These guys seem to have done ok in a small boat. I have a few reasons for preferring a
smaller vessel. Cost not the least. Any thoughts re folkboats.
Folkboats are good small crusing yachts well designed with good righting moment and proven history of passage making on a budget. My Flokboat is in good nick and I bought it 10 years ago and have lived on-board for the past 3 years full time I have improved it in this time by:
1. strengthening the mast and fitting larger stays, all halyards replaced as well.
2. replacing rudder gudgeons and pintles, soda blasting the hull and re-epoxy to the waterline only 5 cent piece sized osmossis found.
3. replacing all berth foams and covers.
4. install solar panel and regulator, three new batteries, shore power outlet and elcb board, new switchboard and a re-wire of all lights and navigation lights.
5. re-paint inside and out.
6. GPS and depth sounder and new compass.
7. new cooking stove installed.
8. new front hatch.
The contessa 26 is similar to a M26 Folkboat like mine my yacht I bought it for $8,000 and I love it thats why I have spent alot more on it to get to Mackay and sail in this lovely neck of the woods.
best of luck with your search and i will watch this forum for any further comments with interest.
9. new tiller.
My boat was a sad sight when i bought it and from a lot of hard work and preserverance you get what you want in the end every person has an opinion on the good crusing yacht but it is up to the individual taste to achieve your goals.
Thank you Whiteout for the photos and your input. You confirm what I suspected
that it s feasible to live comfortably in a small space. Having discussed at length with
the wife the possibility of buying a live aboard cruiser it has become clear she doesn't
share the commitment. While not standing in the way of my dream she would be
happy to join me in my travels if she could fly. Therefore only a small boat is
necessary if much of the trip is solo.Folkboats would appear to be the king of small
yachts. They seem to have an enviable record. It is still only an idea to be
entertained at the moment. If I take the next step I will keep you informed.I wonder
how far you have sailed in yours and where you plan to go?I leave you with this
thought.
"Somewhere in the archives of crudest instinct
is recorded the truth that it is better to be endangered and free than
captive and comfortable"- Tom Robbins
I have sailed from Pittwater to Mackay and intend sailingthe whitsundays for a few years, then who knows where.
I don't think I am a hermit, as there are quite a few people who live on yachts and sail great distances in their chosen vessel. My girlfriend does sail with me sometimes but you need to be happy with the vessel you choose I will be selling mine sooner or later and upgrading there are a few Van der Stats that I like and Defiance 30 are also good.
We sailed from Sydney to Darwin in a timber Stella Folkboat some years ago. We took 6 months for the trip and the 2 of us lived on board for some months afterwards. I've had a few boats since then, but the Stella is the best sailing boat that I have owned or sailed on. They are wonderful seakindly boats.
There are two hose clamps on the cockpit drains and I do have timber bungs close by, and I am concerned that you choose a Nolex 30 for the rough passage on a Bass Straight and West Coast of Tassie Holiday you will need more righting moment than the Nolex 30 can give you as you will be bouncing around in that boat you will need strengthened mast and rigging. My boat is small but very seaworthy as I have sailed her many miles without any problems. The Batteries are secure and are sealed agm batteries I have dipped the spreaders in the water and they never moved. I have formal training in Naval Architecture and have been involved in many projects from large tankers to sailing yachts and I like this site as there are many different posts on interesting topics.
All the best in your travels.
This is a wonderful forum. It demonstrates the rich tapestry of life, from the almost sublime folkboat to the immense diversity of boating opinion. To me, the size of a boat is seldom a reflection of its ability and indeed, an observational rule is that the bigger the boat, the less likely it is to be used for any great endeavour.
I applaud any sailor who is prepared to adequately prepare and conduct their vessel to achieve their goal, whether it be to cross a bay, or an ocean.
I now have a boat that is larger than a folkboat and is hugely comfortable in its accommodation, but whenever I travel offshore, I always yearn for the properties of a folkboat.
Sailing is an activity that gives us the opportunity to connect with like minded people and enjoy the immense diversity. If we can suspend our own bias, we are well placed to create a community that can achieve a level of tolerance that far surpasses the rest of contemporary society. Viva la difference of opinion!
Hi guys
Let me continue with discussion. I am not in boat building at all, but my yacht has all seacooks with valves./about 8/. But who connect all your batteries parallel, deserves big kick somewhere. Never - ever put chemical cells parallel, they discharge each other and loosing capacity. / there is only one exception / there is a constantan load. cheers
Let me suggest that you do some informed reading to get some knowledge on batteries before putting your foot in your mouth, my yacht runs on a 12 volt system like many other yachts and is wired as such.
Batteries in parallel add to the amp hours and maintain the same voltage. Batteries in series double the voltage and that will blow my power board.
Well You perfectly correct about capacity and so on BUT reality is different.
I just wont a high light a seriousness of the problem.Common practise is dangerous short cut and absolutely not acceptable on the boat.
Obviously it requires better example to follow not just "bat. in parallel constantly discharging each other rate up to 20 % a month.".
You never experince faulty bat. do you, low voltage, lost capacity, maybe just one cell is dead.
What will happen next, all good batteries will balance the voltage. They try, all current from good batteries go to faulty one.
What you get in next few second - burning wires, fire, gas explosion. Happy sailing.
Cisco... I have Cruising helmsman mags right back to the
early eighties.....wouldnt it be great if there was a way to
search for articles via computer instead of like me you have
to get the crates out and search each one. I'm not sure
how you do it ? but thanx i will check June 2008 because i
have some battery woes at the moment.
Nina and Henrick look like they're having a fantastic time in their Contessa. A Contessa and a Folkboat were on my short list, but I wanted something I could sail straight away, so were a little outside my budget. That left me with a Top Hat 25.
Full standing headroom for a 6 footer and a similar layout and hull design to the Contessa.
The Top Hats also have a distinguished reputation for global circumnavigation. http://homepage.mac.com/clatimer/TopHatYachts/FileSharing12.html
homepage.mac.com/clatimer/TopHatYachts/FileSharing11.html
These are the only known electronic copies of two circumnavigations by two generations of the same family, both on Top Hats.
So if you're budget doesn't run to the Folkboat or Contessa, check out a Top Hat, you'll be pleasantly surprised about value for money and performance considering their size and design.
Love your Folkboat Whiteout!
Mick
^^^that boat looks the goods. I would look at a top hat aswell because its the only 25ft yacht i found that had full head room. Meaning headroom to spare at 6foot 2.It was a mark 2.
The day has finally come time to upgrade from my Folkboat.
Any hints of a suitable yacht.
See if you can get to spend a couple of days on a Van De Stadt 34 or a VDS Vita 30. I am sure you will be impressed with the comfort and room and they sail well too.
Something else to consider is the Santana 30 which is a Doug Peterson design.
I assume Anthony that when you say "upgrade from your Folkboat" you are referring to more room and comfort.
One should not make assumptions. Maybe what you actually want is more speed and excitement, in which case I suggest you consider a "Yachting World Diamond" converted for cruising.
Six of us spent a riotous weekend on such a yacht cruising out from Auckland Harbour to Waiheke Island and back some years ago.
That boat actually started a "humming sound" when it got rooting and the rig would shudder occasionally on a beam reach. I also read an article a long time ago which suggested they are one of the best boats for crossing bars. This is probably because there is no room to have a bar onboard one.
My friend's boat did have a great fox hole that served threesomes Admirably plus a Honeymoon suite aft that was very friendly but limited to Missionary positions.
Hi
Did you consider Swanson 32 , now in Port Pirie, just antifouled, Life Raft,
wheel autopilot and all gear you need, Just ready to go. Even singlehanded easy.
