Difference between revisions of "Centaur"

Latest revision as of 18:12, 28 June 2020

Introduction

First shown at the 1969 London Boat Show the Centaur production run reached 2,440 before the design was replaced by the Griffon in 1980. A variety of engines were origianally fitted with the 25hp Volvo MD2B and 23hp MDIIC being the most popular.

Centaur Statistics

Designer:	Laurent Giles
Keel:	Twin
Cockpit:	Aft
LOA (feet):	26' 0"
LWL (feet):	21' 4"
Beam (feet):	8' 5"
Draft (feet):	3' 0"
Centaur Keel Width:	Width at leading edge 78", Width at trailing edge 83", Length 64"
Displacement (lb):	6,700
Ballast (lb):	2,800
Berths:	layout A: 6; layout B: 5; layout C: 4
Heads:	1
Rig:	Sloop/Ketch (probably < 20 Ketch)
Fuel (ltr):	45
Main (sq. feet):	161
No. 1 Genoa (sq. feet):	223
No 1 Jib (sq. feet):	133
Mast Height (m):	9.44
Sail ID:	CR
Water (ltr):	67
Built:	1969 - 1980
Number Built:	2444

Centaur Brochures

Westerly Centaur Brochure here: Westerly Brochures

Buying Guide

Thinking of buying a Centaur ? Find all you need to know here:File:CENTAUR PURCHASE ADVICE.pdf Paul Shave's Article Buying a Centaur

The Centaur Definitive Guide

(First published in WOA magazine No. 51, Winter 1993)

Dennis Rayner’s designs had launched Westerly as a successful company, but by 1967 it was felt that fresh ideas were needed for a new range for the 1970’s. Jack Giles of Laurent Giles had recently launched "Bluebird of Thorne", a 50 foot twin keeler, for which he had done extensive tank testings. The tank testings decided it; he was the man to approach for state of the art twin keel designs.

The first effort was a bit of a disaster, since Laurent Giles had come up with what amounted to a development of the existing Westerly 25, which David Sanders thought was "all curves and no substance." David Sanders was very disappointed and said so to Jack Giles who immediately perked up and said "so you want a proper yacht?"

At this stage I can do no better than to produce the words of Jack Giles from his press release of March 1969:

Westerly Centaur L.0.A.: 26ft. L.W.L.: 21ft. 4ins. Beam: 8ft. 5ins. Draft: 3ft. Working sail area: 341sq ft. T.M.: 6 tons Designers: Laurent Giles & Partners Ltd. Builders: Westerly Marine Constructions Ltd.

To be commissioned to design for Westerly Marine was indeed a challenge. With the resources of their own Research Department allied to a highly developed production line and a keen Buying Office there seemed to be a danger of too many outside pressures working on the Designers.

In practice we found that this was not so, providing trouble was taken to appreciate and allot priorities to the requirements of the various departments concerned and provided we were prepared to work within a reasonable, but tight, time table.

The first result of this co-operation, the "Centaur", has a very low waterline over beam coefficient, a clean canoe body and twin bilge keels of aero-foil section.

The power installation has its propeller working in clear water and the balanced skegiess spade rudder provides ample control under sail or power.

Under sail the boat performs remarkably well to windward at a very modest angle of heel and under power did all that was expected of her and, in addition, showed unusually good handling characteristics when going astern.

The layout below decks is spacious for a boat of only 26 ft, overall having four comfortable 6ft. 6in. berths, a separate toilet compartment and a dinette arrangement which can be converted into an additional double bunk. Despite the space below decks, there is still a 6ft. 6in. self-draining cockpit, a feature of the boat which has appealed to the American market to which an appreciable number of "Centaurs" have already been exported. 20.3.69

The Centaur was officially launched at the London Boat Show 1969, and was an immediate hit worldwide, as can be seen from the press release. She was, and is, the perfect family yacht for all the reasons that Jack Giles outlined, but also because she was reasonably priced, and thoroughly well made. On the subject of maintenance and value, it is particularly important to have a steady replacement programme for any yacht so that her equipment, such as sprayhood, sails and instrumentation, is not dreadfully out of date or simply "clapped out." On the other hand, it is important to guard against the thought that spending £2,500 on vertical roller reefing will add significantly to the boat’s value.

More Photos

Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades

Fitting a Quick Genius 12v windlass to a Centaur

Centaur Sink

Fitting Barton Single line reefing from Sailing Today Dec 2011

Centaur Main Cabin Wall Cupboards

DIY cockpit seating teak substitute

Centaur Cutless Bearing Removal and Replacement

Removing the Propeller Shaft

Centaur Rudder bearings

Removing a Centaur Water Tank

Presentation by Winston Waller to East Coast Group Winter Workshop 2013 about how he treated his Centaur hull [Epoxy Treatment of Centaur Hull]

Removing a MD2B from a Centaur Pictures of Removal

Raising a Centaur Mast using a Gin Pole

Contributed Graphics and Plans

References

Official Westerly Documents

Centaur Manual

Magazine Publications

PBO Centaur 50th Rally Article PBO No 638 May 2019
Yachting Monthly June 2016
PBO Centaur Ketch Article PBO No 403 July 2000 (Available as a reprint)
PBO Centaur Article PBO No 354 June 1996 (Available as a reprint)

Web sites and blogs

YouTube Channels and Videos

Back to the Main Page

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Introduction==
-First shown at the 1969 London Boat Show the Centaur production run reached 2,440 before the design was evolved into the Griffon in 1980. A variety of engines were origianally fitted with the 23HP Volvo MDIIB and MDIIC being the most popular.
+First shown at the 1969 London Boat Show the Centaur production run reached 2,440 before the design was replaced by the Griffon in 1980. A variety of engines were origianally fitted with the 25hp Volvo MD2B and 23hp MDIIC being the most popular.
 == Centaur Statistics ==
 {| border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000"
 |-
-|Designer:||  Laurent Giles ||rowspan="20"| [[File:flora.jpg |CR 1871 Flora, a 1977 Centaur entering Queenborough in June 2011 on a WOA East Coast Group Meet]]
+|Designer:||  Laurent Giles ||rowspan="22"| [[File:flora.jpg|350px |CR 1871 Flora, a 1977 Centaur entering Queenborough in June 2011 on a WOA East Coast Group Meet]]
 |-
 |Keel:||Twin
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 |-
 |Draft (feet):||  3' 0"
+|-
+|Centaur Keel Width:||Width at leading edge 78",
+Width at trailing edge 83",
+Length 64"
 |-
 |Displacement (lb):||  6,700
@@ Line 36: / Line 42: @@
 |-
 |No 1 Jib (sq. feet):||133
+|-
+|Mast Height (m):||9.44
 |-
 |Sail ID:||CR
@@ Line 45: / Line 53: @@
 |Number Built:||  2444
 |}
+==Centaur Brochures==
+Westerly Centaur Brochure here: [[Westerly Brochures]]
+==Buying Guide==
+Thinking of buying a Centaur ? Find all you need to know here:[[File:CENTAUR_PURCHASE_ADVICE.pdf]] Paul Shave's Article Buying a Centaur
 == The Centaur Definitive Guide==
-[http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/guides_6.php A definitive guide to the Centaur Story can be found on the Westerly Owners Association website here]
-==[[Centaur Maintenance and Repair|Maintenance and Repair]]==
+(First published in WOA magazine No. 51, Winter 1993)
+Dennis Rayner’s designs had launched Westerly as a successful company, but by 1967 it was felt that fresh ideas were needed for a new range for the 1970’s. Jack Giles of Laurent Giles had recently launched "Bluebird of Thorne", a 50 foot twin keeler, for which he had done extensive tank testings. The tank testings decided it; he was the man to approach for state of the art twin keel designs.
+The first effort was a bit of a disaster, since Laurent Giles had come up with what amounted to a development of the existing Westerly 25, which David Sanders thought was "all curves and no substance." David Sanders was very disappointed and said so to Jack Giles who immediately perked up and said "so you want a proper yacht?"
+At this stage I can do no better than to produce the words of Jack Giles from his press release of March 1969:
+''Westerly Centaur''
+L.0.A.:	26ft.
+L.W.L.:	21ft. 4ins.
+Beam:	8ft. 5ins.
+Draft:	3ft.
+Working sail area:	341sq ft.
+T.M.:	6 tons
+Designers:	Laurent Giles & Partners Ltd.
+Builders:	Westerly Marine Constructions Ltd.
+''To be commissioned to design for Westerly Marine was indeed a challenge. With the resources of their own Research Department allied to a highly developed production line and a keen Buying Office there seemed to be a danger of too many outside pressures working on the Designers.''
+''In practice we found that this was not so, providing trouble was taken to appreciate and allot priorities to the requirements of the various departments concerned and provided we were prepared to work within a reasonable, but tight, time table.''
+''The first result of this co-operation, the "Centaur", has a very low waterline over beam coefficient, a clean canoe body and twin bilge keels of aero-foil section.''
+''The power installation has its propeller working in clear water and the balanced skegiess spade rudder provides ample control under sail or power.''
+''Under sail the boat performs remarkably well to windward at a very modest angle of heel and under power did all that was expected of her and, in addition, showed unusually good handling characteristics when going astern.''
+''The layout below decks is spacious for a boat of only 26 ft, overall having four comfortable 6ft. 6in. berths, a separate toilet compartment and a dinette arrangement which can be converted into an additional double bunk. Despite the space below decks, there is still a 6ft. 6in. self-draining cockpit, a feature of the boat which has appealed to the American market to which an appreciable number of "Centaurs" have already been exported. 20.3.69
+''
+The Centaur was officially launched at the London Boat Show 1969, and was an immediate hit worldwide, as can be seen from the press release. She was, and is, the perfect family yacht for all the reasons that Jack Giles outlined, but also because she was reasonably priced, and thoroughly well made. On the subject of maintenance and value, it is particularly important to have a steady replacement programme for any yacht so that her equipment, such as sprayhood, sails and instrumentation, is not dreadfully out of date or simply "clapped out." On the other hand, it is important to guard against the thought that spending £2,500 on vertical roller reefing will add significantly to the boat’s value.
+==More Photos==
+[[File:Centaur-Charis-32TD66-3.jpg|800px]]
+[[File:Centaur-Viento-Seco-1.jpg|800px]]
+[[File:Centaur-Spartacus-S8620-1.jpg|800px]]
+[[File:Centaur Whitev-Lady-1-1.jpg|800px]]
+[[File:Centaur-Sentoray.jpg|800px]]
+==Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades==
+[[Upgrading to an Electric Windlass|Fitting a Quick Genius 12v windlass to a Centaur]]
-===Removing the Cutless Bearing===
+[[Centaur Sink]]
-The Centaur Cutless Bearing is conveniently contained in a removeable bronze housing. To remove the housing it is necessary to remove the propeller.
+[[Media:ST176_single_line_reefing_Dec_2011.pdf| Fitting Barton Single line reefing from Sailing Today Dec 2011]]
-NB Removal of the rudder is optional  for this job but it is easy to do on lift out and makes for better access also if there is a rope cutter fitted behind the propeller it must be removed.
-Start by removing the locking split pin from the castellated nut on the end of the prop shaft and unscrew the nut but do not take it fully off.
-The propeller is held tightly on a taper at the end of the prop shaft and must be persuaded to release from the taper.
-If a three legged puller is available (approx 4.5inches minimum span) mount this on the propeller with the pulling legs engaged behind the propeller boss. The pulling screw should rest against the end of the prop shaft just sitting in the castellation of the nut.
-Tip: Whilst setting up the puller it helps to hold the legs of the puller together using a long cable tie.
-[[File:prop puller.jpg |310px|center|Puller with cable tie]]
+[[Centaur Main Cabin Wall Cupboards]]
-Wind the puller up hard making sure the legs remain engaged. then wait whilst adding release oil behind the propeller. Ideally the propellor will release from the taper but.....assuming nothing happens there are then two strategies that can be applied. These are heat and impact.
-=== Removing the Propeller Using Heat ===
-With the propeller under tension from the puller get a kettle of hot water and pour it over the propeller boss and again wait. There should be a bang as the propeller releases from the taper and springs back against the castellated nut which is still on the shaft to stop the propeller falling on your toes.
-=== Removing the Propeller Using Impact ===
+[[DIY cockpit seating teak substitute]]
-The second strategy involves two people and three club hammers used to strike the propeller boss in a "controlled" manner. First remove the puller if fitted but leave the castellated nut in place on the end of the shaft. One (large) hammer is used to support the propeller boss from underneath whilst the top of the propeller is struck from above. At the same time the second person strikes the back of the propeller (in line with the keyway if possible) towards the end of the shaft. The two hammer blows should be as near simultaneous as possible. As before there should be a bang and the prop should release from the taper but be prevented from falling off by the castellated nut.
-Unscrew the castellated nut and remove the propeller. Remove the taper key from the shaft and store safely.
-[[File:prop removed.jpg |310px|center| Prop Removed]]
+[[Centaur Cutless Bearing Removal and Replacement]]
-=== Removing the Cutless Bearing Housing ===
-Remove the top and bottom cutless bearing housing retaining bolts. They may have the nuts inside or outside and if on the inside the nuts may be glassed in. Access inside the hull to the lower nut may be difficult but a 14mm socket on an extension can be used to stop it turning.The socket extension passes under the stern tube to fit onto the lower cutless bearing housing nut hidden below the stern tube.
-[[File:lower nut.jpg |310px|center|Access to lower nut can be difficult]]
+[[Removing the Propeller Shaft]]
-Once the bolts are removed the cutless housing can be unscrewed anticlockwise from the stern tube using a large adjustable spanner.
+[[Centaur Rudder bearings]]
-[[File:unscrew housing.jpg|310px|center|Unscrew housing anti-clockwise]]
+[[Removing a Centaur Water Tank]]
-===Removing the Cutless Bearing from its Housing ===
+Presentation by Winston Waller to East Coast Group Winter Workshop 2013 about how he treated his Centaur hull [[http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/documents/pptdocs/EpoxyTreatmentCentaurHull.ppt Epoxy Treatment of Centaur Hull]]
-The cutless bearing is in a brass tube with bearing surfaces in the form of longitudinal water lubricated bearing strips. The brass tube is a tight press fit into the cutless bearing housing.
-NB There are also two set screw that go through the side of the housing into the brass tube to stop the tube from rotating in the housing. These set screws must be located and unscrewed before attempting to remove the bearing.
-Removal of the old bearing and replacement with a new one is most easily done in a workshop equipped with a press. Some vendors of cutless bearings offer this service. Alternatively the web documents diy removal techniques involving carefully sawing through the brass tube and collapsing the tube inwards to allow it to be removed using grips.
-NB If a rope cutter fixed part (e.g. Stripper) is fixed to the cutless bearing housing it may be necessary to remove this in case the fixing bolts penetrate right into the brass tube.
-=== Fitting the new Cutless Bearing ===
-Replacement of the cutless bearing is the reverse of the above removal steps except that Sikaflex 291 should be used to seal the housing against the hull. The length of the housing bolts may differ and if it does the longer bolt is probably the upper one that has an extra nut and washer to secure bonding tags from the anode. On the inside of the hull there is a clamping plate that must be relocated.
-[[File:internal clamp.jpg |310px|center|clamp plate]]
-==Resources==
+Removing a MD2B from a Centaur [http://www.westerly-centaur.co.uk/centaur-md2b-  Pictures of Removal]
-Cutless Bearing supply and fitting here:
+[[Raising a Centaur Mast using a Gin Pole]]
-[http://www.tnorrismarine.co.uk T Norris Marine Isleworth]
+==Contributed Graphics and Plans==
-[http://www.Westerly-yachts.co.uk Trafalgar Yacht Services]
+[[File:Centaur-b.png | Centaur B Layout]]
+* [[Media:Centaur-b.png | Centaur B Layout (PNG)]]
+* [[Media:Centaur-b.pdf | Centaur B Layout (PDF)]]
 ==References==
-Propeller Shaft Upgrade for Westerly Centaur. Paul Shave Pg 53 Westerly Owners Association Magazine Spring 2008 [http://www.Westerly-Owners.co.uk Available here in WOA Members Technical Section]
+===Official Westerly Documents===
+[[Media:112808408-Centaur-Manual.pdf | Centaur Manual]]
-How to replace a cutless bearing. Rod Laws Page 77 Practical Boat Owner No535 June 2011
+===Magazine Publications===
-[[Centaur Maintenance and Repair |^Back]]
+* [https://www.pbo.co.uk/publication/pbo/may-2019 PBO Centaur 50th Rally Article PBO No 638 May 2019]
+* [http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/reviews/yacht-reviews/used-boat-westerly-Centaur Yachting Monthly June 2016]
+* PBO Centaur Ketch Article PBO No 403 July 2000 (Available as a reprint)
+* PBO Centaur Article PBO No 354 June 1996 (Available as a reprint)
-==[[Centaur Upgrades and Enhancements|Upgrades and Enhancements]]==
+===Web sites and blogs===
-==[[Centaur Other Topics|Other Topics]]==
+* [http://laurentgilesarchive.com/product/westerly-centaur/ Laurent Giles Archive - Plans/Notes for the Centaur]
+* [http://www.agentlemansyacht.com/ Roger Ball's blog about K391 - A Gentleman's Yacht]
+* [https://centaurfree.home.blog Ian Norton's Centaur blog]
-==References==
+===YouTube Channels and Videos===
-PBO Centaur Article PBO No 354 June 1996 (Available as a reprint)
-PBO Centaur Ketch Article PBO No 403 July 2000 (Available as a reprint)
+* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnvPtZMOJhVzwR05VCokHNw The Sailing Dutchman]
+* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv8LerszK9pFCG3bVzRrIYg Second Chance Sailing]
+* [https://www.youtube.com/user/Captainbirdseye100 Steve Jenkinson]
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpjJS59Lr_8 Easy Sailor - Sailing to Ostend on a Westerly Centaur]
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQhKYrjGJEc Oli Banks - Centaur POV Tour]
 [[Main Page|Back to the Main Page]]

Difference between revisions of "Centaur"

Latest revision as of 18:12, 28 June 2020

Contents

Introduction

Centaur Statistics

Centaur Brochures

Buying Guide

The Centaur Definitive Guide

More Photos

Maintenance, Repair and Upgrades

Contributed Graphics and Plans

References

Official Westerly Documents

Magazine Publications

Web sites and blogs

YouTube Channels and Videos

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