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Ericson 26 2
Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Ericson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Ericson 26 2

Designed by Bruce King and launched in 1972, this compact cruiser represents solid American boatbuilding from Ericson Yachts' golden era. The Ericson 26-2 combines thoughtful design elements that make it particularly well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures, with enough capability for extended passages in capable hands. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling and good windward performance, while the fractional sloop rig offers versatility and manageable sail handling for small crews. With a displacement of 5,250 pounds and 2,250 pounds of ballast, she carries herself well in varying conditions while remaining light enough for spirited sailing. The generous beam of 9.25 feet creates comfortable interior volume despite the compact 25.75-foot overall length. Bruce King's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The moderate draft of 4.92 feet opens up cruising grounds while providing adequate lateral resistance, and the 326 square feet of sail area delivers good light-air performance. With her fiberglass construction and proven track record spanning five decades, the Ericson 26-2 has earned a reputation as a reliable, well-mannered boat that punches above its weight class for both day sailing and coastal cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.75 ft / 7.85 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.92 ft / 6.68 m
Beam 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
Max Draft 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Displacement 5,250.00 lb / 2,381 kg
Ballast 2,250.00 lb / 1,021 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 326.00 ft² / 30.29 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Ericson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1972
Associations Ericson Yachts Information
Related Sailboats ["Seafarer 26" · "Columbia T 26" · "Islander 26" · "South Coast 26" · "Endeavor 26 Lapworth"]
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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
 234
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
 17.32
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
 42.86
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
 222.53
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
 18.17
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
 2.13
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. 6.27 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
 2.48
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. 724.48 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. 17.29
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.50 ft / 9.30 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
SA Fore 160.13 ft² / 14.88 m²
SA Main 165.38 ft² / 15.36 m²
SA Total (100%) 325.51 ft² / 30.24 m²
Est. Forestay Length 32.26 ft / 9.83 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model 10
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 10
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 18 gals / 68 L
How It Compares

vs. Columbia T 26, Islander 26, South Coast 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ericson 26 2 ★
25.8 ft
Columbia T 26
25.8 ft
Islander 26
25.8 ft
South Coast 26
25.8 ft
LWL
Ericson 26 2 ★
21.9 ft
Columbia T 26
22.8 ft
Islander 26
21.7 ft
South Coast 26
23.3 ft
Beam
Ericson 26 2 ★
9.3 ft
Columbia T 26
8.0 ft
Islander 26
10.0 ft
South Coast 26
8.0 ft
Displacement
Ericson 26 2 ★
5 lbs
Columbia T 26
4 lbs
Islander 26
4 lbs
South Coast 26
3 lbs
Ballast
Ericson 26 2 ★
2 lbs
Columbia T 26
1 lbs
Islander 26
2 lbs
South Coast 26
1 lbs
Sail Area
Ericson 26 2 ★
326 sq ft
Columbia T 26
270 sq ft
Islander 26
302 sq ft
South Coast 26
303 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ericson 26 2 ★
234 s/nm
Columbia T 26
—
Islander 26
233 s/nm
South Coast 26
227 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ericson 26 2 ★
17.3
Columbia T 26
16.1
Islander 26
17.1
South Coast 26
20.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ericson 26 2 ★
42.9 %
Columbia T 26
31.8 %
Islander 26
—
South Coast 26
38.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ericson 26 2 ★
18.2
Columbia T 26
18.1
Islander 26
15.0
South Coast 26
14.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ericson 26 2 ★
2.13
Columbia T 26
1.95
Islander 26
2.38
South Coast 26
2.10
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ericson 26 2 ★
222
Columbia T 26
165
Islander 26
—
South Coast 26
126
Hull Speed
Ericson 26 2 ★
6.3 kts
Columbia T 26
6.4 kts
Islander 26
6.2 kts
South Coast 26
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ericson 26 2 ★
2.5
Columbia T 26
3.0
Islander 26
2.6
South Coast 26
4.3
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