Willien
New Member
I'm really impressed with the build quality of the Frances/Victoria 26 and wonder if anyone knows if the Victoria 800 is similarly well built.
Victoria 800 Build Quality
- Thread starter Willien
- Start date
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Only difference was the extended coachroof and the different layout below. Built by the same people as the Frances/Victoria, although the fitout varied over time, generally improving as the boats developed and Victoria went a bit more "up market". They were expensive boats for their size and often had further expensive frpperies like teak decks added.
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
The original US Frances was flush decked. For the UK market, Victoria added a short coachroof to get the Frances 26. Basically one cabin with a sleeping space under the foredeck: the coachroof is all behind the mast, which I think is keel-stepped.
In response to a perceived market for more room, they extended the coachroof forward of the mast, now definitely deck-stepped, to get the Victoria 26. It has a separate forecabin, and heads to the front of the forecabin on the starboard side. Since the galley is to the back on the port side, this gives a rather Z -shaped layout for the main cabin, with one full bunk length settee to port and a quarterberth to starboard.
The Victoria 800 is externally identical (to all intents and purposes) to the Victoria 26, but has the heads to starboard at the companionway, opposite the galley, giving a square main cabin. No quarterberths, but two full length settees.
Victoria allowed you to specify any deviation you wanted from the standard layout, as long as it took the same time to do. As a result, many boats were non-standard from the start. I know of one Victoria 26, for example, which has a wet locker in place of the quarterberth and a full length settee on the starboard side instead.
Short answer to the OP: My Victoria 26 is solidly and beautifully built, and I have not heard anything to suggest that the 800s were any different.
