1985 Frances 26
General Specification
Construction
- GRP construction
- Designed by Chuck Paine (USA)
- Built by Victoria Yachts Ltd (Warsash, Southampton)
- Trunk cabin (not flush deck) version giving approximately 1.83m (6ft) headroom
- Very attractive, traditional, double-ender design
- Encapsulated lead long keel
- 51% ballast ratio
- Mainly teak laid decks and cockpit
- Self draining cockpit with ample storage space in large locker to starboard and lazarette with gas locker to aft
- Transom hung rudder with laminated tiller
- Hull epoxied as a preventative measure in 1998
- Last ashore and antifouled winter 2016/17
- Self-surveyed by owner 2016 (report accepted by underwriters for insurance purposes)
Mechanical & Electrical
- Vetus M2.06 twin cylinder 15hp freshwater cooled diesel engine (1996)
- Shaft drive to 3 bladed propeller
- Engine serviced annually
- New Volvo deep seal 2015
- New cutlass bearing 2013
- Steel fuel tank
- Single lever engine control in cockpit
- Tiller steering
- 2 x 105ah sealed batteries charged from engine alternator
Rigging & Sails
- Bermudan Cutter rig
- Cutter rigged allows for easy short-handed sailing
- Terylene running rigging renewed as required with most replaced in last 3-4 years
- Silver anodised, single spreader, keel stepped mast by Proctor
- Aluminium main and staysail booms
- Aluminium telescopic whisker pole
- Gibb reefing and halyard winches
- Short Spruce bowsprit
- Sailspar continuous line headsail furling gear (2011)
- New inner staysail stay 2011
- Tan slab reefing mainsail (very good condition)
- Tan self-tacking staysail (very good condition)
- Tan furling Yankee jib (very good condition)
- Cruising chute with snuffler (very good condition)
- Second suit of sails including mainsail, staysail and yankee (some small repairs required)
- Sail cover (old but serviceable)
Accommodation
- Quality wood interior with rattan locker fronts
- 4 berths in open plan single cabin
- Double/V-berth with infill in forepeak
- Single settee berth to starboard with lee cloth
- Quarter berth to port
- Berth cushions reupholstered in 2010 approximately
- Galley to starboard with gimballed Spinflo Nelson gas stove (2 burners, grill and oven)
- Stainless steel circular sink with pressurised and hand-pumped cold supplies
- Heads compartment to starboard of companionway with Jabsco sea toilet (no holding tank, but space to fit one) and sink with shower head with pressurised cold supply
- Hot water supply removed by vendor but pipework still in situ so could easily be reinstated
- Flexible freshwater tank under settee berth
- 2 x calor gas bottles (not full) secured in vented locker and connected to stove via mostly copper piping
- Drop-down chart table to starboard with stowage for charts and books
- Matching bookshelves, etc.
- Removable saloon table (bespoke, made by vendor)
- 6 x solid brass opening portlights (including 1 in heads compartment) and 1 x hatch
- Ample storage lockers throughout including 4 draw unit to port
- FM/radio
- Max headroom approximately 1.83m (6ft)
Equipment
Navigation Equipment
- Masthead and deck level navigation lights including deck and steaming light
- Brass clock and barometer
- Plastimo bulkhead compass
- Stowe log and depth
- Nasa Clipper wind speed/direction
- Wind vane
- Nasa Clipper GPS repeater
- Garmin 128 GPS at chart table
- Standard Horizon DSC VHF radio with AIS
- Nasa Pro-Plus navtex
- Simrad TP10 tiller pilot (2016)
Safety Equipment
- Horseshoe lifebuoy
- Danbuoy
- MOB lifesling
- Firdall Blipper radar reflector
- Henderson bilge pump in cockpit
- Fire extinguishers (not guaranteed in date)
- Fire blanket
Deck Equipment
- 7.5kg Bruce anchor seated on deck mount
- 30m x 8mm galvanised chain
- 30m anchorplait warp
- Stainless steel pushpit and pulpit
- Stanchions with double guard wires
- Tan sprayhood (old but serviceable)
Remarks:
The Frances 26 is, without doubt, a modern classic! With her beautiful traditional double-ended design, and her long keel and modest draft, she is everything that a small cruiser should be. The original “Frances” was designed by the American designer Chuck Paine for his own use and was the start of a long and successful line of Frances, Morris and Victoria yachts that now grace seas and ports around the world. Designed to cruise in and around the Caribbean, and to safely survive a gale at sea, the Frances is an easily handled, capable small cruiser with a well deserved reputation.
This Frances 26 is a trunk cabin version with standing headroom throughout the majority of the cabin. She has a lovely interior that is better appointed than many much larger cruising yachts. Described by the current owner of 6 years as “A brilliant sailboat and faster than one imagines!”, she has extensively cruised the east and south coasts, together with several North Sea crossings to Holland, mainly single-handed. Very reluctantly for sale due to the purchase a larger vessel.
PLEASE NOTE: Images 9 to 37 show the vessel in winter 2010/11.
Topsail Marine Yacht Brokers is acting as brokers (or in the case of classified adverts, advertising medium) only and unless stated otherwise the vendor is not selling in the course of business. Whilst every care has been taken in their preparation, the correctness of particulars is not guaranteed and they are intended as a guide only. Prospective purchasers are strongly advised to check all particulars and where appropriate employ an independent qualified agent to carry out a survey and/or sea/river trial. Vessels are offered subject to prior sale, amendment or withdrawal without notice.
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