Pearson Yachts 26

BoatsPearson Yachts 26

See her sail

The Pearson Yachts 26, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Into Oblivion

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 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20

CoastalBluewater

1.98 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.98

LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 237

EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.8

TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Pearson Yachts 26, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Pearson Yachts 26 is a masthead sloop designed by William H. Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1970 to 1983. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, measures 8.0 m LOA, 2.6 m in beam, and draws 1.2 m, displacing 2449 kg. The model was one of Pearson's most successful, undergoing several changes during its long production run, with some units built in League City, Texas. Most Pearson 26s use an outboard motor in a well for auxiliary power.12:36 A "WEEKENDER" variant, the Pearson 26W, has a longer cockpit and a shorter coach roof.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

40.7%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

16.8

Displacement / length

236.9

Comfort ratio

20.4

Capsize screening

1.98

Hull speed

6.2 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

673

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/spade rudder

Construction

Fiberglass

Ballast type

Iron

Production

Years built

1970–1983

Units built

1750

Designer

William H. Shaw

Builder

Pearson Yachts

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.

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

Living on a BOAT0:11 from navegandoporelglobo

Newport 27S8.23 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1974 masthead sloop with a 1.3-metre draft, offering a stable fin-keel platform for shoal-water coastal cruising

Live On A Cheap and Small Sailboat! The Newport 27 from Practical Sailor

Pearson Yachts 27 (Triton 27)8.23 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Doug Peterson-influenced masthead sloop built from US Yachts molds, offering a light-displacement take on IOR design

Replacing Cloudy Dodger Windows for Under $200:01 from Atom Voyager

Coronado Yachts 278.13 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA William Tripp Jr. design featuring a masthead sloop rig and fin keel, sharing a near-identical hull with the Columbia 27

103. Sailors' Meeting. Sea stories told by those who lived them.49:10 from A Son de Mar

Colvic Ltd. Sailor 268.21 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA twin-keeled masthead sloop with hulls moulded by Colvic and finished by various yards, including Atlanta Marine

Hot to Renovate a Sailboat Hatch - Episode 3 - DIY Free Sailboat Refit0:01 from Sailing Puffin

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

Help from an old friend5:23 from Sven Yrvind

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Pearson Yachts 26 (One-Design)A stripped-down weekender variant featuring a shortened coach roof and an open cockpit for simplified daysailing Pearson Yachts 26 WeekenderRebranded as the One Design in 1978, this lighter-displacement variant prioritizes cockpit space for active sailing Pearson Yachts 27A shallow-draft wing-keel masthead sloop designed by William Shaw for accessible cruising in shoal waters Pearson Yachts 24A short-lived 1960s fin-keel masthead sloop with a 42% ballast ratio for stable coastal daysailing Pearson Yachts 28 (1975-80)With a 45% ballast ratio, this masthead sloop offers a stiff, stable platform for coastal sailing.Pearson Yachts 22A William Shaw-designed fractional sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for responsive performance.

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The fleet has more to say

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