The perfect 26 footer?

[RichardTaylor]

For that money (just) you might get a Westerly Griffon. Most are Bilge Keel but there are a few Fin Keeled ones which tend to attract slightly less money.

3 years ago we started with a budget of £10 - £12k for a 26ft max (berth) boat and ended up feeling the Griffon was worth all the extra as we felt there was no other boat which met our requirements at any budget, so better to blow the budget now and not change boat later.

 

[Scarboroughsloop]

Westerley Tiger?

 

[Sans Bateau]

Griffon is over 8 meters I think.

 

[Dyflin]

I wondered about the pegasus alright, anyone sailed on one?

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
Griffon is over 8 meters I think.

[/ QUOTE ]Depends whether you include the rudder or not, the nominal 26' length doesn't.

 

[Dyflin]

How about a Dufour 1800?

 

[Habebty]

Pegasus 800
I used to have one of these - brilliant boats, fast and comfortable. Mine was a lifting keeler which was ideal for the East Coast. Look for one with a diesel and with the bomb proof masthead rig. They also came with fractional rig, bilge keel, fin, or wing keel. Built at Lowestoft.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I looked at some of the photos on 'Boats for Sale' and it looks fairly spacious inside, is that the case?

Nice looking boat, looks right.

 

[fdmarsden]

I have a fixed keel Superseal 26. Meets all your requirements.

Of the 100+ Superseal 26 made about ten had fiixed keels 4' 6" or 5' 3" draft.

 

[Topcat47]

I believe it's big enuff for David......

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Long keelers are (generally) a pig for marina use <

Foul calumny. Not once you learn to steer them.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Contessa 26, do you seriously think my better half would live aboard for a week on a contessa?<

Ah, you should have said you were after a floating bungalow.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Agreed - I also had a Salder 25 - great little boats!

Seem to be folloing in your footsteps1

Chris

 

[Sans Bateau]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah, you should have said you were after a floating bungalow.

[/ QUOTE ]

Go easy we'll have the multihull lot pitching in!

 

[Roach1948]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned a Vertue. After all they are perfection when it comes to small ocean yacht design and you can even get them in plastic.

 

[Dyflin]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, I'll ignore the hecklers.

 

[Dyflin]

Can you get a Vertue for under 15K? I had understood that they are also wonderful singlehanded boats, but not great for coastal cruising with more than two?

 

[st599]

Saw these things last time I was in the states: http://www.colgate26.com/design.htm

Think they were about $37500 brand new and fitted out. Also seen them at the UKSA in Cowes - anyone know of an importer?

Looked nice, plenty of features, had space to stand behind transom/boom too.

 

[RichardTaylor]

[ QUOTE ]
Griffon is over 8 meters I think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Griffon 26ft or 7.9m

 

[Gunfleet]

Vertue's a lorramoney for the boat. I'm with Topcat on the Nic, but then I would be. I think Marina manoeuvreability is the place to compromise, and as Ken suggests, you learn. The thing abt the Nic is the full standing headroom, which is jolly nice. If you want a caravan you'll be spoiled for choice.