Columbia 26 Mk II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Mk II measures 25' 7" overall, with a 21' 8" waterline and an 8' 6" beam. That gives it a length-to-beam ratio of 3.01 and a notably roomy layout for a 26-footer of its era.

The standard version displaces 5,900 pounds and carries 2,500 pounds of lead ballast, for a 42% ballast ratio. The optional shoal-keel variant is listed at 6,600 pounds displacement with 3,200 pounds of ballast [0]1. Early builder literature claimed a displacement of 5,000 pounds, but that figure was revised to 5,900 by late 1970. Weighed examples from the 1969 Detroit-area batch all exceeded the earlier figure; one came in at 6,230 pounds 0.

The hull is solid fiberglass, with a fin keel. Every Mk II has molded-in waffle nonskid on deck and a colored hull stripe. On the later 26 K, Columbia substituted a bolted aluminum toe rail, coarser hand-applied nonskid, smaller plastic-framed cabin windows, and an optional hull stripe.

Rig, Performance, and Handling

The Mk II’s masthead-sloop rig carries 310 square feet of sail. That produces a SA/D of 15.2 on the reference sail and 18.0 with a 135% genoa. The standard rig uses single lower shrouds, while the racing rig added double lowers. Accepted dimensions are I-31.5, J-10.5, P-26.3, and E-11.0 0.

Blair Arden’s racing records list a 1981 PHRF rating of 228 and a current local rating of 219, with a 6-second credit for inboard boats. The national average appears to fall between 225 and 228 0.

The theoretical hull speed is 6.2 knots, and owner reports broadly support that figure. One boat maintained 6.5 knots, with occasional surges to 7 knots, in 2–4 foot seas and 15 knots of wind. Under power, a 10 hp Chrysler outboard drove the boat at a steady 4.5 knots [0]1.

The capsize screening value is 1.88, and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 23.1. These values place the boat among moderate racers; its displacement-length ratio is 266 1.

Accommodations and Cruising Capacity

The bubble-top deck gives the Mk II its distinctive trunk-cabin profile. The accommodation layout remained unchanged through the production run. The K variant’s main interior difference was a fabric overlay in the saloon between the shelf and the underside of the deck; aside from that trim change, everything else was identical to the Mk II 0.

Cruising capacity is modest, with 13 gallons of water and an optional 9-gallon fuel tank 0.

Engines and Rigging

Power was optional when the boat was new. Buyers could specify either a 9.5 hp OMC thru-hull-drive gasoline engine or a 5 hp Patter AB1WM diesel. Many boats instead used outboards, including the 10 hp Chrysler mentioned in owner reports 0.

The original running-rigging lengths are well documented. Main and jib halyards use around 29–30 feet of wire with 36-foot tails, while the mainsheet is 80 feet and the jib sheets are 60 feet. Those records allow a re-rig to follow the original specification exactly [0]1.

Variants and Identification

The main documented production variation is the late-run Columbia 26 K. Its molded fiberglass toe rail was replaced by a bolted aluminum extrusion, and its smooth waffle nonskid gave way to a coarser, hand-applied texture 0.

Smaller plastic-framed cabin windows are another telltale feature of the K and can help identify these final-year boats. Because the K’s hull stripe was optional, however, a boat without one may be harder to date at a glance 0.

Early brochure figures can also cause confusion. A boat described as displacing “5,000 lb” is likely to weigh closer to 5,900 pounds or more 0.

The Verdict

The Columbia 26 Mk II is a characteristic late-1960s Tripp design: beamy, lead-ballasted, and quick for its length, with a bubble-top deck that still looks modern. Its 950-boat production run makes it a populous Tripp design 0, while the 26 K’s relatively minor changes make the two versions easy to find and identify. Even so, the conflicting displacement figures and K-specific trim details reward a careful look.

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