Wot yot for a non head banger?

[Tranona]

If you are seriously looking for a Centaur I know of one that would fit your needs perfectly at a very competitive price. Much better than others at the bargain basement end. Located in Poole and could be dropped back in and sailed to southampton with nothing other than a thorough check over. Beware anything that needs more than cosmetics as costs can run away with you as several members on here can tell you.

 

[solent clown]

If you are seriously looking for a Centaur I know of one that would fit your needs perfectly at a very competitive price. Much better than others at the bargain basement end. Located in Poole and could be dropped back in and sailed to southampton with nothing other than a thorough check over. Beware anything that needs more than cosmetics as costs can run away with you as several members on here can tell you.

PM'd you chap :encouragement:

 

[Fossil]

The worse sort of boat is one that you can nearly stand up in. I am 6ft 6ins & if I have to stoop it really causes back ache. I was better in my Stella where I was forced to move about sat down , sliding along the cabin cushions. Never had back problems because I could never stoop. Used to cook sitting on the engine casing. Now I cook stooping in front of the cooker & often open the hatch & stand with a bit of my head out of that. Cannot stand in the hatch way because the base of the steps come in the way & it means I would have to stand at an awkward angle.

One of the best bits of advice we got when considering our first boat was "never buy anything you can't stand up in!" we then looked at a GK27 and the wisdom of this motto was rammed home, as you could only sit down when below, as there was very little headroom at all. OK, it is a racer, which was not what we were looking for anyway, but still...

We ended up with a Jaguar 27 which was fine for most purposes, plenty of headroom where it mattered - cooking and eating - and adequate where it didn't - sleeping and sitting. A boat designed and dimensioned (as the Catalina) for large Americans, fitted us fine. I too suffer from backache when stooped, so it is a big consideration. This was a few years ago and we have owned other boats since, but I still use the maxim when looking at other yachts.

 

[Stemar]

Another good bit of advice from my Dazed Kipper instructor: Never buy a boat where the cockpit seats are too short to allow you to lie out for a snooze at anchor. We find we spend far more time on board with the boat stationary than under way, including weekends when we simply stay on the mooring.

 

[solent clown]

yes, it is a major consideration for us too. It is not just the headroom, but the extra beam of the centaur over our 24ft that makes a huge difference to the feel of the cabin area - we are able to walk past each other. The cockpit tent is also vast and I am able to stand up in it. 26ft is still small enough to be economical to moor, and easy to handle for Karen and I, so for now we are very strongly thinking of this particular boat. Being a bilge keeler it ticks all our boxes for our round Britain ambitions too.

 

[RupertW]

One of the best bits of advice we got when considering our first boat was "never buy anything you can't stand up in!" we then looked at a GK27 and the wisdom of this motto was rammed home, as you could only sit down when below, as there was very little headroom at all. OK, it is a racer, which was not what we were looking for anyway, but still...

We ended up with a Jaguar 27 which was fine for most purposes, plenty of headroom where it mattered - cooking and eating - and adequate where it didn't - sleeping and sitting. A boat designed and dimensioned (as the Catalina) for large Americans, fitted us fine. I too suffer from backache when stooped, so it is a big consideration. This was a few years ago and we have owned other boats since, but I still use the maxim when looking at other yachts.

As a long time GK24 fan (total of 21 years ownership at two separate times) I really liked the wide cabin and very comfortable seating and got used to sitting only as the headroom was 4 9 at best. It just sailed so well and so easily and had a really generous cockpit for its length - and I cruise only and don't race. No other boat I've owned simply fitted like a glove and took off at the slightest opportunity whilst being really robust (if wet) in bad weather like some of our West Country to South Brittany trips.

But of course I like having a much bigger boat with standing headroom everywhere now but miss the sailing feel of the GK - which I finally sold seven years after buying the bigger boat as I wanted to have a good daysailer and occasional overnighter that was a drive not a flight away.

 

[solent clown]

I guess we are very fortunate being walking distance from the mooring, and able to stick the 13 ft dinghy in the water whenever we want as well. Next on the list is a fast little cat for speed thrills, but they are expensive so waiting for a project one to some along...

 

[John 32i]

I guess we are very fortunate being walking distance from the mooring, and able to stick the 13 ft dinghy in the water whenever we want as well. Next on the list is a fast little cat for speed thrills, but they are expensive so waiting for a project one to some along...

How do you find the time to sail and work on all these projects....:encouragement:... we struggle juggling work, weather and reality with sailing just one boat

 

[solent clown]

How do you find the time to sail and work on all these projects....:encouragement:... we struggle juggling work, weather and reality with sailing just one boat

I get my 8 hours work done either before or after. I dont mind starting at 4am, finishing at lunch, then going sailing - but then again, I am self employed so I have that dubious luxury. I also work pretty much 7 days a week to enable us to sail more often, it's just a matter of doing what it takes. Of course being 5 mins from the moorings makes it even easier. :encouragement: We also sail on a very tight budget, every one of our boats has been a fixer upper. That makes it much more sustainable, fixing up and selling as we traded up to bigger boats was fun, cost neutral rather than profitable and a great learning and social experience

 

[solent clown]

How do you find the time to sail and work on all these projects....:encouragement:... we struggle juggling work, weather and reality with sailing just one boat

And winter sailing is brilliant - the solent is almost devoid of other yachts.:encouragement: It is getting a bit busier now both on the water and at the yard

 

[John 32i]

Thanks, you have inspired me to seriously consider changing my working hours...I am office based but could probably manage 08.00 - 15.00 which would certainly give us time for a reasonable sail a couple of times a week...we are only 10 mins from the boat so it would work and make the most of the summer evenings too

 

[Iain C]

Plenty headroom in a Sabre 27, a lesser known competitor to the Centaur. I'm a smidge under 6' and the main saloon is fine, with a bit of a duck down where the coachroof is stepped down into the forecabin. I may be biased but I think the Sabre is much, much better looking than the Centaur. Also available in fin or bilge keel versions...fin every time for me. I could have sold you mine but I've taken a deposit on her...

 

[Mrssolentclown]

I have a full time job but have booked my annual leave accordingly to good tide times for first time and it's working fine and more productive than before. Shorter time off rather than full weeks too will ensure more sailing times hey we must be a tad obsessed.

 

[John 32i]

I have a full time job but have booked my annual leave accordingly to good tide times for first time and it's working fine and more productive than before. Shorter time off rather than full weeks too will ensure more sailing times hey we must be a tad obsessed.

Yes I have been called obsessed, but hey nothing wrong with that :encouragement: