The 850 boats

[rinus]

Hi all,

I myself have a cleo 850 Family. At least I believe. But for me there are a lot of uncertainties around the 850 types.
They started as a Cleopatra 26.Some times called Meditterian (?) And these boats had a soft chine ( is this right ?) Later on they evolved in a 850. And got a hard chine. But it was the same hull( I believe) Then there are several 850 excecutions. With one window in the front of the fore cabin. With two windows and even with two round windows There were also boats with sliding doors to the afterdeck. And we also got the International and Super Weekender.
And as I am writing the history of the cleo's I like to be certain about their date of birth. If you have one of these excecutions and know ( for sure) the date of birth could you send me a picture of your boat and the date of birth There are a lot of 850 boats made (to my knowledge over 800). But for the sake of history please help me a bit, if you have one of the excecutions. So I can be more or less sure that I put these types in the right category.
Please help me!
Thanks,

Rinus

[rinus]

Hello 850 owners,

The response is a bit meager so far.
I hope that the 850 owners will react, then I can proceed with the history.
You know it took me so long, and I hope to finish it.
And you can help me !

Regards,

Rinus

[louishowe]

I too have an 850 family, with twin volvo 130 petrols and a hard chine planing hull. I dont have a window in the front of the fore cabin. I also dont have the sliding doors, but do have the folding doors into the cabin, which is lovely! Unfortuently I dont have a clue what date she was made, but I am keeping my eyes peeled for a date somewhere!

Come on 850 owners, we need information!

[Ron Mc]

Hi Rinus
As you know I have an 850, (Family model), hard chine hull, no front windows in the fore cabin,originally had a volvo 130 on a 270 leg, had folding doors (I made some sliding doors, more convenient) believed manufacture date approx 1979 but no verification, now has a 'ford' 1.8 diesel, I have owned it about 7 years now.

Hope this helps! best Regards Ron Mc

[rinus]

Hello 850 owners,

The types of the 850 style were ,as I just learnt ,was: Cleo 26, Cleo 28 and then 850. But still no clue about the dates. It annoyes me a bit. I can not find dates of birth.... Nor the excecutions, folding doors, sliding doors one front window, two front windows etc. Help, help, help!

Rinus

[louishowe]

Do you know what the difference is with the 28? I have been removing headlining on mine today, but found nothing relating to a build date

[rinus]

Hello Louis,

To my opinion you have a real 850, as you have a hard chine. The 28 had, as far as I know a soft chine. The designer of the 850, John Bennett, intended to make the boat to be more stable when you stepped aboard. So a hard chine helps, and he also intended that the boat became more easy to a plane. The boat must be born after beginning the 80's or end 70's. But it is pity, I am not sure what year the 850 started.
Other difference? As far as I learnt they were not nautical but mere cosmetical. That is the window lay out in the front, folding doors, and not sliding doors. I do have an old brochure of the 28, and there you could see that it had folding doors.

Rinus

[louishowe]

Success! I have found some writing in my 850 today! Behind the wooden paneling in the aft cockpit was 850/135 !

Obviously 850 is the model, so I wonder if 135 is the build number?

[morandmhair]

Sounds like it , mine had 850 / 89 written on them.

[louishowe]

aaah, I bet it is the build number then! do you know the date yours was built?