Chrysler 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Chrysler 26 means looking at an American trailerable cruiser designed by Halsey Herreshoff and built by Chrysler Marine from 1977, now out of production but backed by an active owners' club. These boats turn up in the United States, and the smart buyer focuses on the swing-keel or fixed-fin variants, the condition of the steering and icebox access, and which factory or owner upgrades rode along with the hull.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two deck plans exist: the unbroken "Cruiser" layout with no coach house, and the "Courser" featuring a conventional raised cabin trunk. Either can carry the swing keel drawing as little as 2 feet 3 inches or the optional fixed fin keel. Below, every example sleeps six across a bow V-berth, two main-cabin settees, and an aft double, with a fully enclosed head and a standard galley of alcohol stove, 10-gallon tank, and stainless sink. The aft berth under the cockpit is the least useful sleeping space and often repurposed for stowage by owners.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power is the first divide: most boats carry a small outboard on the factory stern bracket, while some have the Yanmar 8 HP diesel inboard factory option. A buyer should confirm which is fitted and whether the lazarette hides the controls and tanks as designed. On the rig, a mainsheet traveler and halyard winches improve trim, and a mast-raising bridle with jiffy reefing makes the trailerable setup genuinely single-handed; a spinnaker with pole and a boom vang are the sail-handling extras worth having. For comfort, a bimini and dodger canvas, plus privacy curtains and a stern boarding ladder, shift the boat from bare cruiser to weekend-ready, while bow pulpit, stern rail, and lifelines matter for safety on an open transom design.
What to Inspect
The cockpit is small for a 26-foot boat, so check whether the layout meets your crew's needs rather than assuming more room aft. Verify the rudder-shaft collar is tight, since a loose one lets the steering go vague and must be snugged to restore control. Work the centerboard crank to confirm it still raises and lowers easily. Open the companionway and test the smaller icebox underneath it, which testers found difficult to reach even for a drink, and decide if that flaw is acceptable. On outboard versions, confirm the Sailor 10 bracket and runabout-style throttle are intact and the lazarette closures seal.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. For a trailerable cruiser with Herreshoff pedigree and club support, the Chrysler 26 rewards a careful look at steering, icebox access, and which power and rig upgrades are aboard.
- Confirm swing keel or fixed fin and test the centerboard crank
- Tighten and test the rudder-shaft collar for steering response
- Check the companionway icebox reach and aft-berth stowage use
- Verify outboard bracket or inboard diesel and lazarette sealing
- Prefer examples with traveler, reefing, and safety rails fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Chrysler 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 2 | $9,500 | — |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $9,500 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Chrysler 26 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $9,500 | 3 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson 26 | 26.12' | $ 6,000 | 9 | 5 |
| Grampian 26 | 26' | $ 7,500 | 6 | 0 |
| Chrysler 26You are here | — | $ 9,500 | 3 | 1 |