Balboa 26
Masthead Sloop · Swing Keel · 1969–1976
A trailerable 7.8-metre masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal performance
Designed by Lyle C. Hess, built by Arthur Marine.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Swing Keel
See her sail
The Balboa 26, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Hugh Robertson Sailing
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 2.43 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,633 kg of hull, so roughly 2,250 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draftDraws 0.56 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelyComfort 16Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 2.08Bluewater
LightD/L 178Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 20.2Powered-up
TenderBallast 33%Stiff
Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
33.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
20.2
Displacement / length
177.8
Comfort ratio
15.8
Capsize screening
2.08
Hull speed
6.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
592
Hull
Hull type
Swing Keel
Construction
FG solid laminate hull/ply cored deck
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1969–1976
Designer
Lyle C. Hess
Builder
Arthur Marine, Coastal Recreation Inc
Boats like this, on the water
More boats like her, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
O'day 23-26.93 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA masthead keel-centerboard sloop produced in Brazil and the U.S. for over a decade as a popular coastal cruiser
Cal Boats 247.43 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterThe inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility
Macgregor 26X7.87 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA water-ballasted sail-power hybrid designed for versatile coastal cruising and easy trailering
Hunter Marine 226.78 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA masthead-rigged trailerable cruiser with a keel-centerboard configuration for flexible draft and coastal access
Catalina Yachts 227.26 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA swing-keel masthead sloop with 15,000 units sold, offering a highly versatile and trailerable coastal cruiser
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Balboa 27 8.2A masthead sloop featuring an optional 9 HP diesel inboard and a ballast-to-displacement ratio exceeding 50 percentBalboa 20A 1967 Lyle C. Hess design featuring a swing keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for nimble coastal sailingBalboa 16A lightweight masthead sloop by W. Shad Turner designed for easy handling with a high sail area to displacement ratioBalboa 23Formerly marketed as the Aquarius 23, this swing-keel fractional sloop offers a nimble 18.96 sail-area-to-displacement ratioBalboa 24A fin-keel fractional sloop with a 1.18-tonne displacement, offering a nimble and lightweight coastal platform
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