Snapdragon 26 - Opinions?

[Greenman]

I am currently looking at a Snapdragon 26. It is a double, or bilge keel boat made in England.

Does anyone have any experience with these boats?

Thanks very much.

[little boat]

Hi Greenman,
These are strong little pocket cruisers. Member Sluissa has a similar boat, you could ask her about the characteristics of a small bilge keeler.
Here is a link to many that are for sale in the UK; there are some nice pics: Boats and Outboards - Boats for Sale, Boat Sales Database of New and Used Boats

[jakeindenver]

I just bought a Snapdragon 26. Wondering how many there might be here in the states and if there's any knowledge of any of these doing an ocean passage or circumnavigation.

[theonecalledtom]

Mostly off topic but....

My first ever sailing was on my Grandpa's Snapdragon 21. I can't really remember much bar not being allowed out of the cockpit (boo) and how cool it was to go ashore to a deserted beach in the inflatable. Must have been about 4.

Recently I got hold of his account of taking it from just north of London over to France for a couple of weeks. Lots of sand bars, tidal streams, big boats in busy channels and a long way in a little boat. They ran aground twice, once when leaving 100 yards from their marina in view of the yacht club bar and once on their return to the UK (in the entrance to Ramsgate marina I think). Guess a twin keeler makes this experience a bit less embarassing in 20foot tidal swings.

Knowing that my Grandma not only agreed to go on this trip but stuck it out changed my perceptions of her

Sometime I'll post the account.

[Trebek1]

The Snapdragon 26 looks like a Westerly Centaur to me. Centaurs have crossed oceans. Gotta love the twin keels! I read that they don't sail into the wind as high as a single keel. Congrats on your purchase.

[JimC]

Strong serviceable boat. Built by Thames Marine in the UK. Not particularly fast or close-winded. Good for taking the ground due to twin keels and general robustness. Well-liked by their owners. Many long voyages to their credit.

[Trebek1]

Here's the one I'm looking at. Nice sturdy looking boat. SnapDragon 26 - New 10 HP Engine for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand

[ghostyman]

I have acquired a snappy 26 that is in rough shape and in need of a total re-fit. I would like to talk to anyone that has one so I can get an idea if the original lay-out. I am in Miami.
Thanks Erik



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[Dwayne Lister]

I learned to sail in a Snappy 26 - not the fastest boat but made navigation easy, everything happens at 5 Knots.

Boat was owned by John Oliver, author of "Holiday Cruising in the Netherlands" back in 1974. We used to take the boat from the southern UK across most of northern Europe every year.

[boatman61]

Snapdragon Mirage Assocn. - Home

[sestina]

Tough boat, there's loads of them on England's east coast. Vertical bilge keels made it easy to remove the hull from the mould. Not so good for windward progress; the lack of which made the Snappy famous.

Westerly Centuar a better boat, though probably more expensive. Make sure the keels have been strengthened.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, ghostyman.

[ghostyman]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, ghostyman.

I am revamping my Snappy 26 as it was basically a bare hull when I got it. I am currently installing an inboard. Do you have any advice?


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[GordMay]

Family Buys Old Yacht and Renovates it Back to New
Video: Start to Finish in 9 min ➥ https://youtu.be/YpZOqRZEHFY

The Bennington family bought a ‘Snapdragon 24', worth £2000 [±$2500] in 2020 and haven't stopped upgrading it since. The large, abandoned boat, was badly damaged in several areas. Over the course of 16 months, they managed to refit “Aeolus”, to start a new live-aboard adventure.
“Sailing Melody” ➥ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoA...ltnwYxzhm7IOXQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelodySailing/

[LordoftheReach]

We had one growing up. It is actually fairly comfortable for a family of four. That said it is slow, wet, generates a lot of weather helm, doesn't point and makes a ton of leeway.

Other than that it sails like a dream.