Mirage 28 or Colvic Sailor 26?

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mikael22

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Hello
I would love some advice before choosing one the 2 boats
Preferably first hand experience on how they sail?
Knowing they will never be racers
But what are they like upwind for tween keels?
Is one better than the other?
I currently sail a kelt 7.60 in nothern Britany and a twin keel would be so much more convenient 😊
 
The Colvic is an older more staid design with vertical keels. The Mirage was designed by David Feltham with a more modern hull shape and splayed keels so probably the better sailing boat. however when buying old boats like this condition and gear is more important than the finer points of the design.
 
i owned a Colvic sailor which i bought for a couple of thousand just after covid, not the best to windward but off wind and reaching it was fine. they are bullet proof and will keep you safe. the Mirage 28 will sail better to windward as there was one at the club which went better upwind, the Mirage is also bigger inside and will have better headroom.

with any older boat its all on the condition and the stuff it comes in relation to cost, my colvic was cheap and had a good engine but i had to upgrade most the electronics and do plenty of maintenance work throughout my 2 years of ownership.
 
Both tubs compared to what you have now, but of the two, the Mirage is the better option.
 
mikael22 said:
Hello
I would love some advice before choosing one the 2 boats
Preferably first hand experience on how they sail?
Knowing they will never be racers
But what are they like upwind for tween keels?
Is one better than the other?
I currently sail a kelt 7.60 in nothern Britany and a twin keel would be so much more convenient 😊
Click to expand...
My first channel crossing was on a mirage 28 so i have a soft pot for them. I've no experience of a colvic.

I found the mirage to be heavily built and it was confidence inspiring offshore., but most definitely no racer as you predict. It was available as fin as well I believe but the benefits of bilge keels with big tidal ranges are not worth giving up for a small performance benefit. For the bilge keeler we would navigate at a predicted 5 knots but rarely actually managed that. If you're in a hurry them motor sail.

Thames marine sold the bare hulls for others to fit out. The one I sailed was fitted by a local boat builder in Barry, South Wales who was an old school expert craftsman with wood, and the interior would rival premium Swedish brands. But he didn't do electrics so the boat was very basic indeed. Not even an electric water pump. Single 12v battery.

My point is just saying "mirage 28" doesn't say much - they are all very different indeed. Add that to 40 odd years of wear, tear and upgrades and you need to consider each one as an individual.,
 
mikael22 said:
Hello
I would love some advice before choosing one the 2 boats
Preferably first hand experience on how they sail?
Knowing they will never be racers
But what are they like upwind for tween keels?
Is one better than the other?
I currently sail a kelt 7.60 in nothern Britany and a twin keel would be so much more convenient 😊
Click to expand...
Yes, I found out when I was selling an inexpensive 40 year old Colvic that buyers only wanted a Bilge Keel, probably now the cost of keeping a fin keel boat in a marina per year is probably half the cost of what these boats are selling for. plus the engine in the one I had was a 50hp Thornycroft being a BMC engine and parts are virtually unobtainable.
I had a mooring in Northern Brittany and just did not fancy sailing there from the N of England without spare parts like a Water Pump etc.
 
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and insight
Yes for a boat my age 😅 the condition, engine and how it has been looked after will be the most important
I actually sail a kelt 7.60 which I have totally renovater last 2 years.I love her but there are only moorings on buoy available in my area (10 years to wait for a birth in the harbour)
I am always worried of my kelt lyong on its port
Which is why I am considering a bilge keel (plus the more powerfull and quieter diesel compared to my outboard)
BUT I dont want to loose on the sailing behavior I do not go on the water for motoring. I actually like to leave and take my mooring under sail.
You can't have it all I know...
Going to see a mirage 28 end of the week 😊
 
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