Columbia 26 Mark II

[Ernest Skublics]

A couple of years ago there was an interesting discussion on these boats, with the upshot that the single worst thing about them was the rudder. Many boats in that period were built with that incomprehensible rudder design.

How difficult/expensive and dependable a solution would it be to retrofit a skeg, possibly also reducing the boat's tendency to round up with excessive weather helm? Also, do any of you have any other caveats about the C26MkII?

Ernie

[cal40john]

Even just buying a different rudder is going to cost around $2000. Glass work even more money, unless of course you're doing it all yourself. Any of this work is going to be a significant fraction of the value of the boat and won't make the boat worth a penny more, probably less because most people won't want to take a chance on someone's weird modifications.

Don't like fin keel spade rudder, buy a full keel boat.

Changing the rudder will not change real weather helm. That is unless you increase the size so ridiculously much that the CLR moves aft. Putting a better balanced spade rudder on the boat reduces weather helm feel, but not the actual weather helm.

New sails, rake mast forward, add a bowsprit is what reduces weather helm.

Our club had this boat. I only sailed it once or twice in mild conditions. Those that had sailed it more weren't impressed with the sailing qualities.