Designer Ed Dubois and the venerable French boatyard of Henri Wauquiez came together in the creation of the Wauquiez Centurion 40. The Centurion series largely resembles the Nautor Swans of her time. Like the Swan, she was a high end performance cruiser/racer conceived when a boat of this type was still defined as capable of crossing oceans, weekend cruising and beating the competition around the race course. Fast, comfortable and well built, Crescendo serves all these purposes. Her two stateroom layout features a large head and shower, spacious salon with large dinette, well configured galley and ample storage space in lockers throughout the boat and a full size sail locker forward.
A total of 33 Centurion 40s were produced between 1987 and 1993. Crescendo is #32. There were several subsequent variations to the 40 foot model under new ownership of Beneteau. This is one of the few commissioned with a deep draft fin keel for optimal upwind performance — a benefit to any Pacific Northwest sailor. Crescendo is a proven race winner in the Pacific Northwest and a veteran of the Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Hawaii. She has been well maintained and upgraded by her owner of 24 years.
Highlights:
- Lithium house batteries
- Xantrex 1800W inverter/charger
- Diesel fired forced air cabin heater
- 2008 marinized 50 hp Kubota engine with low hours
- Navigation computer with NobleTec charts
Name of vessel | Crescendo |
Model | Wauquiez Centurion 40 |
Year | 1992 |
Builder | Henri Wauquiez |
Designer | Ed Dubois |
Price | $109,500 USD |
Location | Seattle |
Length (feet) | 39 |
Beam (feet) | 13.42 |
Draft (feet) | 8 |
Displacement (pounds) | 23000 |
Ballast (pounds) | 7937 |
Engine model | Marinized V2203 Kubota |
Engine horsepower | 50 |
Engine hours | 984 |
Fuel tank capacity (gallons) | 36 |
Water tank capacity (gallons) | 95 |
Holding tank capacity (gallons) | N/A |
Interior accommodations
The forward cabin is equipped with a conventional V-berth style cabin. The bunk is six feet long with standing room also at six feet. Teak battens line the hull and make the atmosphere warm and bright. Linear shelves run the length of the bunk and provides secure storage for personal items. The overhead panels are secured with teak battens and a square overhead deck hatch lets in a generous amount of light. To port is a hanging locker and cabinet below.
To starboard in the forward cabin is an entrance into the head. The countertop is finished in white easy to clean laminate. Outboard there are two mirrored cabinets and a smaller cabinet is below the sink and accesses plumbing. The head is fitted with a handheld shower head, teak deck grate and shower sump for hot showers while cruising. There is a Levac toilet and a stainless shower curtain bar overhead prevents water from penetrating all parts of the head. Aft in the compartment is a secondary door that leads to the main saloon.
Adjacent to the head is a teak storage cabinet and overhead deck hatch that brightens this forward area of the boat. The main saloon has high overheads with 6’4” of headroom and great natural light from the long, cabin house windows and overhead deck hatch. Artful arched doorways show the dedication to craftsmanship and details that Crescendo comes from. She has teak and holly floorboards with louvered teak cupboard doors and handholds throughout. The port side has a linear settee that makes a good sea berth with a lee cloth. Along the teak battened hull are two linear shelves for books or knick knacks and aft is a liquor cabinet. The keel stepped mast comes through the large drop leaf table on centerline and services both settees. To starboard is a U-shaped settee that pulls out to make a double sea berth. Above and outboard is a pilot berth. Settee cushions are upholstered in teal suede; a color that marks her age perfectly.
Just aft of the main saloon on the starboard side is the U-shaped galley with updated Corian countertops and double basin stainless sinks. The countertop has tall teak fiddles with a sturdy handhold on the inboard side for something to grab at the base of the companionway. When facing forward the top opening refrigerator is to starboard and the gimbaled, three-burner stove with oven is just aft. Above that are three cupboards for storage. The middle one has a clip in the center of the door to hold the refrigerator top open, and inside has two drawers for silverware and peg storage to customize for larger items. On the inboard face of the U, there is a generously sized cabinet for pots and pans or other unrelated galley items.
Opposite the galley on the port side of the cabin is the forward facing navigation station. Again, showing her age in the best way possible Crescendo has a nav station with a generous chart table for charting or more commonly nowadays, a work-from-home lifestyle. Three lithium batteries are located under the large nav seat and storage is available under the flip up chart table, in a cabinet under the chart table or in open storage along the hull.
Aft of the nav station is a generous day head. Located at the base of the companionway, it is easy to access when coming off watch and also has a separate shower stall for wet gear storage. There is a small step up into the head but the space still has six feet of headroom. Two portlights, one fixed, one opening, allows a lot of light into the space as well as two dome lights for the shower and the head. The shower stall has a teak shower grate and built-in seat with storage outboard.
Moving to the starboard side of the boat and aft of the galley, is the aft stateroom. Immediately outboard when entering the space is a built in hanging locker with a large shelf and additional storage cabinet below. Along the hull is an open shelf with tall fiddles and two opening cabinets along the hull and two more at eye level. The hull lis lined with teak tongue and groove while the overhead is covered with off white naugahyde style fabric for some added warmth. Three portlights let in a nice amount of natural light and fresh air. The bunk is about queen sized with 6’6” of length to stretch out and six feet of headroom. Centerline in the stateroom is a well-disguised and insulated teak engine cowling.
Galley
- 3-burner Force 10 stove with oven
- (2) 5lb steel propane bottles in dedicated locker
- Marinetics propane solenoid control
- Adler Barbour 12V refrigeration (2016)
- Frigoboat engine driven freezer (freezer plate, copper tubing and thermostat new 2021)
- Corian countertops
- Double basin stainless sink
- Single action pressurized water faucet
- Manual fridge drain foot pump
- Manual salt and fresh water foot pump
Electronics and Navigation
- Gateway laptop computer for navigation with NobleTec charts for West Coast and Canada
- NavTrac GPS
- Raytheon RL9 radar
- Raytheon radar dome on gimballed mount on backstay
- Nexus Multi control display at nav station
- (6) Nexus Multi control displays in cockpit
- Nexus wind display over companionway
- Icom IC-M59 VHF radio
- Icom IC-M700PRO single sideband radio
- Raymarine SmartPilot controller at helm (ST7001)
- Raymarine wireless autopilot remote
- Raymarine linear drive
- Magnetic compass
- Lev-o-meter
- Kenwood stereo
- LED navigation, tricolor and anchor lights (2016)
Mechanical and plumbing systems
- 2008 Kubota V2203 diesel engine 50hp (984 hours)
- Phasor Marine engine panel with oil pressure, water temp, tach, hour meter and voltage output
- Engine Owner’s Manual and Service Shop Manual
- 3 blade Max Prop
- PSS shaft seal
- 7 gallon water heater
- 12V water pump
- Ardic diesel forced air cabin heater (042-D)
- 36 gallon stainless steel fuel tank
- 95 gallon fresh water (total)
- Shurflo fresh water accumulator tank (3400 series)
- Manual bilge pump
- Par 12V electric bilge pump (37202 series)
- (2) Levac toilets
- Lectra/San EC
- ***There is no holding tank***
Electrical systems
- Bass AC/DC electrical distribution panel at nav station
- Perko engine battery switch
- Xantrex Freedom HF control panel
- Xantrex 1800W inverter/charger (2020)
- Balmar Max Charge external regulator (MC-612)
- (3) Starkpower 125 amp hour lithium batteries (2018)
- 30A shore power inlet
- 50’ 30A shore power cord
- Newmar battery isolator (model 1-2-120)
Hull and Deck
Crescendo’s features the signature Wauquiez color scheme with white hull and blue boot and sheer stripes. She was designed with attractive overhangs, moderate deadrise, and a fin keel and spade rudder. Her hull and deck are constructed entirely of hand laid fiberglass in polyester resin. Her deck is cored with balsa with solid glass in high load areas. The deck is attached to the hull with a flexible adhesive, then bolted through the toe rail. In addition to extensive floors and stringers, major bulkheads and furniture are tabbed to the hull to provide stiffness.
Double lifelines and a slotted aluminum toe rail surround Crescendo’s deck. There are boarding gates to port and starboard and at the stern where there is access to a swim ladder. Her deck and cabin top are overlayed with teak. The teak decks were refurbished in 2015. At this time, all bungs, screws and seam compound were removed and replaced. Planking was spot replaced as needed and sanded smooth. The decks are treated annually with Boracol mildecide. Her teak cockpit grates were replaced in 2021. At the bow, there is a deck accessed anchor locker. Wide side decks and a flat coachroof lead aft. Her spacious T-shaped cockpit is protected by tall coamings which create comfortable seat backs. An oversized wheel allows the helmsman to sit outboard and see the telltales. Cockpit seats are overlayed with teak slats. The companionway is protected by a canvas dodger.
- Double stainless anchor roller
- Stainless steel 46lb Ultra anchor (2015) with 175’ chain and 75’ rode
- Deck accessed anchor locker with Lofrans 2000 electric anchor windlass and wired remote (new remote 2016)
- Secondary anchor with 50’ chain
- Stainless bow pulpit with teak seat (2016)
- Stainless stanchions with double lifelines (lifelines new 2016)
- Lifeline gates to port and starboard, with hanging step
- Iverson’s Designs companionway dodger with window covers (2014)
- Canvas covers for binnacle, cockpit table and boom (new 2021)
- (6) stainless Dorade vents (original PVC vents kept as spare)
- Varnished teak table mounted at binnacle with canvas cover (new cover 2021)
- Locking cockpit hatches
- Stainless steel frame for full cockpit bimini (not installed)
- Cockpit cushions
- Flag staff at stern and flag halyard at spreaders
Sails and Rigging
- Selden aluminum double spreader mast and aluminum boom
- 1×19 stainless wire standing rigging (replaced in 2005 with additional replacements in 2019), plus spare backstay
- Traveler hardware on deck and boom new in 2015)
- Furlex headsail furler
- Aluminum spinnaker pole stored on mast track
- Reaching strut
- (2) Harken self tailing primary winches
- (2) Harken self tailing secondary winches
- (2) Harken self tailing cabin top winches
- (1) Harken self tailing winch for furling on port aft coaming
- (1) Harken self tailing halyard winch on mast
- (2) Harken self tailing halyard winches on deck near mast
- Assorted winch handles
- Extra lines and sheets, including heavy air sheets, offshore Kevlar spinnaker sheets and guys
- Mesh sheet bags in cockpit
Sails:
- Quantum mylar taffeta cruise/race mainsail (very good condition)
- Doyle cruising mainsail (fair condition)
- Ballard Sails 110% cruising headsail (2020)
- Quantum Sails 100% mylar jib (good condition)
- Quantum Sails storm jib and storm trysail (unused)
- Quantum Sails mylar taffeta 140% genoa (good condition)
- Doyle Sails dacron 120% genoa (fair condition)
- ¾ oz spinnaker (very good condition)
- 1.5 oz spinnaker (excellent condition)
- Doyle Sails asymmetrical cruising spinnaker in sock (good condition)
Miscellaneous and Safety
- 9’ Zodiac Cadet inflatable floor dinghy (stores in valise) with foot pump and oars
- Garhauer removable stainless outboard motor lift
- Outboard motor bracket
- Locking cockpit hatches
- Stainless steel frame for full cockpit bimini (not installed)
- Lifesling MOB recovery device (new bag 2022)
- Horseshoe buoy
- Radar reflector on flag halyard
- Emergency tiller
- (5) fenders
- Folding crab pot with line and float
Exclusions
- Mercury outboard motor
- Racing trophies
- Owner’s personal tools