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Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt
Designer: Van De Stadt  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt

Designed by the renowned Dutch naval architect E.G. van de Stadt, this 26-foot sailboat represents classic European design philosophy from an era when simplicity and seaworthiness took precedence over accommodation luxuries. Van de Stadt's reputation for creating well-balanced, ocean-capable vessels carries through in the Dolphin 26, which exhibits the clean lines and practical approach characteristic of his work. The boat appears well-suited for coastal cruising and club racing, offering a good balance between performance and comfort for its size. Van de Stadt's designs typically featured moderate displacement hulls with efficient sail plans, suggesting the Dolphin 26 would be responsive in light to moderate winds while maintaining stability in heavier conditions. Like many boats from this designer, the Dolphin 26 likely appeals to sailors who appreciate traditional sailing qualities over modern amenities. The limited availability of detailed specifications suggests this was either a limited production model or designed for specific markets, which is not uncommon for European designs of this vintage. For sailors seeking a well-bred coastal cruiser with proven design pedigree, the Dolphin 26 represents an interesting option worth investigating further.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
Beam 9.19 ft / 2.80 m
Max Draft 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Displacement 3,968.00 lb / 1,800 kg
Ballast 1,543.00 lb / 700 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 422.00 ft² / 39.21 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer van de Stadt
First Built 1980
Owner Reviews

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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
27.01
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
14.15
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
2.33
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. 6.14
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. 689.57
How It Compares

vs. First 26 Beneteau, Marieholm 26, Pearson 26 One Design, Tanzer 26, Trapper 300

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
26.3 ft
First 26 Beneteau
26.3 ft
Marieholm 26
26.3 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
26.2 ft
Tanzer 26
26.3 ft
Trapper 300
26.3 ft
LWL
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
21.0 ft
First 26 Beneteau
22.9 ft
Marieholm 26
20.2 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
21.7 ft
Tanzer 26
22.5 ft
Trapper 300
20.6 ft
Beam
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
9.2 ft
First 26 Beneteau
9.2 ft
Marieholm 26
7.2 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
8.7 ft
Tanzer 26
8.7 ft
Trapper 300
8.0 ft
Displacement
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
3 lbs
First 26 Beneteau
4 lbs
Marieholm 26
5 lbs
Pearson 26 One Design
5 lbs
Tanzer 26
4 lbs
Trapper 300
4 lbs
Ballast
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
1 lbs
First 26 Beneteau
1 lbs
Marieholm 26
2 lbs
Pearson 26 One Design
2 lbs
Tanzer 26
1 lbs
Trapper 300
1 lbs
Sail Area
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
422 sq ft
First 26 Beneteau
291 sq ft
Marieholm 26
291 sq ft
Pearson 26 One Design
321 sq ft
Tanzer 26
282 sq ft
Trapper 300
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
First 26 Beneteau
Marieholm 26
Pearson 26 One Design
Tanzer 26
216 s/nm
Trapper 300
229 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
27.0
First 26 Beneteau
16.4
Marieholm 26
15.0
Pearson 26 One Design
17.2
Tanzer 26
17.0
Trapper 300
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
First 26 Beneteau
30.2 %
Marieholm 26
Pearson 26 One Design
42.3 %
Tanzer 26
44.8 %
Trapper 300
43.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
14.2
First 26 Beneteau
16.2
Marieholm 26
27.8
Pearson 26 One Design
19.7
Tanzer 26
16.0
Trapper 300
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
2.33
First 26 Beneteau
2.18
Marieholm 26
1.64
Pearson 26 One Design
2.00
Tanzer 26
2.13
Trapper 300
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
First 26 Beneteau
178
Marieholm 26
Pearson 26 One Design
228
Tanzer 26
170
Trapper 300
225
Hull Speed
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
6.1 kts
First 26 Beneteau
6.4 kts
Marieholm 26
6.0 kts
Pearson 26 One Design
6.2 kts
Tanzer 26
6.4 kts
Trapper 300
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Dolphin 26 Van De Stadt ★
First 26 Beneteau
2.9
Marieholm 26
1.6
Pearson 26 One Design
2.4
Tanzer 26
3.1
Trapper 300
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