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bmiller · 17-02-2007, 14:41

There is a Seafarer 26 for sale here in Colorado. I'm considering it for my next boat. It's a 1985 with a diesel and a trailer. Any specifics to these boats to look out for. They are lead encapsulated fin keels.
The plan is to move up from our 23 foot hunter and do some coastal cruising. Areas like FL keys, San Juans or Sea of Cortez. Does that make sense with this boat?
Thanks, Bill

**speedoo** · 12-09-2009, 08:53

I assume that Seafarer 26 is long gone by now, but I think they are nice boats and would suit your purpose well.

**s/v 'Faith'** · 12-09-2009, 09:09

Somebody has been diggin in the archives...

**speedoo** · 12-09-2009, 10:04

Nah. Just became a little interested in the boat, and a google search revealed the OP's interest.

**anotherT34C** · 13-09-2009, 10:49

My father has had a Seafarer 26 since the late 80's. Most solid fiberglass construction I have ever seen on a boat, ever. Cheap faux wood interior, though.

**GordMay** · 14-09-2009, 08:29

From the Seafarer Research Center:
➥ http://www.seafarer-research-center....eafarer260.jpg
➥ http://www.seafarer-research-center....ingracing0.jpg
➥ http://www.seafarer-research-center....-exterior0.jpg

Seafarer 26 principle dimensions
➥ SEAFARER 26 Sailboat details on sailboatdata.com (units English)

sailor_dude · 29-09-2009, 14:22

I bought this boat!! . its a great boat.
also when working on the water tank i found a hand written on the back of a panel
this is the last seafarer 26 ever built
good luck
the last carpenter
signed his name
oh and the wood work is beautiful..the 1985 had the best wood of them all
you can see her at cohesion.us

bmiller · 29-09-2009, 14:56

Did you buy the boat in CO?

Northeaster · 29-09-2009, 16:32

I owned a 1983 Seafarer 23, as my first boat, and liked it so much I bought a 1978 Seafarer 30, about 3 years ago. It needed alot of maintenance / upgrades, but is a very solid boat. I agree that the solid hull is well built, and the "faux" wood panelling in mine looks cheap as well. It only has the cheap paneling in the head and v-berth. The rest of the boat is either teak veneer, or solid teak (i e table).

I read somehwhere that some / many Seafarer's were sold as Kit boats (bare hulls) so interior finish does vary significantly.

The pic of the Seafarer 26 looks like it has chainplates on the outside of the hull. On mine, the are inside, but are bolted to very solid glass knees, that were glassed as part of the original hull layup. Here is a pic.

Many more repair / upgrad pics under my gallery / username.

When I owned my 23'er, I converted the trailer to be bale to float on / self haul. Of course, with the trailer underwater, it's pretty hard to see how it is sitting on the trailer.
After hauling it out I noticed that the boat was completely resting on the four hull pads, and the keel was about 3 inches off the ground. With many modern boats, I believe the pads would have went up through the hull. They were not specifically lined up with bulkheads either, just in the general area. I carefully turned each of the adhjustable pads, a few turns at a time, until the boat was lowered enough that some weight was on the keel, for the tow home.

The chainplates are removed for inspection / rebedding, in the pic:

sailor_dude · 30-09-2009, 11:39

Yes, I did buy the boat in Denver. The guy had an add in Good Old Boat. The 1985 was the nicest Seafarer 26 they built. Its sad they dont make them anymore.
I have been sailing for 40 years. I have sailed boats from 10' to 45'. Grew up in the SF area. So if it was not blowing 25 it was boring for me.

This seafarer 26 is the best small boat I have ever seen and sailed.
It is built better then any boat I could fine as I looked for 5 years for a boat. I was looking for a boat I could stand in(6"+ headroom in the Seafarer) and something between 28 and 30 feet. My plan is to sail around the world.
She sails very straight. I have tied off the tiller and she sailed for miles on her own and on a straight course!!!
The teak is beautiful in this boat which is the last one ever built!!
Currently I saw one on craigslist for $1750!!!!

1629dill · 12-11-2009, 12:10

Nice to see someone else is sailing a Seafarer 25. I love the 26. I sail on the great lakes out of Chicago.

Seafarer 26 Ker-Plunk#

truant · 16-11-2009, 20:10

A Brit named Brian Ackworth made the boats in Huntington, Long Island, until he threw in the towel. They were McCurdy and Rhode designs and sailed very well, and we owned 2 of them and belonged to the Seafarer group on the Chesapeake, so we got familiar with all the boats. Most original owners had to rewire the boats, since the factory did a lousy job in that area, and some of the boats from that era had some blistering issues. Overall, a fun, stable, well-made boat.