Back to Search
New Horizons 26
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Ray Greene & Co.(Usa)  ·  First built: 1958
+ Add to Compare
About the New Horizons 26

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens firm in 1958, this classic 26-footer represents the golden age of American yacht design when performance and seaworthiness were paramount. Built by Ray Greene & Co., only 175 hulls were produced, making the New Horizons 26 a relatively rare find today. The boat's deep 6.42-foot draft and substantial 1,600-pound ballast provide exceptional stability and windward ability, characteristics typical of S&S designs from this era. Her masthead sloop rig carries 333 square feet of sail area, delivering a moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio that favors cruising comfort over racing speed. The fiberglass construction ensures durability while maintaining the classic lines that made Sparkman & Stephens famous. With a displacement of 6,030 pounds and a beam of 7.75 feet, she offers a good balance of stability and interior space for coastal cruising. The low comfort ratio of 27.07 indicates a relatively quick motion at sea, while the capsize screening value of 1.71 suggests she's best suited for protected waters and coastal sailing rather than offshore passages. Her hull speed of 6.18 knots makes her a respectable performer under sail, complemented by a 25-horsepower auxiliary engine for harbor maneuvering and calm conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.42 ft / 7.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.25 ft / 6.48 m
Beam 7.75 ft / 2.36 m
Max Draft 6.42 ft / 1.96 m
Min Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Displacement 6,030.00 lb / 2,735 kg
Ballast 1,600.00 lb / 726 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 333.00 ft² / 30.94 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Ray Greene & Co.(USA)
First Built 1958
Number Built 175
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
225
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
16.13
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
26.53
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
280.54
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
27.07
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
1.71
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. 6.18 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
1.83
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. 588.45 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. 16.11
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 32.30 ft / 9.85 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.80 ft / 2.99 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 28.80 ft / 8.78 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.10 ft / 3.69 m
SA Fore 158.27 ft² / 14.70 m²
SA Main 174.24 ft² / 16.19 m²
SA Total (100%) 332.51 ft² / 30.89 m²
Est. Forestay Length 33.75 ft / 10.29 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 25
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
How It Compares

vs. Ariel 26 Pearson, Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee, Victoire 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
New Horizons 26 ★
25.4 ft
Ariel 26 Pearson
25.6 ft
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
25.6 ft
Victoire 26
25.4 ft
LWL
New Horizons 26 ★
21.3 ft
Ariel 26 Pearson
18.5 ft
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
23.3 ft
Victoire 26
20.2 ft
Beam
New Horizons 26 ★
7.8 ft
Ariel 26 Pearson
8.0 ft
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
8.8 ft
Victoire 26
8.4 ft
Displacement
New Horizons 26 ★
6 lbs
Ariel 26 Pearson
5 lbs
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
4 lbs
Victoire 26
5 lbs
Ballast
New Horizons 26 ★
1 lbs
Ariel 26 Pearson
2 lbs
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
Victoire 26
1 lbs
Sail Area
New Horizons 26 ★
333 sq ft
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
328 sq ft
Victoire 26
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
New Horizons 26 ★
16.1
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
19.3
Victoire 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
New Horizons 26 ★
26.5 %
Ariel 26 Pearson
44.9 %
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
Victoire 26
34.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
New Horizons 26 ★
27.1
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
16.0
Victoire 26
23.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
New Horizons 26 ★
1.71
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
2.14
Victoire 26
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
New Horizons 26 ★
280
Ariel 26 Pearson
361
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
159
Victoire 26
299
Hull Speed
New Horizons 26 ★
6.2 kts
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
6.5 kts
Victoire 26
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
New Horizons 26 ★
1.8
Ariel 26 Pearson
Offshore 26 Cheoy Lee
3.5
Victoire 26
Find a New Horizons 26 For Sale