Westerly Centaur vs Jeanneau Fantasia 27 (Bilge Keel)

CeesH

CeesH

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This year I want to buy a Westerly Centaur in the UK to bring home with me to Brazil. Thing is that more and more I get the impression that they are way overpriced. Searching the WWW my eyes came across the Jeanneau Fantasia 27, also a Bilge Keeler, and more realistically priced.

How do I compare these two fine boats? Anyone has experience with the Jeanneau Fantasia 27? Construction, Seaworthiness.....

CeesH
 
CeesH,

I looked over a Fantasia in about 1989 - so I don't think she can have been terribly old - and was shocked at how everything was falling apart, one of the worst cases I've seen.

I don't know that boat's history though, and didn't sail her.

I'd expect the Fantasia to be faster than the Centaur, and possibly more fun in a hot climate - everything about her screamed ' charter market ' to me.

However for the chances of actually getting to the hot climes in the first place it would be the Centaur for me, every time; I don't think they're overpriced now, a friend got an excellent late one with new 3 cylinder Nannidiesel, good sails & lots of electronics for £6K; OK he was in the right place at the right time, but their prices have fallen a lot in the last couple of years.

Good luck !
 
roblpm said:
Looks like a good centaur for sale here:

http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=396948

And it's getting cheaper by the week!!
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Been abandoned in a yard in Scotland since the autumn, though, and trust me, that doesn't help with the outer appearance. I hope the owner, whoever he is, has arranged with someone to wash her down every couple of weeks. I write as the owner of a boat laid up in a yard by the Clyde ...
 
dylanwinter said:
bless you for that

got a person going to see it next week

£9,800

good job it gets polished every other day

D
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That is how to present a boat for sale. Every scrap of personal gear removed, no clutter, no mess, clean canvass for somone to paint their dream on.
 
CeesH said:
I know about the Centaur but who can tell me more about this little boat the Jeanneau Fantasia 27?

CeesH
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There is a bit on this boat (and similar French boats) in this month's PBO. Forr obvious reasons more in France than UK, but there are several for sale in UK, mostly at higher asking prices than Centaurs. Different kind of boat from a Centaur - lighter, more performance orientated.

Seems odd to be thinking of buying a cheap old boat in Europe to take to Brazil - interested to know the thinking behind this.
 
Tranona said:
There is a bit on this boat (and similar French boats) in this month's PBO. Forr obvious reasons more in France than UK, but there are several for sale in UK, mostly at higher asking prices than Centaurs. Different kind of boat from a Centaur - lighter, more performance orientated.

Seems odd to be thinking of buying a cheap old boat in Europe to take to Brazil - interested to know the thinking behind this.
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Its not allowed to import used Cars, Motorcycles, Motor- & Sailboats etc. into Brazil. There are ways although to "arrange" documents on old European boats. BTW all boats in Brazil are extremely expensive. Because these idiot import rules I sold 5 years ago my Bavaria 49 in Europe and settled in Brazil, now I want to be on the water again.

See the link about the Brazil market for pleasure sailboats.

Link: Sailboats Brazil

CeesH
 
JumbleDuck said:
Seriously, that's a good idea. Stuff goes green here awful fast. I have given up trying to stop it on mine, and just factor in a couple of cheerful hours with a pressure washer every spring.
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I sprayed my decks, canvas and ropes with Patiomagic last spring and have just been to check on the boat this morning and noticed that there was still not a bit of green anywhere, also pleased to report that the boat is fine after the recent winds :)
 
I've sailed one a few times, the fin keel version, never in heavy weather, though. Sails well in light to moderate breezes, light displacement, incredible accommodation, quite beamy and very high topsides.
 
Salty John said:
I've sailed one a few times, the fin keel version, never in heavy weather, though. Sails well in light to moderate breezes, light displacement, incredible accommodation, quite beamy and very high topsides.
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Loads of space for a 27 footer. Full size chart table and rear double cabin. Looked at a few of these about 10 years ago. A few were really tatty then. All had drooping headlining. A lot of work or expensive to renew.
One I looked at had a Renault couch engine, very scarce! One had osmosis one had a strange arrangement for mainsail reeling with the furling on the outside of the mast, I didn't like it.
 
Trop Cher said:
I sprayed my decks, canvas and ropes with Patiomagic last spring and have just been to check on the boat this morning and noticed that there was still not a bit of green anywhere, also pleased to report that the boat is fine after the recent winds :)
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Interesting, thanks. I may try that when I go down ... but with more or less constant gales forecast on the Clyde for a week, it may have to wait!
 
islecastle1 said:
Surprised that well known Centaur keel problem hasn't been mentioned. The OP needs to be aware of this.
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Thanks for mentioning, I know of these keel problems. When I decide for a Centaur I will be in the market for a late model with square portholes, skeg based rudder and reinforced keel mounting base. My preference would be the hard to find "C" layout because of the additional storage in the cockpit.

CeesH
 
There was a Fantasia owner on here a few years back, he sold it and got an Albin Vega instead, think he may be boatless at the moment so don't think he posts much anyway.

Plus I can't remember his name.

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful, was it!
 
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