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Folie Douce Jeanneau
Designer: Finot / Harle  ·  Builder: Jeanneau (Fra)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Folie Douce Jeanneau

Built from 1970 to 1975, this classic French cruiser represents Jeanneau's commitment to affordable family sailing during the golden age of fiberglass yacht production. With 820 hulls launched over its five-year production run, the Folie Douce became a popular choice for European sailors seeking a capable coastal cruiser. Designed by the renowned Finot/Harle team, this 28-footer showcases traditional cruising proportions with a moderate beam of 10.17 feet and substantial displacement of 6,614 pounds. The fin keel with rudder-on-skeg configuration provides reliable directional stability while maintaining reasonable performance under sail. Her masthead sloop rig with 474 square feet of sail area delivers respectable sailing ability without being overpowering for small crews. The boat's comfort ratio of 19.34 indicates a motion that favors stability over speed, making her well-suited for extended coastal passages and family cruising. Her capsize screening value of 2.17 suggests she's best kept in protected waters rather than venturing far offshore. With a hull speed of 6.31 knots, the Folie Douce won't win races but offers the dependable, seaworthy character that made 1970s French boats popular among cruising sailors seeking solid construction at reasonable prices.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.54 ft / 8.70 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.15 ft / 6.75 m
Beam 10.17 ft / 3.10 m
Max Draft 5.41 ft / 1.65 m
Displacement 6,614.00 lb / 3,000 kg
Ballast 2,425.00 lb / 1,100 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 474.00 ft² / 44.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Finot / Harle
Builder Jeanneau (FRA)
First Built 1970
Last Built 1975
Number Built 820
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 21.59
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 36.66
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 271.7
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 19.34
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.17
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.31 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 804.90 pounds/inch
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