Precision Colgate 26 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Colgate 26’s hull is solid fiberglass, with the deck cored in Core-cell foam for rigidity and the hull-to-deck joint made on a flange that is chemically bonded and through-bolted before a rubber bumper conceals the seam hull and deck flange join. Local reinforcement is concentrated where loads dictate: the bow, under the stanchion bases, around the mast support, and across the bottom where the stainless keel bolts attach. Positive foam flotation makes the boat virtually unsinkable, a practical priority Colgate insisted upon to satisfy Offshore Sailing School’s insurance requirements. The hull form itself carries a flattish forefoot and firm bilges, and the deck presents a secure nonskid pattern with oversized, well-supported stanchions terminating at a sensible pulpit that does not extend forward of the bow. A stout wooden tiller is about the only wood on the boat.

Ballast, Draft, and Performance Profile

The standard keel carries 1,050 pounds of lead ballast at a 4-foot-6-inch draft, while the shoal-draft version trades up to 1,250 pounds of lead and pulls draft down to 3 feet 6 inches. A 40-percent ballast-to-displacement ratio accounts for the stiffness test sailors noted when sailing upwind, and a displacement-to-length ratio of 145 helps explain the lively off-the-wind performance. On the water, the boat pointed very high on the wind and sliced through a choppy gulf without pounding; the helm stayed light enough for fingertip tiller control even when the sea breeze reached 12 to 15 knots, and the rubrail deflected spray to keep the cockpit surprisingly dry. Owners report a usable wind range of 5 to 35 knots.

Rig and Handling

The Colgate 26 is rigged as a fractional sloop with a large, well-designed mainsail that balances the boat without the jib, and a small nonoverlapping roller-furling jib that a child can trim even in a blow. All main and jib controls lead back to the cockpit, and the double-ended mainsheet travels across the inboard transom for efficient end-boom sheeting while keeping the crew area clear; Harken No. 16 self-tailing winches sit on the cabintop for the headsail. Reefing the main to control excessive heeling is a feature not generally found on boats this size, and the main carries double reefs for calmer heavy-weather sailing. Neither the main nor the jib need be removed after sailing—the jib roller furls and the main slides down for slab folding over the boom, with a leech UV cover protecting the furled jib. A full spinnaker kit ships with the standard boat, and the guy and sheet lead through Harken blocks for efficient downwind trimming.

Accommodations and Deck Layout

Below, the V-berths run 7 feet 3 inches, long enough for real sleep if the weather drives everyone below, and the interior can be hosed down once cushions are out. On deck, the cockpit seats four adults with ease and offers good leg support, while the stainless railing lends security when heeled. A seat-level inboard transom supports the rudder post and tiller, yet an open stern beyond gives easy access from the water. A bracket for an outboard motor is mounted astern with a dedicated cockpit locker for engine storage, and the cockpit and lockers are self-draining. Standard creature comforts include a portable head, insulated ice chest, optional sink, alcohol stove, VHF radio, and a soft solar panel left in the cockpit to maintain the battery.

The Verdict

The Colgate 26 succeeds as a purpose-built trainer that became a family sport boat, offering uncommon stiffness, trailable dimensions, and a deck plan that keeps sail handling in the cockpit. Its unsinkable flotation and self-draining cockpit are rare assurances in this size range, and the reefable main with slab folding makes owner upkeep unusually simple.

Pros