Colvic 26 Sailer???

[GaryE]

I am looking for a boat to buy....
Anyone know anything about a Colvic 26 Sailer? I have been to see one in a local yard but cannot find info on it. It's within my budget, but want to find out more before parting with any folding stuff. What I really want to know is, "what does it sail like". I know it's not going to be as good as the Twister next door, (too expensive and SWMBO didn't like it), but is it a reasonable compromise? Does it sail as well as the Cobra 850 I was out in last weekend?

The skeg hung rudder also has an 12"extension rather crudely attached to the lower end. Is this a known fix for this boat? Any info gratefully recieved!

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[bigmart]

Ive got a Colvic 26. As to how it compares with the other types you mention, I can't help you. I bought mine last year I am very pleased with it. Most were home completed so the quality of fit-out varies. Both bilge & fin keel options were available. Most were Bilge. Its not a fast boat but its much quicker than the Eventide I owned before. Basically it was Colvics answer to the Westerly Centaur. It is a safe comfortable boat that is easy to sail & is light on the helm. I Believe they were designed by David Feltham. It is difficult to get info on them because Colvic went bust & none of the mags seem to have seen fit to do a test on them. (How about it PBO or YM. You do see some overpriced jobs around but I reckon you could get a goodun for under £10,000.

Does that help?

Martin

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[Mirelle]

My brother in law has one, which in his case was very beautifully fitted out from mouldings (it helps that he is the boatyard's accountant!)

Sails pretty well, docile, no vices, quicker than you might expect. Good space below decks, nice cockpit layout, not a bad looker. In short, a nice boat.

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[IanPoole2]

If it's designed by David Feltham - I would expect it to be similar to the Cobra 750. Cobra's and Seawolfs were also designed by David Feltham.


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[wooslehunter]

I looked at a few last year and asked a similar question on the forum. As mentioed above they're home finished so check out the build quality closely. I saw a few and apart from one very nice one that was under offer, they weren't too well finished. Also the ones I saw had wasted space in the quarters.

If it's a blige keeler then it won't be as good up-wind.

Keels don't suffer from the Centaur weekness so you can sit on mud with no probs. Asking prices are generally less than Centaurs.

Check out the motor carefully as well. Some were fitted with a Petter mini twin. They can be prone to corrosion.

If it's a good one, suits your requirements and the survey checks out then go for it.

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[billmacfarlane]

I think it's the same hull as the Atlanta 26 which I owned many years ago. As someone else has already said it's designed by David Feltham but don't expect it to sail like some of his other designs like the Seawolf for example. The majority of the Colvics will have been fitted out by their original owners. I've seen some wonderful examples and some Godawful ones so a good surveyor will be needed. I don't know what kind of performance you're looking for in a boat, but the Colvic is by no means a quick boat. She has very shallow bilge keels and will make a lot of leeway to windward. She's also very tender and mine had lee helm which I couldn't cure.

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[bigmart]

Your right that some of the hulls were fitted out as Atlanta's but so were some Macwesters so you may be talking about different boats. These professionally fitted out jobs tend to fetch higher prices. I totally disagree with your comments about tenderness & mine shows no tendency for Lee Helm at all. Overall she is a very dry, safe feeling boat. Leeway is not excessive for a boat of this type & she will easily sail at Five & a half knots in a force 4 on most points of sail except close hauled. For one to handle as badly as you describe there must have been something very wrong with its setup.

An excellent boat for family cruising & some Club Race them successfully. I am no racer myself.

Martin

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[GaryE]

Thanks for all the information.

Finding out that the boat was designed by David Feltham, and researching that, found me the Cobra-Seawolf owners club.
Am I right thinking that the Cobra 850 is the same hull mold as the Colvic 26?

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[bigmart]

I dont know whether its the same mould or not. I doubt it as I assume the Cobra 850 to be a foot or two longer.

If you find any more info on the Colvic please let me know as I have been looking for a while & find it difficult to track down data.

Martin

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[Eccles]

I owned a Colvic 26 for 4 seasons - I have just moved on to a Moody 31. I was very please with her - She sails well (for a bilge keeler) and was very forgiving. The helm was well balanced. Was not too good in very light airs but would cruise at 4.5 - 5 knots in 15 knots of wind. The build quality on ours was extremely good which makes all the difference!
If I was looking for a 26 footer again I would definately buy another (good) Colvic!
Happy Hunting.


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