Design and Construction
The PY 26 was built with materials typical of its era: hand-laid fiberglass cloth, mat, woven roving, and balsa core. Inside, a fiberglass pan forms the cabin sole and berth foundations, while the overhead is finished with a one-piece fiberglass headliner Practical Sailor. The bulkheads are plywood with teak trim.
The hull has a raked stem and near-vertical transom. Its rudder is mounted outboard on the transom, an arrangement that provides good control. The 9.5-foot beam gives the boat good initial stability, while 2,200 pounds of iron ballast in the 4-foot 6-inch fin keel provides adequate ultimate stability. The keel is cast iron rather than lead and, unlike lead, can rust.
Canadian-built boats had teak toerails; AMF later changed these to slotted aluminum toerails. In 1979, just before production ceased, a centerboard version became available, with the board pivoting from a ballasted stub keel external to the hull. This version draws 2 feet 7 inches with the board up and 6 feet 7 inches with it down. However, its 9-foot 6-inch beam exceeds standard highway limits, and its 6,900-pound displacement would require a substantial towing vehicle.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The PY 26 is a masthead sloop with the mast stepped on the keel, generally considered stronger than a deck-stepped arrangement. The rig includes an anodized mast and boom and stainless steel wire rigging: a split backstay to clear the tiller, a headstay, upper shrouds, and single lower shrouds terminating at the same chainplate. The mainsheet attaches near the end of the boom and leads to a traveler at the aft edge of the bridge deck.
The sloop rig produces a modest sail area/displacement ratio of about 15.7 to 16.5. PHRF ratings range from 194–207 for the keel model and 207–210 for the centerboard version. Practical Sailor found the design faster than a Cal 25, Pearson 26, or Catalina 27.
Depending on the figure used, the displacement/length ratio falls between 227 and 250. With displacement around 6,000 pounds, the PY 26 has enough weight for confident coastal cruising without being too heavy for decent performance.
Accommodations
The PY 26 makes remarkable use of its interior space for a 26-footer. Its full 6-foot 1-inch headroom was exceptional for the era.
Forward, there’s a V-berth with access to a tiny forepeak. A door from the head opens into the forward cabin, so fitting a V-berth insert would require removing that door. The head compartment spans both sides of the boat, with the toilet to port and a small sink and vanity to starboard.
The saloon has two settees, each with stowage behind its backrest, plus a quarter berth aft of the port settee. The dinette table folds against the main bulkhead when it isn’t needed.
The galley sits beneath the bridgedeck and includes a sink, a generous 125-pound icebox, and a two-burner alcohol stove. On some models the stovetop was gimbaled; on others it was fixed flush. AMF-built boats adopted an L-shaped galley and extended the starboard settee past the main bulkhead to provide footroom beneath the head sink. Canadian-built boats retained a conventional starboard settee.
Known Issues
The main material concern is the cast-iron keel, which can rust, unlike a lead keel.
The transom-hung rudder provides good control, but its location is unusual on a boat of this size. The pintles and gudgeons are therefore worth inspecting for wear.
The Verdict
The PY 26 is a thoughtfully laid-out small cruiser that offers more accommodation and stability than its length might suggest. Its keel-stepped mast and beamy hull give it a solid, seakindly character for coastal work. The centerboard version adds shallow-water access, though at the expense of trailering practicality.
The iron keel calls for vigilance against rust, but the PY 26 remains a competent, well-mannered 26-footer.
Pros
- Exceptional 6-foot 1-inch headroom and smart use of space for a 26-footer
- Keel-stepped mast and 2,200 pounds of ballast provide good stability
- Faster PHRF performance than the Cal 25, Pearson 26, and Catalina 27
- Centerboard version draws 2 feet 7 inches with the board up
Cons
- Cast-iron keel can rust, unlike lead
- Centerboard model’s beam exceeds standard highway limits, and the boat is heavy for trailering
- Head door prevents straightforward use of a V-berth insert
