POGO 8.50 improvements in 2006

It is 6 years now since we launched the Pogo 8.50, which was elected « Boat of the Year » in 2001 by Voile Magazine and distinguished itself during many races like La Transquadra (first place in solo in 2001, second and third places in 2003, fifth, sixth and seventh in 2005, and there were 17 Pogo 8.50 on the departure line) or during the Ostar in 2005 with Lionel Reigner (who won the Jester Trophy and “Petit Bateau” cup which conccerns the first sailing ship under 35’)

This boat was designed for the racing sailors who want a mixed-programme sailing boat. The Shipyard and the architect created a sailing boat able to take a family in cruise and to win deep sea races in solo or with a little crew.

Off-shore conception: safety and performance

This sailing boat with a seafaring conception takes one’s inspiration from the 60’ open.

The Pogo is built with a sturdy and very tidy construction. It is thought out for the sea safety.

As we are always feeling better in our boat than in a drifting life-raft, it is approved unsinkable, moreover the stern and the prow are equipped with crash-boxes and the watertight companionway was tested by VERITAS.

On the outside, safety and functionality were tested with some skipper in the open-sea the long ergonomic toe-clips allow secure moving along the wide gangways, the stanchions are strengthened with a leg. And, to preserve the serenity of the crew, there are some anchoring points to rig the harness.

Thanks to these characteristics, Pogo 8.50 is the only sailing boat with such size approved in category A.

Performance and undeniable marine qualities
Thanks to its double rudder head and its wide fairing, Pogo 8.50 offers a great stability on the sea.

Thought out for the pleasure of sailing, the tiller is gentle and precise to guide this powerful hull on the ocean.

Everything was made to steer the Pogo 8.50 alone and to make the helmsman’s work easier.

Simple and functional

When the sailor goes into the Pogo, he finds a clear wide and functional area. The space is very big for a 8.50 m long boat: it is 3.60m large for 1.87m high under headroom.

The large saloon table can receive 6 guests. The woodworks are in ash and in solid or laminated beech and the large windows reinforces the brightness.

On the sea we appreciate the big chart table and the wide technical area where everything is visible and accessible.

Improvements in 2006
For the hundredth copy of the Pogo 8.50, the yard has decided to make new moulds and to optimize the deck design.

Like on the Pogo 2 and Pogo 40, we have moved the toe-clips and made larger the non-slip coating areas in order to optimize and secure the moving.

The new plan of the front working area integrates the new carbon boom, the endless line furler, the stermhead fitting and the chain locker.

The new companionway is gentler and allows a quick access to the engine.

Lastly, like all of the line, we have chosen the best quality for the fitting (HARKEN and WICHARD).

The shipyard wants to improve the boat while keeping its first spirit which made its success and maintains the one design class boat.

The Pogo 8.50 is still built on order and according to the options selected by customers.

We offer a large range of colours.

Thanks to the options and electronics list, the Pogo can really be adapted to its sailing programme.

Options available in the catalogue:

- A companionway spray hood and its lookout cushion in foam rubber.
- A retractable carbon boom like on Pogo 40’ which is easy to handle from the cockpit.
- The large saloon table could become a square drope-leaf table to have an easier access to the double berth.
- To optimize the storage some storage racks could be put up.
- The chart table furniture with electronics and built in computer could be personalized.

The maturity

During the Pogo 40’ research, the shipyard Structures chose the vaccum bag moulding system for the hull and the balsa sandwich deck. Now the Pogo is also built with this technology.

This method gives a better quality to the production of laminated materials: the production is more homogenous and the structure is more rigid.

The vaccum bag moulding system also gives better working conditions to the operators and the solvent emanations in the atmosphere are very reduced.
Thanks to new premises, a better organization and productivity we have reduced the delivery time.

In order to check everything before the delivery, we test the Pogo with its owner on the sea.