The hull is solid fiberglass. In a design comparison, her interior volume ranks above 62% of comparable designs, indicating a roomy hull form for her length.
Design and Construction
Wauquiez built the Centurion 45S in solid fiberglass. Her 3.28 length-to-beam ratio and comparative spaciousness rating are central to the design: Dubois gave her a wide, volume-rich hull that provides generous living space without reaching the extremes of a dedicated charter barge.
Her immersion rate is about 380 kg/cm, or 2130 pounds per inch. This measures the weight needed to sink the hull by a given amount; each centimeter of additional immersion requires substantial added weight. For a 45-footer of this type, that points to a firmly loaded cruising displacement rather than a featherweight racer.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Centurion 45S has a masthead rig, with a combined mainsail and jib area of 983.8 square feet. For a boat of her size, that’s a conservative, readily handled foretriangle-and-main combination intended to provide predictable loads rather than over-canvased performance.
Owners planning replacements will find the recorded rigging dimensions useful. The three halyards—mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker—are each 40.3 meters (132.2 feet) long and 14 mm in diameter. The jib and genoa sheets measure 13.7 meters (44.8 feet) at 16 mm, while the mainsheet is 34.1 meters (112 feet), also at 16 mm. These are the rigging lengths a rigger needs, rather than rough estimates.
The spinnaker sheet is 30 meters (98.5 feet) long and 16 mm in diameter. The shorter 14 mm control lines include a 5.9-meter cunningham and 11.8-meter kicking strap and clew outhaul.
Accommodations
The Centurion 45S ranks ahead of nearly two-thirds of similar designs for hull spaciousness, and that volume is a quiet selling point below decks. Her 13.67-foot beam is carried well aft, supporting a three- or four-cabin arrangement without the pinched bow or compromised saloon that narrower 45-foot hulls can force on their designers.
The “large sailboat” designation reflects more than her length. It also describes the substantial interior footprint Dubois worked into the beamy hull.
Verdict
The Centurion 45S is a beamy, solid-fiberglass cruiser from the Dubois-Wauquiez collaboration. Her masthead rig and measured sail area favor manageable loads over raw speed, while her immersion rate and spaciousness ranking describe a boat designed to carry cruising weight in comfort.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull built by Wauquiez
- Length-to-beam ratio of 3.28 produces a roomy hull, more spacious than 62% of comparable designs
- Masthead rig with 983.8 sq ft of combined mainsail and jib area for predictable handling
- Recorded rigging lengths and diameters simplify maintenance planning
Cons
- High immersion rate of 2130 lbs/inch indicates sensitivity to heavy loading
