Design and Construction
The RM 1260’s defining feature is its production plywood hull sheathed in epoxy, paired with a GRP deck—a construction method an American reviewer called unusual for a series-built boat. A French review describes the multi-chine plywood hull as covered with epoxy and Kevlar, with the deck built in GRP.
The hull has three chines on each side and only 12 inches of total overhang. The result is a purposeful, volume-driven shape rather than a traditional rounded form. An L/B of 2.75 confirms that this is a very beamy hull, while a D/L of 124 places it firmly among moderate-displacement cruisers rather than at the ultralight end. Displacement is 17,200 lb, including 6,183 lb of iron ballast.
Keel, Rudder, and Hull Options
RM Yachts offered two substantially different appendage configurations. The twin-keel version draws 6 feet 5 inches and has a single rudder, allowing the boat to sit on the mud. The alternative is a single keel drawing 7 feet 5 inches, paired with twin rudders for improved performance.
French material gives the same choices as a chine keel with a draft of 1.85 metres and a conventional fin keel drawing 2.20 metres. It also notes that double rudder wheels were added during the redesign.
The RM 1260 has twin wheels and an open transom, though a tiller was also available as an option. Its cockpit was completely redesigned from that of the RM 1200, helping distinguish this generation from its predecessor.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig immediately draws the eye aft. The deck-stepped mast sits unusually far aft, and the spreaders appear low. As a result, the upper mast panel is considerably longer than the lower panel.
Despite the low spreaders, the arrangement uses outboard chainplates and long spreaders. The cap shrouds meet the mast at an 11-degree angle—plenty to keep the mast straight. Running backstays support the staysail loads, making the cutter staysail a working sail rather than a decorative addition.
The rig is higher than the RM 1200’s, and a fixed bowsprit carries a gennaker or code zero. With an SA/D of 23.06 and 98 square metres of downwind sail area, the boat is set up for pace on all points of sail.
Accommodations
Below, the RM 1260 largely retains the RM 1200’s layout. The principal change forward is the owner’s stateroom, which gained an island bed in place of the previous triangular berth. The cabin centers on a centerline double berth.
Farther aft, the arrangement places a double quarterberth to port, with a large galley forward of it. To starboard are the head, a quarterberth cabin accessed through the head, and a roomy chart table with settees ahead. One tester also noted what appears to be a pilot berth to port.
The stern technical room can be converted into an additional cabin with a double berth, giving owners useful flexibility when carrying guests or crew.
Machinery and Ownership
The RM 1260 has a 40-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel, 34 gallons of diesel capacity, and 106 gallons of water capacity. Its plywood-epoxy hull with Kevlar coverage and GRP deck follows a construction approach known from this builder. The fixed bowsprit and higher rig further distinguish the overhauled model from the RM 1200 it replaced.
The open transom and twin wheels suit short-handed docking, while the convertible stern room is a practical, owner-friendly feature.
The Verdict
The RM 1260 is a distinctive cruiser for buyers who value interior volume, a modern Marc Lombard hull, and the rare use of plywood-epoxy construction in a production boat. It trades conventional looks for considerable beam, a far-aft mast, and a genuinely usable cutter rig with running backstays. Its flexible layout and pragmatic choice of keel configurations add practical appeal.
Pros
- Unusual production plywood-epoxy hull with a GRP deck and Kevlar coverage
- Beamy, multi-chine hull with little overhang and substantial interior volume
- Choice of twin keels for drying out or a fin keel for performance
- Cutter rig with running backstays and a fixed bowsprit for a code zero or gennaker
- Stern technical room converts into an additional double cabin
Cons
- Far-aft, deck-stepped mast and low spreaders create a very long upper mast panel
- Twin-keel draft is still 6 feet 5 inches; the fin keel increases draft to 7 feet 5 inches
