Contessa 26/Folkboat Mainsheet Lead

[SkiprJohn]

Our club has two International Folkboats that we do not race against any others and our club members are more or less new sailors. Most of us are tired of cracking our shins on the mainsheet traveler which is athwartships in the cockpit.

Have any of you devised a more liveable system on either your Contessa or your Folkboat that you wouldn't mind sharing?

kind regards,

John

[gjordan]

My early English built Contessa had the main sheet run to the aft side decks, to fixed blocks. The JC Rogers built boats had a smaller cockpit than the Canadian built boats, and had a nice size lazzeret. There was room to put the sheet blocks on either side of the lazzeret hatch. I think the IFs have a cockpit that extends further back toward the transom, but there should be room to put a couple of fixed blocks. I agree that the traveler in the middle of the cockpit is a clumsy way to do things. Folkboats sure sail great! _____Grant.

[SaltyMonkey]

mine was a canadian JJ Taylor, with same configuration mentioned.

heres a good image example. if it doesn't show I'll try and upload.

[gjordan]

Salty, that photo brings back wonderful memories. There are a few differences from the English build , but hang a Quartermaster on the back of that boat, and you could go anywhere. ______Grant.

[SaltyMonkey]

@gjordan yeah me too. everything is still there…the little vent on the back, the winch on the cabin top, the stern light

[boatman61]

Sweet boat Salty.. and the set up I was going to suggest.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

mine was a canadian JJ Taylor, with same configuration mentioned.

heres a good image example. if it doesn't show I'll try and upload.

Yep, mine was a Taylor too... same arrangement.

[SaltyMonkey]

just to be clear, this isn't my boat in the pic, but a sister, a bit newer.

the colour is the same. i removed the roller furling, and din't have those little winch handle shelves in the cockpit.

I'm getting sentimental...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

just to be clear, this isn't my boat in the pic, but a sister, a bit newer.

the colour is the same. i removed the roller furling, and din't have those little winch handle shelves in the cockpit.

I'm getting sentimental...

Van de Stadt design..?
or have they nicked the 'Trade mark' hatchway..

[cagney]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Our club has two International Folkboats that we do not race against any others and our club members are more or less new sailors. Most of us are tired of cracking our shins on the mainsheet traveler which is athwartships in the cockpit.

Have any of you devised a more liveable system on either your Contessa or your Folkboat that you wouldn't mind sharing?

kind regards,

John

Some of the early Rogers Contessas had a different setup.
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/...ockpit-aft.jpg
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/...ockpit-aft.jpg

Thomas

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Van de Stadt design..?
or have they nicked the 'Trade mark' hatchway..

David Sadler

[SaltyMonkey]

CONTESSA 26 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
Contessa 26 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Van de Stadt or Gilbert Caroff - a steel or alum version of the contessa 26 with beach able characteristics (centerboard) would be interesting'

[gjordan]

The stern deck with the submarine hatch was typical of the early Contessas. Also the 4 cockpit winches, which I loved. The early boats did not have a self bailing cockpit (ala the wood folkboat), which scared the hell out of some people, but was never a problem for me. Great boat. ______Grant.

[SkiprJohn]

Thanks Salty and others who commented. Your input is greatly appreciated. Very good photo as an example and somewhat similar to several other boats I've sailed.

The Mariem International Folkboats that we have do have a large lazarette just forward of the transom and one of our boats has an engine well there so access is needed. Don't want too much clutter.

I'm certain the sailing characteristics of the boat are the same. They are great sailers.

Wish they had just kept making different models in 4 foot larger increments, like a 30, a 34 and a 38 with the same lines.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Thomas,

Thanks for the links to the GB Rogers version.

Our lazarette hatches have double swing up lids and the tiller has to be moved up and out of the way. We could swing the tiller from side to side when opening the hatch lids but that definitely hinders steering a course.

Thanks folks.

kind regards,