Design and Construction
Comar built the 850 in fiberglass with solid hull and deck, a lead ballast of 1,100 kg set against a 3,000 kg displacement, and a fin keel with spade rudder. The beam of 2.90 meters and the reduced transom give her a compact, purposeful profile rather than a soaring stern platform anchor. The 36.66 ballast-displacement ratio and 2.03 capsize screen suggest a moderately stiff coastal cruiser, not an offshore expeditioner. What distinguishes the deck from many peers of the era is the deckhouse: it runs all the way over the forward cabin and is highlighted by large windows, a layout choice that trades a little topside simplicity for light and visibility below anchor.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop the 850 carries a 14.50 m² mainsail, a 28.0 m² genoa, and a 62.0 m² spinnaker, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.3 — enough to keep her moving in modest breeze without demanding a large crew. The draft is quoted as 1.30/1.60 m, indicating a likely shoal and standard-keel option within the class. A single Farymann diesel of 6/18 CV provides auxiliary power, a small output consistent with her displacement and role as a light coastal cruiser rather than a motoring platform.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is rated for six berths, a generous count for 8.5 meters and a direct consequence of Finot’s rational interior volume. The deckhouse over the forward cabin, lit by large windows, extends the sense of space and gives the forward sleeping area a brighter, more open character than the typical dark V-berth. A 110-liter water tank supports short coastal stretches, and the 29-gallon capacity noted in the specification record aligns with that modest cruising intent.
Ownership Notes
The 850’s production run of 1977–1985 and hull count above 400 mean spares and class familiarity are reasonable for a boat of this size. The Farymann engine’s low horsepower band is a known constraint for those who plan long motoring legs, but suits her design as a sail-first coastal vessel.
The Verdict
The Comet 850 is a disciplined example of late-1970s Finot rationalism: a small, beamy sloop that maximizes berth count and cabin light within an honestly specified coastal package. She rewards the sailor who wants simple, predictable cruising over speed-sheet heroics.
Pros
- Six berths in 8.5 meters through a deckhouse-over-forecabin layout with large windows
- Rational, volume-driven design from Groupe Finot with more than 400 built
- Moderate ballast ratio and manageable 19.3 SA/D for light-air coastal sailing
Cons
- Farymann 6/18 CV diesel is minimal auxiliary power
- Reduced transom and 8.5-meter length limit storage and offshore range
- No generator or large-tank provision for extended independence
