Is this the mostinfluential and successful design of all time? The
design iscredlted to Tord Sunden though a large part of the
conception is down to the work of a Swedish committee in the 1930s.
It was after the war, though, that the Folkboat swept Europe with an
enormous number of builders involved working to identical hult and
rig dimensions but with significant differences in construction, deck
and superstructure design and accommodation. Early Folkboats were
all clinker but carvel was introduced later. Cruising Folkboats had a
doghouse and improved headroom. They are huge fun and still quick
bytoday’s standards. As cruisers they are a little cramped and wet in a
seaway. Thedesign is nowavailable, ‘in-class’ in GRPand is very much
still in production. There may be as many as 6000 or more Folkboats
around the world. From a buyer’s point of view there are Folkboats to
suit all tastes from stripped out, fully equipped racers to tired and basic
old cruisers. Careful surveying is essential to avoid problem boats but
they can be a cheap way into family cruising
or an affordable means of enjoying highly
competitive class racing. Manyhave been
extensively modified. The design spawned
a whole industry of ‘Folkboat derivatives’,
some ofthe more famous being the
Contessa 26, Invieta and Folkdancer.

LOA 25ft (7.6m) LWL 19ft 8in (5.9m)
beam 7ft 2in (2.1 m) draught 3ft
11 in (1.2m) displacement4,800
Ib (2,181 kg) Price guide: Wood
£3,000 £10,000. GRP
£20,000 to £40,000+ YM
Test Report February 1969.