FRISCO FLYER
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 25 ft |
| LWL | 19.5 ft |
| Beam | 7.17 ft |
| Draft | 3.9 ft |
| Displacement | 5,500 lb |
| Ballast | 2,240.2 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 5.9 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 31.7 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 9 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 28.5 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 11.8 ft |
| FLforestay | 9 ft |
| Mainsail | 324.3 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 142.7 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 242.5 sq ft |
About the FRISCO FLYER
The FRISCO FLYER was first produced as the PACIFIC CLIPPER and later as the OFFSHORE 26. The name "Frisco Flyer" originated with the Richard Reed, yacht brokerage in San Francisco. Their brochure decribed it as a "modified Folkboat." The FOLKBOAT was originally designed by Tord Sunden, and modifications to the design were made by unnamed Cheoy Lee staff. There are three types, all available with various options (diesel vs. gas, stainless vs. plow steel rigging, canvas vs. teak decks, etc.): a. PACIFIC CLIPPER: all teak, small trunk cabin, original Folkboat-like fractional rig with double spreaders and returning shrouds. Sometimes referred to as a FRISCO FLYER Mark I. b. FRISCO FLYER Mark II, larger teak trunk cabin, masthead rig. c. FRISCO FLYER Mark III, larger teak doghouse cabin, some standing headroom, masthead rig. The first FRISCO FLYER was built in 1957 and made two single-handed Atlantic crossings that year.
The Frisco Flyer is a 25.0 ft masthead sloop designed by Tord Sunden/Cheoy Lee and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(HK) in 1957. With a displacement of 5500.0 lb and a full/long keel, this vessel represents a classic, heavy-displacement cruising design from the mid-20th century.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for coastal cruisers and weekend sailors who prioritize stability and traditional handling over high-speed performance. Its moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio makes it a comfortable, steady cruiser rather than a racing machine.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 1.63 and a comfort ratio of 29.13, the Frisco Flyer exhibits strong offshore stability and motion comfort, making it capable for protected coastal and short offshore passages.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other Cheoy Lee models from the late 1950s and early 1960s, such as the Cheoy Lee 25 or similar Tord Sunden designs, which share the same full keel configuration and heavy displacement characteristics.
Direct variants of the FRISCO FLYER
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the FRISCO FLYER yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 25ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the FRISCO FLYERyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a FRISCO FLYER? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your FRISCO FLYER?
We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.
Already know your engine? Search all engines → to find its exact parts.
Used sails that fit the FRISCO FLYER
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…