Newbie seeks advice - buying a westerley Centaurer 26

[roadsterfun]

I appreciate that there is no definite best sailer/motorsailer under 30' for £12k suitable for beginners but I reckon there must be some models worth searching and some should be avoided.

 

[Tranona]

That is why it is sensible to buy a known quantity like a Centaur. This allows you to find out what you like and don't like so that when you come to your next boat in a couple of year's time (as many do) you will have a much better idea what to look for. It will also be relatively easy to sell for the same reasons it is a sensible thing for you to buy now.

There are very few "bad" boats and the less good ones are easy to avoid once you have had a look at what the popular ones are like.

You get much better response if you ask questions like "I have seen an XYZ - I am looking for a boat to do.... what do people think" rather than "what is the best boat against some vague criterion such as maximum price/size".

BTW from Brentwood you have a wide range of possible locations within an hour's drive. Spend a weekend driving round the coast from Southend to Ipswich looking in all the boatyards and marinas. You will soon get a feel for what is on offer.

 

[ianat182]

Welcome to the Forum.
As a Westerly Tiger owner I confirm all that has been said about the Centaur,one of these as a first boat is sensible for the proposed areas you mention. Mine is the fin keel lookalike but virtually identical and arguably faster; however the options of the Westerly Warwick and Westerly Pageants would save you quite a bit of money with almost the same layouts and headroom,4 berths of decent size and ample stowage below,we're talking of a range of 21ft to 23ft and 8ft beam,2ft 6" to 3ft draught.
Prices for these between £6000 and £9000.
On your budget stated of around £12K that leaves plenty for adding newer sails or Outboard engine if suitable (around the 10HP mark), or any other improvements, Autohelm, GPS , Radio etc.and a dinghy for access if on a mooring.
They are easy to sail well and very forgiving when not, a good boat for prospective wives, children, guests ,to learn the ropes(sheets,halyards and warps if you prefer !).

Like Searush I have kept my boat for a long time,26 years as I'm comfortable with her.

ianat182

 

[jontifosi]

My Centaur up the page a bit is my first proper boat. Although i've sailed Fireballs and driven a workboat it's only now i can afford the time and money to start yachting. So i found my Centaur with a recent survey already done, stating exceptional condition, i couldn't not buy it.
So make sure you get a family owned one not one that's been quickly tarted up, get a survey if it hasn't had one recently.
And last of all i'll see you in the solent.

 

[V1701]

When I began my search I hadn't any particular make/model in mind so went to see lots of different boats and I'd recommend you do the same to see what style you like, sail on some as well if you can. Maybe make a shortlist and do some more research on those. Don't rush it and try to enjoy it. As someone pointed out earlier in the thread, tipping over isn't something you need worry about (at least not yet!) with larger, keeled yachts. It's good to see lots of Westerly owners enthusing about their craft but they (Centaurs) are just one of many options. A good starting point for you might be to have a look at the Yachtsnet Archives. Good luck...

 

[NUTMEG]

My W21 (smallest version of the range and virtually identical to the Warwick, same layout as a Centaur) is kept on the Blackwater. PM me if you would like a look.

 

[maxi77]

There is no doubt that the Centaur is a good boat, but there others in the same size range which are also decent. The Sadler 26 was equally good, as were the Hunters and the Pegasus and my last boat the Maxi 77 (6 foot standing headroom in 25 feet). You really need to do some practical research, and go and see some of the boats in your price range that are on the market. You have to remember the boat that is perfect for some one else is not always perfect for you.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re. safety, dothe small motorsailers require a lot of sailing skills to master or it is quite easy to master it.

Am I right that the smaller motorsailers are very safe that they don't usually 'tip over' that easily?

I'm not sure that banging on about the various cruising yachts available at this size is quite what Roadsterfun is looking for.

Do you mean something along these lines?

http://www.coburgbrokers.com/bosun.html

or this http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/PAA4946

or this http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F210906

 

[VicS]

Now that

is the sort of thing I call a motor-sailer but I think I'd want a bigger engine in it though than 18Hp.
I suspect it will motor better than it sails .

Another good motor-sailer is the Westerly Konsort Duo but a long way above the OP's price range I think.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Another good motor-sailer is the Westerly Konsort Duo but a long way above the OP's price range I think.

The only small motor-sailers (not counting the Mirror Offshore) which seem to be cheapish are the Colvic Watsons, which generally seem to be about half the price of others like Fisher 25s. I presume there's a good reason for that.

 

[Lakesailor]

I believe it's because they motor a lot better than they sail. Don't know about the bigger ones, but the 25ft one motors rather poorly.

 

[DownWest]

The only small motor-sailers (not counting the Mirror Offshore) which seem to be cheapish are the Colvic Watsons, which generally seem to be about half the price of others like Fisher 25s. I presume there's a good reason for that.

I might be wrong here, but weren't a lot of Colvics sold as hull for home completion? The Fishers were (are?) fitted out to a very high standard by Northshore. Any hint of DIY is bound to reflect in prices.
A

 

[Ubergeekian]

I might be wrong here, but weren't a lot of Colvics sold as hull for home completion? The Fishers were (are?) fitted out to a very high standard by Northshore. Any hint of DIY is bound to reflect in prices.

Good heavens. I've just realised that Fishers were built by the same people as Victorias!

 

[Tranona]

Good heavens. I've just realised that Fishers were built by the same people as Victorias!

Not sure how you came to that conclusion! Fishers had a number of builders in the early days then Northshore. AFAIK Victorias were built mostly in Warsash by various companies using varaitions on the Victoria name as they went in and out of solvency.

Stand to be corrected, of course.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Not sure how you came to that conclusion! Fishers had a number of builders in the early days then Northshore. AFAIK Victorias were built mostly in Warsash by various companies using varaitions on the Victoria name as they went in and out of solvency.

Stand to be corrected, of course.

Me too. As far as I knew, there were only two "Victoria" companies: Victoria Marine followed by Victoria Yachts. According to my nice shiny Part 1 document, Jumblie was built by Northshore - although the original receipt is from Victoria Marine.

How many Westerly companies were there? Do they have the record?

 

[ianat182]

Yes, Fisher yachts were built at the same location ,Stone Pier Yard in Warsash, also built the Sailfish 25's and 17's.
Were a Westerly agent/ and built the newer style Westerly just before they ceased trading.

This small site has also seen Woodnutts , Tormentor Yachts ,build very successful Pre and post-war yachts among them the Moody Halberdiers, and Flying 15's.

Sorry for the thread drift !

 

[ianat182]

The bow thrusters on that IP24 Bosun photo look a little high!!

 

[roadsterfun]

Am I right that motorsailers are more motor powered than sails and they normally have a more powerful engine and a wheelhouse/pilothouse like th IP24?

Are motosailers not that capable under sails?

 

[penfold]

No. All you will get is a long list - or nothing because there is no such thing as "best". All boats are a compromise, but generally speaking boats that sold in good volume when new offered a good compromise for their expected market. For the same reason they remain popular today.

That is why you really can't go wrong with a Centaur if what you want is a a basic, capable family cruiser to learn the ropes - although many people keep them for years because they are so well matched to their purpose.

But you could say the same about Sabres, Snapdragons, Mirages, Cobras and hosts of other similar boats except there is not the volume available on the market.

The Centaur sold well because the maker was well known and trusted, they had the capacity to meet(most of) the demand, it was roomy for the price, and was safe and easy to handle.

An older design which you might consider is the Kingfisher 26 and 30; less room than the Centaur, but they sail better. Also the Albin Vega.

 

[prv]

Am I right that motorsailers are more motor powered than sails and they normally have a more powerful engine and a wheelhouse/pilothouse like th IP24?

Are motosailers not that capable under sails?

That's correct. Perhaps hang the sails out in favourable conditions for something to do, but if they need to get somewhere they're probably going to be motoring.

A sailing boat which happens to have an engine on board for confined spaces and lack of wind is not a motorsailer.

Pete