The Centreboard 40’ – General
The Centreboard 40’ is a seaworthy yacht, built for the active adventurer. Especially for those who want to take the opportunity to explore the unknown!
The Centreboard has one important feature: variable draught. This makes it possible to smoothly sail through open seas as well as shallow waters, and easy to beach during low tide. The 40’ has a hydraulic centreboard: with one push of the button the board will go up or down. This is one of many features that make the yacht so easily to sail single handed. Lowered in the deepest angle, the NACA profiled centreboard has a depth of 2.55 meters. Heading way upwind in a close-hauled course, the yacht will show excellent sailing performance. With the centreboard fully raised, the yacht can be beached. Both propeller and rudder are well protected by the heavy keel, on which the yacht will rest when at the dry. Sailing a downwind course, the centreboard can be raised to minimise wet surface. Inner ballast ensures enough righting moment, enabling crossings even at rough seas.
The Centreboard 40 meets the standards of CE class a certification. Yacht designer Dick Koopmans Jr. has many years of expertise drawing yachts of proven seaworthiness. At his website (a link to it is in the references-page of this website) a variety of yachts of his design are shown. Managing director at Centreboard, Jan van der Weide, closely co-operated with Koopmans in conceiving the Centreboard 40, taking consideration of many details. His own yacht- and marine experience combined with the knowledge of Dick Koopmans blends into trustworthy expertise. At the same time useful information from sailors and a wide range of documentation has been used to determine which the most practical things are during long voyages across sea or ocean. For example:
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Sensors for navigation instruments are not installed on top of the mast, but in a separate mast. May the main mast be lost in emergency, navigation instruments may very well still be in working order.. |
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The yacht is equipped with a firm protecting rib round the sideboards. |
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The anchor and anchoring gear is extremely solid. |
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Stainless steel is used to protect those places where the varnish can be worn out by fatigue. |
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The paint system used is from AWL-grip, a renown brand of marine coatings with which the yard has long years of experience. Yachts built and painted more than twelve years ago are still in pristine condition. |
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Aboard too many yachts, the safety rail construction on deck often isn’t strong enough. That’s why Centreboard’s hand rail stanchions are firmly reinforced below deck. |
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A doghouse and solid windshields offer protection against strong winds, hail storms and spray water. Anti-slip assures a firm step in gangways, on deck and around the mast. |
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A separate technical space neighbouring the engine room: when maintenance is needed during the voyage and to store tools. |
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Several spacious compartments for storing, one of them situated in the stern together have a volume of 1500 litres and are made of salt water resistant aluminium. |
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A wind generator and solar panels ensure electric power supply, even if the yacht is sailing long trips without using the engine to recharge the batteries. |
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A wind vane self-steering system; an autopilot that doesn’t use electricity. |
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A reliable and soundproof VW-MARINE motor, which can be changed into a 230 volts generator. |
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The navigation station offers firm grips to hold on to when things are getting rough! |
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The reason Jan van der Weide has thought carefully about this yacht is because at first he wanted to build it for himself. Sailing across the world is still a dream to come true. During the preparations he got excited about the possibility of building sailing yachts again, especially yachts of these specifications and beauty. Therefore, Jan decided to postpone his own circumnavigation plans and start building the Centreboard 40’ in series. Doing so, a new yacht and a new company were born. The Centreboard 40’ perfectly fits within the existing production of Pedro Levanto 38’ yachts.
A well designed steel yacht like the Centreboard 40’ is virtually indestructible. With the current two-component coating system it’s very easy to maintain the steel hull. The combination of the most advanced production techniques and excellent workmanship, the Centreboard guarantees the highest level of quality. The Hungarian employees’ top craftsmanship also makes it possible to fore fill personal wishes and adjustments. Many options are possible. Jhave a look at the demo boat, which is currently sailing. Or contact us to discuss your plans and wishes.
This website is constantly in development and eventually will eventually contain the complete construction drawings of The Centreboard 40’. This will exemplify the differences between the original plans and the options and changes aboard yachts that have been actually built, emphasising all the possibilities.