Marieholm IF

evantica · March 03, 2009, 11:55:03 AM

Hi again, as "my" Meridian was sold, I'll have to find something else. Theres no other Meridian 25 for sale, and acually the only one I've seen, ever in this country.

My other suggestion is the Folkboat,(in GRP) IF what do you think about it?
have you heard of any longer Offshore cruse on this boat? I've heard someone gone over the Atlantic from Europe, and quite a fine reputation in Sweden. Would be nice to hear your oppinion! can find one in Sweden for 4000-7000usd

CharlieJ · March 03, 2009, 12:14:55 PM

LOL- ever hear of a boat called "Jester"? Blondie Hasler's modified Folkboat, then purchased byMicheal Richey-- 13 times across the Atlantic single hand, until she was rammed by a freighter and sunk. A new, exact copy was built by Richey and sailed several MORE times across.

The Folkboat is a sea boat par excellence. The only real thing wrong with one, as opposed to the Meridian, is that it doesn't have standing headroom.

A picture of a Folkboat, reefed down and driving hard, in 25 knots of wind

AdriftAtSea · March 03, 2009, 01:45:03 PM

It is also the design that is the inspiration for a lot of other very good bluewater boats, like the Contessa 26, which was used by Tania Aebi on her circumnavigation.

evantica · March 03, 2009, 04:17:37 PM

how could I forget "the jester challenge" :D ??? I wonder about the "fractonal rig" 7/8. better/worse and why???

Frank · March 03, 2009, 04:30:47 PM

Actually Adrift, the Marieholm was a knock off from the original folboat.It ,as with many others, uses the same basic hull but has a longer cabin,more headroom and additional accomodation added.They still build the traditional folkboat to the original coach roof design in GRP. You are correct that the Contessa twentysix was a knockoff as was the Whitby Continental twentyfive. All are great sea boats.The whitby was a confusing boat to figure out as it had the common doghouse roofline with "Alberg" looking ports.Looked like an ariel at a glance except for the transom.It was all folkboat below the sheerline.

nowell · March 03, 2009, 04:42:42 PM

*cough* Vega *cough*. I know there are alot for sale up there, and we have a great support group, and you guys have the BEST outfitter. I even order parts from him and have them shipped out.

Check out:

http://www.albinvega.co.uk/

maxiSwede · March 03, 2009, 05:22:31 PM

Excellent boat! ( I used to have one for years) and all of what is said alreaady is valid. Tord Sundén designed the Folkboat (wooden boat). Then a few years later he designed the International Folkboat in GRP. this lead to a conflict between him and the Swedish Sailing Association with a lengthy legal process about who had the right to use the name etcetera. The legal stuff came to an end an ONE of the results was that the word 'folkboat' could not be used for Sundéns GRP variety, thus it's name were changed to a simple IF-boat.

Here in Sweden they are two separate racing classes, still very active. except the hull material, the IF has a little higher freeboard, a genua sail aswell as a jib and is slightly faster. Several has made long off-shore voyages, including circumnavigations. That said, they are VERY cramped below deck, and has a 'standing' headroom of approx. 1,40 meters. It sails excellent in anything from F 1 to F 9 and is a very stiff and well built boat.

Compared to a Vega (the most well-known swe design outside swe ?) The Folkboat and IF is better in every aspect except one. Room and comfort below decks. For me, and probably for most of my fellow countrymen, it seems weird that the Vega has gotten such a rep. in the States and elsewhere. We consider it a slightly mediocre performer (too wide at the bow) slightly weakly built compared to other designs of the same era and with a few well documented weaknesses in cinstruction. Nothing that cannot be addressed though but all in all over rated outside it's home market.

No offense Vega fans! I'ts an OK boat, but there are a lot of better ones... IF, Allegro27, Laurin28, Havsfidra20, Storfidra25, Amigo23,27,33 to just name a few...

maxiSwede · March 03, 2009, 05:32:51 PM

I just discovered that the starter of this thread is Swedish.

Welcome onboard Håkan! you're not the only 'old pagan viking' on this board. ;)

sorry to hear that the Meridian was sold, didn't even know they existed on our side of the pond.

If I were looking for a cheap, sturdy off-shore capable little boat to take you anywhere in Sweden - then I would definetely go for the not so common makes (not so common in swe that is)...

like for instance; a bunch of UK designs, Hurley22, Westerly (different models) etc.

good luck!

nowell · March 03, 2009, 05:34:19 PM

Quote from: maxiSwede on March 03, 2009, 05:22:31 PM
No offense Vega fans! I'ts an OK boat, but there are a lot of better ones... IF, Allegro27, Laurin28, Havsfidra20, Storfidra25, Amigo23,27,33 to just name a few...

Cause you don't share the other ones with us, that and the production run of the Vega makes it more widely known ;D

maxiSwede · March 03, 2009, 06:11:58 PM

Quote from: nowell on March 03, 2009, 05:34:19 PM
Quote from: maxiSwede on March 03, 2009, 05:22:31 PM
No offense Vega fans! I'ts an OK boat, but there are a lot of better ones... IF, Allegro27, Laurin28, Havsfidra20, Storfidra25, Amigo23,27,33 to just name a few...

Cause you don't share the other ones with us, that and the production run of the Vega makes it more widely known ;D

Probably true... more than 3000 IF's built though. (Folkboats GRP outside swe) SF Bay, Australia and more... ;D

AdriftAtSea · March 03, 2009, 06:23:36 PM

The other problem is some of those makes have not made it across the pond... so we've never seen them. :(

QuoteNo offense Vega fans! I'ts an OK boat, but there are a lot of better ones... IF, Allegro27, Laurin28, Havsfidra20, Storfidra25, Amigo23,27,33 to just name a few...

evantica · March 04, 2009, 03:59:13 AM

Thanks for answer! I've looked into differnt kind of capable cruisers, among them: Hurley's, amigo 23, Havsfidra,IF, Vega, Cirrus, even Kingfisher 20 but not many in sweden?! I do like, as you say Maxiswe...od boats= cheaper...I actually saw a Hurley 22 for 1600USD. But my bet right now is IF... so probably in this early spring, I'll bye one. and this time I will prepear my Offshore voyage with patience, knowledge and some "god damned it" attitude. It's alife long passion, and a dream to come true. So I appriciate all info you all give me. And hoppfully I can give some back. Fair winds...

maxiSwede · March 04, 2009, 07:06:13 AM

sent you a PM

cheers

skylark · March 04, 2009, 07:58:40 PM

Here is a site I like to check out to look at boats in Holland:

http://kopen.marktplaats.nl/watersport-en-boten/kajuitzeilboten-en-zeiljachten/c985.html

Doesn't look like there is a Meridian today, but I have seen them for sale.

evantica · March 05, 2009, 02:40:17 AM

Found this one for sale in swe, But the owner dosen't know what brand, neither do I??? purhapse you do???

evantica · March 05, 2009, 02:42:16 AM

heres another pic'

velpanore · March 21, 2009, 04:39:47 PM

Hello Evantica,

For my two bobs worth, I had a Marieholm 26 in Australia for many years which, I think, is not the same as the IF but not really sure. It had raised freeboard and hence a bit more beam and of course more room inside. We refer to it as 'sitting headroom'.

It had a fractional rig and swept back spreaders but an aspect of the Australian version I didn't like was they had only one chainplate (on either side). The swedish version had two.

It was a wonderful boat for me and never let me down although a couple did lose their rigs to my knowledge; which is rarely fun.

All the best,

Owen Zeimer

evantica · March 25, 2009, 02:36:13 AM

Owen. The Marieholm 26 is the same as IF, with a different rooftop. same hull and so on. for the more headroom you'll pay 5000USD more. so If I buy an iF I'll be sitting a lot. great boats...

michalex19 · May 07, 2009, 01:27:51 AM

I am looking at getting a Folkboat, but the only one i have found is the following add, and from everything I have read, I don't think the Folkboat was made 32'. I could be wrong, or maybe the owner misclassified it, but if anyone could clear that up for me I would appreciate it. Also what are your thoughts solely based off this add (I've seen pictures and I would have it surveyed before I would buy it), is it a good deal or overpriced? I am not a complete newby to sailing but this will be my first boat so any advice is good advice for me:)

1975 Marieholm 32
(Aka The 32' Folkboat designed by Tord Sunden)

• All new standing and running rigging.
• Extensive work done on Md2B diesel engine.
• Autopilot
• New color Raymarine chart plotter
• New Garhaver blocks, boomvang, backstay and mainsheet.
• Six head sails, two mains and a Spinnaker.

The Marieholm 32 "Folkboat" represents good value for a boat capable of carrying two people around the world. Tord Sunden designs are sailing legends, the nautical equivalent of the German Volkswagon. Much admired for their heavy-weather performance, fabled sea keeping qualities and classic good looks.
Interior has teak everywhere, vinyl headliner and padded vinyl on the hull (Which acts as insulation).
For a full-keel boat, she is surprisingly fast and close-winded. Once you have sailed one of these boats, it becomes the measure of all other boats you may sail. The long-keel gives the boat good directional stability, and this, together with her zesty performance and her easy motion, makes her a sensible choice for a single-handed voyager or couple.
Asking $18,000

maxiSwede · May 07, 2009, 03:09:40 AM

The Marieholm IF (folkboat in GRP) is 26 feet LOA

The M 32 is a larger 'sister' designed by the same man, T . Sundén. Basically an upscaled Folkboat pretty similar to Contessa 32 and the (also) Swedish design Fortissimo33. The latter two from other designers though.

M32 is known as a well-built forgiving and very seaworthy design and goes here for between 20000-35000 USD

(note that prices are generally higher on used boats here, maybe with an exception for little known imported boats)

All depends on the age and status of the sails, engine etc. if you can provide the link to the add I could take a look at it and maybe give you some more input.

News:

Marieholm IF