Design and Construction
The Centurion 36 measures 35.73 feet overall, with a 28.81-foot waterline and a 12-foot beam. It displaces 16,100 pounds and carries 5,400 pounds of lead ballast, a combination that supports stability and a hull speed near 7.2 knots.
The builder’s high-quality, overbuilt construction from that era positions the boat as a substantial offshore candidate rather than a lightly built racer. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, paired with a lead-ballasted fin keel and spade rudder.
Conceived as a capable cruiser-racer, the Centurion 36 was intended for coastal and offshore passages, short-handed sailing, and club racing. Period descriptions credit it with a strong balance of speed, seaworthiness, and refined comfort.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Centurion 36 has a masthead-sloop rig, with a foretriangle I dimension of 48.79 feet and J of 14.80 feet. The mainsail measures roughly 230 square feet on a 32.94-foot luff, while the working jib carries 347 square feet at 115 percent overlap.
A 150 percent genoa increases the foretriangle sail area to about 538 square feet. For downwind sailing, the boat can carry a spinnaker of nearly 1,100 square feet with 180 percent LP, underscoring its racing pedigree and downwind capability. These dimensions put the sail plan firmly in performance-cruiser territory, while the tall rig proportions suit crews interested in both club-racing pace and offshore sailing.
Accommodations and Cruising Role
The model’s stated combination of refined comfort and cruiser-racer versatility implies an interior arranged for living aboard during passages as well as for weekend racing. Its 79-gallon water capacity and 24-gallon diesel tank reflect a cruising bias within a roughly 16,000-pound hull.
The fin keel and spade rudder give the helmsman the kind of directional control expected from a Dubois design intended for short-handed operation. Together with its sail plan and tankage, the arrangement supports the Centurion 36’s intended mix of coastal cruising, offshore passages, and club competition.
Refits and Ownership
With only around 36 examples afloat, the Centurion 36 belongs to a niche in which careful ownership matters more than fleet-wide trends. Its Volvo Penta MD2003 diesel, solid-fiberglass hull and deck, and lead-ballasted fin keel are straightforward systems for a knowledgeable owner. However, the limited production run means spare parts and comparative survey data are less common than they are for high-volume contemporaries.
The Verdict
The Centurion 36 is a scarce, thoughtfully engineered French cruiser-racer for sailors seeking a well-built Dubois design without the compromises of a production-line boat. Its combination of performance-oriented sail area and cruising tankage makes it a versatile coastal and offshore companion, while the small fleet gives it a distinct identity.
Pros
- Ed Dubois design with Wauquiez’s overbuilt construction
- Strong cruiser-racer sail plan, including a nearly 1,100-square-foot spinnaker
- Lead ballast, fin keel, and spade rudder for stability and control
Cons
- Limited production of roughly 36 hulls complicates parts comparison
- Modest 24-gallon fuel capacity for extended offshore range
