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Centurion 42
Designer: Ed Dubois  ·  Builder: Henri Wauquiez (Fra)  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Centurion 42

Designed by renowned British naval architect Ed Dubois and built by the respected French yard Henri Wauquiez, this 42-footer represents a compelling blend of performance and cruising capability from the mid-1980s. With only 52 hulls produced between 1985 and 1990, the Centurion 42 occupies an exclusive niche in the sailing world. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, combined with a masthead sloop rig carrying 886 square feet of sail area, delivers spirited performance while maintaining manageable handling characteristics. Her SA/Displacement ratio of 16.96 places her firmly in performance cruiser territory, offering enough power to satisfy sailors seeking speed without sacrificing comfort. The substantial 9,600-pound ballast and moderate comfort ratio of 33.29 suggest she's well-suited for offshore passages while remaining comfortable for extended cruising. Ed Dubois' design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy hull form. The fiberglass construction benefits from Wauquiez's reputation for solid build quality, making these boats sought-after on the used market. With a capsize screening formula of 1.84 and theoretical hull speed of 7.72 knots, the Centurion 42 appeals to sailors seeking a capable offshore cruiser with performance pedigree.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.42 ft / 12.93 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.17 ft / 10.11 m
Beam 13.30 ft / 4.05 m
Max Draft 7.80 ft / 2.38 m
Displacement 24,300.00 lb / 11,022 kg
Ballast 9,600.00 lb / 4,354 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 886.00 ft² / 82.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ed Dubois
Builder Henri Wauquiez (FRA)
First Built 1985
Last Built 1990
Number Built 52
Related Sailboats Swan 43 Holland · X 412 · Contest 43 · Hylas 42 · First 42S7 Beneteau
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 75
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.96
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 39.51
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 297.25
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 33.29
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.84
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.72 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.76
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,576.32 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.96
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 57.00 ft / 17.37 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.30 ft / 5.27 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.40 ft / 4.69 m
SA Fore 493.05 ft² / 45.81 m²
SA Main 392.70 ft² / 36.48 m²
SA Total (100%) 885.75 ft² / 82.29 m²
Est. Forestay Length 59.57 ft / 18.16 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 47
Fuel Capacity 68 gals / 257 L
Water Capacity 105 gals / 397 L
How It Compares

vs. Contest 43, First 42S7 Beneteau, Hylas 42, Swan 43 Holland, X 412

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Centurion 42 ★
42.4 ft
Contest 43
42.7 ft
First 42S7 Beneteau
42.5 ft
Hylas 42
42.1 ft
Swan 43 Holland
42.8 ft
X 412
42.3 ft
LWL
Centurion 42 ★
33.2 ft
Contest 43
36.3 ft
First 42S7 Beneteau
35.8 ft
Hylas 42
33.5 ft
Swan 43 Holland
34.1 ft
X 412
34.3 ft
Beam
Centurion 42 ★
13.3 ft
Contest 43
13.1 ft
First 42S7 Beneteau
13.5 ft
Hylas 42
13.0 ft
Swan 43 Holland
13.1 ft
X 412
12.8 ft
Displacement
Centurion 42 ★
24 lbs
Contest 43
26 lbs
First 42S7 Beneteau
18 lbs
Hylas 42
17 lbs
Swan 43 Holland
24 lbs
X 412
16 lbs
Ballast
Centurion 42 ★
9 lbs
Contest 43
10 lbs
First 42S7 Beneteau
6 lbs
Hylas 42
8 lbs
Swan 43 Holland
9 lbs
X 412
7 lbs
Sail Area
Centurion 42 ★
886 sq ft
Contest 43
880 sq ft
First 42S7 Beneteau
771 sq ft
Hylas 42
826 sq ft
Swan 43 Holland
880 sq ft
X 412
831 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Centurion 42 ★
75 s/nm
Contest 43
—
First 42S7 Beneteau
—
Hylas 42
87 s/nm
Swan 43 Holland
—
X 412
63 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Centurion 42 ★
17.0
Contest 43
16.1
First 42S7 Beneteau
17.9
Hylas 42
19.6
Swan 43 Holland
16.8
X 412
20.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Centurion 42 ★
39.5 %
Contest 43
40.0 %
First 42S7 Beneteau
—
Hylas 42
50.0 %
Swan 43 Holland
—
X 412
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Centurion 42 ★
33.3
Contest 43
34.2
First 42S7 Beneteau
23.3
Hylas 42
24.8
Swan 43 Holland
33.4
X 412
22.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Centurion 42 ★
1.84
Contest 43
1.78
First 42S7 Beneteau
2.06
Hylas 42
2.00
Swan 43 Holland
1.81
X 412
2.03
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Centurion 42 ★
297
Contest 43
243
First 42S7 Beneteau
—
Hylas 42
208
Swan 43 Holland
—
X 412
—
Hull Speed
Centurion 42 ★
7.7 kts
Contest 43
8.1 kts
First 42S7 Beneteau
8.0 kts
Hylas 42
7.8 kts
Swan 43 Holland
7.8 kts
X 412
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Centurion 42 ★
1.8
Contest 43
—
First 42S7 Beneteau
3.1
Hylas 42
2.9
Swan 43 Holland
1.9
X 412
3.4
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