This mid-1980s design combines a solid fiberglass hull with a lead fin keel and spade rudder. At 24,300 lb displacement, with 9,600 lb of lead ballast, it has the numbers of a serious offshore vessel. Beam is 13.3 feet, while the 33.17-foot waterline produces a length-to-beam ratio of 3.19.
Design and Construction
Dubois drew the Centurion 42 as a masthead sloop with a fin-keel hull form. Its lead ballast keel is bolted beneath a solid fiberglass shell.
The 9,600 lb of ballast gives a ballast-displacement ratio of 39.5%. OceanWaveSail’s analysis places the boat’s righting moment ahead of 73% of comparable designs, with just-above-average resistance to heeling.
Its immersion rate is roughly 350 kg per centimeter, or about 1,964 lb per inch, so the boat sits heavily and changes trim slowly as loads change. Draft ranges from 7.71 to 8.01 feet, depending on load. Despite being described as shallow-ish, that draft is paired with a 33.17-foot waterline and a hull speed of 7.72 knots.
Rig and Handling
The Centurion 42 is externally configured as a masthead sloop, with an aluminum mast and boom, an aluminum rod kicker, and a genoa furler as standard.
Lewmar winches are plentiful. The complement includes:
- Two ST 40s
- Two ST 52s
- Two ST 55s
- One ST 40
- One ST 43
- One ST 46
These are distributed around the boat for headsail and halyard control.
On the surveyed example, the standing rigging was replaced in 2014. Its sail inventory included a Doyle mainsail with cover, a genoa, and a cutter jib. The genoa and cutter jib had reportedly been used for only one season.
The fin keel and spade rudder, together with the strong ballast ratio, characterize the Centurion 42 as a stiff, quick hull rather than a soft-motion cruiser.
Accommodations and Systems
Below, the Centurion 42 has a traditional interior with green fabric upholstery. It sleeps eight across three cabins and the saloon, making this a genuine three-cabin cruising layout rather than a stripped-out racer.
The galley is fully equipped for passage-making, with a three-burner gas stove and oven, hot-water boiler, electric pressurized water, a 12-volt refrigerator, and sinks. The boat is a 220-volt model served by a generator. The head includes a shower and an electronic bilge pump.
Known Issues
OceanWaveSail’s survey found that the teak deck and interior timbers on the example reviewed needed significant work. Any buyer should weigh that maintenance burden against the otherwise robust fiberglass hull and lead-keel structure.
The Verdict
The Wauquiez Centurion 42 is a limited-production Dubois performance cruiser with strong righting moment, a deep but manageable fin-keel hull, and a proper offshore interior. Its small production run makes it a relatively rare find, but the upkeep associated with the teak deck and interior timber is a real consideration.
Pros
- Lead fin keel and 39.5% ballast ratio provide righting moment ahead of most comparable designs
- Solid fiberglass hull, aluminum rig, and a comprehensive set of Lewmar winches
- Genuine three-cabin, eight-berth interior with generator-backed 220V power and a full galley
Cons
- Teak deck and interior timbers require significant upkeep
- Only 52 were built, so spares and familiarity with comparable boats are limited
