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Hunter 26
Designer: Hunter Design Team  ·  Builder: Hunter Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1994
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About the Hunter 26

Built during Hunter Marine's prolific years, this 26-foot sailboat represents the company's commitment to affordable family cruising. Hunter designed this model to bridge the gap between smaller day sailors and larger coastal cruisers, making it an attractive option for sailors ready to step up from dinghies or smaller keelboats. The boat features Hunter's characteristic approach to maximizing interior volume within a compact footprint. Wide beam construction provides surprising cabin space for weekend getaways and short-term cruising adventures. The cockpit offers comfortable seating for day sailing with friends and family, while the cabin below typically accommodates basic overnight accommodations. This sailboat suits coastal and protected water sailing particularly well, making it ideal for exploring bays, harbors, and nearshore areas. The design prioritizes ease of handling and forgiving sailing characteristics over pure performance, which appeals to recreational sailors and those learning to cruise. Hunter's reputation for building practical, moderately-priced boats shines through in this model. While not intended for serious offshore work, the boat delivers solid value for sailors seeking an affordable entry into the cruising lifestyle. Its manageable size makes it suitable for smaller crews while still offering enough space for comfortable day sailing and weekend adventures.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$2,000 – $9,500
typical asking price
Median $5,750  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$2,000 – $9,500 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.58 ft / 7.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 8.83 ft / 2.69 m
Max Draft 3.92 ft / 1.19 m
Displacement 4,900 lb / 2,223 kg
Ballast 1,900 lb / 862 kg
Ballast Type Water
Sail Area (Reported) 268 ft² / 24.90 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Hunter Design Team
Builder Hunter Marine (USA)
First Built 1994
Last Built 2004
Number Built 600
Owner Reviews

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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
213
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
14.84
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
38.78
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
205.44
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. 4.16 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.75 ft / 0.53 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.42 ft / 2.87 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 291.00 ft² / 27.03 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 5 gals / 19 L
Engine & Accommodations
Water Capacity Replaced by the HUNTER 260 which is very similar.
How It Compares

vs. Cc 26, First Class 8 Beneteau, Oday 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hunter 26 ★
25.6 ft
Cc 26
25.6 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
25.4 ft
Oday 26
25.7 ft
LWL
Hunter 26 ★
22.0 ft
Cc 26
23.6 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
21.7 ft
Oday 26
21.6 ft
Beam
Hunter 26 ★
8.8 ft
Cc 26
10.4 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
8.2 ft
Oday 26
8.0 ft
Displacement
Hunter 26 ★
4 lbs
Cc 26
5 lbs
First Class 8 Beneteau
3 lbs
Oday 26
4 lbs
Ballast
Hunter 26 ★
1 lbs
Cc 26
2 lbs
First Class 8 Beneteau
1 lbs
Oday 26
1 lbs
Sail Area
Hunter 26 ★
268 sq ft
Cc 26
331 sq ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
316 sq ft
Oday 26
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Hunter 26 ★
213 s/nm
Cc 26
First Class 8 Beneteau
Oday 26
237 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Hunter 26 ★
14.8
Cc 26
17.3
First Class 8 Beneteau
23.8
Oday 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Hunter 26 ★
38.8 %
Cc 26
First Class 8 Beneteau
37.1 %
Oday 26
38.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hunter 26 ★
Cc 26
15.2
First Class 8 Beneteau
12.8
Oday 26
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Hunter 26 ★
Cc 26
2.38
First Class 8 Beneteau
2.24
Oday 26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Hunter 26 ★
205
Cc 26
First Class 8 Beneteau
136
Oday 26
213
Hull Speed
Hunter 26 ★
Cc 26
6.5 kts
First Class 8 Beneteau
6.2 kts
Oday 26
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Hunter 26 ★
Cc 26
2.9
First Class 8 Beneteau
4.5
Oday 26
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