Victoria 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Victoria 26 market means chasing the Frances-derived double-ender that Victoria Marine built in the UK from 1982 to 1998, around 175 of them, before the hull became the Victoria 800. These are solidly built little cruisers with a long keel and sternpost-hung rudder, aimed from new at owners willing to pay slightly over the odds for a rugged voyager — and the used fleet reflects that original seriousness.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The production Victoria 26 carried a longer coachroof than the original flush-decked Frances, with the mast seated on that coachroof and a wooden interior giving four berths. Buyers will find the aft-head plan drawn in two ways — a sea berth with a permanent double in one, or twin settees with a large forward double in the other — so confirm which a specific ex-charter hull carries before assuming berth count and galley access.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is commonly fitted across the used fleet. Furling main and teak decks are often seen, while heating, a dodger, and autopilot sit in the owner-upgrade tier rather than standard spec. For a buyer, the furling main deserves a second look: an in-mast furling conversion adds weight aloft that Yachting Monthly reported made an already initially tender hull excessively tender, so a boat so equipped should be sailed before purchase rather than judged at the mooring. Teak decks, where present, mean recurring caulking and scrubbing obligations versus the original glass.
What to Inspect
Service weaknesses on these boats center on layup and underwater gear. Yachting Monthly recorded one owner returning a boat to the water after a long haul-out who found the rubber seals on both the bilge pump and the heads had perished and needed replacing, and the impeller on the engine's salt water pump was also shot. Trace the drivetrain next: a loose prop shaft on the same boat needed a new cutless bearing, which then exposed a failed rear seal on the gearbox. At the mast, check whether an in-mast furling system has been added; its extra aloft weight was reported by Yachting Monthly to make the boat heel excessively versus sisters on nearby moorings. On any example, confirm the companionway steps slide to clear the chosen engine, since the original layout anticipated that movement.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical markets are the United Kingdom and Ireland. For a viewing there, keep the following:
- Inspect bilge-pump and heads seals for perish from layup
- Spin the prop shaft for looseness; budget a cutless bearing
- Check the engine salt-water pump impeller
- Verify gearbox rear seal is dry
- Avoid or test-sail any in-mast-furling rig for tenderness
- Confirm which aft-head layout the hull carries
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Victoria 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 3 | $24,452 | — |
| May 26 | 2 | $20,314 | -16.9% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $23,290 | +14.6% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $22,370 | -4.0% |
Where they're listed
Victoria 26 listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 4 (57.1%), followed by Ireland.
Country view
7 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $24,115 | 4 | 1 | 57.1% |
| Ireland | $23,290 | 3 | 2 | 42.9% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,131 | 28 | 8 |
| Victoria 26 | 26' | $ 23,776 | 26 | 8 |
| Jeremy Rogers 26 | 25.5' | $ 10,123 | 21 | 4 |
| Victoria Victoria 30 | 29.67' | $ 27,108 | 14 | 4 |
| Victoria 26You are here | — | $ 23,290 | 8 | 3 |