Design and Construction
Comar built the 850 in fiberglass, with a solid hull and deck. Displacement is 3,000 kg, including 1,100 kg of lead ballast. The underwater profile combines a fin keel with a spade rudder.
The boat measures 8.5 meters overall, with a 6.80-meter waterline and a 2.90-meter beam. That broad beam and reduced transom give it a compact, purposeful profile, rather than a soaring stern platform.
The stated ballast-displacement ratio of 36.66 and capsize screen of 2.03 suggest a moderately stiff coastal cruiser, not an offshore expedition boat. The deckhouse distinguishes the Comet 850 from many contemporaries. It extends over the forward cabin and has large windows, trading some topside simplicity for more light and visibility below.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Comet 850 is a masthead sloop carrying a 14.50 m² mainsail, a 28.0 m² genoa, and a 62.0 m² spinnaker. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 19.3—enough to keep the boat moving in modest breeze without demanding a large crew.
Draft is quoted as 1.30/1.60 m, indicating a likely choice of shoal or standard keel within the class. Auxiliary power comes from a single Farymann diesel rated at 6/18 CV. That modest output suits the boat’s displacement and sail-first role as a light coastal cruiser rather than a motoring platform.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
The Comet 850 is rated for six berths, a generous number for an 8.5-meter boat and a direct result of Finot’s rational use of interior volume. The deckhouse extends over the forward cabin, where its large windows create a brighter, more open sleeping area than the typical dark V-berth.
A 110-liter water tank supports short coastal passages. The 29-gallon capacity recorded in the specifications is consistent with that modest cruising brief.
Ownership Notes
The Comet 850 was built from 1977 to 1985, with more than 400 hulls completed. Spares and familiarity with the class are reasonable for a boat of this size.
The Farymann engine’s low horsepower is a known constraint for sailors planning long motoring legs, though it fits the boat’s original purpose as a sail-first coastal cruiser.
The Verdict
The Comet 850 is a disciplined example of late-1970s Finot rationalism: a small, beamy sloop that fits six berths and plenty of cabin light into an honestly specified coastal package. It rewards sailors who value simple, predictable cruising over speed-sheet heroics.
Pros
- Six berths within an 8.5-meter hull
- Deckhouse extending over the forward cabin, with large windows
- Rational, volume-driven Groupe Finot design
- More than 400 hulls completed
- Moderate ballast ratio and manageable 19.3 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for light-air coastal sailing
Cons
- Farymann 6/18 CV diesel provides minimal auxiliary power
- Reduced transom and 8.5-meter length limit storage and offshore range
- No provision for a generator or large tanks for extended independence
