Nordic folkboat from Sweden as first boat?

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flemishbob

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Hi,
I'm new to this forum, and relatively new to sailing. Having recently got my day skipper papers, and looking to get some experience under my belt, I wondered what people think of Nordic folkboats as a starter boat.

There are quite a few of the things for sale here: http://www.blocket.se/goteborg?q=folkb%E5t&cg=0&w=3&st=s&ca=15&is=1&l=0&md=th

What would be the pros and cons of buying such a boat? My budget is tight, so the prices of EUR 1-2000 are very appealing. What practical issues would I have to bear in mind? And is it madness to consider buying a folkboat in Sweden and sailing it down to Holland (with an experienced skipper, of course)? Equivalent boats seem to be much more expensive around here and in the UK.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Cheers,
Bob
 
flemishbob said:
I'm new to this forum, and relatively new to sailing. Having recently got my day skipper papers, and looking to get some experience under my belt, I wondered what people think of Nordic folkboats as a starter boat.
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I went round one at a boat show a while back. Lovely things, but the accommodation is minuscule.

classic-sailboat-cabin-20360-7054167.jpg


I seriously thought about buying a Folkboat-derived Folksong, which is utterly beautiful but almost equally tiny inside.

If you are planning main day sailing, or racing, or are small, or hardy, or both, I think an IF would be great as a first boat.
 
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JumbleDuck said:
flemishbob said:
I'm new to this forum, and relatively new to sailing. Having recently got my day skipper papers, and looking to get some experience under my belt, I wondered what people think of Nordic folkboats as a starter boat./QUOTE]

I went round one at a boat show a while back. Lovely things, but the accommodation is minuscule.

classic-sailboat-cabin-20360-7054167.jpg


Great boats; But it is not so much the cost of the boat, as rather how much it costs to keep it. Mooring charges or Marina (gulp) costs. As far as sailing goes,, they set the standard for small cruisers. Jester was a IFB hull with a junk rig.
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Welcome to the forum.

Buying an old wooden boat will be the cheapest part of boat ownership, regardless of its cost. But a Folkboat with outboard engine will be cheaper to own than many bigger, more complex boats. And they can be sailed anywhere once suitably equipped.

If the boats advertised at your link are good, seaworthy boats, you can't go wrong really.
 
Fantastic boats, it is where I started "proper" sailing. Up and down the NSW Coast off Sydney for a week or two on board at a time. It helped that it was usually sunny though, so the cockpit got a lot of use.
 
Folkboats are great !
My first boat was a 1962 folkboat - great fun.
Quite small but very seaworthy although can be wet sailing in a big sea.
I got fed up with the outboard and installed a 1GM10 which made a huge improvement.
Agree with comment above re: purchase vs running costs - by the best you can afford in terms of hull / deck condition then slowly renovate the the less important bits.
Keel bolts usually galvanised mild steel so ought to be checked regularly.
Big selection of boats so choose carefully.
Martin

PS a delivery trip from Sweden to Holland is quite an abrupt introduction to a new boat that might have quirks and problems ! Could be a great adventure but could be a nightmare.
 
Had one of these as a first boat as well,

Not the roomiest boat, but I had a great time living aboard for two months cruising around Sweden, Denmark and Germany over a summer.

They sometimes come up for sale in Holland and there are plenty available in Germany and Denmark (prices are maybe a bit higher than Sweden, but still cheaper than the UK)

I wouldn't attempt a Swedish to Holland trip on the boat unless it was well sorted. Getting down to Kiel Wouldn't be too bad, but you need a good motor (or a tow) for the Kiel canal, and the last leg from Cuxhaven back to Holland is supposed to be challenging (no personal experience on that one, just hearsay).

That said, they are just small enough to be trailered with an normal drivers license (I recall a Dutch guy used to hire out his trailer, don't know if he still does) so you could maybe hire/borrow a trailer and tow it home.
You need car rated to tow ~2000 kg to do this legally, the VW T5 transporter van is (was?) a favorite for Folkboaters who often tow their boats.

the Dutch and German Folkboat associations would be a good place to get more info: http://folkboot.nl http://www.folkeboot.de

Hope this helps
 
Lovely boats and a joy to sail. Definitely a good starter boat for a gentleman with taste.

I can't help but wonder if you might have difficulty finding an experienced skipper with the enthusiasm and willingness to share a fairly cramped space with you over a fairly long voyage. If you do not have a friend signed up already it may be worth thinking about bringing it by road (borrow/ hire a trailer), which will be a lot cheaper than the costs of the voyage, and allow you to do all the important testing of gear and handling in waters which are better known to you, where you can source parts and labour more easily if any sudden changes are needed.
 
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Thanks to eveyone for all the kind advice. It looks like I have some thinking to do... it's easy to get carried away by enthusiasm. I'll have a look closer to home (Belgium) and see what I can find, and look into the cost or road haulage, and also consider other types of boat (maybe even in plastic - I saw an Albin Vega I liked the look of a while back - I must have a thing for Scandinavian design).

I was going to invite a friend to join me for the first five days or so and hopefully get the boat far enough for me to coast home single handed, but I've already been put straight on that score, so you can put your flamethrowers away :)

I still like the idea of such a small seaworthy (and, yes, beautiful wooden) boat that, as zikzik says, can be sailed anywhere. I'll keep you posted.

Great video, thanks doug748. At 6'3" I'm not sure I'd fit so snugly inside, mind you, or be able to keep a boat in such good shape. OT, I also found the same Carol Hasse lecturing on sail trimming, which, at least for me, was very useful.
 
Nobody's mentioned you need a pointed head and pointed feet ..... great boats - I had one in the early 70s, my first 'big boat'.
Sails like a witch, sail herself half the time, wet to weather, not much room but no worse than camping - get one with an inboard, get a survey or a friendly shipwright, you'll never regret it ... once you've got the hang of it and want to sail further go out and buy a Vertue.
 
The wooden Folkboat will draw you into a feeling of connection that's truly bonding! (I've found). There's little logic in these decisions, but they can be life changing. A wooden Folkboat does sail as well as any other boat, it also does pretty much anything else as well as any other boat also, some better and some with more tolerance. The difference is that with a Folkboat, it's a Folkboat, and nothing gives as much return as a Folkboat. With the Folkboat, one can find that one is forever trying to improve one small aspect of the boat, be it inside or outside, but one never has to change anything too major, as it's right from the beginning as the basic design was spot on! With my own, I'm now doing a variety of small mods to her, but couldn't imagine 'changing' anything. Go for it, and embrace the boat. Yes, I'm sad about this, but my boat's close to the centre of my life!
 
Good post Jamie it's great to read that someone loves their boat just for what it is..

Those Swedes obviously had enough leisure and money in the early 1940's (selling all that steel and raw materials to build the Nazi war machine) that it was just 'Sven get in there, our client Ferdinand Porsche and his moustachy mate are churning out the Volkswagens, let us apply the concept to yachts!'

Sure the original drawing was very well balanced, I don't know about inflating it up to things like Rustler 36's etc though?
 
Ive got one of these:

http://www.cheverton.org.uk/caravel.html

Mine is called Paean, she is a mk2 and was built 1961.

They were built in Cowes and the designer and builder are still around and happy to talk to owners and provide individual history and advice.

There are a few for sale. Google will help find them quickly.

They are slightly bigger than a folk boat, very seaworthy and for an old wooden boat, fairly comfortable. Whatever you choose, don't forgot running costs! Mooring or marina, repairs or restoration. It does mount up but it is worth it.
 
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