Is Westerly Centaur a good boat?
In essence, she is a proper family cruiser, with a fairly comfortable motion at sea, an easily handled but not under-canvassed rig, a good-sized cockpit and plenty of living space. Cabin layout varies, and many Centaurs have no dedicated chart table, but most can sleep up to five adults in reasonable comfort.
How much does a Westerly Centaur weigh?
. 8 Page 5 SPECIFICATION Length overall 26′ 7.9m Length waterline 21’4″ 6.5mm Beam 8’5″ 2.6m Draft 3′ 0.9m Displacement 6700 lbs 3039 kg Ballast weight 2800 lbs 1270 kg Thames Measurement 6-65 tons Mainsail 161 sq.
What is weather helm on a sailboat?
Weather helm is the tendency of sailing vessels to turn towards the source of wind, creating an unbalanced helm that requires pulling the tiller to windward (i.e. ‘to weather’) in order to counteract the effect. Weather helm is the opposite of lee helm.
What is the difference between weather helm and lee helm?
Lee helm is the tendency of a sailboat to turn away from the wind while under sail. It is the opposite of weather helm which is the tendency of a sailboat to “round up” into the wind.
How do I get rid of weather helm?
Any action that reduces the angle of heel of a boat that is reaching or beating to windward will help reduce weather helm. Racing sailors use their body weight to bring the boat to a more upright position.
How much heel is too much sailing?
But practically, there is a simpler way to know when the boat is tipping over too far. If you have to fight the helm (a rudder angle of more than 5-7 degrees), you are heeling too far and need to adjust trim or technique.
How far over can a sailboat heel?
The rule of thumb for maximum hell is 17 degrees. This might vary from boat to boat. But after this degree you will be loosing speed therefore it is best to reduce sail or change to more favorable wind angle.
How far can sailboats lean?
A small degree of tilt (with a maximum of around 20 degrees) happens naturally as the sailboat sails – it’s a result of the wind pressing on the sail.
Can sailboats capsize?
No matter its size and design, any sailboat is susceptible to capsizing if the wind gets strong enough. Every boat that has ever been manufactured can capsize in certain conditions, such as hurricane-force winds. Still, sailboats are particularly susceptible to capsizing in strong winds by their very nature.
How old is the westerly Centaur 26 boat?
Although this design is over 30 years old, few, if any 26’ boats past or present, match the Centaur’s roominess.
How big is a westerly Centaur single hand?
At 26 feet and four tonnes it is small enough to be easy to single hand and big enough to take the rough stuff. I am confident that a Centaur could handle almost anything the British Climate can throw at it apart from the truly bonkers day when only an arse would be out in a 26 footer .
What kind of canoe was the westerly Centaur?
The Westerly Centaur – a historical review The Westerly Centaur Story The Westerly “Centaur”, has a very low waterline over beam coefficient, a clean canoe body and twin bilge keels of aero-foil section. The bilge keel arrangement enables comfortable level drying out in tidal harbours and an ability to nose up nooks and crannies of rivers.
Why was the westerly Centaur important to me?
What the Centaurs gave me was the freedom to know that if the weather turned bad and, as long as the engine would run, then by switching on the engine and shoving that big powerful bow into the teeth of the crap weather she will probably take you safely to wherever you want to go.