Should I acquire this free Westerly Centaur

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rglouc

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Greetings-

I have an opportunity to take over a Westerly Centaur for $0.00. Pictures are here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0BxaHrjWMne5iR3Z3U0hXdEllNG8

My essential question, for which I seek any feedback you have to offer, is whether I should forget that I ever saw this boat, or whether I should commit at some level. (Arrangement with boat yard might mean that I have to assume ownership to investigate fully.)

- The boat was in the water in 2012. Since then on the hard.
- The companionway was left open, partially covered, with the result that there is water in the cabin 8" above the sole.
- I'm assuming replacement of outboard, sails, electrical.
- Chainplates above windows seem fine, see pictures.
- I cannot see the keelbolts from the inside as they are covered by water.
- Somehow the headliner is intact.

I want a Westerly Centaur for the family to go a-camping in the broad sand flats near me. But they are very few in the US.

- Rick
 
personally I would run away, even ignoring the water level inside there is lots of work which is likely to sum to >> more than the final value. that keel-hull joint does not look right + why are some of the engine hoses removed??
 
Welcome to the forums! Yes, forget that you ever saw it! It's a money-pit, into which you could pour a lot of money, not to mention time, and still not have a workable boat.
 
Im relatively new to sailing and looked at quite a few centaurs in my search for a first boat and would suggest if you're really set on a centaur run away from that one and buy one in the UK (you can pick up a relatively decent one for £5k if you search about) and then get it sailed/transported over to the states.

It'll probably work out quicker, cheaper and less stressful.
 
Billyo said:
Im relatively new to sailing and looked at quite a few centaurs in my search for a first boat and would suggest if you're really set on a centaur run away from that one and buy one in the UK (you can pick up a relatively decent one for £5k if you search about) and then get it sailed/transported over to the states.

It'll probably work out quicker, cheaper and less stressful.
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I think shipping costs will outweigh any boat value, as well as importation costs and travel to see it. Hopefully there will be other cheap suitable boats closer to the OP.
 
RupertW said:
I think shipping costs will outweigh any boat value, as well as importation costs and travel to see it. Hopefully there will be other cheap suitable boats closer to the OP.
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Completely agree, but the refurb of the boat the OP has asked about would far outweigh the boats value as well. If the OP is dead set on a Centaur then it might be a solution.
 
Hi Rick,

Only you can make the decision because the situation is unique to you. For most people, myself included, after a nano second of thought they'd run a mile. But for some, perhaps those that have the vision, the time, the patience, the knowledge, the expertise, the capability, the resources and, most of all, a supportive family, it looks like a bargain.

It sounds like you have a desire to use the boat for family outings. Unless you're looking to put them off boating for life this isn't going to happen with that boat for a very long time.

What's your boating experience?

A good car analogy is buying a basket case classic. Sage advice is "no". Far cheaper to buy a Concourse example with the added bonus that you can use it and derive pleasure from it immediately. You'd need to be a bit of a masochist to derive pleasure from the boat in the pictures.

Do let us know your decision?
 
It really depends on how much damage the water in the cabin has done. The inboard is clearly toast, but if you are happy with the outboard - I believe some Cebtaurs were sold with outboards in the US - then just dump the inboard and enjoy the nice big storage space you gain. I'd be most worried about electrics, and you would almost certainly have to replace any wiring which had been submerged. There can also be issues with water penetration into the end grain of the bulkhead, so worth checking that the bottom of that isn't unduly soft.

All that said, it's a plastic boat and it hasn't sunk. An hour with a pressure washer will have the outside looking nice and once you have the water out a day with assorted cleaning products should bring the cabin up nicely. The keels probably aren't leaking, 'sos if they were the water would have run out.

If you want something to restore to perfection, this is a bad bet. But then again, if you want something to restore to perfection, any old boat is a bad bet. If you just want something to clean up and play with, this looks potentially fine ... and the price is right.
 
Take it.- for nothing !!
Strip every part you can from it , outboard, rigging parts, mast. windows surrounds, rudder, winches, sails, fixing plates, genoa tracks, tiller. Keels, engine prop shaft & prop, cooker, WC. Cut the bolts with an angle grinder.
Anything that can be detached from the hull.
Then scrap the hull, Cut it up with a chain saw Or hire a mini digger for a day & smash it to bits & stick it in a skip

Then sell all the bits on Ebay. There must be Centaur owners all over the place who will bite your hand off for things like windows & aluminium surrounds, shroud plates, hatch cover, rigging screws, rudder, tiller, prop etc etc.
 
Daydream believer said:
Then sell all the bits on Ebay. There must be Centaur owners all over the place who will bite your hand off for things like windows & aluminium surrounds, shroud plates, hatch cover, rigging screws, rudder, tiller, prop etc etc.
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Probably the best suggestion. Then take the money and put it towards a more realistic project.

Take it as free advice from someone who poured money into a black hole and was lucky to not end up very out of pocket. As long as you do not count my time.
 
Daydream believer said:
Then sell all the bits on Ebay. There must be Centaur owners all over the place who will bite your hand off for things like windows & aluminium surrounds, shroud plates, hatch cover, rigging screws, rudder, tiller, prop etc etc.
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But would they be happy to pay shipping from the US, duty, VAT, etc? I can't imagine there are that many Centaurs in the US.
 
Come on guys, you're a lot of old farts. Turn the clock back 50 years, and imagine yourself as a teenager again. Somebody offers to GIVE you a real sailing boat for NOTHING! Yes, it needs a bit of work to get it up and running, but can you not remember the sense of achievement that that gives. OK, the OP probably isn't a teenager, but maybe he's still got the drive and enthusiasm that you guys have lost. Money isn't everything. :D
 
Hello rglouc.

I don't think it would be my pick but it is yours and that is the main thing.

In my experience many Americans have big garages stuffed with tools and stuff, are pretty good at fixing things and not frightened of getting stuck in. If you are like that, it is worth thinking about. However, one thing for certain, if the family hate the idea then don't do it.

As you probably know you can expect to have to work on those keels at some point but the rest seems straightforward, if tough and time consuming. Do you get the grp tender and the outboard engine in the deal? I bet you a bottle of virtual Jack Daniels that the Mercury runs fine.

It is often said that you will not get your money back whatever you spend - which is just about true for anything you do in this life.
 
NormanS said:
Come on guys, you're a lot of old farts. Turn the clock back 50 years, and imagine yourself as a teenager again. Somebody offers to GIVE you a real sailing boat for NOTHING! Yes, it needs a bit of work to get it up and running, but can you not remember the sense of achievement that that gives. OK, the OP probably isn't a teenager, but maybe he's still got the drive and enthusiasm that you guys have lost. Money isn't everything. :D
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You said it. Too much killjoy oldfartery here.
 
Forget you ever saw it, an endless money pit,plus hours and hours of work needed to bring up to the condition needed to launch.
as the previous post you can pick one up that needs a bit of TLC £4000/5000.
RUN!
 
NormanS said:
Come on guys, you're a lot of old farts. Turn the clock back 50 years, and imagine yourself as a teenager again. Somebody offers to GIVE you a real sailing boat for NOTHING! Yes, it needs a bit of work to get it up and running, but can you not remember the sense of achievement that that gives. OK, the OP probably isn't a teenager, but maybe he's still got the drive and enthusiasm that you guys have lost. Money isn't everything. :D
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I freely admit to having "old fart" tendencies, but I still think that this particular Centaur is best avoided. There's a huge amount of work needed, even assuming the basic structure is still sound. But with a lot of water sitting inside, I'd bet the bulkhead is rotten (and it's structural). Then there are things like the mast compression post, and the floors, and the keel reinforcing webs, all of which may now be suffering from rot. And the boat has been messed about with - look at the pics of the chainplates above the windows. It'd probably need all new rigging, and new sails. I had a Centaur back in the 70s, and know the boats have a keen following, but a pragmatic approach is needed.
 
NormanS said:
Come on guys, you're a lot of old farts. Turn the clock back 50 years, and imagine yourself as a teenager again. Somebody offers to GIVE you a real sailing boat for NOTHING! Yes, it needs a bit of work to get it up and running, but can you not remember the sense of achievement that that gives. OK, the OP probably isn't a teenager, but maybe he's still got the drive and enthusiasm that you guys have lost. Money isn't everything. :D
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Provided the OPs skills and enthusiasm are up to taking on a DIY project, i absolutely agree with you. I recently bought a project boat with a seized engine (MD7A) and with a bit of help from forumites, managed to take it pieces and rebuild it for the cost of a professional diesel pump and injectors service and for €150. Engine now runs perfectly. The rest of the boat was down to blood, sweat and tears and very little money.
 
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I would have it. Looks like a lot of cleaning and tidying up, and a bit of repair work. A few hours with a pressure washer and the hull and topsides will look 100pc better. It looks like the keels have been sealed with some sort of goop at some time, check the bolts. I have reset a few keels on centaurs, also the might need reinforced on the inside. All diy stuff. Good luck.
 
silverdawn said:
Forget you ever saw it, an endless money pit,plus hours and hours of work needed to bring up to the condition needed to launch.
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If the bottom of the bulkhead is OK, all it needs to launch is a damn good clean. Two days work, tops. Of course that's a minimum, and if it were me I'd plan for a week, including having the engine removed.

as the previous post you can pick one up that needs a bit of TLC £4000/5000.
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... on the other side of the Atlantic. And that's £4000/5000 more than this one. And would still need work.
 
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