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Balboa 26
Designer: Lyle C. Hess  ·  Builder: Arthur Marine/Coastal Recreation Inc.(Usa)  ·  First built: 1969
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About the Balboa 26

Designed by renowned naval architect Lyle C. Hess and built from 1969 to 1976, this compact cruiser represents classic West Coast design philosophy with its practical swing keel configuration. The Balboa 26's most distinctive feature is its retractable keel system, allowing access to shallow waters and simplified trailering while maintaining respectable sailing performance with 1,200 pounds of ballast. Hess created a boat ideally suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures, with the swing keel enabling exploration of protected bays, rivers, and shallow anchorages that would challenge fixed-keel boats of similar size. The masthead sloop rig with 306 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for coastal conditions, while the moderate displacement of 3,600 pounds strikes a balance between stability and performance. Built with solid fiberglass hulls and plywood-cored decks by Arthur Marine and later Coastal Recreation Inc., these boats offer honest construction typical of the era. The comfortable 15.77 comfort ratio suggests good motion at sea, while the 2.08 capsize screening value indicates reasonable stability for coastal sailing. With a hull speed of 6.12 knots, the Balboa 26 prioritizes cruising comfort over racing performance, making it an excellent choice for sailors seeking a manageable, shoal-draft cruiser.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$10,000 – $10,000
typical asking price
Median $10,000  ·  9 listings used (3 outliers excluded)
All listings
$10,000 – $10,000 9
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.58 ft / 7.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.83 ft / 6.35 m
Beam 7.96 ft / 2.43 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Min Draft 1.83 ft / 0.56 m
Displacement 3,600.00 lb / 1,633 kg
Ballast 1,200.00 lb / 544 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 306.00 ft² / 28.43 m²
Headroom 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG solid laminate hull/ply cored deck
Designer Lyle C. Hess
Builder Arthur Marine/Coastal Recreation Inc.(USA)
First Built 1969
Last Built 1976
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 219
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 20.9
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 33.33
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 177.82
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 15.77
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.08
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.12 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.38
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 592.45 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 20.21
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.80 ft / 3.29 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 24.80 ft / 7.56 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.80 ft / 3.29 m
SA Fore 162.00 ft² / 15.05 m²
SA Main 133.92 ft² / 12.44 m²
SA Total (100%) 295.92 ft² / 27.49 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.88 ft / 9.72 m
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