Comet 850 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Comet 850 means looking at a Finot-designed Comar sloop produced from 1977 to 1985, with over 400 hulls completed — a healthy population that keeps a used-boat search realistic for a coastal cruiser. The boat’s rational brief, conceived to broaden the market with a boat for everyone, still defines what you get secondhand: compact, beamy, and berth-dense rather than lavish anchor.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 850 carries the same core plan: a deckhouse running all the way over the forward cabin, lit by large windows, and a six-berth interior within 8.5 meters and a 2.90-meter beam anchor. The reduced transom noted in period coverage means aft storage and cockpit footprint are modest; buyers should view the deckhouse as the headline feature, not a weakness. With over 400 built, layout variation between examples is minimal, so condition and upgrades matter more than hunting a rare configuration.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The factory spec lists a 110-liter water tank and a Farymann diesel rated 6/18 CV, the latter being the most consequential buyer item: its low output suits sail-driven days but limits motor-sailing range. A masthead rig with 14.50 m² main, 28.0 m² genoa, and 62.0 m² spinnaker defines the sail plan you will find; canvas and sail-handling refreshment, not rig redesign, is the usual owner investment. No generator or watermaker appears in the source data, so any such gear is an owner addition rather than a standard fitting.
What to Inspect
The 850’s solid fiberglass hull and deck and lead ballast of 1,100 kg against 3,000 kg displacement form the structural baseline for survey. Verify the Farymann 6/18 CV diesel’s service state, as its minimal power band punishes neglect more than a larger engine would anchor. Check the deckhouse windows and seals, since the large glazing is integral to the forward cabin and a leak path if aged.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The over-400-hull production is the only population guide. For a used-850 purchase, confirm: six-berth deckhouse layout intact; Farymann diesel operable at 6/18 CV; 110-liter tank and 1.30/1.60 m draft option verified; deckhouse window seals sound; original 14.50 m² main and 28.0 m² genoa or sensible replacements present.