Design and Construction
The 7.6 has a solid-fiberglass hull, a lead fin keel, and a transom-hung rudder. Her 8.5-foot beam produces a length-to-beam ratio of 2.98. That’s relatively broad for a 26-footer, supporting interior volume without pushing the hull into heavy-displacement territory.
Displacement is 3,300 pounds, including 985 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 30 percent. A displacement-length ratio of 129 puts her firmly in the light-to-moderate cruiser range rather than the heavy traditionalist camp. The underwater body has about 215 square feet of wetted surface, a modest figure that helps keep her willing in light air for a boat of this length.
Rig and Handling
Holland gave the 7.6 an unusually powerful fractional sloop rig for her class: she carries more rig than 100 percent of all similar sailboats. Using the ISO 8666 reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 21.6; with a 135 percent genoa, it rises to 24.6. Those numbers clearly reflect a boat designed to move under canvas rather than motor.
Depending on load, the fin keel draws between 4.49 and 4.79 feet. That’s shallow enough for modest marinas while still providing the lateral grip of a fin keel. Her theoretical hull speed, as a displacement boat with this waterline length, is 6.4 knots.
The immersion rate is 666 pounds per inch, which means she settles just over half an inch for every additional quarter-ton of crew and gear.
Performance Character
The Motion Comfort Ratio is 12.5, indicating a brisk rather than plush ride in a chop. More significant for her intended use is a capsize screening value of 2.28, which indicates that the boat wouldn’t be accepted for ocean racing.
That figure also reflects the limits of the design: this is a lively coastal and lake sailer, not a bluewater circumnavigator. Her light displacement and generous sail plan help her accelerate quickly, while the lead ballast keeps her feet under her as the wind builds.
Verdict
The Bombardier 7.6 is a Ron Holland coastal design that punches above its 26-foot length in sail power and responsiveness. She’s a daysailer and weekender with a clean, solid-fiberglass hull and lead fin keel, intended for sailors who value a lively helm and easy marina access more than offshore range.
Pros
- Powerful fractional rig with more sail area than her peer group; quick in light air
- Solid-fiberglass hull and lead keel avoid cored-laminate risk
- Draft shallow enough for modest marinas, with fin-keel grip under sail
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes her from ocean racing
