Page 21 - Folk Boat Year Book 2023

With modest beam and low
freeboard you might expect
Folkboats to sail on their
ears but thanks to firm
bilges 50 per cent ballast
ratio and a flare in the
topsides that extends the
full length of the hull, they
stiffen up sharply once they
start to heel. Note the
simple rig.

Only gradually did owners realise that how the light construction and high
this delicate-looking ballast ratio ensures stability and speed
daysailer/weekender was not only fast, but there’s more to it than that: the way
beautifully-balanced and easy to sail – the clinker construction builds-in
but also an excellent sea-boat. How on strength, the steadying effect of those
earth was that possible? gently flared topsides as she heels in a
With the benefit of hindsight we can see breeze, the simple, dinghy-like rig that

Although seven designs were
combined, the Folkboat was
most influenced by Svane, a
powerful long-keeler and the
more cut-away Nordavind –
though curiously, the end result
looked remarkably like the KDY-
Junior designed by Aage Utzon
in 1927.
NORDIC FOLKBOAT
LOA: 25.20ft/7.68m
LWL:19.68ft/6.00m
Beam: 7.22ft/2.20m
S.A.: 220.00ft2/20.44m2
Draft: 3.92ft/1.19m
Displacement: 4,255lb/1,930kg
Ballast: 2,205lb/1000kg
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