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Commander 26 Pearson
Designer: Carl Alberg  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1964
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About the Commander 26 Pearson

Carl Alberg's timeless design philosophy shines through in this classic 26-footer, built by Pearson Yachts during the mid-1960s sailing boom. With its traditional long keel configuration and masthead sloop rig, the Commander 26 exemplifies the seaworthy characteristics that made Alberg one of America's most respected yacht designers. This fiberglass cruiser strikes an appealing balance between manageable size and genuine cruising capability. The substantial displacement of 5,400 pounds, coupled with 2,500 pounds of ballast, creates a stable platform that tracks beautifully and forgives novice mistakes. The long keel design provides excellent directional stability and reduces leeway, though at some cost to maneuverability in tight quarters. Built during a brief four-year production run ending in 1967, only 310 hulls were completed, making the Commander 26 a relatively rare find today. The comfortable motion and solid construction quality typical of Pearson's craftsmanship make this boat well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. While not built for racing, the moderate sail plan and docile handling characteristics create an ideal platform for sailors developing their skills or those seeking relaxed day sailing and short-range cruising in protected to semi-protected waters.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 3.70 ft / 1.13 m
Displacement 5,400.00 lb / 2,449 kg
Ballast 2,500.00 lb / 1,134 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 311.00 ft² / 28.89 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Carl Alberg
Builder Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1964
Last Built 1967
Number Built 310
Associations Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
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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
16.21
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
46.3
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
380.74
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
25.2
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
1.83
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. 5.76 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
1.18
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. 528.82 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. 16.18
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.90 ft / 3.63 m
SA Fore 149.63 ft² / 13.90 m²
SA Main 160.65 ft² / 14.92 m²
SA Total (100%) 310.28 ft² / 28.83 m²
Est. Forestay Length 32.90 ft / 10.03 m
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 26, Centaur 26 Westerly, Snapdragon 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Commander 26 Pearson ★
26.0 ft
Bristol 26
26.0 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
26.0 ft
Snapdragon 26
26.0 ft
LWL
Commander 26 Pearson ★
18.5 ft
Bristol 26
21.8 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
21.3 ft
Snapdragon 26
21.7 ft
Beam
Commander 26 Pearson ★
8.0 ft
Bristol 26
8.0 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
8.4 ft
Snapdragon 26
8.4 ft
Displacement
Commander 26 Pearson ★
5 lbs
Bristol 26
5 lbs
Centaur 26 Westerly
6 lbs
Snapdragon 26
4 lbs
Ballast
Commander 26 Pearson ★
2 lbs
Bristol 26
2 lbs
Centaur 26 Westerly
2 lbs
Snapdragon 26
2 lbs
Sail Area
Commander 26 Pearson ★
311 sq ft
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
324 sq ft
Snapdragon 26
285 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
Bristol 26
219 s/nm
Centaur 26 Westerly
Snapdragon 26
249 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
16.2
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
14.6
Snapdragon 26
16.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
46.3 %
Bristol 26
42.1 %
Centaur 26 Westerly
Snapdragon 26
44.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
25.2
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
26.7
Snapdragon 26
17.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
1.83
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
1.79
Snapdragon 26
2.04
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
380
Bristol 26
244
Centaur 26 Westerly
Snapdragon 26
197
Hull Speed
Commander 26 Pearson ★
5.8 kts
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
6.2 kts
Snapdragon 26
6.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Commander 26 Pearson ★
1.2
Bristol 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
1.5
Snapdragon 26
2.7
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