of the engine and a bloke to fit it and you will spend at least £5000.

I totally agree with the sentiments above, go and have a look at a few to get a feel for specs and condition and you wont come unstuck.

Happy hunting

cheers rog

www.agentlemansyacht.com
 
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