Contessa 26 vs Invicta 26

[Little Rascal]

How would you compare the Contessa 26 to the Invicta 26?

They seem very similar at face value, both Folkboat derivatives. Invictas often come up cheaper though, and older I guess...

What are the pros and cons?

(Also considering Halcyon 27, Cutlass 27 and Albin Vega)

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

How would you compare the Contessa 26 to the Invicta 26?

They seem very similar at face value, both Folkboat derivatives. Invictas often come up cheaper though, and older I guess...

What are the pros and cons?

(Also considering Halcyon 27, Cutlass 27 and Albin Vega)

I would imagine there is very little difference in Victa and Contessa.
My Brother-in-law once had a Cutlas 27 and he had loads of praise for her sea keeping and strength, although they do seem quite dark and dingy down below. My B-I-L's is still on the Clyde.

 

[Scillypete]

How would you compare the Contessa 26 to the Invicta 26?

They seem very similar at face value, both Folkboat derivatives. Invictas often come up cheaper though, and older I guess...

What are the pros and cons?

(Also considering Halcyon 27, Cutlass 27 and Albin Vega)

Hardly anything between them, looked at both a few years ago now, before we settled for buying the Halcyon which had full standing headroom and when sailed against the Contessa and Invicta just had the edge for speed. Even so ended up selling it after two seasons it was just toooo cramped with the family aboard, fortunately kids have grown up now so don't have to consider bringing them any more. All good seaboats thats for sure.

 

[webcraft]

Hardly anything between them, looked at both a few years ago now, before we settled for buying the Halcyon which had full standing headroom and when sailed against the Contessa and Invicta just had the edge for speed. Even so ended up selling it after two seasons it was just toooo cramped with the family aboard, fortunately kids have grown up now so don't have to consider bringing them any more. All good seaboats thats for sure.

Halcyon and Vega are both much roomier than the Invicta or Contessa, and dryer on deck when sailing to windward. Vega has a bigger forepeak than the Halcyon but less standing headroom (5' 7" approx).

- W

 

[Davy_S]

I have sailed both, nothing in them at all, however I see the Invicta as a prettier looking boat by far, ended up buying a Vega, far better than the rest in performance and accommodation, now sold, sadly.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

easier to sell on the contessa

Just a thought. All things being equal the contessa is much better known and a bit of a plastic classic so will sell on easier when you want bigger

 

[Little Rascal]

Specifications

Just crunched a few numbers:

Contessa LOA:25'6 disp:5400lbs Ballast ratio: 50% SA: 304 sq.ft

Invicta LOA:26'5 disp:5130lbs Ballast ratio: 45% SA: 311 sq.ft

Halcyon LOA:27' disp:6720lbs Ballast ratio: 45% SA: 365 sq.ft

Abin Vega LOA:27'1 disp:5070lbs Ballast ratio: 40% SA: 341 sq.ft

Couldn't find definitive specs for the Cutlass...

 

[Ubergeekian]

Just crunched a few numbers:

Contessa LOA:25'6 disp:5400lbs Ballast ratio: 50% SA: 304 sq.ft

Invicta LOA:26'5 disp:5130lbs Ballast ratio: 45% SA: 311 sq.ft

Halcyon LOA:27' disp:6720lbs Ballast ratio: 45% SA: 365 sq.ft

Abin Vega LOA:27'1 disp:5070lbs Ballast ratio: 40% SA: 341 sq.ft

Hmm. Very interesting, thanks.

Victoria LOA 26' 0" disp:6800lbs Ballast ratio: 51% SA: 340 sq.ft

 

[Little Rascal]

Does anyone know if any of them have self-draining cockpits? Apparently the CO26 did after 1972, but the others?

 

[Little Rascal]

Hmm. Very interesting, thanks.

Victoria LOA 26' 0" disp:6800lbs Ballast ratio: 51% SA: 340 sq.ft

Hmmm, nice - found this lovely example but she was sold...

 

[webcraft]

Does anyone know if any of them have self-draining cockpits? Apparently the CO26 did after 1972, but the others?

The Vega has a self-draining cockpit, but some people feel the drains are a little small (1" dia)

- W

 

[jonjo]

When considering the purchase of very similar yacht designs this old it is best to drop doing a systematic feature comparison and instead focus on the state of individual examples.

You would not go onto a motoring forum and ask about the design merits of an Austin Princess v. a Mk1 Ford Cortina because you know the priority would be to buy a specific example of either least likely to conk out 50 miles down the road. Same applies to yachts.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Nicholson 26

All the above were on by short list, but I plumped for the Nicholson 26. Well worth considering.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Hmmm, nice - found this lovely example but she was sold...

Thprrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!

 

[Little Rascal]

When considering the purchase of very similar yacht designs this old it is best to drop doing a systematic feature comparison and instead focus on the state of individual examples.

You would not go onto a motoring forum and ask about the design merits of an Austin Princess v. a Mk1 Ford Cortina because you know the priority would be to buy a specific example of either least likely to conk out 50 miles down the road. Same applies to yachts.

Sorry but I disagree - simply because i am interested in a boat with certain capabilities for the specific kind of sailing I have in mind. I do agree that once you have narrowed down your needs the individual boat's condition becomes important. But in boat design the numbers do tell you quite alot too...

 

[Fascadale]

Contessa 26, Invicta 26

I made the same comparisons when deciding to buy my boat.

I began by looking at Co26s but decided they were overpriced and very small inside.
I quite fancied the Halcyon but thought they looked a bit boxy.
I liked the space in the Vega but was puzzled by the rudder setup

I ended up with an Invicta 26: transom hung rudder, long keel, slightly more internal volume than a Co26, sails well, great for one person, OK for 2, uncomfortable for three.

When I was looking to buy a boat the Invictas were much cheaper than the Contessas but as has been said above the Contessa is a much better known boat, easier to sell and should retain its value.

My Invicta has carried me from Cardiff to Edinburgh via Scapa, from Edinburgh to Bergen and home by Shetland and Fair Isle.

Here is the new Invicta 26 website

 

[jonjo]

But in boat design the numbers do tell you quite alot too...

Indeed and for the two you are considering the difference is splitting hairs.

A blown head gasket is a ruined summer cruise whether on a Co26, Invicta 26 or Bavaria 32. Condition is 90% of the challenge when buying a 30 year old yacht. Ignore than and you will have a hugely disappointing yacht ownership experience. I was going to say "sailing experience" but you might experience little of that.

 

[Little Rascal]

Thanks Fascadale, I too was a little disappointed with the accomodation in the CO26...

Sounds like my kind of sailing!

 

[Little Rascal]

Indeed and for the two you are considering the difference is splitting hairs.

Don't really want to get drawn into further debate on this as that wasnt the point of the thread. It is obvious that the boats are very similar on paper. However there is a significant difference in the average price. This thread was an attempt to tease out the subtleties from those who have experience of both...

So far it has been helpful to me!

 

[webcraft]

Sorry but I disagree - simply because i am interested in a boat with certain capabilities for the specific kind of sailing I have in mind. I do agree that once you have narrowed down your needs the individual boat's condition becomes important. But in boat design the numbers do tell you quite alot too...

There are far more of some of these models on the market than others, which perhaps should influence your choice as you have a better chance of finding a good one if 3,000 were made than if 300 were made.

- W