Nordic Folkboat

Danish Folkboat #D-783, KATTEGAT 

The Folkboat design needs no introduction, but for those not familiar, they have been described as the most popular, successful, and influential sailing yacht of all time.   Today there are active racing fleets everywhere from San Francisco Bay to mainland Europe, throughout Scandinavia, and the Solent - But they are equally well suited to those who want to sail to far-flung places with the minimum boat, as Ann Gash did when she took hers around the world solo from 1975-77.  Others have found them to be ideal for coastal cruising or as family dayboats.  Today, there are an estimated 4,000+ Nordic Folkboats in the world – which is the ultimate testament. 

SPECIFICATIONS:

            -Length: 25.2’

            -Waterline: 19.68’

            -Beam: 7.22’

            -Draft: 3.92’

            -Sail Area: 280 sq. ft.

            -Displacement: 4255 lbs. (2200 lbs. outside ballast)

For those who are “in the know” the consensus is that the best Folkboats were built in Denmark, as was KATTEGAT in 1979 - at Hovmark Shipyard on the Limfjord river in Thisted.  KATTEGAT was one of the last Folkboats to be built in wood, and by one of the premier builders. 

Sail #D-783, Originally called VALODIA she won the 1984 Danish Championship in a fleet of 95 boats and then went on to win Kieler Week in both 1984 and 1985.  Subsequent owners re-named her ANNELI, and then TJALDUR. 

With her gleaming varnished topsides, KATTEGAT received new decks at Brandt-Møller (another well-known Folkboat builder) in 2001, and then most recently in 2021/2022 she was taken the famous Walsteds Baadeværft Shipyard in Thurø (near Svendborg, Denmark) where, under the guidance of Folkboat wizard Lars Braestrup and lead boatbuilder Henning Bøgh she was fully reconditioned.   This major undertaking included:

-All exterior woodwork stripped & refinished
-Topsides given 20 coats 2-part varnish (Interlux Perfection Plus)
-New raw teak rub rails and toe rails
-New bright-finished mahogany hand rails
-Original mast, boom, and whisker pole refinished, each with its own protective bag.

-Decks and housetop re-painted

-Original stainless steel hardware restored and polished 

-Stainless steel bow chock widened to accommodate mooring pennant

-New stainless steel bow and stern chocks for docklines
-Custom Walsteds mahogany/holly boat hook to match tiller extension
-All new standing and running rigging
-All new Harken blocks, cam cleats, and other deck hardware 
-Custom Walsteds-built varnished mahogany cabin/cockpit table

-New varnished mahognay ensign staff with flush stainless steel socket

-New custom Harbeck galvanized trailer.  

In spring of 2022 KATTEGAT was carefully packed up and shipped from Denmark to Stonington, CT, where she was sailed for the past three summers and remains very probably the nicest Folkboat in the world today.  In April 2025 KATTEGAT was brought to Artisan Boatworks in Rockport, ME where she is stored indoors and available for inspection by appointment.     

INVENTORY: 

-Garmin chart plotter

-US ensign with varnished pole

-Protective bags for mast and boom.

-Main sail cover
-Class legal Doyle mainsail & jib (2015) sail F DEN #783

-Deck & cockpit cover/awning

-Ultrasuede cabin cushions 
-Custom mahogany/holly boat hook
-6HP Mercury outboard (2019) with 3 gal external tank
-Custom mahogany cabin/cockpit table
-FX-11 aluminum Fortress anchor with 200’ rope/chain rode
-Manual bilge pump
-Electric bilge pump w/ battery and solar panel
-Butane galley stove
-Dock lines and fleece-covered fenders