Insuring Varne: cover and premium
sailing boats and sailing yachts · several countries
Varne: british sailing yacht marque from Essex. NAMMERT insures a Varne regardless of year built or where you bought it, liability, hull, legal expenses and personal accident cover from one house, taken out online in five minutes.
At a glance
Origin
several countries
Class
sailing boats and sailing yachts
Typical sizes
7,7 to 8,4 m
Premium from
from €39 a year for liability
Worth knowing
Varne; cover, cost and conditions
Varne is a British sailing yacht marque named after the Varne Bank in the Strait of Dover. The boats were built by Varne Marine in Essex, a company started by the entrepreneur Walter Standing. It was incorporated in 1973, began on Canvey Island, later moved to Maldon on the River Blackwater and was wound up in 1986. The boat most people link with the name is the Varne 27, drawn by Duncan Stuart: a glassfibre yacht with a deep-vee hull and long overhangs, a fin keel, a skeg-hung rudder and a masthead sloop rig. It later reappeared under a metric name as the Varne 850. Around 1980 Weston Yachts bought the moulds and built the Weston 8500 from them, with a fin keel, a lifting centreboard or bilge keels. Varne also built a Folkboat alongside the 27, and since 2005 owners have had their own association.
Our model records list two sailing yachts. The Varne 27 measures 8.36 metres and appears with build years from 1971 to 1987; the Folkboat 26 comes in at 7.7 metres and is listed from 1976 to 1983. Both lines closed decades ago, and neither reaches into the most recent build years. With a span of 16 years the Varne 27 is the longer-lived entry, while the Folkboat 26 ran for a shorter spell in the middle of that period. At 7.7 and 8.36 metres the two sit close together, in the size of a classic coastal cruiser.
A glassfibre yacht from the seventies can still be a sound boat, but it pays to look carefully. Check the hull below the waterline for osmosis blisters, and have the keel bolts and the keel-to-hull joint inspected, especially after a hard grounding. The skeg-hung rudder protects the blade well, yet its bearings and the skeg itself deserve a look for play and cracks. Chainplates, deck fittings and the age of the standing rigging matter on any boat of this vintage. On a Weston 8500 or a Varne with a different keel, find out which configuration you are buying, since it changes draft and handling. The owners' association is a useful source for spares, drawings and advice.
Questions and answers
Frequent questions
Where does the Varne name come from?
From the Varne Bank, a sandbank in the Strait of Dover.
The yachts were built by Varne Marine in Essex,
first on Canvey Island and later in Maldon on the River Blackwater.
What is the Weston 8500?
Around 1980 Weston Yachts bought the moulds from Varne Marine and built the Weston 8500 from them,
with a fin keel, a lifting centreboard or bilge keels.
The Varne 27 appears in our model records at 8.36 metres with build years from 1971 to 1987.
The cover that fits
sailing yacht insurance
Tariffs, cover and FAQ for sailing yacht insurance in detail.
Third-party liability
The foundation for a boat from Varne: damage to third parties, worldwide,
from €39 a year for liability.
Hull cover
Partial or full hull cover for a Varne, at replacement value with an agreed fixed value.
For the whole class of boat
For Varne: What matters for sailing boats and sailing yachts is the same across every brand;
engine output, how a claim is settled, cruising range and theft protection.
The class page lists every point and every brand in this class, Varne included.
Insuring sailing boats and sailing yachts, every brand and every condition
Other builders in this class
Nautical information What counts before you cast off, papers, equipment, waters
Licence
A powerboat licence (inland or coastal) is required from 15 hp (11.03 kW).
Registration
Registration from 3 hp; for trips abroad carry the boat certificate or flag document.
Waters
Inland, coastal and abroad; plan fairways, bridge clearances, draught and tides.
Equipment
Lifesaving gear, fire extinguisher, anchor, signalling equipment and correct navigation lights.
Cruising range
The agreed cruising range is stated in the policy and can be extended at any time.
Weather
Check wind force in Beaufort and wind direction before casting off, and allow for gusts.
General guidance, not a complete account;
what governs are the rules of the waters you are on and the manual of your Varne.
Current wind force and direction for your waters are shown on the Home.
Series by Varne, build years and cover
Varne 27 is a sailing yacht from Varne, built from 1971 to 1987.
Folkboat 26 is a sailing yacht from Varne, built from 1976 to 1983.
For the Varne 27 and Folkboat 26 by Varne series there is no list price left.
That is why we work with an agreed value: you state the figure, we agree it,
and in a total loss exactly that amount is paid, with no deduction for wear.
For the Varne 27, Folkboat 26 by Varne series:
On sailing yachts the rig and the underwater hull are the expensive parts:
a dismasting quickly costs a quarter of the boat,
and osmosis counts as wear and is covered by no hull policy.
What does a used Varne cost?
We hold today’s price ranges by year for 1 models by Varne.
The table shows what boats in average condition are worth,
from the oldest to the youngest year on record.
Choose your exact model, year and condition in the calculator.
| Model | Years built | Range today |
|---|---|---|
| Folkboat 26 | 1979 to 1980 | €6,600 to €8,700 |
Estimate from our boat records, October 2026.
Not a survey.
Varne insured in five minutes.
Boat type, year built, length and value of your Varne are all we need.
Work out the premium online or call us: +49 3375 29 12 77.
