Shopping for a Contessa 26, or similar.

Sharkx

Sharkx

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I was an owner of a Bav30 until two years ago. I sold it because it was just too expensive to keep. (It was £45k)
I want to get on the water again, as I am in a much better financial position and I learned the hard way how expensive boating is.

I was looking at the contessa 26, as it is in my price range £10k -£15k.

I like the character and seaworthiness of her. What are the forums thoughts?

I shall be keeping her on the west of Scotland.
 
As Neal has said, an Invicta just as good a boat but probably cheaper, several other Folkboat derivative types around including Halcyon 27 (not as pretty but with much more headroom), Nicholson or Bowman 26s, Hurley 27, all good little boats, as were all the Folkboats in various versions, though most were wood.

When young and more flexible I loved the Co26, these days I find the accommodation and the hatch entry a bit cramped.
 
Contessa is undoubtedly the prettiest of the Folkboat derivatives and perfect for some serious sailing off the Scottish Islands ,I'd have thought you could find a nice one well inside your budget.
 
Contessa is an acquired taste, devotion from those who love them and puzzlement from those who don't get them. Cramped, narrow, low headroom and very wet in any kind of a blow but they sail extremely well. The 27's - Halcyon, Sabre or Hurley give loads more room, nicer cockpit and a more pleasurable place to be for a week or in a blow. None of those sail quite as well as a Contessa 26 but (and no offence meant) your previous boat ownership doesn't imply a love of pure sailing at the expense of comfort - nothing wrong with a modicum of comfort and the Contessa is the polar opposite of your last boat.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Contessa is an acquired taste, devotion from those who love them and puzzlement from those who don't get them. Cramped, narrow, low headroom and very wet in any kind of a blow but they sail extremely well. The 27's - Halcyon, Sabre or Hurley give loads more room, nicer cockpit and a more pleasurable place to be for a week or in a blow. None of those sail quite as well as a Contessa 26 but (and no offence meant) your previous boat ownership doesn't imply a love of pure sailing at the expense of comfort - nothing wrong with a modicum of comfort and the Contessa is the polar opposite of your last boat.
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Said with feeling through the eyes of a Colvic Watson owner.:friendly_wink: But depends what he wants. I sailed a Folkboat for years off the wild and exposed west coast of Ireland from Mailin head to Mizzen and woulden't have missed it for anything. Admittedly I woulden't do it these days 25 years later, nonetheless a Contessa 26 for someone young ,fit and keen is pure sailing which will shame most AWBs in terms of capability and envious looks.
 
Sharkx said:
I was an owner of a Bav30 until two years ago. I sold it because it was just too expensive to keep. (It was £45k)
I want to get on the water again, as I am in a much better financial position and I learned the hard way how expensive boating is.

I was looking at the contessa 26, as it is in my price range £10k -£15k.

I like the character and seaworthiness of her. What are the forums thoughts?

I shall be keeping her on the west of Scotland.
Click to expand...

You will find a Pioneer 9 for half that price and will get more room, excellent sea keeping and better performance. You can then afford all the extras that make sailing better.

Yoda
 
yoda said:
You will find a Pioneer 9 for half that price and will get more room, excellent sea keeping and better performance. You can then afford all the extras that make sailing better.

Yoda
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Yes...that's a good call. Like the Invicta, another fine Van de Stadt design, moulded by Tylers.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
The 27's - Halcyon, Sabre or Hurley give loads more room, nicer cockpit and a more pleasurable place to be for a week or in a blow. None of those sail quite as well as a Contessa 26 .
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm.... I wonder why you say that?

I had a Halcyon 27 for some years, and I also did a round the Isle of Man race in a Contessa 26. Not much to choose between them performance-wise, though, if pushed I think the Halcyon has the edge (particularly as the wind gets stronger, when the Halcyon is noticeably more powerful).
 
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For that money you might get a Saddler 26 these days. The Nic26 is the better sea boat especially with the western isles in mind but it does draw a lot more than the Contessa. The Nic has full standing headroom, except in the heads unless you're short.
 
I feel a little more attracted to older boats, or at least ones with character. I had the Bavaria and although it was very nice, it felt clinical and boring. I really want to sail short handed or single handed and actually 'love' my boat.
Big Bavarias are good for family sailing, which isn't something I'll do much.
 
Brought back a lot of memories seeing the link to the advert for Genesee. There are differences between the underwater profile of the Folkboat and a Co26. It has been said that to get the shape, the transom of a FB was cut off and wedges driven in to widen her stern a bit, then an extra plank was added to increase the freeboard and consequent interior headroom and the keel base levelled to allow her to take the ground. Winters ashore with Genesee were usually taken up with simple maintenance as the kit and systems are minimal. I worked with the then owner and I was much impressed when he all but single-handedly fitted a Yanmar 1GM in place of the unreliable Vire 7.

Years later, I have a Weston 8500, a corruption (according to the designer) of the Varne 27/850 - a boat I would suggest might fit the bill. The company, now long gone, also produced the Varne Folkboat in GRP with an inboard engine. For more details have a look at the VOA and Folkboat Association's websites. I also have some pics on Photobucket.

http://www.varne.co.uk
http://www.folkboats.com
http://s780.photobucket.com/user/rob2hook/library/

Rob.
 
What about a UFO 27?
1/2 tonner?
Camper an Nicolson 26
The Smaller Elizabethian 23 (there was one on ebay at give away prices the other week).
Dufour-Arpege

This is a good place to start your dreaming.
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives.htm

Remember look at the total running costs. A good condition 30 footer maybe worth allot more to you than a knackered 26 footer needing TLC.
 
Eyore said:
Said with feeling through the eyes of a Colvic Watson owner.:friendly_wink: But depends what he wants. I sailed a Folkboat for years off the wild and exposed west coast of Ireland from Mailin head to Mizzen and woulden't have missed it for anything. Admittedly I woulden't do it these days 25 years later, nonetheless a Contessa 26 for someone young ,fit and keen is pure sailing which will shame most AWBs in terms of capability and envious looks.
Click to expand...

I'm not comparing a Contessa to a Colvic Watson, that would be silly. Yachts are compromises and as it happens, both the Contessa and a Colvic Watson has very stark compromises, one is a family yacht with prodigious volume, dry sailing and poor upwind, the other is a pure sailing machine with cramped accommodation and a wet cockpit. The great skill of the Bav/Jen/Ben types is in blurring the edges of those compromises, good accommodation & good sailing, but not brilliant at anything. The OP started out looking at Contessa's and some of us have pointed out that it's a fairly extreme yacht which sacrifices a lot of comfort in the cabin and the cockpit for good sailing. I enjoyed sailing one but it would have driven me mad long term or helming in wet weather. I much preferred the Halcyon 27 which sailed almost as well but had much less stark compromises.
 
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