C&C 26 Encounter Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

26' · 7.92 m

Displ.

6,120 lbs · 2,776 kg

First year

1978

The C&C 26 Encounter represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of the North American pocket cruiser. Introduced in the mid1970s during the height of C&C Yachts' market dominance, the 26 was designed by Robert Ball to bridge the gap between the entrylevel C&C 25 and the legendary C&C 27. While many manufacturers of the era achieved length by stretching existing hulls, C&C took a different approach with the 26, prioritizing interior volume and stability through an exceptionally generous beam. Marketed frequently with the "Encounter" moniker, this model sought to provide families with a vessel that felt like a 30foot yacht in terms of accommodations while retaining the slip fees and handling characteristics of a traileradjacent coastal cruiser. According to historical records maintained by the C&C Photo Album & Resource Center, the design was a deliberate attempt to maximize the "liveability" factor, a mission supported by its 10foot, 6inch beam—a width that dwarfed most of its contemporaries in the 26foot class.