Design and Construction
The 26RK reads as a traditional profile at a distance—a tall bow, an upward-sloping cabintop with four ports, and a downward sloping sheerline to a cockpit wrapped in a stainless steel stern rail—but up close the details are Hake's own. The hull shape he calls a spherical tumblehome is paired with a nearly plumb bow and a practical 2-foot bowsprit, while the deck carries a boxy trunk house and mild tumblehome that give the boat its jaunty character without apology. The retractable keel is a NACA-designed, high-aspect, 8-foot-long section with 26-inch wings attached to a bulb; it draws 6 feet when fully deployed and only 2 feet (the depth of the bulb) when raised, with a thin chord of just 15.5 inches and a weight of 1,200 pounds.
Structurally, the hull lamination schedule includes a blister-resistant vinylester gelcoat, a skin coat of chopped strand mat, and triaxial fabrics, with the second step introducing 40-ounce triaxial cloth and Coremat used in the flat runs of the hull to provide stiffness. The interior pan is a solid fiberglass structural member vacuum-bonded to the deck, and the hull-to-deck joint is shaped like an inverted J, chemically and mechanically fastened with stainless machine screws every six inches. Deck hardware such as cleats is fastened to tapped 1/8-inch aluminum plates embedded in the laminate, and the deck itself is cored with Divinycell foam. Chainplates are mechanically and chemically fastened, and a 3-inch-wide stainless steel strap penetrates the coachroof down to a stainless rod at the hull.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan is an uncomplicated, deck-stepped, fractional rig with single spreaders; shrouds and inner stays are mounted inside the sidedeck walkway, and stainless-steel handrails sit fore and aft of the shroud bases. The mainsheet runs from the boom end to an athwartships track at the companionway, halyards lead on the cabintop to Ronstan rope clutches, and an Andersen winch sits forward of those clutches. The Schaefer headsail furler lifts the jib tack at least 12 inches off the deck, and the stock 110 percent genoa works with standard sails from Super Sails. One tester did question that the backstay is attached to just one side of the transom.
On the water, the rounded entry that prevents broaches by eliminating the nose's tendency to bite and skid is a Hake claim borne out in practice. In 10 to 15 knots on the Chesapeake, test sailors found her pointing to within 40 degrees of apparent wind, registering 4.5 to 5.5 knots over ground under full main and 110 percent headsail, climbing to the mid-6 range with eased sheets and a 7-knot run for several minutes. A reef in the main at 14 knots cut heel and raised comfort while holding speed. With the keel up she spun on her keel, sailing circles the diameter of her own length—a trick that explains much of her appeal in tight anchorages.
Accommodations
Below, the 26RK gives standing headroom of around 5 feet 10 inches throughout and berths for four that are more than 6 feet long, with the V-berth as the main sleeping choice. A fully equipped version offers seating and dining space for four adults; the 34-inch table hangs on the bulkhead and rotates amidships to serve both sides. The 48-inch-long galley to port carries an icebox, stove, and sink, and counter space reaches 48 inches if the sink cover and oven top are pressed into service. Opposite, the enclosed head compartment measures 32 by 40 inches with shower and toilet. The cockpit itself measures 8 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 2 inches with 16-inch seats that comfortably seat four, and Hake claimed the added waterline made it more user-friendly since most new space lies aft of the wheel. A transom gate eases stern entry, and a starboard locker runs 28 inches deep, 34 inches wide, and more than 6 feet long with space for a 6-gallon fuel tank under the seat.
Known Issues
Early boats carried a rudder that couldn't be fully retracted, extending about 12 to 18 inches below the hull—a real penalty for a design sold on shoal draft. Owners report that by 2010 the keel design had been changed to bolt-on and the rudder redesigned so it lifted all the way up into its cassette. The Edson wheel is a bit in the way to get around, and the boat suffers a paucity of bulk storage space unless the aft quarterberth is given over to gear. Plastic ports are standard, replacing the stainless steel ports of older boats.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership centers on the retractable system: the keel is lowered and retracted by pulling one of two lines on the cabintop near the cockpit, those lines run to a switch on a Rule Industries 20SS electric motor with 2,000-pound lift capacity housed in a fiberglass box just beneath the mast. The stern-hung rudder adjusts up and down within its sheath and carries a pin at its head to stop it lifting out in a following sea; its leading edge mixes carbon fiber and fiberglass. The optional inboard Yanmar diesel stands as the alternative to outboard power, and the 6-gallon tank allowance shows the intended light coastal use.
The Verdict
The Seaward 26RK is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser that trades outright speed for a draft range no fixed-keel 26-footer can match. Hake's construction is methodical and the boat's behavior under sail justifies the retractable complexity for anyone who wants both trailering and real anchorage capability.
Pros
- 15-inch minimum draft and 6-foot max draft from a single NACA keel section
- Stiff, well-fastened structure with inverted-J hull joint and aluminum-plated deck hardware
- Genuine four-berth accommodation with head, shower, and 48-inch galley in 26 feet
- Tight turning and shoal retraction make her a superior gunkholer
Cons
- Early rudders extended 12–18 inches below hull until the 2010 cassette redesign
- Limited bulk storage unless the quarterberth is sacrificed
- Edson wheel intrudes on the companionway footpath
- Single-side backstay attachment drew tester concern
