Seaward 26 RK Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Seaward 26 RK means looking at a Nick Hake-designed retractable-keel cruiser built from 2005 onward, with roughly 250 afloat and production still limited. The boat’s party trick is a keel that lifts to a 15-inch draft yet lowers for a 6-foot bite, making her equally at home on a trailer or a shallow creek. Knowing which generation and what equipment a given example carries matters more than hull number alone.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 26 RK shares the same core plan: a V-berth forward, berths for four adults longer than 6 feet, a port galley 48 inches long with icebox stove and sink, and a starboard enclosed head with shower and toilet anchor. Headroom runs about 5 feet 10 inches throughout. The cockpit is large for the length at 8 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 2 inches and seats four, with a transom gate for swim-step access. A starboard cockpit locker over 6 feet long is the main stowage; elsewhere the boat is short on bulk storage unless the aft quarterberth is used. Early boats used stainless ports, later ones plastic. The most consequential layout distinction is the keel and rudder: early examples may retain the original non-lifting rudder and poured keel, while 2010-and-later boats adopted a bolt-on keel and fully retracting rudder cassette.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most used Seaward 26 RK boats carry a bimini, dodger, autopilot, and chartplotter as standard cruising kit. Climate and power upgrades are often seen: air conditioning, solar, an inverter, hot water, and a swim platform appear on a good share of boats. Less common owner additions include asymmetric or conventional spinnakers, a cockpit shower, and AIS. For a buyer, the electric keel motor (Rule Industries 20SS with 2,000-pound lift) and the Schaefer furler with raised jib tack are the systems to confirm working, since they define the boat’s usability. The optional inboard Yanmar diesel replaces the outboard configuration on some examples and is worth noting for noise and range.
What to Inspect
The initial production run of the 26 RK left the factory with a rudder that would not retract fully, leaving 12 to 18 inches of blade below the hull anchor. Check any pre-2010 boat for this and for the original poured keel versus the later bolt-on. Confirm the electric retraction motor and the fiberglass housing beneath the mast are sound, and inspect the inverted-J hull-to-deck joint and the aluminum-plate deck hardware bonds for any loosening. The single-side backstay attachment and the Edson wheel obstruction are design traits to evaluate for your own movement aboard.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. When viewing a 26 RK, confirm: keel type and full rudder retraction; electric lift motor function; deck hardware plate integrity; cockpit locker and quarterberth storage suiting your plans; and presence of the commonly fitted canvas and navigation gear. A later-build example with the bolt-on keel and lifting rudder is the cleaner buy, but an early boat at the right price with those issues addressed can still deliver the Hake shoal-draft experience.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Seaward 26 RK. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $58,000 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $54,900 | -5.3% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $41,950 | -23.6% |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $50,250 | +19.8% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $39,000 | -22.4% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $60,000 | +53.8% |
| May 26 | 3 | $64,900 | +8.2% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $38,900 | -40.1% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $39,500 | +1.5% |
Where they're listed
Seaward 26 RK listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 11.
Country view
11 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $60,000 | 11 | 3 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Marine 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,500 | 15 | 10 |
| Hake / Seaward 26 RK | 28.42' | $ 52,999 | 13 | 7 |
| Viko S 26 | 27.89' | $ 52,927 | 12 | 1 |
| Seaward 26 RKYou are here | — | $ 60,000 | 11 | 3 |