varne 850

gordon029

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Hi Does anyone have knowledge of the Varne 850.I read a report and saw some photos recently and it seems to be a great boat.But who built them and are they still around, building away and selling them quietly.Or are they gone out of business.I would like to know more so if you have any info I would be glad to hear it.
thanks
 

andyorr

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Is this the Varne 27? All I've read has been good! "The best second hand boat noone has heard of" was one quote I read. I don't think they are built anymore. A good one is about 14-17k.
 

aidancoughlan

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It was on my shortlist of boats in this price range, I was comparing against a Trapper 500 at the time. From what I gathered they are a very good sea boat. I think I got specs for one or two from Brokers, but there was something odd about the layout - I think it differs from boat to boat as a lot were home completed.
My general impression was of a very seaworthy boat, but a little short on accomodation(I think 3 berth in the one I got specs for), although I didnt go to see one in the flesh. There is also a Varne folkboat, dont know if its the same builder. I doubt very much if the builder is still going - the ones I saw were mostly pre-1980 (I think one was 84), and never came across anything else with the same name in 2-3 years of reading mags and web-crawling looking at boats.

Here is the entry from the "Good Yacht Guide"....

VARNE 27/850
27'9" * 21'9" * 4'3" (fin) 344sqft
3-5 berths
Volvo 7.5 hp Saildrive or Yanmar 8
Fast cruiser with excellent performance and handling and rather unusual accomodation and bearable headroom (quoted at 5'9"). Fine bows limited the forepeak, so that a separate heads compartment to port started well back, with a single berth opposite. The saloon has a dinette arrangement to port, with a pilot berth above it; opposite was a good galley. Aft of the saloon were 2 quarter berths on either side and between the port hand quarter berth and the companionway was a separate navigators seat and chart table. Nice looking and well-finished, but not many about and some were home-completed.
 

chops_uk

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They're beautiful boats. I've finally bought one this winter and am just getting her ready. My choice was either a Varne 27/850, Contessa 26 or Invicta. May look like a strange choice at first but I think they're all really sturdy little things but the Varne's just a bit bigger and I think much better value.
Varne Marine was based in Maldon (r. Blackwater - Essex) but I believe they've not been around for a while (would love to know otherwise).
I'm just thinking about setting up a Varne Owners Assosciation at http://www.varne.co.uk.
I would be very interested to hear (via that site) from anyone who'd be keen to join or who has anything interesting to contribute.
 

Varne850

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Hi, We own the Varne 850 that was featured on the front cover of the Boat Owner in Feb 2000 and had lots of happy times on her. If you want any info etc I can get my husband to sent you a more in depth report on her. Regards
Pat
 

minquiers

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had one for 12 years, and could never fault the boat, came across the north sea from ostend to harwich in force 6 , beam reach in12 hrs, a very dry boat also, i was very sorry to see her go, would get another one any time.
 

devos

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I am also a Varne 27/850 owner, and I am very curious concerning
the in depth report .
If possible, can you mail me this report ?
I would be very grateful.
My e-mail address is: varne27@telenet.be

Dirk
 

gordon029

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Hi Thank you for your response.I read the pbo report ,is this the same report you speak of? I am looking for my first big boat and if it is as good as it looks it sounds like just what I have been looking for.Is yours a twin keel model or do you know if there is a marked difference between models in performance.Thank you
 

gordon029

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Hi thank you for your response. I am not an owner yet of what appears to be a yacht worth waiting for .Do you know if there were many twin keel models built as thats what I need ?
 

rob2

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never seen a twin keel Varne, but there is a boat called "Lotus Eater" up for sale which claims to be a lifting keel! It's marketed as a Weston 8500.
 

chops_uk

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An update on this .. The Weston 8500 (the newer version of the Varne 27) was available as lifting centreboard, bilge and ballast or fin keel.
See http://www.varne.co.uk/images/brochure/colour/8500/Weston8500-1-sm.jpg (should be shown below.
Weston8500-1-sm.jpg
 
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