Design and Construction
The Centaur's hull draws directly on serious hydrodynamic research: Jack Giles of Laurent Giles and Partners had recently been involved with extensive tank testing to inform the design of Lord Riverdale’s 50ft twin keel yacht Bluebird of Thorne, work that informed the Centaur's own aerofoil-shaped keels toed in by 2° and splayed from the vertical so the leeward keel sits more upright when heeled. Construction is of heavy chopped strand mat, and boats of this era are often said to be extremely tough and robust, though quality control was not always perfect. The documented structural caveat is that the limited structural engineering tools available at the time underestimated loads on the splayed keels, especially when the tide lifts the boat out — a constraint that makes the keel roots a survey priority rather than a footnote.
Rig and Handling
Under sail the Centaur is not a spirited performer upwind, but can be fast on a reach; the extra wetted surface area of the twin keels adds drag when sailing downwind in light airs, and engines therefore tend to get a lot of use compared to more recent designs. Period testing confirmed she is not the most close-winded of boats, develops weather helm when pushed hard in a breeze unless reefed early, and demands a bit of skill to sail effectively upwind in a seaway. Yet she can be sailed like a dinghy with the helmsman perched on the cockpit coaming steering with a tiller extension, and the mainsheet traveller sits at the back of the cockpit. A ketch rig option with wheel steering and a short bowsprit appeared in the 1974 brochure, but few buyers met the extra cost and complexity, leaving such boats oddities today. Early Centaurs carried a fairly rudimentary spade rudder with far less structure than a modern appendage would specify; later boats gained a more substantial skeg-supported rudder that appears well-engineered. Spade-rudder examples turn in their own length but are difficult to reverse in a marina, while skeg-rudder versions are easier astern with a wider turning circle.
Accommodations
The Centaur's big boxy coachroof is far from sleek, yet its big windows flood the interior with natural light in a manner exceptional for its era. Early boats used a 5–6 berth A layout with two quarter berths and a dinette convertible to a slim double; by 1971 a B layout substituted an L-shaped settee to port, and by the mid-1970s a C layout moved the galley aft near the companionway, sacrificing one quarter berth for a large starboard cockpit locker. Across versions the heads compartment spans the full width between saloon and forecabin, and the saloon offers two settee berths with a drop-leaf table. Yachting Monthly notes at least 6ft standing headroom throughout, a forward double with V-shaped infill, a port-side heads door that hinges to make the forecabin en suite, and a hanging locker opposite that holds five sets of oilskins. The starboard galley pairs a sink with a gimballed two-burner oven and grill, and most boats sleep up to five adults in reasonable comfort — though many Centaurs lack a dedicated chart table.
Known Issues
Beyond the keel-root load underestimation already noted, the early spade rudder's light structure is a documented weak point, while later skeg rudders are the better-engineered solution. Sheets on the Westerly Centaur 26 tend to catch around the exposed ends of the cockpit slats, a small but real handling annoyance in the otherwise large, deep and safe cockpit with raised teak slats. Most Centaurs do not have halyards and reefing lines led back to the cockpit; one owner reported that fitting coachroof clutches to lead lines aft was a complete waste of time and money due to friction, so sail-handling largely remains forward.
Refits and Ownership
Very early Centaurs offered a 7hp Volvo Penta MD1 or 15hp MD2 diesel; by 1971 the MD2B 25hp was recommended with the 10hp MD1B alternative, and many boats have since been successfully re-engined with a 14hp Beta unit. The Centaur retains an enthusiastic following, with a dedicated owners' association, reflecting a simple, robust, and well-understood boat that rewards careful survey.
The Verdict
The Westerly Centaur is a proper family cruiser with a fairly comfortable motion at sea and an easily handled rig, suited to coastal daysailing and moderate-weather crossings rather than heavy weather. Its shallow twin keels and drying ability open waters bigger boats cannot use, and its light, high-windage hull can be skittish at anchor yet creeps close inshore for shelter. Bought with keel roots and rudder inspected, it remains one of the most sensible entry points into keelboat cruising.
Pros
- Exceptional natural light and interior space for its era via the boxy coachroof and longer waterline
- Shallow bilge keels allow drying out and estuary or river crawling impossible for fin-keel rivals
- Tough chopped-strand-mat construction with a large, deep, safe cockpit
- Well-documented layouts and a strong owners' association ease ownership
Cons
- Splayed keels were engineered with underestimated loads; roots need surveyor inspection
- Not close-winded; weather helm if not reefed early and sluggish downwind in light airs
- Early spade rudders lightly structured; most boats lack cockpit-led halyards and reefing
