Columbia 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Columbia 26 Mk I means looking at the original 1963–1969 generation built by Columbia Yachts, a solid-fiberglass coastal cruiser with a full keel and attached rudder. These boats turn up in the United States, where most brokerage examples will be found.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Mk I is a stretched Columbia 24 with two extra feet amidships, an 8-foot beam, and 6'1" headroom. The cockpit and lazarette carry over unchanged from the 24, and the lazarette is separated from the cabin by a watertight bulkhead with scuppers and a well cut to take a short-shaft outboard. A second deadlight forward and a straight sheer mark the 26 against the 24.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential items are the propulsion choice—original outboard well versus an optional inboard requiring relieved keel and rudder—and the sail plan, since a 150-percent jib was flown in documented heavy-air testing.
What to Inspect
The hull's sloping bilge and deep aft sump collect any water that enters, so probe the sump for standing water or odor that signals a long-term leak anchor. Confirm the watertight bulkhead between lazarette and cabin is sound and its bedding intact, because that barrier is the only defense once water passes the scuppers. If an inboard was fitted, check the keel and rudder relief for propeller clearance and any cracking around the modification anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. Before committing, walk through this short list:
- Sound the aft sump for hidden water or smell
- Test the lazarette bulkhead seals for integrity
- Verify inboard keel/rudder relief shows no stress cracks
- Confirm mast height of 37 feet clears your storage
- Check the second forward deadlight for seal failure
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Columbia 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $5,399 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $3,400 | -37.0% |
Where they're listed
Columbia 26 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $3,400 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |