Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Centurion 37S was to deliver an exceptional cruiser-racer that conformed philosophically to the concepts of the International Measurement System (IMS) rule. Dubois drew a hull characterized by a nearly straight, narrow, and pinched entry, a modest beam, and elegant flared rear sections. This contrasted sharply with competing designs of the era, such as those from Beneteau’s First line or Jeanneau’s Sun Fast range, which featured much wider transoms and flat bottom sections. The Centurion 37S was built to withstand the rigors of heavy-weather beatings, prioritizing comfortable motion in a seaway over dockside living space.
The interior of the yacht reinforces this prioritization of life at sea. Handcrafted at the Neuville-en-Ferrain shipyard, the cabin showcases first-rate, semi-custom joinery with warm, hand-rubbed teak finishes, rich Alcantara upholstery options, and generous fiddle rails. The layout is traditional and secure, featuring deep, sea-friendly settees that double as excellent berths, and a large, dedicated navigation station designed to hold full-sized paper charts. Rather than sacrificing safety to fit a cavernous aft cabin, the shipyard installed a deep, well-sheltered cockpit, meaning overhead clearance in the aft double berth is limited to about fifty centimeters—a trade-off that serious offshore sailors of the era accepted in exchange for a drier, safer cockpit.
Variations & Configurations
Given the highly limited production run of just six hulls, variations across the Centurion 37S fleet are minimal, yet they display critical distinctions in underwater profile. Built primarily as a masthead sloop, the boat was offered with two distinct keel configurations:
- Deep Performance Draft: Featuring a deep, high-aspect fin keel drawing 2.30 meters (7 feet 6 inches). Combined with a massive lead ballast package of approximately 2,800 kilograms, this configuration maximized windward lift and stability.
- Shoal/Standard Draft: Drawing 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches), this version used a slightly modified fin keel to allow access to shallower cruising grounds while retaining a solid ballast package of 2,700 kilograms to maintain safety margins.
The deck layout of all hulls featured premium Harken winches, Lewmar deck hatches, and a heavy-gauge stainless-steel steering wheel. Below deck, the standard configuration remained a secure two-cabin, one-head layout, maximizing storage and structural bulkheads.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under sail, the Centurion 37S is defined by its extraordinary stiffness and predictable, linear motion. Armed with a massive ballast-to-displacement ratio approaching forty-two percent, the yacht carries its powerful 89-square-meter sail plan with remarkable ease. It does not exhibit the erratic, flighty behavior of modern ultra-light displacement designs; instead, it tracks tenaciously, slicing through chop with minimal slamming or deceleration.
In moderate to heavy air, the boat truly comes into its own. Owners report that in twenty knots of true wind, the boat will comfortably sustain seven knots on a tight close-reach and easily exceed eight knots on a deep reach while remaining perfectly balanced on the helm. The deep spade rudder provides precise, immediate feedback. Because of its pinched bow and narrow waterlines, the boat does not tend to round up when overpowered, behaving predictably even when the crew is late to reef.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Because only six hulls were built, finding a Centurion 37S on the brokerage market is an exceedingly rare event. The model commands a premium among blue-water enthusiasts who recognize the quality of the Wauquiez name. It trades at a higher price point than mass-production boats of the same vintage and length, reflecting its superior initial build standards and near-custom scarcity.
From an economic perspective, buyers must realize that a yacht of this caliber and age will require specialized upkeep. While the structural fiberglass hull is highly robust, any necessary refitting of specialized hardware or restoration of the hand-crafted interior joinery will be more costly than servicing a high-volume production boat. However, because of the yacht’s reputation and rarity, well-maintained examples hold their value incredibly well and are viewed as appreciating or stable assets within niche offshore cruising circles.
Known Issues & Triage
Despite Wauquiez's exceptional build quality, the Centurion 37S faces standard aging challenges that require meticulous triage:
- Yanmar Saildrive Diaphragm: The yacht was typically powered by a 27 to 37 horsepower Yanmar diesel coupled to a Saildrive unit. Manufacturers recommend replacing the rubber hull-diaphragm seal every seven years. Buyers should check maintenance logs to verify when this was last serviced, as replacement requires pulling the engine or separating the drive unit.
- Teak Deck Wear: Many units were delivered with hand-laid teak decks. Over three decades, aggressive cleaning, UV damage, or failing caulking can cause the teak planks to thin or lift. It is crucial to determine if the teak is vacuum-bonded or screwed down; if screwed, moisture can migrate into the sub-deck core, requiring costly localized re-coring.
- Keel Joint Inspection: Given the heavy ballast weight (up to 2.8 tons), the keel-to-hull joint must be closely inspected for stress cracking or evidence of hard groundings. The heavy-duty stainless-steel keel bolts should be torqued and inspected for crevice corrosion.
- Rudder Bearings: The high-aspect spade rudder is subject to significant loads. Over time, the rudder post bearings can develop play, leading to a loose feeling at the helm or minor water weeping.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners of the Centurion 37S focus heavily on updating the yacht’s onboard systems to match contemporary cruising standards:
- Electrical System Overhauls: The original factory 12-volt systems are frequently upgraded with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) house battery banks, high-output alternators, and modern battery management systems to support offshore navigation instruments, refrigeration, and heating without excessive engine run time.
- Epoxy Barrier Coating: To preserve the hull, many owners strip the old bottom paint down to the gelcoat, dry the laminate, and apply multiple layers of epoxy barrier coat to eliminate the risk of osmotic blistering.
- Running Rigging & Sail Handling: Upgrading to low-stretch Dyneema running rigging and installing modern line clutches significantly improves handling efficiency for shorthanded or solo sailing.
The Verdict
The Wauquiez Centurion 37S is a rare, pedigree cruiser-racer designed for sailors who value structural integrity, traditional offshore safety, and timeless elegance over maximum interior cabin volume. It is a blue-water capable thoroughbred that is as satisfying to helm as it is reassuring in a gale.
Pros
- Exceptional offshore structural integrity with hand-laid hull and bulkheads bonded directly to the deck.
- Remarkable stiffness and sail-carrying capability due to a high ballast ratio.
- Exquisite, high-end interior joinery and woodwork that exceeds modern production standards.
- Predictable, sea-kindly handling with excellent tracking and windward performance.
- Extreme rarity and prestige, ensuring strong resale value among discerning sailors.
- Extremely scarce on the brokerage market, making finding one a long-term search.
- Limited overhead clearance in the aft cabin due to the safe, deep cockpit design.
- High maintenance costs associated with aging teak decks and vintage Saildrive units.
- Less interior "dockside living" volume compared to modern beamier yachts of the same length.
