small offshore long keel cruisers

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edowns

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At the risk of repeating debates of old I'd like some advive on small, offshore long keel cruisers.
I like the idea of a GRP folkboat, with a bit of extra space. I want to be able to sail singlehanded, and also to be able to sail around Britain, down to the med, and in my dreams far offshore, although I need to build up experience.
I have thought about and seen some of: Contessa 26, Invicta 26, Folkdancer, Halcyon 27, Cutlass 27 ...
I am looking at late 60's early 70's boats.
Assuming any particular one is in a "reasonable" , is there anything much to choose between them?
Are there others I should also be considering?
Are there reviews I should be reading?
Help please!
Ed
 
I've got a Folkdancer, which I'm fond of. The interior fit out is a bit crude and the mainsheet track divides the cockpit which gets in the way when tacking single handed, but it's not too difficult and better than having it on the bridge deck. Some people might prefer a boat with a bigger cabin and smaller cockpit. I spent a bit of time on an Invicta and think that it is under rated - lots of design thinking gone into the details. There is also a Folksong which is another derivative.
Course there's considerable differences in rig between Folkboat proper and the offspring. F'boat has fractional rig with widgy jib.
Oh, and they're all going to be wetter than more modern boats with higher topsides, but the tiller won't go dead and boat round up when they lean a bit.
Prices....I missed a Contessa which went for £4K two years ago and didn't need a lot doing. Don't be afraid to bung in a low bid and try elsewhere if they don't bite.
Good luck. Put up a post about your final choice when you make it.
 
Thanks for the rapid flow of suggestions, however as Sailorman says, the price of some of these is out of range. I'm hoping to get something that is very seaworthy and practical yet has some style, all within a budget! Well its worth a try.
 
There's a write up in this months PBO of suitable boats for this type of trip

Donald
 
PM me if you like for a detailed, unbiased chat on the Cutlass 27 - a superb and vastly under-rated boat (that I'm trying to sell)!

Seriously, we've sailed one for 10 years and love it to bits but there's no room inside - although that applies even more so to a Folkboat and COntessa 26.
 
I think the Contessa 26 is a like a grp folkboat. The Nicholson 26 is similar to a grp SCOD, feels very robust and is much larger and heavier than the Contessa or Halcyon when you go aboard so should be added to your list perhaps.
 
The broker Michael Schmidt has a very nice Halcyon 27 at Hamble Point Marina for sale at £11,000. I know it circumnavigated in a former life. You can get much better offshore sailing for the money.

Tom
 
I was in a similar position to yourself and I plumped for halcyon 27, simply because it had the most to offer for the best value for money of the folkboat type derivatives, which are all renowned as good sea boats and I'm a real fan of folkboats. The others (contessa and invicta etc) are all nice boats but the Halcyon just has the edge imo, especially over the contessa beacause it usually costs more, Invicats usually cost less than an h27.

A nice Halcyon 27 is one of the prettiest of the f/b derivs i think, the Twister is gorgeous and the great dane (i think is called) is a beaut too, probly because they are slightly longer and can be a lot more expensive than H27.

My H27 sails really nicely, she's fast enough, has an easy, loping motion, she doesn't insist on rounding up when she's pressed and she's strongly built. I've been hove-to for 6 hours in a near gale and actually kept nodding off, so reassuring was the motion. I can stand up in it at the permanent chart table and galley (I'm 6'). But accomodation is not massive as basically these boats are designed for sea and little concession is made to provide entertainment space for use in port. This makes them better suited to crews of two, or three if your good friends and ideal for offshore singlehanded.

AS you can tell I'm a real fan and have spent way too much time and god knows how much money on mine so I'm very familiar with all the ins and outs of them. My boat has looked after me and I love her for it so I'm probly a bit biased so treat my ravings accordingly, as wooden folkboats and the likes of contessa26, invicta 26 ,folksong, marieholme, twister, dane, stella and the ten ton of other folkboat type derivs are all equally loved by owners.

As an aside I hear a Contessa 26 has just crossed the atlantic singlehanded, not the first and I'm sure not the last Co26 to cross.
 
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