Should I acquire this free Westerly Centaur

Do you want to go sailing or do you want to do up an old boat?
I have spent three times the purchase price refurbishing my Centaur and it is not finished yet!
Don't forget that you will be paying yard fees while repairing it.
 
JumbleDuck said:
... 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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But have you any idea what delightful bargains there are in the USA boat market? Just do a yachtworld search for say 23-26ft and with a price limit of £3000.
 
Pump the water out of the boat, check the bulkhead below the mast is sound and the one for the forecabin.

Looks like the inboard is toast hence the outboard, check the outboard works.

Check the sails, if the sails have had the UV get to them they may be damaged, if they have holes or are shredded you are in for some serious bucks.

The chain plates above the windows are normal, they are baby stays not the main ones, clean the side decks off and check the main chain plates are not deflecting the side decks upwards. Check the groove up the back of the mast is straight

If the outboard runs, the sails are good and the bulkheads are solid have a talk with the yard, if you take her on join the American Westerly Owners group, there will be plenty of sound advice and boat specific.
 
Well if OP wants a centaur and he has the time/inclination then he should go for it. It might take some time and money but then almost certainly any old second hand boat is going to take a lot of work and money to get it to a standard satisfactory to you. Well I certainly would in your place. olewill
 
There's a Westerly that was in the yard at the same time as my boat (not a Westerly) this winter. Both being copper-coated. His had been properly treated for osmosis a few years back (as had mine 20 years ago). His had been used recently in fresh water for a couple of years and had spent one winter with a foot of fresh water in the bilge.

His boat had to be peeled and dried out before being retreated for osmosis.

How long has the Centaur had a pool of fresh water in the bilge? It's a Westerly. Westerly's get osmosis like dogs get fleas.
 
OP here.
You all are like an externalization of voices in my head. To be honest, I expected unanimity in the Run Away response. But you guys reflect my current thinking pretty well: "What a stupid idea. And yet...."

For those of you interested, my current boat is a drippy west wight 19 in roughly the same condition as this centaur. Shitty and often very wet, but I get to sail in truly wonderful places. Only big enough for me and the boy however, his twin sisters will want to have some adventure too! A centaur in fair condition is what I'm after, but they do not exist over here. Nor do any twin keelers really.

I think what I'll do is to not take the gamble.

Instead, I'll try and look away. But, if I find that I cannot I will try and strike an arrangement with the yard in which I pump and stabilize and clean. But without tying any ropes around my neck.

If it comes to that I'll use the checklist that you guys have supplied me with. Thanks for that. I hadn't yet considered some of the things that were mentioned.

Great forum
 
If you have a lot of disposable income, an irrational love of restoring all things broken, don't have a family, friends or social life, and own a shed full of tools and the skills to use them, I reckon it's worth a go.

*edit* These recommendations are based on my own experiences about making a MAB slightly less manky :)
 
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flyingscampi said:
If you have a lot of disposable income, an irrational love of restoring all things broken, don't have a family, friends or social life, and own a shed full of tools and the skills to use them, I reckon it's worth a go.
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Some of the best boating fun I have had was restoring my Hunter 490 from an abandoned wreck into a nice, smart wee boat. Completely uneconomic, of course, but I don't do boaty stuff to make money. Alas now there is no storage room, so if anyone wants a Hunter 490 ...
 
If someone wants to give it away free why is there a problem inspecting it thoroughly first?Id have thought the owner/boatyard would be only too keen to accommodate anyone willing to take it away.
 
It depends who is selling the Centaur. If it is the owner, then I doubt if he is interested in paying money to someone to have it. If it is the yard trying to dispose of to get space in the yard, then may be a deal for 6 months free storage would be worth asking as it is not costing them any money (if the yard is not full).
 
Go for it, get the young 'uns involved from day 1 - cleaning and handing tools around - tell them it's their boat project, get the Volvo out and give it to an enthusiast to play with. Try the outboard and if any encouraging signs, then get it serviced and started. Check keels and bolts, plenty of info' on the net to fix if needed - you could be out having fun in that boat within 2 months. Kids will be cock a hoop as they helped to get it in and you will know boat inside out - it's a free boat that could very cheaply give a lot of pleasure and doesn't need a complete refit - once on the water it can be personalised as desired.
 
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ripvan1 said:
Go for it, get the young 'uns involved from day 1 - cleaning and handing tools around - tell them it's their boat project, get the Volvo out and give it to an enthusiast to play with. Try the outboard and if any encouraging signs, then get it serviced and started. Check keels and bolts, plenty of info' on the net to fix if needed - you could be out having fun in that boat within 2 months. Kids will be cock a hoop as they helped to get it in and you will know boat inside out - it's a free boat that could very cheaply give a lot of pleasure and doesn't need a complete refit - once on the water it can be personalised as desired.
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I have been following these folk. A season ago they had never sailed, they fettled one boat, sailed it, sold it and are now on their second:

 
Hello, update here from OP.

You remember that I had complained that there aren't any twin keelers where I live. Well, a Westerly Warwick came up for sale at a good price in sailing condition. (I learned that the seller had already viewed and passed on the above Centaur two years earlier.)

I immediately purchased this boat. I'll be in the sound soon steaming soft shells with the family.
 
rglouc said:
Hello, update here from OP.

You remember that I had complained that there aren't any twin keelers where I live. Well, a Westerly Warwick came up for sale at a good price in sailing condition. (I learned that the seller had already viewed and passed on the above Centaur two years earlier.)

I immediately purchased this boat. I'll be in the sound soon steaming soft shells with the family.
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Now that's a much more sensible proposition! Enjoy it!
 
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