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Columbia 76
Designer: Alan Payne  ·  Builder: Whittaker Corp./Hughes Boat Works/Aura Yachts  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Columbia 76

Built during Columbia's heyday in the 1970s, this sailboat represents the era when the manufacturer was establishing itself as a prominent force in American fiberglass boat production. Columbia Yachts gained recognition for creating well-built, affordable cruising sailboats that offered good value for recreational sailors seeking reliable coastal cruising platforms. While detailed specifications remain elusive, the Columbia 76 likely embodies the design philosophy that made the brand popular among cruising enthusiasts. Columbia boats from this period were typically characterized by solid fiberglass construction, practical layouts, and moderate performance characteristics that prioritized comfort and seaworthiness over racing prowess. This model would have been designed primarily for coastal cruising and weekend sailing, appealing to sailors who wanted a dependable boat for exploring protected waters and occasional overnight trips. The Columbia brand built a reputation for producing boats that were forgiving to sail and easy to handle, making them attractive to both newer sailors and experienced cruisers seeking a relaxed sailing experience. For prospective buyers researching vintage Columbia sailboats, finding examples with complete documentation and maintenance records would be particularly valuable given the boat's age and the limited availability of original specifications.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.08 ft / 7.64 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.67 ft / 6.30 m
Beam 9.17 ft / 2.80 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Displacement 4,500.00 lb / 2,041 kg
Ballast 1,500.00 lb / 680 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 314.00 ft² / 29.17 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alan Payne
Builder Whittaker Corp./Hughes Boat Works/Aura Yachts
First Built 1976
Last Built 1986
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
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
18.48
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
16.52
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
2.22
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. 6.09
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
2.55
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. 677.26
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 33.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.7
P (Mainsail Luff) 28.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.8
SA Fore 176.55
SA Main 137.2
How It Compares

vs. Cape Dory 25D, Catalina 25, Hunter 25 Box Top, Olson 25, San Juan 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 76 ★
25.1 ft
Cape Dory 25D
25.0 ft
Catalina 25
25.0 ft
Hunter 25 Box Top
25.1 ft
Olson 25
25.0 ft
San Juan 26
25.1 ft
LWL
Columbia 76 ★
20.7 ft
Cape Dory 25D
19.0 ft
Catalina 25
21.5 ft
Hunter 25 Box Top
21.6 ft
Olson 25
21.2 ft
San Juan 26
21.7 ft
Beam
Columbia 76 ★
9.2 ft
Cape Dory 25D
8.0 ft
Catalina 25
8.8 ft
Hunter 25 Box Top
9.0 ft
Olson 25
9.0 ft
San Juan 26
8.0 ft
Displacement
Columbia 76 ★
4 lbs
Cape Dory 25D
5 lbs
Catalina 25
4 lbs
Hunter 25 Box Top
5 lbs
Olson 25
2 lbs
San Juan 26
4 lbs
Ballast
Columbia 76 ★
1 lbs
Cape Dory 25D
2 lbs
Catalina 25
1 lbs
Hunter 25 Box Top
2 lbs
Olson 25
1 lbs
San Juan 26
2 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia 76 ★
314 sq ft
Cape Dory 25D
304 sq ft
Catalina 25
254 sq ft
Hunter 25 Box Top
286 sq ft
Olson 25
294 sq ft
San Juan 26
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia 76 ★
Cape Dory 25D
234 s/nm
Catalina 25
223 s/nm
Hunter 25 Box Top
222 s/nm
Olson 25
162 s/nm
San Juan 26
240 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia 76 ★
18.5
Cape Dory 25D
16.4
Catalina 25
16.1
Hunter 25 Box Top
15.2
Olson 25
23.2
San Juan 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Columbia 76 ★
Cape Dory 25D
40.0 %
Catalina 25
37.5 %
Hunter 25 Box Top
39.4 %
Olson 25
44.8 %
San Juan 26
45.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 76 ★
16.5
Cape Dory 25D
23.8
Catalina 25
15.2
Hunter 25 Box Top
18.9
Olson 25
10.8
San Juan 26
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia 76 ★
2.22
Cape Dory 25D
1.86
Catalina 25
2.21
Hunter 25 Box Top
2.08
Olson 25
2.53
San Juan 26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Columbia 76 ★
Cape Dory 25D
333
Catalina 25
179
Hunter 25 Box Top
230
Olson 25
135
San Juan 26
193
Hull Speed
Columbia 76 ★
6.1 kts
Cape Dory 25D
5.8 kts
Catalina 25
6.2 kts
Hunter 25 Box Top
6.2 kts
Olson 25
6.2 kts
San Juan 26
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia 76 ★
2.6
Cape Dory 25D
1.5
Catalina 25
Hunter 25 Box Top
Olson 25
4.5
San Juan 26
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