Shopping for a Contessa 26, or similar.

Sharkx said:
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.
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I just wanted an excuse to show you this:

View attachment 38329

A poor snap but a pretty boat.
 
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.
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I confess to being biased but an Ecume De Mer would be good for you. Faster than the Contessa, much better accommodation. Mine has been out in all weathers, often single handed, and looked after me well. I have not sailed a Co26(have extensive experience in Co32s) but sailed a Halcyon 27 for many years. In my view the Ecume is a better boat all round - faster, stiffer, and in my view better accommodation having at least two decent sea berths.
And typically much cheaper.
 
PeteCooper said:
I confess to being biased but an Ecume De Mer would be good for you. Faster than the Contessa, much better accommodation. Mine has been out in all weathers, often single handed, and looked after me well. I have not sailed a Co26(have extensive experience in Co32s) but sailed a Halcyon 27 for many years. In my view the Ecume is a better boat all round - faster, stiffer, and in my view better accommodation having at least two decent sea berths.
And typically much cheaper.
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The Ecume De Mer is a great boat.
 
+1 for the Ecume De Mer - I race against one of these and a CO26 - there is no real comparison performance wise. The Ecume De Mer is unbeatable when the wind is up. Finot's first design and way ahead of her time.
 
Chap next to me in the marina has a Hunter 22. Looks a really nice little boat. But you said you wanted to love your boat, which can only mean one thing: wood. But I would say that wouldn't I :)
 
Anderson 22 is a great boat but you can get more boat and performance for the same money. The A22 is a sort of in-joke on the forum, there's a chap here who will make out that they are the perfect boat for everything from singlehanding round the world to a week's jolly for the 1st XV :)
 
PeteCooper said:
I confess to being biased but an Ecume De Mer would be good for you. Faster than the Contessa, much better accommodation. Mine has been out in all weathers, often single handed, and looked after me well. I have not sailed a Co26(have extensive experience in Co32s) but sailed a Halcyon 27 for many years. In my view the Ecume is a better boat all round - faster, stiffer, and in my view better accommodation having at least two decent sea berths.
And typically much cheaper.
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I am unfamiliar with this boat, though a cursory look at the hull and keel reminded very much of the Sadler 25, cheaper that the 26 and a good all-rounder (even if you're not Quasimodo)
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Anderson 22 is a great boat but you can get more boat and performance for the same money. The A22 is a sort of in-joke on the forum, there's a chap here who will make out that they are the perfect boat for everything from singlehanding round the world to a week's jolly for the 1st XV :)
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Just so, it was a little tongue in cheek. Though there is nothing wrong with the boat and it would have a lot of advantages.

However, as mrming has said, it would be quite a way from your initial idea.

I should stick with your dream, it would be easy to lose sight of it. There are always piles of ideas of the "much faster, cheaper, bigger, better" variety and, if you are not careful, you end up with a someone else's idea of what you should have. Most people are sailing a dreary compromise, it sounds to me like you want something better. The Folkboat ideal was often " improved" by putting more and more accommodation on top and in the end there were some real sheds, so step warily.
 
I bought my Nic 26 as a family boat. It's fine for two, cosy with three but only a four berth if you're a) young and stupid or b) family. Had I been solely a single hander, I'd have had the Ecume de Mer myself. I know one that's been twice over the pond single handed. The Ecume de Mer isn't that nice t live on though. The Nic has full standing headroom except for the heads. There aren't many 26'ers that can beat my Nic but the EdM is faster and better to windward.
 
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