Holman 26 Buyer's Guide
The Holman 26 on the used market is a timber long-keel cruiser with C. R. (Kim) Holman as designer and Alan Feltham as builder from 1960, originally launched as the Nymphet class before the Holman 26 name took hold. She is a traditional carvel-planked yacht with a sailing-focused character rather than a volume-driven interior, and the examples that survive have often been updated in ways that matter to a buyer.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Holman 26 was built with a forecabin and saloon arrangement providing up to four berths, and about 5 foot 3 inches of headroom throughout. The 26 foot 2 inch length overall with a 20 foot waterline and 7 foot 6 inch beam defines a compact hull where the separation of forecabin from saloon is the main concession to privacy. A shopper should expect a wooden-deck, carvel mahogany hull on oak frames with iron ballast in a long keel and cutaway forefoot.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential upgrades seen on these boats address spars and ground tackle. The original wooden mast has here given way to an alloy spar, removing a key rot risk, and some boats have been fitted with an anchor windlass and roller-reefing to ease handling. The original auxiliary was usually a Stuart Turner or similar petrol engine of 6 to 8 brake horsepower, so any buyer should assess the engine as a period installation rather than modern propulsion.
What to Inspect
Because the Holman 26 is carvel mahogany planking on oak frames with a wooden deck, the hull and deck timber should be inspected for condition appropriate to the construction type. The original long-keel iron ballast and cutaway forefoot should be checked as part of the hull structure. Where an alloy mast replacement has not been done, the original timber spar and its partners warrant close review. The petrol engine installation should be evaluated on its own merits given the 6 to 8 BHP original specification.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not separately documented for this model. A buyer's short checklist:
- Confirm hull is carvel mahogany on oak with sound frames and planking
- Verify whether the original timber mast has been replaced with alloy
- Check the iron-ballasted long keel and cutaway forefoot for integrity
- Assess the petrol auxiliary and any added windlass or roller-reefing
- Accept 5' 3" headroom and four-berth layout as the as-designed norm
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,136 | 28 | 8 |
| Victoria 26 | 26' | $ 23,777 | 26 | 7 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 26 | 26.08' | $ 17,423 | 17 | 2 |
| Marieholm 26 | 26.25' | $ 8,741 | 11 | 5 |
| Peter Webster, Lymington 29 | 29' | $ 8,153 | 10 | 0 |