The Centurion 40 is a fast, elegant and highly seaworthy cruiser designed by Rob Humphreys and Ed Dubois, built by the quality French manufacturer Henri Wauquiez. Although she has seven berths, she is ideal for two couples, as she has separate heads by the fore and aft cabins. This 1988 example has the optional shallow draught lead bulb keel and an excellent inventory including a silenced diesel genset. Afloat in Hampshire, she will be coming ashore shortly.
Beam
13' 5"
Cabins
Forecabin, forward heads, saloon, aft heads and aft cabin
Draught
5' 3"
Berths
7
Displacement
9.5 tons
Engine
Volvo diesel
Ballast
3.6 tons
BHP
59
Keel type
Lead Scheel keel and spade rudder
Wauquiez is named after Henri Wauquiez, who built his first yacht in 1965. Wauquiez boats were always more expensive than those from other French builders, the company sometimes being referred to as a boutique yacht builder. Wauquiez aimed to build boats with the same combination of performance and quality as Nautor Swans. Most early Wauquiez boats were designed by Holman & Pye, and many of the later boats by Ed Dubois. Beneteau acquired Wauquiez in 1997, and sold the company on in 2008 to Group Experton-Revollier, a major French industrial company. Wauquiez is still currently building cruising yachts from 42 to 57 feet.
The Centurion 40 was designed by a collaboration of Ed Dubois and Rob Humphreys, and was said to be a fast cruising derivative of the very successful One Ton Cup racer "Jade", a Humphreys design. The result is a fast cruising boat with serious offshore abilities. Henri Wauquiez himself owned a Centurion 40 for many years, his own boat only being sold on after his death in 1999.
The Centurion 40 is one of a series of Centurion branded yachts built by Wauquiez over the years in sizes ranging from 32 to 61 ft. The 40 was built with either a deep lead keel giving 7' 6 draught or a lead bulbed keel giving just 5' 3 " draught - this yacht being the much more practical for cruising shallow keel option. The keel is a "Scheel keel", this type of keel being a modified bulb with a concave upper section giving some of the hydrodynamic advantages of a wing keel without the wing keel's serious disadvantages when drying out.
The Centurion 40 was built from 1988 to 1993, with 33 boats built. There was also a later Centurion 40S
model built from 2002 to 2007 with over 100 built.
Despite the low profile of the coachroof, saloon headroom is 6' 6" maximum, lowering slightly to 6'1 in the heads
All the upholstery is blue leather
The Centurion 40 has two heads compartments, the forward heads having a holding tank
Under the forward starboard saloon seat is a Fischer Panda 4.5Kw diesel genset in a silenced GRP casing
Photographs October 2021
The aft heads has a separate shower area, an electric marine WC and a hinged pull-out washbasin
The original 40 hp Volvo MD2003T turbodiesel was replaced in 1994 with a 59 hp Volvo MD22 non-turbo engine. Access to the "front" of the engine, and top and sides is from panels in the aft cabin, and gearbox and exhaust access (at the "back" of the engine ) is from under the removable companionway steps.
Photographs October 2021
The sail cover seen in these photos is a spare one - a newer stackpack cover is on the inventory
A Lofrans electric windlass is inside the anchor locker
Sails are by North and include two roller genoas, one 145% and one 125%, a fully battened mainsail and a spinnaker.
The standing rigging was replaced in 2012, but this was done by the previous owner and we have no record of this.
Wauquiez boats are definitely a cut above most other French marques in terms of build quality, and this Centurion 40 is a well looked after example of this powerful cruiser. She has a fast hull and a big rig, but good deck gear including large winches (one electric) make this very manageable even shorthanded.
Inventory: preliminary details only
Engine details
Volvo Penta MD22L 59 hp freshwater cooled four cylinder 2.0 litre diesel, installed new 1994.
Fuel tank capacity
190 litres in two stainless steel tanks
Propeller
Three bladed Maxprop feathering prop on shaft drive
Batteries
4 x 142AH services batteries and separate engine start battery
Battery charging/electrics
Engine alternator and shorepower battery charger. Fischer Panda 240 volt 4.5 KW diesel genset, with switch to select shorepower or genset power.
Sails
and deck equipment
Rig details
Kemp alloy keel stepped spars with rod kicker and S/S standing rigging reported new 2012. Hydraulic backstay and towable genoa cars.
Mainsail
North Sails fully battened mainsail with Stackpack and lazyjacks
Genoas
North Sails 145% radial cut furling genoa
Genoa furling
Facnor LS180 furling gear
Other sails
Diamond Sails 125% crosscut furling genoa
Asymmetric
North Sails gennaker
Spinnaker
North Sails spinnaker
Primary winches
2 x Lewmar 55 self-tailing
Secondary winches
2 x Lewmar 44 self-tailing
Other winches
1 x Lewmar 40 electric winch on coachroof for main and genoa halyards, plus one Lewmar 43 and three Lewmar 30 control line winches
Bower anchor
15 Kg Rocna
Anchor windlass
Lofrans electric windlass
Steering
Wheel
Autopilot
Raymarine ST6002 with Type 2 Linear drive
Steering compass
Plath on binnacle
Warps & fenders
Various
Miscellaneous
Sprayhood, cockpit cushions, cockpit table
Navigation Equipment and instruments
Radar
Raymarine SL72 7" monochrome LCD radar
Chartplotter
Raymarine Axiom 9 MFD on binnacle - new 2019
GPS
Trimble 200D GPS
AIS
Raymarine - new 2019
Log/speed
Raymarine i50 - new 2019
Depth sounder
Raymarine i50 - new 2019
Windspeed/direction
Raymarine i60 - new 2019
Repeater
Raymarine i70 at chart table - new 2019
VHF radio(fixed)
Standard Horizon Matrix with DSC
VHF radio (handheld)
Standard Horizon
Safety/emergency equipment
Liferaft
Plastimo Ocean 4 man valise - new 2017, now due for servicing
EPIRB
McMurdo E5 Smartfind, now due for battery change
Radar reflector
SERPE-IESM Activ'Echo powered radar transponder
Lifebuoys
2 x horseshoe with lights
Fire extinguishers
3 x powder plus fire blanket
Bilge pumps
Manual and electric pumps
Interior
Cabin layout
Forecabin, forward heads, saloon, aft heads and aft cabin
Cabin heating
Eberspacher blown hot air diesel heating
Berths
max 7
Water tank capacity
300 litres in two S/S tanks
Cooker
Electrolux three-burner and oven - gas
Coolbox
Frigoboat refrigerated icebox
Heads
2 x marine WCs ( R&D manual WC with holding tank in forward heads, Dometic electric WC in aft heads )
Miscellaneous
Dinghy
Avon Redcrest inflatable
Outboard
Suzuki 2.2 two-stroke
These particulars
are believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed and are subject
to confirmation by the purchaser subject to still being available.
For further information or to arrange a viewing,
please contact Yachtsnet on 01326-212234
or
The particulars detailed herein are intended to give a fair
description of the vessel but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
These particulars are not a part of any contract or offer, and
are supplied on the understanding that all negotiations shall
be conducted via Yachtsnet Ltd., who are acting as brokers for
the vendor. The vendor is not selling in the course of business
unless otherwise stated. The prospective purchaser is strongly
recommended to check the particulars, and where appropriate, at
his own expense, to employ qualified agents to carry out surveys,
structural and/or mechanical & electrical checks or tests
