What's this boat? GRP with classic style

Looks to me like a Chuck Paine design. Frances 26? I believe there is a version with a raised coachroof like that. Hard to tell the length, but judging by the little powerboat next to it, that might be about the right length.
 
Agreed. Plenty of them around, both UK built and US by Morris Yachts. jumbleduck who posts here regularly has one.
 
That's a Frances 26, not a Victoria 26. Same hull, but the V26 coachroof extends forward of the mast to give a forecabIn - the F26 has a sleeping platform under the foredeck. The design is based on Scottish fishing boats and the original Frances, which Chuck Paine designed for himself, was named after Frances Cairncross, the economist.
 
Looks well cared for. Rig has been changed for in mast furling, and it looks as though a couple of shrouds, on each side, have been removed.
 
Jumbleduck should know, but I always thought - like Neal B - that the Frances 26 was a flush decked job for real purists, and the coachroof version is the Victoria.

On reflection I think the coachroof was an option on the Frances, while the Victoria 26 had a slightly larger one.

We met Chuck Paine at Earls Court boat show once, a nicer and more helpful chap would be hard to find.

A chum and I test sailed a Victoria 30 as we were considering buying one, a truly lovely real sailor's boat.
 
The original Frances and the American Frances 26 - built by Morris Yachts - were flush-decked day boats. The British versions, built by Northshore for Victoria Yachts, all had cabins and coachroofs.
 
Jumbleduck,

I remember the original Frances 26's advertised for UK use were flush decked, I might even have a brochure somewhere.

However maybe that was just American boats with their advertising ?

I think I've seen the odd British owned flush deck F 26, then again I'm equally certain I've seen UFO's ! :)
 
Seajet said:
Jumbleduck,
I think I've seen the odd British owned flush deck F 26, then again I'm equally certain I've seen UFO's ! :)
Click to expand...

I can't vouch for the UFOs, but there are certainly plenty of flush decked Frances 26s over here, so you are not completely deranged!
 
I think Serin is on the right lines, and I'm pretty sure the original Frances 26 was flush decked, plus I've seen a few British owned examples; granted not many 26 or 30' ones, as they were always quite expensive re their length, and compared to treble double multi-storey aft cabin Bavarias & BenjenBav's are short on space, boats for purists with taste.
 
Seajet said:
I think Serin is on the right lines, and I'm pretty sure the original Frances 26 was flush decked, plus I've seen a few British owned examples; granted not many 26 or 30' ones, as they were always quite expensive re their length, and compared to treble double multi-storey aft cabin Bavarias & BenjenBav's are short on space, boats for purists with taste.
Click to expand...

A purist with taste (thank you) writes ...

Any flush-deck F26 is an American import, built by Morris Yachts, who also built them with coachroofs, though rather lower ones than Victoria fitted. Chuck Paine designed a smaller sister (Jenny?) which I don't think was ever (commercially) built in the UK, and the Victoria 30 which is very similar to the V26 but has a canoe stern rather than being a true double-ender with rudder right at the back end.

The Victoria 26 is certainly snug around the hips, by modern standards, but beautifully built and great fun to sail. New they cost 50% more than a Centaur, which is the same length and weight, but roomier. Which is probably why Centaurs sold by the thousand and Victoria 26s sold by the dozen ...
 
Perhaps there is confusion with the term 'flush deck'?

The F26 (made by Victoria Yachts) is flush from just aft of the mast forward. The V26 carries the coachroof further forward. The American F26 version is often flush through the whole length of the deck - ie has no coachroof at all.
 
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