Comet 801 Buyer's Guide
The Comet 801 is a 25-foot masthead-sloop cruiser designed by Groupe Finot and built by Comar Yachts in Italy from 1972. She is a solid-fiberglass boat with a beamy hull — 6.65 meters on a 7.80-meter overall length — that makes her feel larger below than her length suggests. For a shopper, the key variables are which keel a given hull carries and whether the Farymann diesel is present.
Layouts on the Used Market
No layout tiers are published for the brokerage stock, but the defining trait is the 2.84 length-to-beam ratio that yields more cabin volume than most similar boats. Expect a compact quarter-ton interior planned around width rather than length, with the fin-keel or alternative-keel configuration being the main structural difference between individual boats.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The one equipment item of real consequence is the inboard Farymann diesel at 6 hp, which some hulls carry and others may not. A buyer should confirm the engine is the Farymann unit and that it runs, since repowering a boat this size is rarely economical. Beyond that, rigging to the spec — 10 mm diameters throughout, 7.6 m jib and genoa sheets, 19.1 m mainsheet, 16.8 m spinnaker sheets — is the practical upgrade path rather than added electronics or comfort gear.
What to Inspect
The principal check is the keel type and its draft. At a viewing, measure the fin-keel hull's draft to confirm it sits in the 1.45 to 1.55 meter band under typical load, and verify the alternative unknown keel version against its 1.53 to 1.63 meter range dependent on the load; check the keel stamping and freeboard. Inspect the solid fiberglass hull for osmotic blistering or impact damage, and confirm the Farymann diesel is the original inboard unit where fitted. Verify the masthead rig and that sheet lengths match the 10 mm, 7.6 m / 19.1 m / 16.8 m runs.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
- Confirm keel type and measured draft against the load-dependent ranges
- Check the solid glass hull for blistering or repairs
- Verify the Farymann 6 hp diesel if equipped
- Match sheet inventory to the 10 mm spec