Design and Construction
The Midget 26 is a solidly built monohull with a long keel and attached rudder, weighing about 3.4 tonnes with a 41 percent ballast ratio that the builder cited for stability anchor. The deck and hull are joined by lamination into one structural shell, which meant the interior and technical systems had to be sized to pass through the companionway. Construction uses polyester iso-resins with a foam-cored deck and multiplex panels let into high-load zones; the deck is partly a closed-cell foam sandwich. YACHT's used-boat test judged the manufacturing quality legendary, and noted that cockpit coaming "swallow's nest" surrounds were milled from single teak panels with no seams for longevity. Each railing foot and spring cleat was custom-made by the yard to the hull's curves. Shipyard head Martin de Kloet stated the gelcoat was exceptionally thick and of such quality it would never need painting, and a 2001 test boat showed no permanent UV or salt damage after about 15 Mediterranean years.
Rig and Handling
Under sail the Midget 26 is a study in contrasts. With only 23 square metres of jib-and-main area and a sail-load factor around 3.2, she is plainly under-rigged in light air; even a larger genoa only lifts carrying capacity to 3.6. The long keel creates a large wetted surface of about 21 square metres, which the test crew found produced uninspiring results under sail in 10 to 12 knots, where she tacked just over 100 degrees over ground. Yet she tacks easily without engine help, the tiller is long with light pressure that transmits gusts clearly, and in stronger winds the deep cockpit and long-keel behaviour let her handle six Beaufort and above with confidence. A capsize screening value of 1.98 would qualify her for ocean racing under that formula alone.
Accommodations
Below, the beam pays off. Wide gangways and a high cockpit coaming add to the sense of space, and the layout offers a spacious galley, a usable toilet room, a navigation table, and a separate aft cabin. The forward settee folds into a 1.90 by 1.90 metre berth; the aft cabin holds a 1.80 by 1.60 metre berth but is tight — access is only 60 centimetres wide and the inboard berth has just 44 centimetres of headroom under the cockpit sole. Headroom runs 1.85 metres at the companionway down to 1.60 metres forward. The boat is realistically suited to people no taller than 1.80 metres, and the cockpit ergonomics are clearly scaled to that height. She carries six to seven berths.
Known Issues
A few construction choices warrant care. The builder fitted windows with silicone as a long-term sealant, but paint will not adhere to any surface that has contacted that sealant anchor. Self-build hulls — which the yard sold separately and which are not counted in the 200 production figure — can show less meticulous interior finish than factory boats. Engines from the 1980s are reaching the end of their service life, and replacement is complicated by limited available space, so that must be checked before any purchase.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership is backed by a secure spare-parts pipeline: the yard holds all plans and continues to supply components. The permanently laminated polyester water tank has no inspection hatch, though the stainless diesel tank is removable despite lacking one. With an air draft of just eleven metres, the Midget 26 is a practical fit for the low bridges of the Dutch waterways.
The Verdict
The Midget 26 is a genuinely offshore-capable small cruiser whose legendary build quality and ballast-driven stability make her a rare find under 28 feet. She is cramped for taller sailors and sluggish in light wind, but her construction discipline and circumnavigation record argue for a boat that punches well above its length.
Pros
- Legendary manufacturing quality with hull-and-deck lamination and custom-fitted deck hardware
- 41 percent ballast ratio and long-keel behaviour give confidence in heavy weather
- Documented circumnavigations and a capsize screening value suited to ocean racing
- Low eleven-metre air draft ideal for constrained waterways
- Secured spare-parts supply with all yard plans available
Cons
- Under-rigged in light air with a large wetted surface hurting sail performance
- Aft-cabin access and headroom very tight; unsuitable for anyone over 1.80 metres
- Silicone window sealant prevents paint adhesion on contacted surfaces
- Engine replacement constrained by limited space; 1980s units near end of life
- Self-build interiors may be less finished than yard boats
