Its dimensions also reflect its intended use. At 25 feet 8 inches overall, the Coast Guard classes it as a Class I vessel, with fewer regulatory requirements than the Class II bracket that begins at 26 feet. Its 8-foot-6-inch beam is exactly the maximum legal width for highway towing. The standard model displaces 2,600 pounds and has a 20-foot waterline.
Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, a practical choice rather than a fashionable one, while the deck is cored with Core-cell foam for rigidity. Hull and deck meet at a flange that is chemically bonded and through-bolted, then covered by a rubber bumper. The hull has local reinforcement in the bow, beneath the stanchion bases, around the mast support, and along the bottom where the stainless keel bolts attach.
At seat level, an inboard transom carries the rudder post and tiller, leaving an open stern beyond for access. The cockpit and lockers are self-draining. Positive foam flotation makes the Colgate 26 virtually unsinkable, a quality that directly addressed Steve Colgate’s insistence that the boat meet Offshore Sailing School’s insurance requirements. The stout wooden tiller is essentially the boat’s only wood.
The hull has a flattish forefoot and firm bilges. Its counter stern extends well aft, creating a useful instructor’s perch behind the tiller. The standard keel carries 1,050 pounds of lead ballast and draws 4 feet 6 inches. A shoal-draft option reduces draft by a foot and adds 200 pounds of ballast. A ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40 percent accounts for the boat’s stiffness upwind, while a displacement-to-length ratio of 145 helps explain its lively performance off the wind.
Rig and Handling
All mainsail and jib controls lead back to the cockpit. The small, nonoverlapping jib uses a Harken roller-furling unit, allowing its area to be reduced in heavy weather. Harken No. 16 self-tailing jib winches sit at the aft end of the cabintop, and test sailors found that even a child could trim the small headsail in a blow.
The mainsheet traveler spans the inboard transom, providing efficient end-boom sheeting while keeping the cockpit clear. The double-ended mainsheet’s forward end leads to a barney post on the cockpit sole. The large, well-designed mainsail allows the boat to sail in balance without the jib; with the roller-furling jib fully deployed, it can also sail comfortably without the main.
Unusually for a boat of this size, the Colgate 26 can reef the main to control excessive heeling. Double reefs provide calmer sailing in heavy weather. Neither sail needs to be removed after use: the jib rolls onto its furler and carries a leech UV cover, while the main slides down for slab folding over the boom.
Full spinnaker gear comes standard, including the pole, guys, sheets, downhaul, topping lift, and halyards. The boat accepts either asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnakers, with the guy and sheet led through Harken blocks for efficient cockpit trimming.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit seats four adults easily and provides good leg support. Oversized stanchions and secure nonskid underfoot add reassurance when the boat is heeled.
Below, the V-berths measure 7 feet 3 inches, long enough for real sleep if the weather sends the crew below. A portable head, insulated ice chest, optional sink, and alcohol stove make weekend cruising feasible. Remove the cushions, and the interior can be hosed down for cleaning.
A VHF radio is standard. When the owner is away, a soft solar panel left in the cockpit keeps the battery topped up. An outboard bracket is mounted astern, and a cockpit locker is designed to store the engine.
Performance Underway
In a period review, test sailors found the Colgate 26 pointed very high into the wind and tracked cleanly past shoals into deep water. The helm remained very light, with fingertip control on the tiller even as the sea breeze reached 12 to 15 knots. The boat felt powerful yet completely under control, and quite stiff.
It also sliced through choppy Gulf waves without pounding. The rubrail deflected spray, keeping the cockpit surprisingly dry. Owners report a usable wind range of 5 to 35 knots.
Sails, Options, and Upgrades
The standard sail package includes a main, jib, and spinnaker by North Sails. An asymmetrical model can be ordered with additional performance features. With Evolution upgrade sails, its sail area expands to 782 square feet, compared with the standard 338 from Tartan.
Buyers can also order an optional UV cover for the mainsail and tiller in their preferred color.
The Verdict
The Colgate 26 works as a deliberately practical sport boat. Its solid-fiberglass construction, self-draining cockpit, positive flotation, and easily managed rig—including mainsail reefing—put meaningful control within reach of novice crews. It is stiff, dry, and easy to handle, whether training midshipmen or racing around the buoys.
Pros
- Virtually unsinkable, with positive foam flotation and a self-draining cockpit and lockers
- Reefable mainsail with double reefs, a rare provision for control in this size range
- Light, fingertip helm and high pointing ability under test
- Legal-width beam for trailering
- Class I status simplifies ownership
Cons
- Shoal-draft model trades upwind stiffness for reduced draft
- Mostly open stern and training-focused layout limit creature comforts below
