Impulse 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Impulse 26 means looking at one of roughly 40 boats built between 1984 and 1987 by Johnson Boat Works/New Orleans Marine. William Cook's 26-foot fractional sloop is a small, solid-fiberglass coastal design with a lead fin keel, and because so few were made, each available hull is a discrete example worth inspecting on its own terms.
Layouts on the Used Market
No layout note is carried for this model, and the record describes only the hull, deck, and rig — not the interior. At a viewing, check for yourself whether the compact hull with its spade rudder and fin keel conceals a usable berth and galley arrangement; assume nothing from the build data, which gives an 8.42-foot beam and no belowdeck plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
No equipment tiers are listed for the Impulse 26, so nothing about her used-market gear can be characterized as prevalent. The boat may be equipped with an inboard engine, and her rig originally specified full halyard and sheet sets for mainsail, genoa, jib, and spinnaker use. Any electronics, canvas, or powertrain beyond that is individual to the hull and must be assessed at the viewing.
What to Inspect
No structural, rigging, or systems defects are listed against the design, so a used-boat survey should follow normal age-appropriate checks for a 1980s solid-fiberglass hull: verify the lead fin keel and spade rudder attachment, confirm the inboard engine installation if fitted, and inspect the original 5/16-inch halyards and 3/8-inch sheets for UV and chafe wear. Condition, not pattern, governs the buy.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Impulse 26s appear in the United States. For a buyer, the short checklist is:
- Confirm the fin keel and spade rudder are sound and well bonded
- Check the inboard engine mounting and drip if one is fitted
- Inspect all original halyards and sheets for replacement need
- Verify the 4.6-foot draft matches the loaded hull
- Survey the solid fiberglass hull for age-related osmosis or impact
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Impulse 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25 | 1 | $7,500 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $6,950 | -7.3% |
Where they're listed
Impulse 26 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $7,225 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Marine 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,500 | 16 | 11 |
| Impulse 26You are here | — | $ 7,225 | 2 | 0 |