Family Day Sailing Bilge Keeler?

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Shakemeister

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Hello everyone,

I am looking for a bilge keeler for day sailing and occasional weekends and holiday sailing.

I am thinking about a Westerly Centaur.

However can anyone suggest similar yachts at a similar price range that I could consider please?

Thanks in advance.
 
Newbridge pioneer / pilot

lots of space - not too bad sailing performance - good for kids, high freeboard & big cockpit
 
Macwester 27 or 28 (not 26, far too slow) - half the cost of a Centaur and comparable performance. Interior volume is almost identical. Or think laterally - an early Heavenly Twins 26 will be about £12,000 and your family will love you for it. Much more fun, you just run it up the beach. Two double cabins plus saloon, monster sized heads and galley.
 
Everyone will have their own favourite. So we will have dozens of suggestions. (Mine's a (UK) Hunter 245, just for the record.)
Just to narrow things down a bit....
How many persons of board?
Do you need standing headroom?
Do you need an inboard engine? (and why?)
Do you intend sailing offshore, eg across Channel?
Do you want to be able to sail single-handed?
How much are you prepared to spend each year on maintenance and gear replacement?
Will you be keeping it on a drying swinging mooring, deep swinging mooring, marina berth or what?
Do you insist on a good sailing performance, or not that fussed?
Not wishing to tow behind largeish car, presumably?
Must it have a decent heads compartment?

And so on .... even when you consider the above, there will STILL be lots of answers.
 
Sabre 27 Excellent sea boat, safe as houses and faster than the Centaur.

I have the fin keel version. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Active owners association which is useful.

Would buy one again if I needed to.

Regards

Ian
 
ianfr said:
Sabre 27 Excellent sea boat, safe as houses and faster than the Centaur.

I have the fin keel version. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Active owners association which is useful.

Would buy one again if I needed to.

Regards

Ian
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There are lots of 70s to 80s boats that would fit the pretty wide specs the OP has given us. Assuming the budget is for a centaur (around 8-10k), I'd say buy the best bilge keeler of that size that you can find local to your intended mooring. For daysails and long weekends they will all be the same, and there is no point limiting yourself to a certain marque then spending 10% of the budget to truck it across the country.
 
bitbaltic said:
There are lots of 70s to 80s boats that would fit the pretty wide specs the OP has given us. Assuming the budget is for a centaur (around 8-10k), I'd say buy the best bilge keeler of that size that you can find local to your intended mooring. For daysails and long weekends they will all be the same, and there is no point limiting yourself to a certain marque then spending 10% of the budget to truck it across the country.
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I agree. All you need decide is the interior layout that best suits you, and if you want inboard or outboard etc etc. Performance doesn't seem an issue, so there will be something that ticks all the boxes.
 
Thank you for all your replies.

Am thinking of 4 or 5 berths, seperate heads compartment, inboard diesel engine (for strongly tidal area). not fussed about standing room for myself as I am a lanky get anyway and am used to ducking and slouching around to avoid banging my head. I'm prepared to sacrifice performance for stability and space.

As for mooring - not sure yet. I'd prefer drying cos it's cheaper and better for maintenance, but I'd take what I can get.

Once again, thank you.
 
I would suggest that within your budget rather than looking for the ideal boat you would be better looking at boats in your area, then if you find one you like post on here asking for opinions.
 
A twin cabin arrangement will have a bulk head about halfway dividing the interier accomadation into two. This offers more privacy, but on a smaller boat (IMO) makes the main living area feel more cramped. In this arrangement you generaly have the option of having two double seats s facing opposite with a table in the middle, normally to one side with a galley opposite. This converts into a double berth. Or, a sofa type seat down one side, or both with a galley opposite or to the rear. An open plan can have loads of different arrangements.
Where are you, and what's your budget?
 
Shakemeister said:
Hello everyone,

I am looking for a bilge keeler for day sailing and occasional weekends and holiday sailing.

I am thinking about a Westerly Centaur.

However can anyone suggest similar yachts at a similar price range that I could consider please?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Macwester 27 any day.....you don't pay the fashionable premium & get a better boat.
 
Centaurs have come down in price over the years but some people are still asking silly money for poor boats. On the other hand if you can find one that has been updated - new engine, cushions, rigging and has been looked after then you can't go far wrong. There is an active owners association and a for sale section on their website. So many were built there is a good chance of finding one locally. However, as always, it is a case of buying a boat that you like. Just don't let your heart rule your head too much!
 
Find a good Cobra 850. I had one for years, and really enjoyed it. Whatever you buy, follow Tam Lins advice above. New standing rigging, modern (light weight) engine, new sails, decent interior. Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone - will check out the other boats suggested. I dread to say it, but basically I'm looking for a floating caravan ! :o
 
We have a rough idea of budget in mind - we're not talking five figures - but there does some to be some boats out there with good inventory going for less than £5k. Which makes you wonder if they need some work. Also the ongoing maintenance and mooring costs have to be considered - it's like buying a cheap printer for your computer but then the print cartridges cost £20! :)
 
Any of the boats mentioned, but the condition of the engine and the sails would be my first concern. They are both major expenses, the rest you can fix or live with.
Good Macwester 27's are few and far between at the moment, whereas Centaurs are always available.
 
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