Design and Construction
Briand gave the Espace 800 a fiberglass hull with a solid lay-up and a pivoting centerboard keel, allowing it to cruise both open coasts and shallow inland channels. Standard keel draught is 1.85 meters. With the board raised, draft falls to roughly 3.22 to 3.52 feet, depending on load, letting the boat enter marinas that a fixed-keel boat of the same length couldn’t reach.
The Espace 800 displaces 3,500 kg and has a 34% ballast ratio. By displacement-length measurements, it falls into the “ultra heavy cruiser” category: only 3% of comparable sailboats are heavier, while its ballast share exceeds that of just 24% of similar designs. Its length-beam ratio of 2.67 makes it roomier than 90% of its peers and helps explain the generous footprint below.
Rig and Handling
The Espace 800 has a fractional sloop rig with 430 square feet of sail area. Its sail-area-displacement ratio is 17.62—modest and consistent with the boat’s heavy-cruiser character. A wetted surface of nearly 247 square feet and an immersion rate of about 703 pounds per inch point to a voluminous hull that sits deep.
Jeanneau’s period description said the hull form and deck fittings preserved genuine sailboat qualities, promising speed and a fine touch in seas. The capsize screening value is 1.99, and theoretical hull speed is 6.1 knots.
The running-rigging specifications are practical: the mainsheet is 65.6 feet long, the jib and genoa sheets are 26.2 feet, and the spinnaker sheet is 57.7 feet. All are 3/8 inch in diameter.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Jeanneau presented the Espace 800 as offering a completely new approach to piloting under power, with comfort measures not previously seen on a sailboat hull. The cockpit was designed for maximum comfort, and the boat is rated for five to seven people.
Fresh-water capacity is 95 liters (25 US gallons), while fuel capacity is 110 liters—useful figures for extended weekends aboard. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 25.3 puts the Espace 800 ahead of 82% of similar designs for ride quality, a meaningful figure for a cruising couple or small family.
Known Issues
The only documented maintenance caveat is structural to the centerboard. Keels with moving parts require regular inspection and upkeep according to the owner’s manual. Owners and prospective buyers should regard the pivot gear as a scheduled-service item rather than a fit-and-forget system.
Verdict
The Espace 800 is a distinctive early-1980s motor-sailer that trades outright sailing performance for versatility and volume. Briand combined a beamy, heavy hull with a lifting keel that opens up both coastal and inland cruising. Jeanneau then built the package around a cockpit intended to make motoring more comfortable.
For sailors looking for one compact boat to explore slack-water rivers and offshore bays, the Espace 800 remains a thoughtful answer.
Pros
- Pivoting centerboard suits coastal and inland-water sailing, with draft reduced to roughly 3.22 to 3.52 feet depending on load
- Roomier than 90% of comparable designs, with a Motion Comfort Ratio higher than 82% of similar boats
- Generous fuel and water capacity for its size: 110 liters of fuel and 95 liters of fresh water
Cons
- Ultra-heavy displacement and a modest SA/D of 17.62 limit its light-air sailing spark
- Centerboard pivot requires recurring inspection and maintenance
