Nonsuch 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for a Nonsuch 26 means looking at a Mark Ellis catboat built by Hinterhoeller Yachts from 1981, with the Ultra interior generation appearing among later boats such as the 1988 example one owner bought out of Niagara-on-the-Lake. These are beamy 26-foot cruisers with a freestanding mast and no headsail, aimed originally at Lake Ontario and Long Island Sound owners, and they reward a buyer who wants simple handling over sloop-style performance.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 26 came in Classic and Ultra interior arrangements. One owner's account found the Ultra much the same in size and practical layout as a CS 30, save for the missing aft berth. Across both generations the mast sits in the bow behind a bulkhead, so the forward cabin is enclosed by a sliding light panel rather than given over to a V-berth, and the head opposite the galley is large for the length with optional pressurized hot water. Two 30-gallon tanks give 60 gallons of water, a practical cruising allowance.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, electric winches, a dodger, and a chartplotter are commonly fitted, and a bimini and autopilot are often seen. Buyers will less commonly find heating, a furling main, or hot water as owner upgrades. For consequence, the power-and-energy cluster matters most: electric winches reduce load on the single 13 hp Vire diesel, while a dodger and bimini define how much time you spend dry in the cockpit. A chartplotter and autopilot together let a short-handed owner manage the unstayed rig without a crew, and a furling main where fitted simplifies stowage further.
What to Inspect
The construction is balsa-cored laminate, so any survey should focus on the hull and deck sandwich for moisture intrusion at through-fittings and along the hull-to-deck line. Because the mast is freestanding and stepped in the bow, check the mast step and forward bulkhead for compression or movement, and confirm the wishbone boom's control lines and lazy jacks are intact so the mainsail stacks without leaving the cockpit. The large freestanding rudder should be checked for play at the stock.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and Canada. For a buyer, the checklist is short and specific: confirm Classic or Ultra layout against your berth needs, verify the balsa core is dry, exercise the freestanding mast step and rudder, and note which of the common upgrades — electric winches, dodger, chartplotter, bimini, autopilot — are already aboard versus planned. A 26 with those systems and a sound core is a low-effort cruiser for a couple or a boatful of non-sailors.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Nonsuch 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 10 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 2 | $18,500 | — |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $19,900 | +7.6% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $31,200 | +56.8% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $23,000 | -26.3% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $22,900 | -0.4% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $30,631 | +33.8% |
| May 26 | 1 | $27,575 | -10.0% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $22,900 | -17.0% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $23,755 | +3.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $19,900 | -16.2% |
Where they're listed
Nonsuch 26 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 10 (76.9%), followed by Canada.
Country view
13 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $22,900 | 10 | 5 | 76.9% |
| Canada | $30,631 | 3 | 1 | 23.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,138 | 28 | 8 |
| Jeremy Rogers 26 | 25.5' | $ 10,128 | 21 | 4 |
| Nonsuch 26You are here | — | $ 22,900 | 14 | 7 |
| Hinterhoeller Nonsuch 26 Classic | 26' | $ 27,444 | 10 | 1 |