Design and Construction
The Crabber 26 measures just under 26 feet overall, with a 23-foot-9-inch waterline, a 9-foot-1-inch beam, and a displacement of roughly 8,800 pounds. Her centerboard hull carries 3,800 pounds of steel-and-lead ballast. Draft ranges from 2 feet 7 inches with the board raised to 6 feet 7 inches with it lowered.
David Thomas gave the hull a fine entry forward and a relatively straight run aft. It sits over a shallow long keel with bilge runners and an enlarged propeller aperture that effectively shortens the keel slightly. The cutout around the propeller makes the boat quicker and more responsive than expected of a long-keel design. It also results in very little prop walk compared with traditional long-keelers.
The only stated compromise is the use of lead ballast rather than iron. The builder chose lead to allow a lower saloon floor, accepting a higher build cost in return for better headroom and a steadier posture ashore. Even when dried out on a hard, sandy bottom, the boat heels no more than eight degrees. Two bilge-keel forms make drying out easier, while the lifting keel allows both creek crawling and good upwind performance when required.
Rig and Handling
The standard sail plan is a gaff cutter rig whose traditional appearance belies its handling ease, speed, and pointing ability. A deep, efficient centreboard keeps leeway to a minimum.
The gaff mainsail has two halyards, both led to the cockpit on the starboard side of the coachroof. One person can hoist the sail in under 30 seconds. A combined boom topping lift and lazyjack allows the gaff to lie on top of the boom, and the sail virtually flakes itself. The bowsprit retracts for marina berthing or mooring.
As the wind builds, the cutter rig allows the crew simply to furl the staysail and continue under the jib. This improves visibility and keeps sheet loads low enough to make the rig well suited to sailing with children aboard.
Test sailors found the boat nicely balanced and responsive in super-light airs, while still retaining the good directional stability associated with traditional designs. In very light winds, she tacked consistently through around 100 degrees. With the centreboard lowered, she pivots around it for crisper handling and quicker tacks; with the board raised, she can still sail close-hauled.
An optional bermudan cutter rig points 5–10 degrees closer to the wind than the gaff rig. Its aft-mounted spreaders also eliminate the need for running backstays.
Accommodations
Below, the Crabber 26 has about 1.9 meters of standing headroom and a clever four-berth layout. The builder says the accommodation challenges that of many larger boats, while boats.com found the interior significantly larger than those of similar designs from a couple of decades earlier.
Tongue-and-groove-effect bulkheads give the interior a finished appearance. Overhead hatches and proper portholes provide good ventilation and help keep the cabin bright.
The saloon seats six around a large folding table mounted above the centreboard casing. A large double V-berth fills the forepeak. Aft, beside the companionway, the galley includes a twin-burner gas cooker, a single sink, lockers, and either an icebox or optional fridge. A generous cockpit and ample storage complete the family-cruising arrangement.
Equipment and Engineering
Power comes from a Yanmar 3YM20 three-cylinder diesel producing about 20 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller. Removable access panels provide almost all-round access to the engine for servicing.
Standard capacities are 16 gallons of fuel and 66 gallons of water, figures suited to coastal cruising. Sail area is 473 square feet, with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.75. This supports the lively performance noted by testers without overwhelming a short-handed crew.
Verdict
The Cornish Crabber 26 is a capable all-round sailing cruiser that combines classic Cornish looks with a modern, easy-to-handle package. She’s roomy for her length, steady ashore and afloat, and quick to rig and tack. The extra cost of lead ballast and the gaff rig’s period character won’t suit everyone, but as a family coast-hopper she’s hard to fault.
Pros
- Four-berth layout with full headroom that rivals larger boats
- Lifting keel and bilge forms suited to drying out and exploring shallow creeks
- Quick, virtually self-flaking gaff rig that can be managed single-handed
- Centreboard keeps leeway low and makes tacking crisp
- Well-planned engine access
- Very little prop walk
Cons
- Lead ballast increases build cost compared with iron
- Gaff rig is less close-winded than the optional bermudan cutter
