Alerion 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Alerion 26 means looking at a 2002-onward fiberglass daysailer after the 1912 Herreshoff original, with production by Carroll Marine for Herreshoff Designs, a 25-foot 4-inch hull on a 20-foot waterline and a 7-foot 2-inch beam. The boat is a trailerable pocket cruiser at heart: a fixed-lead full keel, self-tending rig, and a snug cabin that suits two for an overnight.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Alerion 26 shares the same trunk-cabin layout: a double V-berth forward with a hide-away head beneath it, a single port settee opposite a compact galley with cooler, sink and water pump, and sitting headroom throughout. Teak coamings and cockpit sole are standard, and the high coamings act as backrests. The fixed full keel and 3/4-inch bolted external lead casting mean no centerboard trunk to inspect, and the deck is bonded to the hull with adhesive and through-bolted.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential upgrades to look for are the optional 9-horsepower Yanmar diesel with folding propeller and 55-amp alternator, the optional roller furling headstay for singlehanding, and the Hall Spars aluminum rig with Harken travelers, Schaefer blocks and Lewmar winches. A keel-top lifting ring allows the boat onto an optional Triad trailer for backyard storage, and varnished wood trim is a period option. Buyers should treat the diesel, furler and trailer as the defining equipment clusters; the rest is largely standard self-tending hardware.
What to Inspect
The known construction points worth a close look are the deck-to-hull joint, where high-strength adhesive and stainless through-bolts carry the load, and the plywood reinforcements under deck hardware for compression. The fixed keel is an external lead casting fastened with 3/4-inch stainless-steel bolts, so check the bolt heads and epoxy coating for corrosion or fracture. Vinylester resin and NPG gelcoat are used throughout for blister resistance, but a survey should still confirm hull and deck gelcoat condition given the boat's age.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Alerion 26 appears on the used market in the United States. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm the deck-hull bond and keel bolts, verify whether the Yanmar diesel and furler are fitted, and decide if trailer storage suits your plans.
- Inspect keel bolts and epoxy coating on the lead casting
- Check plywood under deck hardware and adhesive/through-bolt deck joint
- Confirm presence of optional diesel, roller furler, and trailer ring
- Expect standard teak cockpit trim and self-tending rig on all boats
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Alerion 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 2 | $54,900 | — |