BoatsImpulse 26

Impulse 26

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1984–1987

A lightweight fractional sloop built in two distinct core-construction versions across three different yards

Designed by William E. Cook, built by Johnson Boat Works.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
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 light displacement on a moderate beam gives 11 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 11
CoastalBluewater

At 2.41 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.41
LightHeavy

122 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 122
EasygoingPowered-up

26.5 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 26.5
TenderStiff

47% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 47%

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

  • Lighter than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1703 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
47.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
26.5
Displacement / length
122.2
Comfort ratio
10.9
Capsize screening
2.41
Hull speed
6.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
649
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1984–1987
Units built
40
Designer
William E. Cook
Builder
Johnson Boat Works, New Orleans Marine

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.

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/808.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1992 fractional sloop with a high 26.59 sail area-to-displacement ratio, engineered for rapid, agile performance
Abbott Boats Inc. Soling8.15 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance Olympic class keelboat designed by Jan Herman Linge for tactical three-person racing
Dehler Yachts 25CR7.50 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Van de Stadt-designed fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited performance
Jaguar 257.62 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Frank Butler-designed masthead sloop with a deep fin keel, offering a similar layout to the popular Catalina 25
Maxi Yachts 777.70 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterThe most popular model in the builder's history, offering both inboard and outboard engine options for versatile cruising
Comet 7707.70 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Jean-Marie Finot-designed IOR quarter-tonner with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited club racing

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