How international is the IF?

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  When Tord Sundén, the man who developed the polyester version of the Nordic Folkboot, started the construction in 1967, he called her ‘International Folkboat’. The Swedish Yachting Association was of the opinion that there was already a ‘Folkbat’ and did not accept the name.

After various discussions, in 1970, the name was changed into ‘IF-boat’. Now, at the 50th anniversary of the International Folkboat, it is interesting to see how international the IF has become. How was this anniversary celebrated in different countries?

The IF made its maiden voyage on the 5th of February 1967. Designer Tord Sundén and his sons Store and Jörgen sailed along the snow-covered beaches of Längedrag near Göteburg. That first year 27 boats were built in Marieholms Bruk. The highest production was between 1974 and 1976, in 1975 some 552 boats were built. Approximately 3500 IF’s would eventually leave the shipyard in Smälland, 3488 to be exact because the last boat, which was built in December 1984 had sail number 3488. Surely there must have been more boats built because the boat was also constructed under license in Australia.

About 2200 of the IFs built in Sweden were sold in the country itself. The rest went abroad, mainly to Germany (390), Denmark (325), Norway (135), USA (125), Switzerland (120) and Australia (100).

The IF-boat in The Netherlands.

Also in the Netherlands many IF’s were sold. In the early sixties, Ernst Jongstra heard at a trade fair that the Marieholm’s import license in the Netherlands would soon become available. He immediately travelled to Sweden to speak with the management. He does not recall how many boats he eventually imported: “it must have been hundreds”. The boats did not make their first miles over water but by rail and by road. The former importer told: “the shipyard in Sweden put the new boats in crates and on the train to Amsterdam; then near Artis zoo the boats were loaded onto a lorry and brought to Monnickendam. There, in the Gouwzee marina, the boats were launched and finally delivered to the customers. In the heydays there was a transport every week. Later on the boats were transported by road all the way from Sweden to Monnickendam”. Then in 1977, following the takeover of the Marieholm factory by Albin Marin, Jongstra discontinued the import.

At the end of the 1980s the Marieholm IF had been almost forgotten, until one of the first IFs imported in the Netherlands was offered for sale at Doornbos Marina in Loosdrecht. Pieter Hoogenbirk recalls: “I think she was from the 1970s and was painted over several times; She was now white with a light blue anti-slip deck. We were very surprised of the interest generated by the boat.” They went on to gather information in Sweden where it appeared there were many IF’s still sailing and for sale. Sweden just crept out of an economic crisis and the prices were attractive. Pieter Hoogenbirk and his business partner Leo van Velzen went to Stockholm and acquired second hand boats which they transported in big numbers to The Netherlands.

One of the buyers, Frank Jurgens, who kept his IF in the marina at Doornbos, conceived a plan to set up a club or an association for IF owners, and during the first meeting he asked to be allowed to organise sailing races. This is how the Dutch Marieholm Association came into being in 2001.

The Dutch Marieholm Association now has 243 members, most of which own an IF, a M26 or another Marieholm type. We think that half of the Dutch Marieholm owners are members of the association, and it is estimated that there are between 450 to 500 Mariehom’s in the Dutch marinas. The interest in racing the IF is growing; this year the IF’s took part in 3 different major sailing events. There is currently a core of 10 teams participating in the Winter Series held at the Kaag Yacht Club, and the IF has its own class start during the Kaag-week summer event.

The Marieholm Association celebrated the 50 th anniversary of the Marieholm IF by displaying an IF at the HISWA Amsterdam boat show in March 2017. The boat attracted a lot of interest, and many visitors wanted to step on board for a peek. In September, during the event ‘Hiswa on the Water’, an IF was on display on a prominent position in the water. At the end of June, during the summer event of the Dutch Marieholm Association, the target of gathering 50 boats was not met, nonetheless a total number of 35 participating boats was a record. The digital water sports magazine “Zilt” was also present at the summer event and dedicated an article to the IF, portraying different association members. Photographer Klaas Wiersma made a nice promotional film.

The origin: Sweden Sweden still has the largest fleet. According to a video on the website of the Swedish Sailing Federation there are around 1800 IF’s still sailing. The IF was recognised in Sweden as a one-design class already in 1970, and races with forty boats were no exception back in the 1980s. Marek Janiec is the chairman of the Swedish Federation which bundles four regional associations, with a total of 442 members and 345 measured racing boats. The regional associations organise competitions and lectures, the federation provides the website, knowledge database and the magazine ‘Medvind’. Since the Scandinavian languages are related to each other and each can read each other’s language, the Danes and the Norwegians participate in ‘Medvind’, the magazine is therefore trilingual. The regional associations are located on the west- and east coast of the Bothnia Gulf (the northern part of the Baltic Sea), and along the southern tip of Sweden. The competition is organised regionally. The championship, where only measured boats can participate, changes in turns. The Marieholm MS/AC 20 has its own active organisation.

Two IFs were on display at the Stockholm Boat Show in March 2017. The Sjöhistoriska Museum displayed the partly restored S1, being the boat with which Tord Sundén made its maiden sailing trip, and the Swedish Federation was there with a boat in racing trim (see MarieTeam 2016 and elsewhere in this magazine). There was a promotional flyer, and the Swedish version of the ‘Practical Boat Owner’ magazine issued a special glossy booklet on the IF. Videos and activity announcements were made available on a dedicated page of the new website. The main event was the Swedish championship with a festive dinner, where some members of the Dutch Marieholm Association were invited as special guests.

Norway and Denmark The Norwegian IF club exists since 1971, and has 112 members; this makes it the biggest keel boat association in Norway. According to chairman Morten Mero, there are about 350 IFs sailing in Norway. The association is very active is invited by king Harald to participate in the royal regattas. The Norwegian’s championship took place in August in the Oslo’s bay, and it was all about the IF’s anniversary, with 26 participating boats.

In Denmark the IF is sailed as one design class as from 1973-1974; there are 300 boats and the association has 115 members. The yearly championship was sailed in August in Præstø (Southeast Seeland), and there have been no specific activities for the IF’s anniversary.

The German IF Association has 146 members, of which 10% are supporters, family members and people who have sold their boats. In 2017 39 boats took part in the national competition. The competition is divided in three regions: Berlin, Baltic and Lake Constance. The points scored in the various regional races count towards the competition. According to a rough estimate by chairman Martin Meyer there are around 200 Marieholm’s in Germany, the majority of which are in the lakes nearby Berlin.

In Lemkenhafen, on the Baltic Sea, the anniversary was celebrated with a regatta together with the skerry cruiser class of the ‘Rank und Slank’ organisation. There were 19 IF’s present, including one from Sweden and one from Denmark. There were 6 more boats registered which didn’t show up due to bad weather conditions. The magazine Yacht wrote an article on the IF and the regatta. Back in 1967, this magazine published a sailing test that was very important for the success of the IF.

United Kingdom, Australia and United States of America

The British fleet is concentrated in St. Mawes’s Yacht Club in Cornwall. In May 2017 six boats competed in the Championship, along with two other sailing classes.

In the list of the Australian Folkboat Association are 144 boats: 6 M26s, 1 IF and the other boats are Nordic Folk boats or similar Stella’s.

In the USA the boat is well known and there are some IF’s and M26’s to be found for sale, but there is no association as such.

Afterthoughts

Of the 3,500 boats built, we can roughly estimate some 3,000 to 3,100 still are sailing. After 50 years that seems unbelievable. The figures show a promising picture and say something about the quality of the IF.

Most of the boats still sailing are concentrated in Sweden, as there they have the best knowledge about the boats, and innovations arise because of the intense racing activities. The Dutch Marieholm Association is a serious party, with 240 members and a growing competition segment. It is impressive how important an association and knowledge exchange are. In countries where 10 to 20 years ago there were boats but no association, the boat has now disappeared from the scene.

This spring an IF with Czech Republic flag was spotted in the port of Terschelling. Given the current prices it is no surprise that the boats ‘disappear’ towards the Eastern European countries. Should we, like Sweden in the late 80s, worry about the loss of our ‘heritage’? Is the time ripe for an International Folkboat organisation? And how do we keep the IF in the spotlight?

The activities for the IF’s 50th anniversary were therefore a good promotion, even though not all targets were met; for example, the event did not attract much attention from water sports magazines as we hoped. Fortunately we have other ways to achieve our goals: raise enthusiasm in young people, gain visibility in the racing circuit, create beautiful photo and video material for social media and, finally, our own magazine, the MarieTeam; share it with everyone for reading. Yet, the best promotion is you, the proud owner of a Marieholm. Take good care of your boat, sail her and enjoy.

Michiel Veldkamp

Board member of the Dutch Marieholm Association

Translation Franscesca Musina

  • IF-Boat history

UK IF-Boat Association

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About IF-Boats

Following the worldwide success of the original wooden Nordic Folkboat, it was natural that the Swedish Yard of Marieholm Bruk should commission designer Tord Sunden to redesign the boat for fibreglass construction. The International Folkboat appeared in 1969 and became known in Europe as the Marieholm IF Boat. The designer very wisely retained the time tested sea kindly lines and used the new method of construction to achieve a more graceful profile, more interior space and a larger sail area for better light airs performance.

Her sailing credentials are superb. As one would expect from a Scandinavian designed and built boat she is a very capable heavy weather boat and has an exceptionally good performance in light airs. With her long keel, fine lines and 7/8 rig she is well balanced and can sail hands off!

Hull measurements are 26 feet overall length, 6 feet 7 inches beam, draught 3 feet 9 inches and a displacement of 2.1 tons.

During the period 1969 to 1977 over 3,000 Marieholm International Folkboats were built and there are active racing fleets in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. 

The UK fleet is concentrated in St Mawes and the Solent and we always endeavour to enlarge the fleet as and when boats become available. 

IF-Boats are very popular in Europe and around the world, so here are some links to other useful websites.

www.ifboat.com

  A Marieholm International Folkboat Page (solopublications.com)  

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International Folkboat – a Classic Pocket-cruiser: Used Boat Review

The genetic offspring of the nordic folkboat, this fiberglass 26-footer has plenty of fans..

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As keepers of the narrative truths known to non-believers as mere “sea stories,” we sailors are drawn not only to the boats we desire but the stories behind them. Some might go so far as to suggest the story has as much value as the boat itself, and there certainly have been some pretty crummy boats that sold well because of the fiction their builders spun. How many times have you gone to look at a used boat and the owner has whispered seductively, “This boat has a great story behind it?”

Well, if you are drawn to stories (true stories, not marketing pap), like the idea of a tacit connection with blond-haired Scandinavians with names like Ingrid, Sven, and Tord, and can see yourself proudly tooling around in a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, then the International Folkboat is definitely a boat worth looking into. True, there are many boats that might appeal to the profile described above (some Carl Alberg sloops come to mind), but few have a story that compares to that of the International Folkboat.

Design Details

The drama behind the International Folkboat began even before the boat existed. In 1939, as Hitler pushed the world into World War II, the neutral Swedes optimistically held a yacht design contest. The winning boat was to be put into production as a new popular class of keelboats. It is from that contest that the svelte little micro-cruiser that came to be known as the Nordic Folkboat emerged. Although we’ve not the space to cover some of the juicier details of the Nordic Folkboat’s design origins, even the thumbnail view is compelling. For those interested, Deiter Loibner provides a detailed account of the controversy surrounding the design in his excellent book “The Folkboat Story: From Cult to Classic.”

The designer of the IF Folkboat was Todd Sunden, who until he died in 1999 at the age of 90, was still fighting to establish his claim as the primary designer of the storied Nordic Folkboat, the International Folkboat’s genetic predecessor. No one questions that Sunden drew the lines of the Nordic Folkboat, but whether he deserved credit or payment for later royalties remains under dispute.

According to Loibner, this much is known: In 1941, a committee of judges formed by the Royal Swedish Sailing Association chose the best designs of its international contest for a new keelboat design. Trouble was that the judges couldn’t settle on one design. Instead, the favorite drawings were handed over to Sunden, who was tapped to come up with a new design that incorporated the “best of the best” from the contest.

The result was the Nordic Folkboat, a clinker-built sloop with a reverse transom, a spoon bow, and a low cabin that gave it simple but pretty lines. Its long keel, slack bilges, barn-door rudder, and hefty ballast ratio (just over 50 percent) equipped it for North Sea adventures. The cockpit however—because it was not self-bailing—raised the risk quotient for any offshore ambitions. The 7/8-fractional rig gave it a conservative sail-area displacement ratio of 16.28. The length-to-beam ratio was just under 3.5. The four-foot draft appealed to the shoalwater challenged. Headroom was ideal for those wonderful creatures of Scandinavian folklore: elves.

Simple, relatively inexpensive to build, and reassuring in heavy weather, the boat was a hit in Scandinavia, even among the non-elves. In the post-war era, carried by the same back-to-basics current that swept the Volkswagen Beetle into the 1960s mainstream, the Folkboat dream gradually spread throughout Europe and beyond. In the U.S., a Danish Folkboat-disciple by the name of Sven Svendsen brought the gospel to the U.S. West Coast, more precisely to the San Francisco Bay area. In a rare moment of maritime synchronicity, a boat, a place, and a collective spirit converged just as the 1970s set in.

Out of these contentious beginnings and in the midst of these “interesting times,” the International Folkboat emerged in 1967. Conscious of the folkboat’s growing appeal, Swedish builder Marieholms Bruk contracted Sunden to draw a fiberglass version, and, the boat eventually eclipsed its original in popularity, with 3,400 hulls built when production ended in 1984. From a design perspective, the International Folkboat shares many of the same features as the Nordic Folkboat (see table page 13).

Gone is the clinker hull—a feature that persisted in even the fiberglass Nordic Folkboat that Svendsen pioneered. The reverse transom has been cut short, and a shallow self-draining cockpit replaces the Nordic Folkboat’s deep well. Marieholms also made room for an inboard or an outboard in a well. However, since the well was designed to fit the small British Seagull outboard, it isn’t much help with today’s four-strokes. Most owners close the hole permanently with fiberglass and put an outboard bracket on the stern, but an electric Torqueedo (see page 13) will fit just fine.

Overall, the International Folkboat is a good-looking, wholesome, stiff design that is at its best when the wind kicks up. It is no wonder the Bay Area sailors have

International Folkboat – a Classic Pocket-cruiser: Used Boat Review

acquired a taste for them.

The International Folkboat is well set for single-handed sailing. Although the original boat had mast-mounted halyards, nearly all the boats today have the halyards routed back to winches near the companionway. The mainsheet halyard runs on an aluminum track traversing the back of the cockpit, and the jib sheets lead through a rail-mounted genoa track to winches on the coaming. Early models came with bottom-grinding primary winches, but many are equipped with Lewmar single-speed winches. The mainsheet traveller is a notorious shin-whacker, but it makes for easy sail-handling from the helm.

The cockpit seats are 14.5 inches wide and 65 inches long, too short and narrow for non-elves to nap. Seat backs are 11 inches, too low to offer much back support, but about what you can expect from a boat of this size. Two 16-inch-by-19-inch cockpit lockers aft are not self-draining, so if you want to follow in the footsteps of some Folkboat adventurers, dogging these down will spare you a tedious bailing routine. Four 1.5-inch cockpit drains (exceptional for a boat this size) and a 12-inch bridgedeck reduces the risk of cockpit flooding.

The cockpit is tight for more than three adults, particularly if the wind is up. However, with one other person on board, it is a nice feeling to be wedged back behind the traveler. The cockpit is narrow enough that you can tuck behind the traveller and brace your feet on the leeward coaming or cockpit seat. With the mainsheet close at your side, you can confidently press to windward when others are still at the dock waiting for the whitecaps to ease. Some spray will cross the bow, but most International Folkboats come equipped with a cockpit dodger, a worthwhile investment.

Going forward, the sidedecks are wide, and the foredeck offers plenty of working space. Two aluminum handrails are on either side of the cabin-top. The standard boat did not come with a hawse pipe or bow anchor roller, but many owners have added these features. Although the area at the base of the mast has some nonskid patches, the rest of the cabintop is dangerously smooth. Since the boat’s thin gelcoat wears through with age, many older boats have painted decks, and these boats usually have improved nonskid on the deck and cabintop. The nonskid pattern on the sidedeck and foredeck is adequate, although it is probably worn to the point of being useless on some older boats.

The hardware is well-fastened with through-bolts and backing plates. This was the first 26-footer we’ve seen in a while with 10-inch cleats. Some of the hardware is marinium, an alloy common in the 1970s that is a poor substitute for silicone bronze, but these components are beefy and seem to be holding up on older boats. The deck-stepped, anodized aluminum Proctor masts with swept-back spreaders (7.5 degrees) are holding up as well as can be expected. The mast has sheaves at the base that allow the internal halyards to be routed to the cockpit. Owners or prospective buyers should check spreader tips for corrosion and remove any tape that does nothing but invite further corrosion.

Featuring just 55 inches of headroom, the interior of the International Folkboat is hardly palatial, but it can serve quite well as a weekender, if properly equipped. The range of amenities can vary greatly, and many of the options described here are likely to be absent on a boat that has been stripped down for racing. For sleeping, you have the choice of two long settees that stretch aft from the main cabin and tuck under the cockpit (with 35 inches of clearance), and a 72-inch-long V-berth forward with an 18-inch-by-24-inch hatch overhead. You could bridge the settees to make a double-berth athwartship, as some owners have.

For cooking, some IFs have a convertible galley comprising an alcohol two-burner Origo stove that folds down from a locker over the port settee near the companionway. A filler board “counter” drops in between the stove and the small sink near the mast, effectively forming a fore-and-aft galley. Just forward of the sink is a small hanging locker. Across from the locker is a ridiculously cramped head that is too narrow to be of much use. Many boats have turned this token nod to civility into another locker and put a port-a-potty under the V-berth. Above the settees on either side stretch a row of lockers, fine for storing small lightweight items. For mealtime, a removable table fits into a socket in the main cabin. The table also fits into a similar socket in the cockpit.

A 25-gallon water tank was optional, and some early models had the spigot in the cockpit, which according to an early review in Boating magazine was put there so that the cockpit scuppers could be used as sink drains. Many boats have creative tents fashioned over the cockpit area, which greatly expands the amount of “living space,” such as it is.

Many owners use their boats for weekend or long-solo voyages. Adam Correa sailed his International Folkboat in last year’s Single-handed Transpac Race, and Blondie Hasler’s famous Jester (a modified Nordic Folkboat) crisscrossed the Atlantic many times. Given the limitations of the boat’s smallish interior, those attracted to the Folkboat concept but in need of a little more “cruisability” might want to look into the Contessa 26 or the Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer—both derivatives of the Nordic Folkboat. The Contessa has made many notable offshore voyages, including circumnavigations by Tania Aebi and Brian Caldwell, both of whom circled the globe while still in their teens.

Performance

One of the most highly praised virtues of the International Folkboat—as well as all its various relatives—is its performance under sail when the wind pipes up. While waves will come aboard offshore, in a stiff bay chop, the high surrounding bulwarks do a good job of keeping the cockpit surprisingly dry. There is no shortage of photos of International Folkboats (and Nordic Folkboats) shrugging off San Francisco’s famous winds with a single-reefed main. In such conditions, the jibsheet is often cross-sheeted and the two-man crew stays fairly high and dry on the windward rail.

The boat we sailed, Grateful Folk , is owned by Stephen McCormack, who uses it mostly for family daysails and local racing. McCormack, with a generous PHRF rating of 316, sailed the boat to first in the pocket-cruising division of the local racing fleet in 2009. Although the interior was a work in progress, the boat, overall, was in good shape given its age. The decks had been painted, the deck hardware was still in good condition, and apart from some minor pitting on the boom, the rig showed nothing worthy of serious concern. The loose-footed, partially battened mainsail and 120-percent genoa were basic cruising sails, typical of a family daysailer. Winds during our test sail on Sarasota Bay in Sarasota, Fla., were about 8-10 knots.

Grateful Folk was due for a bottom job, so we didn’t expect much from it in such light winds, but were pleasantly surprised. The boat did not, of course, accelerate in puffs like a modern fin-keeler, but it reacted positively to prolonged gusts. We were able to hold a steady 4.8 knots to windward, 5.5 knots reaching, and 5.2 knots deep-reaching off the wind. Unlike the Nordic Folkboat, the International Folkboat Class does allow for a spinnaker, although our boat was not equipped with one. In around-the-buoy races, McCormack is content to pole out the jib on downwind legs.

Tacking angles were precisely 45 degrees, although we would surely be able to aim higher in more wind. Three features struck us about the boat under sail. First was the ease with which the boat could be tacked and jibed singlehanded. Frank Costella, whose former boat, Espresso , is featured in John Vigor’s book “Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere,” has many fond memories of sailing the boat by himself in a heavy breeze.

“I’d tuck right back there behind the traveller, with the jib cross-sheeted and watch the spray fly,” he said. “We put the windows under only a couple of times, but the cockpit rarely got very wet.”

Selling for about $10,000 on the used-boat market (if you can find them), the International Folkboat has four essential attributes that make for a good value. First, it has a long, mostly glowing history that ensures a loyal, almost cult-like following. Second, there are enough iterations of the class, particularly on the West Coast, that you can race and rally with a community of like-minded owners. Third, it is a very well-built boat for its size, with many features—like a quick-draining cockpit and monocoque hull—that inspire confidence off soundings. Finally, the boat is no longer being produced, so should you decide to resell your boat, you won’t be competing with a new boat market.

  • Interior Notes International Folkboat
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International Folkboat – a Classic Pocket-cruiser: Used Boat Review

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Following the worldwide success of the original wooden Nordic Folkboat, it was natural that the Swedish Yard of Marieholm Bruk should commission designer Tord Sunden to redesign the boat for fibreglass construction. The International Folkboat appeared in 1969 and became known in Europe as the Marieholm IF Boat. The designer very wisely retained the time tested sea kindly lines and used the new method of construction to achieve a more graceful profile, more interior space and a larger sail area for better light airs performance.

Her sailing credentials are superb. As one would expect from a Scandinavian designed and built boat she is a very capable heavy weather boat and has an exceptionally good performance in light airs. With her long keel, fine lines and 7/8 rig she is well balanced and can sail hands off!

Hull measurements are 26 feet overall length, 6 feet 7 inches beam, draught 3 feet 9 inches and a displacement of 2.1 tons.

During the period 1969 to 1977 over 3,000 Marieholm International Folkboats were built and there are active racing fleets in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The UK fleet is concentrated at St Mawes and we are endeavouring to enlarge the fleet as and when boats become available.

Click here to visit the IF Boat Association website

For more details please contact the Class Captain,  Alan Macklin

Last updated 17:41 on 1 September 2024

1 The Quay
St Mawes
Truro
Cornwall
TR2 5DG

Phone : 01326 270686
Email :

Marieholm 26

The marieholm 26 is a 26.25ft fractional sloop designed by tord sundén and built in fiberglass by marieholm boats (swe) between 1976 and 1987., 260 units have been built..

The Marieholm 26 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is very stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

Marieholm 26 sailboat under sail

Marieholm 26 for sale elsewhere on the web:

marieholm if sailboat

Main features

Model Marieholm 26
Length 26.25 ft
Beam 7.22 ft
Draft 4.07 ft
Country Sweden (Europe)
Estimated price $ 0 ??

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marieholm if sailboat

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Sail area / displ. 14.97
Ballast / displ. 41.64 %
Displ. / length 299.82
Comfort ratio 27.81
Capsize 1.64
Hull type Monohull long keel with transom hung rudder
Construction Fiberglass
Waterline length 20.17 ft
Maximum draft 4.07 ft
Displacement 5511 lbs
Ballast 2295 lbs
Hull speed 6.02 knots

marieholm if sailboat

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Rigging Fractional Sloop
Sail area (100%) 291 sq.ft
Air draft 0 ft ??
Sail area fore 120.96 sq.ft
Sail area main 169.65 sq.ft
I 28.80 ft
J 8.40 ft
P 29 ft
E 11.70 ft
Nb engines 1
Total power 7.50 HP
Fuel capacity 0 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity 0 gals
Headroom 0 ft
Nb of cabins 0
Nb of berths 0
Nb heads 0

Builder data

Builder Marieholm Boats (SWE)
Designer Tord Sundén
First built 1976
Last built 1987
Number built 260

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marieholm if sailboat

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  • Sailboat Guide

Marieholm 26

Marieholm 26 is a 26 ′ 2 ″ / 8 m monohull sailboat designed by Tord Sundén and built by Marieholm Boats between 1976 and 1987.

Drawing of Marieholm 26

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

  • SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
  • D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
  • LOA: Length overall in feet
  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Thanks to user ‘boatworks.thoreau’ for supplying corrected information on this yacht.

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    Beam:  7.2'    Draft:  4.01'
    Beam:  7'    Draft:  4'
    Beam:  7.5'    Draft:  4'
    Beam:  7.22'    Draft:  2.95'
    Beam:  7'3'    Draft:  2'10'

marieholm if sailboat

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COMMENTS

  1. IF-boat

    IF-boats racing at Lemkenhafen 2015. Following the success of the Nordic Folkboat, in the 1960s the original designer Tord Sundén approached Swedish yachtmaker Marieholm bruk with the idea of redesigning the boat for production in fibreglass. In his design Sunden maintained the lines of the original boat, but used the modern production technique to increase cabin size and sail area. [1]

  2. INTERNATIONAL FOLKBOAT

    Marieholm Boats (SWE) Associations: Folkboat (International) Related Sailboats: ... 1997), states that a boat with a BN of less than 1.3 will be slow in light winds. A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden ...

  3. A Marieholm International Folkboat Page

    The International Folkboat Page has many links and technical tips on the IF Boat. LOA 25' 10" LWL 19' 10" Beam 7' 5" Draft 4' 0" Displacement 4740 lbs. Ballast 2750 Ballast/Displacement 58% Cabin headroom 4' 8" Freeboard forward 3' 1" Freeboard aft 2' 2" Sail Area 280 sq. ft. Genoa IFRA 161 sq. ft. MORC rating 16.2.

  4. The IF-boat in The Netherlands.

    The Marieholm Association celebrated the 50 th anniversary of the Marieholm IF by displaying an IF at the HISWA Amsterdam boat show in March 2017. The boat attracted a lot of interest, and many visitors wanted to step on board for a peek. In September, during the event 'Hiswa on the Water', an IF was on display on a prominent position in ...

  5. IF-Boat history

    The International Folkboat appeared in 1969 and became known in Europe as the Marieholm IF Boat. The designer very wisely retained the time tested sea kindly lines and used the new method of construction to achieve a more graceful profile, more interior space and a larger sail area for better light airs performance. Her sailing credentials are ...

  6. a Classic Pocket-cruiser: Used Boat Review

    The boat we sailed, Grateful Folk, is owned by Stephen McCormack, who uses it mostly for family daysails and local racing. McCormack, with a generous PHRF rating of 316, sailed the boat to first in the pocket-cruising division of the local racing fleet in 2009. Although the interior was a work in progress, the boat, overall, was in good shape ...

  7. International Folkboats (IF-Boats) : St Mawes Sailing Club

    Hull measurements are 26 feet overall length, 6 feet 7 inches beam, draught 3 feet 9 inches and a displacement of 2.1 tons. During the period 1969 to 1977 over 3,000 Marieholm International Folkboats were built and there are active racing fleets in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The UK fleet is concentrated at St Mawes and we are endeavouring to ...

  8. Sailing Marieholm IF

    Sailing is my hobby. Since 2019 I own a Marieholm IF from 1974. On my channel you will mainly find videos made from this boat. I hope you will like the videos. If so, please subscribe.

  9. International folkboat

    The International folkboat is a 25.83ft fractional sloop designed by Tord Sundén and built in fiberglass by Marieholm Boats (SWE) since 1967. 3000 units have been built. The International folkboat is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is very stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized.

  10. A Marieholm 26 Page

    The boat is, however, perfectly adapted for single-handed sailing, everything being within easy reach of the helmsman. Marieholm is a new family cruiser based on a proven design, of which more than 3,500 examples have been built. She is designed by Tord Sundén as a development of the IF boat - the world's largest racing class for yachts.

  11. One of the best sailing days

    One of the best sailing days with my 26ft sailboat Marieholm IF - Folkboat - IF Bät.Nice winds but at the end some damage.Hope you will like this recording. ...

  12. A Marieholm Page

    The Marieholm 26 is an offshore cruiser, a spacious family boat with all the comforts necessary for pleasant holiday sailing. She is, without a doubt a perfect sailing boat, (adapted to our special coast), a coast consisting of beautiful small inlets and wide unsheltered fjords, where capricious winds blow.

  13. International Folkboat

    International Folkboat is a 25′ 9″ / 7.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Tord Sundén and built by Marieholm Boats starting in 1967. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. ... The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. Formula. D/L = (D ...

  14. Marieholm Boats (SWE)

    Marieholm Boats (SWE) Mariehom Bruk (Mill), was originally a manufacturer of agricultural machinery. After a change of ownership in the late 1940's, it became a builder of small fiberglass power boats. The first sailboat was the INTERNATIONAL FOLKBOAT in 1967. As a business, it ceased operations in 1986.

  15. Marieholm Boats

    Marieholm 33. Mariehom Bruk (Mill), was originally a manufacturer of agricultural machinery. After a change of ownership in the late 1940's, it became a builder of small fiberglass power boats. The first sailboat was the INTERNATIONAL FOLKBOAT in 1967. As a business, it ceased operations in 1986.

  16. Marieholm International Folkboat & M26 Owners Group

    About this group. To share, discuss and exchange information on Marieholm International Folkboat, M26 and similiar variations. Private. Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. Visible. Anyone can find this group. History. Group created on December 20, 2009. See more.

  17. MARIEHOLM 26

    A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1991, states that a BN of 1 is generally accepted as the dividing line between so-called slow and fast multihulls.

  18. DIY

    DIY - A change in the interior of my 26ft sailboat - Marieholm IF from 1974DIY - Eine Veränderung im Innenraum meines 26ft Segelboots - Marieholm IFDIY - En ...

  19. Marieholm 26

    The Marieholm 26 is a 26.25ft fractional sloop designed by Tord Sundén and built in fiberglass by Marieholm Boats (SWE) between 1976 and 1987. 260 units have been built. The Marieholm 26 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is very stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best ...

  20. Marieholm IF Boat (int. engl.)

    About this group. IF Boot, IF Boat, Marieholm, Marieholms bruk, Sweden, Folkboat, share ideas, ask for help, get to know tricks and tipps, Private. Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. Visible. Anyone can find this group. History. Group created on January 24, 2011.

  21. Marieholm 26

    Marieholm 26 is a 26′ 2″ / 8 m monohull sailboat designed by Tord Sundén and built by Marieholm Boats between 1976 and 1987. ... The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. Formula. D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³ D: Displacement of the boat in pounds. LWL ...

  22. Marieholm sailboats for sale by owner.

    Marieholm preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Marieholm used sailboats for sale by owner.