Design and Construction
Hinterhoeller built the Nonsuch 26 with the same balsa-cored laminate construction technique seen across the yard's late-1970s and 1980s output, and the boat stands as the standard-bearer of the Nonsuch cat line. The mast steps in the bow, separated from the living space by a bulkhead, which frees the entire cabin trunk from the usual foretriangle clutter. There is no standard V-berth forward; instead the forward area is kept open and bright, closed off for sleeping only by a light panel that slides up and locks in place at the aft end of the cabin. That choice alone removes the dark, cramped forward berth that curses so many 26-footers. The head is very large for a 26-foot hull, placed opposite the galley at the widest part of the beam with maximum headroom, and it allows an optional pressurized hot water system.
Rig and Handling
The defining feature is the rig: a freestanding mast carrying 420 square feet of sail on a wishbone boom, with no headsail at all. The sail collects on a track the way any ordinary mainsail does rather than using a sleeve sail, and lazy jacks hold it neatly so an owner can douse it without leaving the cockpit. Because there is no headsail to tack and no sheets across the cockpit, the boat is easily singlehanded and clear for a boatful of non-sailors. Going to weather takes different handling than a sloop, but test sailors found she tacks easily within 80 degrees, and the large freestanding rudder was easy to control. Owners report that the unstayed mast absorbs gusts more than traditional stayed masts, further easing heel concerns.
Accommodations
Inside, the Ultra trades the usual forward V-berth for an open plan closed by the sliding panel, giving a 26-footer a sense of room few competitors match. The head's size and position at the beam's widest point with full headroom make it genuinely usable rather than a token compartment. A propane heater was fired up in period testing, underscoring the boat's role as a comfort-oriented coastal cruiser. The 2 x 30 US-gallon water capacity is generous for the length and supports the head's optional hot water and the opposite galley.
The Verdict
The Nonsuch 26 Ultra succeeds as a purpose-built pleasure cruiser that strips traditional sloop work down to a single manageable sail. Ellis's unstayed cat concept, executed by Hinterhoeller with balsa-cored laminate and a bulkhead-separated bow mast, yields a roomy, stable, and forgiving 26-footer whose 103-unit run and Lake Ontario and Long Island Sound following speak to its appeal.
Pros
- Balsa-cored laminate construction from a dedicated catboat builder
- Freestanding rig with wishbone boom and no headsail — easily singlehanded
- Unusually large head at the beam's widest point with optional hot water
- Open forward cabin closed by sliding panel instead of cramped V-berth
- 420 sq ft of sail on a 49-foot masthead with easy 80-degree tacks
Cons
- Shallow-draft and standard-draft choices still limit some thin-water use
- No headsail means different weather handling than sloop sailors expect
