BoatsCavalier 26

Cavalier 26

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1978

An IOR 1/4 ton racer designed by Doug Peterson, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for competitive performance

Designed by Peterson, Salthouse & Doug Peterson.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 17 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 17
CoastalBluewater

2.08 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.08
LightHeavy

185 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 185
EasygoingPowered-up

15.5 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.5

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.5
Displacement / length
184.9
Comfort ratio
16.9
Capsize screening
2.08
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
668
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
First built 1978
Designer
Peterson, Salthouse, Doug Peterson
Builder
Cavalier Yachts (AUSTRALIA)

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Albin Marine AB Vega 278.25 mSame hull family0.3 m longerScandinavia's most popular production yacht of her size, this 8.25-metre masthead sloop defined coastal cruising from 1965 to 1979
Hunter Marine 27-28.10 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 27-foot fractional sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruising
Maxi Yachts Racer7.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA lightweight 7.95-metre fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited racing
Puma 277.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Ron Holland-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for performance-oriented coastal cruising
Pearson Yachts 27 (Triton 27)8.23 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Doug Peterson-influenced masthead sloop built from US Yachts molds, offering a light-displacement cruiser profile
Seaward 258.15 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 1984 fractional sloop with a shallow 0.63m draft and fin keel, built for accessible coastal cruising

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue