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Soverel 26
Designer: Bill Soverel  ·  Builder: Soverel Marine  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Soverel 26

Bill Soverel's compact 26-footer represents a classic example of mid-1970s performance-oriented design philosophy. Built by Soverel Marine for just two years (1976-1977), this fiberglass sloop demonstrates the era's focus on racing-inspired features adapted for recreational sailing. With its fin keel configuration and masthead sloop rig, the Soverel 26 delivers responsive handling characteristics that appeal to sailors seeking spirited performance. The boat's moderate displacement of 4,000 pounds strikes a balance between stability and speed, while the generous sail area provides good light-air performance. Her beam-to-length ratio creates a stable sailing platform without sacrificing the sleek lines typical of Soverel's designs. The relatively low comfort ratio suggests this boat prioritizes performance over cruising accommodations, making it well-suited for day sailing, club racing, and coastal adventures rather than extended cruising. Her capsize screening value indicates reasonable stability for nearshore and protected waters sailing. Bill Soverel's reputation for creating boats that punch above their weight class is evident in this design. The limited two-year production run makes the Soverel 26 a relatively rare find, appealing to sailors who appreciate distinctive design and spirited sailing characteristics in a manageable 26-foot package.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 4.60 ft / 1.40 m
Displacement 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 325.00 ft² / 30.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bill Soverel
Builder Soverel Marine
First Built 1976
Last Built 1977
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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
 168
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
 20.69
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
 156.77
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
 12.22
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
 2.52
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. 6.36 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
 3.77
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. 803.95 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. 20.72
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.30 ft / 9.24 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
SA Fore 189.00 ft² / 17.56 m²
SA Main 136.35 ft² / 12.67 m²
SA Total (100%) 325.35 ft² / 30.23 m²
Est. Forestay Length 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
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