English Folkboat

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this English Folkboat

the design was developed in the 1930’s largely at the inspiration of a group of yacht designers led by the great Swedish designer Tord Sunden, the aim being to design a yacht which was economic to build to widen the appeal of yachting and access to the sport for a larger number of people.

The result was the most successful design ever produced with thousands of examples being built in all corners of the world over the past 60 years.

The early design was very simple, now known as the Nordic Folkboat. It was clinker planked, had no engine and a short coach-roof.

The Folkboat rig was standardised from the beginning and is common to all subsequent hull modifications.

A modified version was designed for build in UK. While dimensions remained the same the boats were carvel planked – with a few exceptions – and sported a larger coach-roof, usually with a dog-house.

Other versions were built in Poland and Hungary with many of those imported into UK because they were cheaper. They are always recogniseable by their large coach-roof and dog-house giving them a top-heavy appearance.

 

Length on Deck                                  25’

Length waterline                                 19’8”

Beam                                                    7’

Draft                                                     3’11”

This particular example is quite an early English Folkboat, built by Bussel & Co, Weymouth in 1958, for a Dr Whittaker who sailed in and around Weymouth Bay concentrating more in his book than his navigation.  Carvel planked with a nice low profile coachroof gives her the sweet lines similar to the original Nordic boats.

 

Carvel planked in mahogany fastened with copper nails and roves to steam bent oak timbers at 6” centres.  Hood ends fastened with silicon bronze screws.

Hood ends completely refastened July 2009.

2009/2010: The complete underwater hull was stripped back to bare wood, seams raked out, recaulked and repayed with red lead, and the whole refastened with over 300 silicone bronze screws.

 

Built on an oak backbone with oak floors.  1050kg external iron ballast keel with Iron keelbolts.

2 keelbolts replaced in the last 3 years, including the one under the engine.  The rest have been inspected and found to be in excellent condition.

 

Marine plywood deck over pine deck beams, epoxy sheathed and finished in cream deck paint with varnished mahogany king plank.

2010/2011: Deck stripped back to bare wood, deck edge to toe rail seam raked out and epoxied.  New epoxy sheathing then laid.  King plank removed, rebidded and refastened in 2012.

Varnished honduras mahogany coachroof coamings with three bronze framed windows each side.  Epoxy sheathed plywood coachroof deck, finished in cream deck paint.  Forehatch at fwd end of coachroof infront of the mast.

New Houdini hatch fitted 2012 with strengthened base.

 

Typically deep and safe Folkboat cockpit with the varnished coamings simply an extension of the coachroof, tapering off to a pretty low rail at the aft end of the cockpit.  Varnished bench seats either side give lots of storage, scrubbed teak cockpit sole.  Open hatch through the aft bulkhead into large storage locker under the aft deck.

Mainsheet traveller across the thwarts towards the aft end.

2011/2012: Cockpit rebuilt with reinforcement around the mainsheet traveller.  Inside of the hull and all panelling in the area stripped and repainted.

Tiller steering on transom hung rudder.

Rudder stripped and repainted/varnished with extra fastenings added for strength in 09/10

 

Bronze stem head fitting as originally fitted with bronze fairleads and centreline bow cleat.

Original bronze Highfield levers refitted to side decks but not in use.Bronze fairleads on the aft deck with varnished mooring cleats.

 

 

Fractional Bermudan sloop Folkboat rig on keel stepped solid built spruce mast.  Varnished wooden boom with slab reefing, sheets to the traveller in the cockpit.  Varnished spruce spinnaker pole.

2009/10: Mast stripped to bare wood, all fittings removed and replaced or regalvanised and varnished.

Mast, boom and pole revarnished 2011.

Stainless steel wire rigging comprising single lowers, cap shrouds, single fore stay to a point well inboard of the stem and a split standing back-stay with a tackle tensioner on the port leg.

Internal stainless steel chainplates.

Rigging screws replaced May 2012

All running rigging led back through turning blocks port and stb on the coachroof to clutches so the whole rig can be operated from the cockpit.

Pair of Barton sheet winches mounted on stainless steel pedestals on the cockpit coaming.  Similar pair of Barton winches on the coachroof to serve the running rigging on the clutches.

 

 

New sails 2011

Mainsail                                Saunders               2011       183sqft                  As new                   Premium cruising grade

Jib                           Saunders               2011       75sqft                    As new                   Premium cruising grade

Genoa                    Jeckell                    1994       101sqft                  Good

Storm Jib               Kemp                                     20sqft                    Unused

Spinnaker              Kemp                     2005       250sqft                  Very Good            (Triradial)

Spinnaker 2                          Old but serviceable

 

 

Machinery

Yanmar 1GM10 single cylinder 8Hp diesel fitted 2004.  Drives through standard gearbox with single lever controls to centre line stainless steel shaft and 2 blade bronze propeller.  Gives max. 5 knots.  Regularly serviced, last done June 2012.

Engine lifted out, paint touched up and engine beds strengthened in 2011/12

25L plastic fuel tank in port cockpit seat locker with rubber fuel hose.

1 x 12volt battery, 110Ah, in stb cockpit seat locker.  Provides power for engine starting, lighting and nav instruments.  Oversize aftermarket alternator fitted.

 

 

Accommodation

Entrance to cabin through sliding hatch with 3 varnished washboards.  Engine box provides a step inside.

Hatch rebuilt, strengthened and varnished 2012.

Simple open plan layout with galley area at aft end of cabin to port.  2 burner Origo spirit stove with large storage space under.

2 full length setee berths either side with varnished slats and cushions.  Sitting headroom.

Scrubbed teak cabin sole boards.

Staggered half height bulkhead allows access to forepeak, used mainly for sail stowage but with a port side berth as well.

The interior has been repainted where necessary and is light, airy and dry.

 

 

 

Equipment

Plastimo bulkhead Compass with light

Stowe log

Stowe sounder

Navico tiller autopilot (not fitted)

Icom DSC VHF

 

Pack of coastal flares

2 x fire extinguishers

Fortress anchor with 6m chain

50m warp

4 mooring warps

6 fenders

 

This is a nice solid example of the ever popular Folkboat design, and although not one of the Nordic boats, she is very pretty because of her low coachroof.  In previous ownership she has competed successfully at Folkboat week, proving she still has the legs to race round the cans, but she would be equally as happy on weekend adventures exploring the creeks and coasts.

She has benefitted from extensive professional work in recent years with all the important structural areas being addressed.  She is now in need of some cosmetic work to bring the paint and varnish up to scratch.

 

Full list of work carried out available.

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.