This compact cruiser pairs a 26-foot-11-inch hull—28 feet 4.5 inches overall—with 2,646 pounds of lead ballast and a displacement of 7,050 pounds. That comparatively heavy ballast places the Edel 820 among the steadier small cruisers of its era rather than the featherweight racers.
Design and Construction
The Edel 820 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with teak brightwork and trim along the deck edges and throughout the interior. Its profile combines a raked stem with a reverse transom, with an internally mounted spade rudder beneath the stern.
Two keel configurations were offered. The fixed fin draws 4 feet 5 inches. The alternative stub keel and centreboard arrangement draws 5 feet 11 inches with the board down, but only 3 feet 3 inches with it raised—a degree of versatility that few 27-footers of the period could match for gunkholing.
The aft-cabin and aft-cockpit versions are near-identical sisters. The aft-cabin model increases the berth count to six, compared with five in the aft-cockpit layout. With a beam of 9 feet 10 inches and 6 feet of headroom, the boat feels larger below than its 22-foot-11-inch waterline length might suggest.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries 458 square feet of working sail between the mainsail and jib. The Bermuda-cut sail plan includes a 39-foot foretriangle height, a 10.8-foot foretriangle base, and a 34-foot mainsail luff. Those proportions favor a genoa-driven balance under the masthead configuration. The mast rises 44 feet above the waterline.
A 13-horsepower Volvo Penta MD7A diesel with 110S saildrive provides measured, if modest, auxiliary power. Some boats have since been fitted with small outboards in place of the original inboard diesel. The spade rudder may be controlled by either wheel or tiller, depending on the individual boat.
The design has a documented hull speed of 6.36 knots.
Accommodations
Below, the aft-cabin version sleeps six adults, with a V-berth forward, two settee berths in the main saloon, and two enclosed aft berths. The aft-cockpit model is listed with five berths.
The galley has a two-burner gimbaled propane stove and an ice box. Water comes from a manually pumped system. A navigation chart table and a head with an 18-gallon tank complete the interior appointments. Teak trim gives the cabin a warmer appearance than a bare fiberglass shell alone would provide.
Refits and Ownership
A number of Edel 820s have been retrofitted with small outboard motors in place of the original inboard diesel. Anyone evaluating a particular hull will therefore want to note its propulsion configuration and history.
Otherwise, the systems remain straightforward and typical of the period. Manual water, an ice box, and a gimbaled stove will suit an owner comfortable with older cruising hardware rather than modern pressurized systems.
The Verdict
The Edel 820 is a compact, ballast-steady cruiser. Its short production run and choice of fixed or centreboard keels make it a distinctive find among late-20th-century small French designs. It best suits a buyer who values a genuine six-berth interior in the aft-cabin version and shoal-draft flexibility over speed or modern conveniences.
Pros
- Heavy 2,646-pound lead ballast within a 7,050-pound displacement lends composure
- Centreboard version draws just 3 feet 3 inches with the board raised
- True six-adult sleeping capacity in the aft-cabin layout
- Teak brightwork and trim throughout
Cons
- Only 60 were built, making the model scarce on any market
- Manual water and an ice-box galley suit period-style cruising
- Some examples have been repowered with outboards in place of the diesel
