Design and Construction
The hull has Klegecell-cored fiberglass topsides and a solid fiberglass bottom. The deck, trunk cabin, and interior structure are also built of cored fiberglass, providing greater strength and less weight than the original wood construction.
Vinylester resin runs throughout the laminate for high strength and resistance to blisters, and the entire boat is finished in NPG gelcoat. Carroll Marine bonds the deck to the hull with high-strength adhesive, then through-bolts the joint with stainless-steel bolts. Plywood beneath the deck hardware provides compressive strength.
The full keel is an external lead casting, epoxy-coated and secured with 3/4-inch stainless-steel bolts. The designers chose this fixed-keel layout over a centerboard for simplicity, low maintenance, and good sailing.
Teak appears wherever the woodwork is visible. The cockpit coamings, seats, gunwales, and sole are solid teak with an oil finish, while the coaming knees are cast with meticulous detail. Below, the moldings and fiddles are oiled teak. True Herreshoff cleats are used throughout.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The rig combines a tall, light Hall Spars aluminum mast and boom with a completely self-tending sail plan. Both the main and jib sheets lead to roller-bearing travelers, so turning the helm is all that is required to tack.
The mainsail sets on luff-groove slides, while the jib uses a standard self-tacking boom. An optional roller-furling headstay makes singlehanding easier. Modern Harken travelers, Schaefer blocks, and Lewmar winches complete the deck plan.
Sailing World’s tester found the Alerion responsive in a diminishing breeze and quick to accelerate out of a tack. The helm was nicely balanced, with the rudder mounted on the keel, and the tester came away with the impression that the boat could comfortably handle moderate seas.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Below, the Alerion 26 is a snug daysailer that can accommodate a couple overnight in comfortable camping conditions. The double V-berth is 6 feet 8 inches long and has 4-inch foam cushions. The head tucks beneath the berth, out of sight until it’s needed.
To port, a single seat faces a compact galley equipped with a cooler, sink, water pump, and optional stove. Sailing World noted the sitting headroom below. In the cockpit, the high teak coamings also serve as ideal backrests.
All interior surfaces are finished in gelcoat or polyester paint. Teak trim and oiled fiddles complete the carefully finished interior; the reviewer cited these details as examples of the boat’s quality finish work.
Power, Systems, and Storage
An optional 9-horsepower Yanmar diesel provides power for the trip home on windless evenings. It comes with a 55-amp alternator to charge the batteries used for navigation and lighting, along with a folding propeller to minimize drag under sail.
The fuel tank sits well over the keel. Its gauge is read through a prism set into the cabin sole.
For owners without a marina berth, a keel-top lifting ring allows the boat to be hoisted by crane onto an optional Triad trailer for backyard storage.
Verdict
The Alerion 26 succeeds as a modern fiberglass tribute to a 1912 Herreshoff original. Its self-tending rig is simple to manage, while the blister-resistant vinylester hull and genuine teak trim feel classic rather than dressed up. It’s a daysailer first, but the snug cabin and optional diesel make it a credible pocket cruiser for two.
Pros
- Self-tending rig, with the main and jib sheets led to travelers for helm-only tacking
- Vinylester resin and NPG gelcoat throughout for resistance to blisters
- External lead keel secured with 3/4-inch stainless-steel bolts, with a fixed layout chosen for simplicity, low maintenance, and good sailing
- Solid-teak cockpit and oiled interior fiddles, executed with careful detail
- Optional 9-horsepower Yanmar diesel with a folding propeller and 55-amp alternator
Cons
- Compact galley and hidden head are best suited to minimal overnight stays
- Full keel and 4,800-lb displacement limit light-air acceleration compared with a centerboard predecessor
