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Snapdragon 26
Designer: L. Wakefield  ·  Builder: Thames Marine (Uk)  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Snapdragon 26

Designed by L. Wakefield and built by Thames Marine in the UK between 1966 and 1969, this twin-keeled masthead sloop represents classic British coastal cruising design from the swinging sixties. With 200 hulls produced during its brief production run, the Snapdragon 26 earned a reputation as a practical family cruiser well-suited to tidal waters and shallow anchorages. The twin keel configuration stands as this boat's defining characteristic, allowing owners to take the ground confidently in tidal harbors while maintaining directional stability under sail. At 26 feet overall with a displacement of 4,500 pounds and substantial ballast of 2,000 pounds, she offers reassuring stability for coastal adventures. The moderate sail area of 285 square feet provides manageable power for short-handed sailing. Her comfort ratio of 17.72 suggests a motion that favors relaxed cruising over speed, while the capsize screening value of 2.04 indicates she's best kept in protected and semi-protected waters rather than venturing far offshore. The fiberglass construction has proven durable over the decades, and many examples remain active today as affordable entry points into cruising sailboats. Thames Marine's reputation for solid construction makes well-maintained examples particularly attractive to budget-conscious sailors seeking coastal exploration capability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.67 ft / 6.61 m
Beam 8.42 ft / 2.57 m
Max Draft 2.58 ft / 0.79 m
Displacement 4,500.00 lb / 2,041 kg
Ballast 2,000.00 lb / 907 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 285.00 ft² / 26.48 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Twin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer L. Wakefield
Builder Thames Marine (UK)
First Built 1966
Last Built 1969
Number Built 200
Associations Snapdragon, Mirage and Invaders Association
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
249
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
16.78
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
44.44
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
197.42
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
17.72
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
2.04
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. 6.24 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
2.71
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. 651.95 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. 16.79
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.42 ft / 3.48 m
SA Fore 142.50 ft² / 13.24 m²
SA Main 142.75 ft² / 13.26 m²
SA Total (100%) 285.25 ft² / 26.50 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.47 ft / 9.59 m
How It Compares

vs. Atalanta 26, Centaur 26 Westerly, Commander 26 Pearson, Ericson 26 Crealock, Titania 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Snapdragon 26 ★
26.0 ft
Atalanta 26
26.0 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
26.0 ft
Commander 26 Pearson
26.0 ft
Ericson 26 Crealock
26.0 ft
Titania 26
26.0 ft
LWL
Snapdragon 26 ★
21.7 ft
Atalanta 26
24.0 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
21.3 ft
Commander 26 Pearson
18.5 ft
Ericson 26 Crealock
21.4 ft
Titania 26
Beam
Snapdragon 26 ★
8.4 ft
Atalanta 26
7.8 ft
Centaur 26 Westerly
8.4 ft
Commander 26 Pearson
8.0 ft
Ericson 26 Crealock
7.8 ft
Titania 26
7.8 ft
Displacement
Snapdragon 26 ★
4 lbs
Atalanta 26
4 lbs
Centaur 26 Westerly
6 lbs
Commander 26 Pearson
5 lbs
Ericson 26 Crealock
4 lbs
Titania 26
4 lbs
Ballast
Snapdragon 26 ★
2 lbs
Atalanta 26
950 lbs
Centaur 26 Westerly
2 lbs
Commander 26 Pearson
2 lbs
Ericson 26 Crealock
1 lbs
Titania 26
950 lbs
Sail Area
Snapdragon 26 ★
285 sq ft
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
324 sq ft
Commander 26 Pearson
311 sq ft
Ericson 26 Crealock
300 sq ft
Titania 26
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Snapdragon 26 ★
249 s/nm
Atalanta 26
254 s/nm
Centaur 26 Westerly
Commander 26 Pearson
Ericson 26 Crealock
Titania 26
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Snapdragon 26 ★
16.8
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
14.6
Commander 26 Pearson
16.2
Ericson 26 Crealock
17.9
Titania 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Snapdragon 26 ★
44.4 %
Atalanta 26
21.2 %
Centaur 26 Westerly
Commander 26 Pearson
46.3 %
Ericson 26 Crealock
38.6 %
Titania 26
23.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Snapdragon 26 ★
17.7
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
26.7
Commander 26 Pearson
25.2
Ericson 26 Crealock
19.5
Titania 26
17.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Snapdragon 26 ★
2.04
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
1.79
Commander 26 Pearson
1.83
Ericson 26 Crealock
1.89
Titania 26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Snapdragon 26 ★
197
Atalanta 26
144
Centaur 26 Westerly
Commander 26 Pearson
380
Ericson 26 Crealock
199
Titania 26
165
Hull Speed
Snapdragon 26 ★
6.2 kts
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
6.2 kts
Commander 26 Pearson
5.8 kts
Ericson 26 Crealock
6.2 kts
Titania 26
6.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Snapdragon 26 ★
2.7
Atalanta 26
Centaur 26 Westerly
1.5
Commander 26 Pearson
1.2
Ericson 26 Crealock
2.8
Titania 26
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