Design and Construction
The Voyager 26 is a solid fiberglass monohull with a long keel and a moderately cutaway forefoot, the latter giving her better maneuverability than a pure full-keel ancestor while keeping the directional stability and sea-kindly nature of the double-ended shape. Three different builders produced her over her life, yet all of them stayed close to the original plans and committed to building her well. At a displacement-length ratio of 311 she falls into the heavy-cruiser category, and with a ballast ratio of 41 percent and a capsize screening value of 1.75 she is a conservatively stable small boat. The cockpit was good sized, though the foot well was intentionally kept shallow so that a lot of water would not be held if she were ever pooped by a following sea.
Rig and Handling
Her cutter rig is well balanced and offers a good variety of sail combinations across wind conditions, and she sails equally well rigged as a sloop with main and genoa. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio sits at 16.21 with 360 square feet of canvas, enough to make her faster than most boats of her genre despite the heavy-cruiser displacement. The theoretical hull speed is about 6.2 knots. Running rig is modest: jib and genoa sheets run about 26 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet about 65 feet, and spinnaker sheets about 57 feet, all 3/8-inch line.
Accommodations
Below, the Voyager 26 was laid out with comfortable and roomy accommodations for four. There was an efficient galley and a private head, and importantly the berths were ones you could actually sleep on rather than merely perch. For a 26-foot double-ender this is a considered use of volume, prioritizing rest and basic cruising function over show.
The Verdict
The Voyager 26 is a thoughtfully evolved double-ender: she carries the offshore demeanor of the Archer-Atkin tradition but sails beyond it, wrapped in a practical, well-built fiberglass hull from multiple conscientious builders. She is a small boat that behaves like a bigger one in comfort and sea sense.
Pros
- Double-ended long-keel hull with cutaway forefoot for seakeeping and control
- Well-balanced cutter rig with flexible sail plans
- Roomy, sleepable accommodations for four with private head
- Conservative stability and heavy-cruiser build in a pocket size
Cons
- Shallow cockpit foot well limits crew stretch-out space
- Modest 12 hp diesel and 360 sq ft sail area suit her to simple cruising rather than speed
