Columbia 7.6 Buyer's Guide
The Columbia 7.6 is a 25-foot Alan Payne wide-body cruiser that came off several production lines between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, so a buyer is shopping a single design with varied builder histories rather than a single-yard pedigree. Understanding which yard built a given example matters less than confirming the hull is the Payne 7.6 with its fin keel, shoal draft, and overrigged masthead rig intact.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 7.6 was sold as a four-berth cruiser with a 9-foot-2-inch beam and 16 gallons of water, conceived for the practical needs of cruising families rather than bareboat charter volume. Standard propulsion was an outboard on a stern modified for that purpose, while a Yanmar 8 hp diesel inboard was the factory option, placed in the skeg-hull location so it would not intrude into the cabin. A buyer should confirm which power configuration a specific boat carries, since the portable fuel tank of the outboard version and the diesel installation imply different systems upkeep.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Given the outboard-standard and optional-diesel split, the most consequential buyer items are propulsion and energy: the portable fuel tank and outboard versus a Yanmar 8 hp diesel with its own fuel and cooling lines. Rigging is a close second—the boat is significantly overrigged for its size, so a used example benefits from verified halyards and sheets sized to the factory estimates, roughly 74-foot halyards and 25-foot genoa sheets. Sail inventory is the other live theme: the 319-square-foot masthead rig with a 135 percent genoa option means a well-cut genoa and reefable main matter more than cosmetic canvas.
What to Inspect
The one designer-stated modification worth a look is the stern arrangement for outboard installation anchor; on diesel-equipped boats, confirm the skeg-hull engine space remains accessible and dry anchor. Beyond that, verify the fin keel and transom-hung rudder for impact or repair, and check that the wide-body hull's 3-foot-6-inch draft measurement matches a sound, unloaded bottom.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The 7.6 appeared across multiple builders during its run, so regional supply follows where those boats were sold and kept rather than a single concentrated market. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm Alan Payne wide-body identity and 25-foot-1-inch LOA; verify outboard or Yanmar diesel and matching fuel system; inspect stern outboard modification and optional inboard space; check fin keel, rudder, and rigging sizes against the overrigged sloop spec; and assess four-berth accommodation and 16-gallon water against intended coastal cruising.