Seajet
...
Well I have to say I was remarkably disappointed; I don't often buy sailing mags nowadays - frankly I get better info and entertainment here - but I bought this issue specifically because it has a Centaur on the front cover, " Why Lord Nelson would have loved the Westerly Centaur " and " UK's Favourite Boat ".
As my father had one ( no. 2187 Caroline ) and a relatively novice friend has just bought one, I thought there would be an interesting review.
What I got was a superficial sketchy story by someone who clearly doesn't know the boats.
Judging by the mentions of excessive weather helm and the windward keel coming out of the water, plus the head on photo, she should have been reefed long before; the fact that the owner had tried and failed to fit efficient reefing is his problem, not the boats' !
There is no mention of the fact most Centaurs will require a new engine by now.
No mention of the reason for their having what was for the time a large engine; ie not because the design requires it, simply that Westerlys were offered a deal by Volvo Penta.
No mention of the boat acquiring a rather unfair reputation for poor performance, partly because of ill informed prejudice arising from the big engine, partly because the boat attracted a lot of novice sailors.
The writer seems to think any decent trip in a Centaur is pushing luck, but a fair few have been a long way, also 26' is NOT a 'small boat' !
No mention of the standard fixed 3 blade prop, with the pro's and cons of that.
It's stated that early boats suffered keel leak problems but later ones were more heavily laid up; having known early and late Centaurs, both owned by experienced sailors who both happened to be good engineers, I and others have always been under the impression it's the complete opposite - early boats were built like tanks but later boats were lighter, reflecting the development of grp boats in general.
Frankly I feel a little conned by the front cover, and I know a Centaur owner who feels the same.
What with this effort, and the YBW news about the burning fishing boat off Beachy Head " both Emsworth lifeboats were launched "...
No lifeboats at Emsworth and it's miles away, try Eastbourne !
I think it fair to say the chances of my buying any IPC mags again soon is remarkably slim, and there's more chance of my getting begging letters from Kiera Knightly than their getting a subscription cheque of mine...
As my father had one ( no. 2187 Caroline ) and a relatively novice friend has just bought one, I thought there would be an interesting review.
What I got was a superficial sketchy story by someone who clearly doesn't know the boats.
Judging by the mentions of excessive weather helm and the windward keel coming out of the water, plus the head on photo, she should have been reefed long before; the fact that the owner had tried and failed to fit efficient reefing is his problem, not the boats' !
There is no mention of the fact most Centaurs will require a new engine by now.
No mention of the reason for their having what was for the time a large engine; ie not because the design requires it, simply that Westerlys were offered a deal by Volvo Penta.
No mention of the boat acquiring a rather unfair reputation for poor performance, partly because of ill informed prejudice arising from the big engine, partly because the boat attracted a lot of novice sailors.
The writer seems to think any decent trip in a Centaur is pushing luck, but a fair few have been a long way, also 26' is NOT a 'small boat' !
No mention of the standard fixed 3 blade prop, with the pro's and cons of that.
It's stated that early boats suffered keel leak problems but later ones were more heavily laid up; having known early and late Centaurs, both owned by experienced sailors who both happened to be good engineers, I and others have always been under the impression it's the complete opposite - early boats were built like tanks but later boats were lighter, reflecting the development of grp boats in general.
Frankly I feel a little conned by the front cover, and I know a Centaur owner who feels the same.
What with this effort, and the YBW news about the burning fishing boat off Beachy Head " both Emsworth lifeboats were launched "...
No lifeboats at Emsworth and it's miles away, try Eastbourne !
I think it fair to say the chances of my buying any IPC mags again soon is remarkably slim, and there's more chance of my getting begging letters from Kiera Knightly than their getting a subscription cheque of mine...
