Design and Construction
Viko Yachts built the S 26 in solid fiberglass with an iron ballast and a solid fiberglass deck, keeping the structure straightforward rather than chasing exotic core schedules below the waterline. The hull measures 8.50 meters overall with a 7.80-meter hull length, a 2.80-meter beam, and a displacement that starts at either 1,650 or 1,800 kilograms depending on configuration. Three keel variants were offered — centerboard, lift keel, and fixed keel — and the draft swings from a minimum of 0.35 or 0.50 meters up to a maximum of 1.45 or 1.65 meters, letting the boat skim over shoals or stand up to a breeze as rigged. She carries a CE design category C, which places her in sheltered-to-coastal waters rather than offshore service, and her capsize screening ratio of 2.32 and comfort ratio near 12 reflect a light, lively hull tuned more for speed than for passage-making motion.
Rig and Handling
The S 26 wears a fractional sloop rig with a 9.90-meter mast and a standard sail area of either 29 or 35 square meters, the larger cloth tied to the optional sport rig that Blue Water Sailing described as a full performance setup. A gennaker of 34 to 38 square meters extends her light-air range, and the builder's own notes promise exciting performance under sail from that combination. Steering is by tiller with an extension so the helmsman can sit on the coaming, and the mainsheet is positioned where it is handy to trim without leaving the weather seat — a layout that keeps a short-handed crew in control. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.92 and a displacement-length ratio near 106, she is light on her feet and quick to accelerate, exactly the profile a sport racer-cruiser advertises.
Accommodations
Below, the S 26 is a genuine cruiser despite her racing prefix. Writing in Blue Water Sailing, reviewers found a full interior with an enclosed head aft and to port, a working galley across from it, and a drop-leaf table in the saloon around which four can dine. The centerboard trunk rises through the middle of the saloon, flanked by bench settees that are themselves large enough to sleep on, and the V-berth forward is small but acceptable for one adult or two children. A huge double berth sits aft under the cockpit and is sized for two American-size adults; all told, the boat can sleep four adults and two children overnight. Cabin headroom reaches 180 to 185 centimeters, and the décor mixes modern styling with wood veneers and solid wood trim on doors and cabinets. The cockpit itself is roomy, and as delivered she came with a Port-a-Potty for the head — though the same review noted a proper head and small holding tank could easily be installed in its place.
Ownership and Refit Paths
The base boat shipped without a built-in engine, using an outboard on a bracket aft, while the manufacturer also listed an optional inboard engine for those who wanted enclosed propulsion. That outboard-versus-inboard choice is the first refit fork a owner faces, and the easy head conversion is the second. Berth count is quoted at four to six, matching the four-to-six crew capacity, so the interior already covers its stated load without rework.
The Verdict
The Viko S 26 is a rare thing: a sub-28-foot hull that races on Saturday and sleeps a family on Sunday without apology. Her multiple keel options and lifting draft make her accessible to shallow venues, while the sport rig and gennaker keep her competitive when the gun goes off. The interior is compact but real, and the aft double berth is a genuine cruising asset.
Pros
- Three keel variants including lift and centerboard for shallow-water access
- Full interior with enclosed head, working galley, and aft double berth for two adults
- Optional sport rig and gennaker deliver lively performance in a 26-foot package
Cons
- Base configuration relies on an outboard bracket rather than inboard propulsion
- CE category C limits her to coastal and sheltered waters
- Forward V-berth is tight for more than one adult
