Description

Centauri is a 1978 Cobra 850, sailed and maintained by the same owner for over twenty years. Independently surveyed in 2024 (clear result, available on request), her standing and running rigging is new, she has a full suite of electronics, and a full set of service records. A sturdy, comfortable boat with good headroom, two cabins, a well laid out interior, and the bilge-keel versatility that makes family cruising out of Plymouth straightforward and enjoyable. Ready to sail, with nothing to do but step aboard.

Specifications

Accommodation

Forward cabin with double berth. Main cabin with seating around the table, converting to a double berth. Quarter berth.
Jabsco marine toilet in a separate heads compartment.
Gimballed, two-burner cooker with grill and oven. Marine Gas Safe certificate (March 2026), with annual gas safety certification documented throughout current ownership.
Cabinet refrigerator.
Vetus flexible freshwater tank.
Whale Gusher galley pump (new, March 2025).

Construction

The Cobra 850 is a David Feltham design, built by Cobra Yachts on Hayling Island. LOA 28’6″, beam 9’6″, draught 4’3″. GRP construction, bilge keels, skeg-hung rudder, tiller steering. She carries five berths in two cabins with six feet of headroom in the saloon — more space below than most boats this length. The bilge keels mean she sits upright on drying moorings and can take the ground in sheltered anchorages, which opens up a lot of the West Country coast. The skeg-hung rudder is robust and well protected.

Equipment

Centauri has been maintained on a preventive basis and a full service record is held from 2002. Equipment included in sale:
• Raymarine ST200+ tiller pilot
• Talamex Aqualine 250 Air Deck inflatable tender (2024) with anchor
• Mercury Mariner 2.5 hp outboard motor
Sails professionally valeted (most recently 2026)
Sprayhood, stack pack, and dodgers valeted and serviced (most recently 2026)
Standing and running rigging fully renewed (May 2024)
Cutlass bearing renewed (November 2024)
Automatic engine-compartment fire extinguisher renewed (2024)
Firestick fire extinguishers (2024)
Boom renewed (2022)
Three 105 Ah batteries renewed (2020)
Facnor FD170 furling system fitted (2017)
Water tank (Vetus flexible) renewed (2016)
Electrical system (DC and shore power) professionally rewired (2014)
Solar panel professionally installed for battery maintenance (2014)
Navigation lights renewed with LED replacements (2014)
Red lighting at chart table and in main cabin to protect night vision.
Headlining renewed (2014)
Cabin windows replaced (2010)

Navigation Equipment

Well above average for the class.
Raymarine Hybrid Touch E series chart plotter with integrated GPS, radar and AIS
Raymarine RD418D 18" 4KW radar scanner
Garmin GPS 128 (backup)
Echomax Active-X-Band radar target enhancer
Icom IC-M423 DSC VHF radio with command Mic
Raymarine i70 Tridata (speed, depth, log)
Raymarine i70 Wind (speed and direction)
ICS Navtex receiver

Engine(s)

Volvo Penta MD2020-C, 19 hp, three-cylinder, freshwater-cooled diesel. Professionally installed in 2000, replacing the original Volvo Penta. Direct-drive reduction gearbox with solid coupling to stainless steel shaft. Approximately 1,030 hours run. Professionally maintained throughout; service history available. The MD2020 is one of the most widely supported marine diesels in the UK. Parts are readily available and any marine engineer will know it.

Sails & Spars

Working genoa (Roblon luff) with Facnor FD170 furling system (2017)
Working mainsail with slab reefing and lazy jacks.
Boom renewed in 2022.
Cruising chute with snuffer.
Spinnaker pole.

Safety Equipment

Two personal locator beacons (serviced 2022)
IC-M33 handheld VHF radio
Rocna anchor with 30 m of 8 mm galvanised chain plus 40 m rope warp
Manual and electric bilge pumps
Firestick fire extinguishers and fire blanket
Automatic engine-compartment extinguisher (Fireblitz, 2024)
Horseshoe lifebuoy with MOB recovery sling
Six self-inflating lifejackets
Flare pack (renewed 2026)
Stainless steel cradle for four-person liferaft (liferaft not included)

Location Map