Center Harbor 31: Senshin

Senshin is lovely to look at, yet fast and easy to sail under way.

According to Senshin’s owner — who volunteered these nice photos and info — this vessel is hull number #2 in the Center Harbor 31 line, that was designed by Joel White. The build was finished in 1996 and originally called Linda. Bob Stephens was the job boss on her construction, as well as Joel’s assistant on the design.

Senshin is part of the all-sloop line of Center Harbor 31s, which have larger sail area and deeper keels than the ketch version. Six sloops have been built, the last set in 2002. In Senshin’s case, this powerful single-sail option is enhanced with an up-to-date, fully-battened North mainsail, a slick self-tacking jib, that also has wider tracks for a larger 105% head sail for racing, and the must-have for modern sailing: a large A2 asymmetric spinnaker cut for running in deeper sailing angles downwind. This sail flies from the bow. There is no bowsprit.

Worth close study is the photo below of this Center Harbor 31 up on blocks, in winter storage. See Senshin’s slippery hull and simple, but efficient, modern keel and rudder? Getting those elements to balance just right is the trick with these modern classic vessels. And Senshin is small enough to get a feel of the offsetting choices in a single glance.

She is clearly an agile and powerful, well drawn Spirit-of-Tradition design.

Want to read more? There’s a lovely book on Center Harbor 31s called A Unit of Water,  A Unit of Time. by Douglas Whynott. It’s worth a look, for sure.