Viko S 26 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Viko Yachts built the S 26 with a solid-fiberglass hull, solid-fiberglass deck, and iron ballast. The construction is straightforward rather than based on exotic core schedules below the waterline.

She measures 8.50 meters overall, with a hull length of 7.80 meters and a beam of 2.80 meters. Displacement starts at either 1,650 or 1,800 kilograms, depending on configuration.

Three keel variants were offered: centerboard, lift keel, and fixed keel. Depending on the version, draft ranges from a minimum of 0.35 or 0.50 meters to a maximum of 1.45 or 1.65 meters. That gives the S 26 the ability to skim over shoals or stand up to a breeze, according to how she’s rigged.

The boat carries a CE design category C, placing her in sheltered-to-coastal waters rather than offshore service. A capsize screening ratio of 2.32 and a comfort ratio near 12 reflect a light, lively hull designed more for speed than for passage-making motion.

Rig and Handling

The S 26 has a fractional sloop rig with a 9.90-meter mast. Standard sail area is listed as either 29 or 35 square meters; the larger figure is associated with the optional sport rig, which Blue Water Sailing described as a full performance setup. A 34- to 38-square-meter gennaker extends her light-air range, and the builder says this combination provides exciting performance under sail.

Steering is by tiller, with an extension that lets the helmsman sit on the coaming. The mainsheet is within easy reach from the weather seat, helping a short-handed crew keep the boat under control without moving around the cockpit unnecessarily.

With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.92 and a displacement-length ratio near 106, the S 26 is light on her feet and quick to accelerate—the sort of performance expected from a sport racer-cruiser.

Cockpit and Accommodations

Despite the racing prefix, the S 26 has a genuine cruising interior. Blue Water Sailing’s reviewers found an enclosed head aft and to port, a working galley opposite, and a drop-leaf saloon table with dining space for four.

The centerboard trunk rises through the middle of the saloon. Bench settees flank it, and each is large enough to sleep on. The forward V-berth is small but acceptable for one adult or two children. A large double berth beneath the cockpit is sized for two American-size adults. Altogether, the boat can sleep four adults and two children overnight.

Cabin headroom is 180 to 185 centimeters. The décor combines modern styling with wood veneers and solid-wood trim on the doors and cabinets.

The cockpit is roomy. As delivered, the enclosed head came with a Port-a-Potty, though the same review noted that a proper head and small holding tank could easily be installed in its place.

Propulsion and Refit Options

The base boat shipped without a built-in engine and used an outboard on a bracket aft. Viko also listed an optional inboard engine for buyers who wanted enclosed propulsion.

The outboard-versus-inboard choice is the first refit fork an owner faces; the easy conversion from the portable toilet to a proper head and small holding tank is the second. The quoted berth count is four to six, matching the stated crew capacity of four to six, so the interior already accommodates its intended load without reworking the layout.

Verdict

The Viko S 26 is an unusual package: a sub-28-foot boat that can race on Saturday and sleep a family on Sunday. Her three keel options and shallow-draft configurations open up shoal-water venues, while the optional sport rig and gennaker add performance around the racecourse. The interior is compact but complete, and the aft double berth is a genuine cruising asset.

Pros

Three keel variants, including lift-keel and centerboard options for shallow-water access
Full interior with an enclosed head, working galley, and aft double berth for two adults
Optional sport rig and gennaker provide lively performance in a 26-foot package

Cons