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Columbia 26
Designer: Columbia Yachts  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1963
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About the Columbia 26

Launched in 1963, this classic Columbia design represents an important era in American fiberglass sailboat production, with 799 hulls built during its six-year production run. The Columbia 26 established itself as a capable coastal cruiser and club racer, offering sailors a well-balanced combination of performance and comfort in a manageable size. With her fin keel configuration and masthead sloop rig carrying 301 square feet of sail area, this boat delivers respectable sailing performance while maintaining predictable handling characteristics. The moderate displacement of 5,200 pounds, supported by 2,300 pounds of ballast, provides good stability for coastal adventures and weekend cruising. Her 19-foot waterline length generates a theoretical hull speed of 5.84 knots, making her competitive in one-design racing or PHRF events. The Columbia 26's comfort ratio of 23.75 indicates a relatively stiff, performance-oriented design that favors sailing ability over interior volume. Her capsize screening value of 1.85 suggests good stability for protected waters and moderate coastal conditions. Built during Columbia Yachts' heyday, these boats are known for solid fiberglass construction and straightforward systems that appeal to both novice sailors and experienced skippers seeking a classic sailing experience without excessive complexity.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.33 ft / 8.03 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 5,200.00 lb / 2,359 kg
Ballast 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 301.00 ft² / 27.96 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Columbia Yachts
Builder Columbia Yachts (USA)
First Built 1963
Last Built 1969
Number Built 799
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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
 228
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
 16.09
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
 44.23
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
 338.45
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
 23.75
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
 1.85
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. 5.84 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
 1.42
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. 543.11 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. 16.07
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.20 ft / 7.99 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Main 150.65 ft² / 14.00 m²
SA Total (100%) 300.65 ft² / 27.93 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.62 ft / 9.64 m
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