Exploring The Colgate 26: A Versatile Cruiser And Racer

The Colgate 26 is an American trailerable sailboat designed by naval architect Jim Taylor and commissioned by Steve and Doris Colgate for their sailing school. It is a versatile, high-performance keelboat used for sail training at the Offshore Sailing School and by the US Coast Guard, US Navy and Maine Maritime Academy for sailing training and competition. The boat is 25 feet, 8 inches long, has a solid fibreglass hull and is unsinkable thanks to its positive foam flotation. It has sleeping accommodation for two people and a galley equipped with an alcohol-fired stove. The Colgate 26 is known for its safety, affordability, ease of maintenance and performance, making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced sailors.

The Colgate 26 is a safe, affordable, and high-performance keelboat

The Colgate 26 is a trailerable sailboat with a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, and a walk-through sharply reverse transom. It has a fixed fin keel or a shoal draft keel with a weighted lead bulb. The boat is 25 feet, 8 inches long, which means it is classified as a Class I vessel by the Coast Guard, and it has a maximum beam width of 8 feet, 6 inches, which is the maximum legal width for highway towing. The hull is made of solid fiberglass, which is easy to repair, and the deck is cored with Core-cell foam for rigidity. The boat is unsinkable, thanks to positive foam flotation, and it has a self-bailing cockpit.

The Colgate 26 is designed to be easily handled by novices, but it also offers great performance. It has a light helm and good leg support, and the stainless railing provides a sense of security when the boat heels. The ballast-to-displacement ratio is 40 percent, which makes the boat stiff when sailing upwind, and the displacement-to-length ratio of 145 contributes to its exciting off-the-wind performance. The Colgate 26 can be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker for sailing downwind, and it has a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.

The boat has sleeping accommodation for two people, with a double 7.25 ft "V"-berth in the bow cabin. The galley is equipped with an alcohol-fired stove, a portable icebox, and an optional sink. The Colgate 26 is a popular choice for sailing schools and has been sold to the US Coast Guard, US Navy, and the Maine Maritime Academy for sailing training and competition.

It's used for training and racing by sailing schools, clubs, and the US Coast Guard and Navy

The Colgate 26 is a versatile sailboat used for training and racing by sailing schools, clubs, and the US Coast Guard and Navy.

The boat was originally commissioned by Steve and Doris Colgate for sail training at their Offshore Sailing School. It is used in all Learn to Sail, Performance Sailing, and Racing courses at the school. The Colgate 26 is also used to train plebes and cadets at the US Naval and Coast Guard Academies. In US Navy service, the boat is called the Navy 26.

The design of the boat makes it ideal for training and racing. It is responsive and fun for all sailors, with a comfortable sailing experience. The boat is well-balanced and safe in heavy air, with a fast round-the-buoy racer. The Colgate 26 is also superb for teaching sailing due to its safety and unsinkability, with ergonomic comfort and sophisticated go-fast features. The positive foam flotation makes the boat virtually unsinkable.

The Colgate 26 is also used for club racing and daysailing. Many Colgate 26 owners enjoy sailing with family and friends, while others spend most of their time racing in local and regional competitions. The boat's performance and safety features appeal to both novice and experienced sailors, making it a popular choice for sailing clubs and schools.

It's a versatile boat suitable for both novices and experts

The Colgate 26 is a versatile boat suitable for both novices and experts. It is a high-performance keelboat that is used for training at the U.S. Naval and Coast Guard Academies, as well as for club racing and daysailing. The boat was designed by Steve Colgate, an Olympic sailor and founder of the Offshore Sailing School, in collaboration with naval architect Jim Taylor.

One of the key advantages of the Colgate 26 is its versatility. It can be used for sailing in and around harbors, lakes, and coastal areas, as well as for racing in local and regional competitions. The boat's design makes it easy to handle for beginners, while also offering the potential for great performance, making it appealing to a wide range of sailors.

The Colgate 26 has a number of features that contribute to its versatility. It has a durable and solid fiberglass hull, which makes it safe and stable in the water. The boat is also unsinkable, with positive foam flotation, and has a comfortable cockpit that can accommodate four adults. The mainsheet traveler runs across the inboard transom, allowing for efficient end-boom sheeting and a clear cockpit. The boat also has a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering, and a symmetrical spinnaker for sailing downwind.

In addition to its performance capabilities, the Colgate 26 is also designed with practicality in mind. Its dimensions meet the requirements for a Class I vessel, which helps to keep costs down. The beam width is also the maximum legal width for highway towing, making it convenient for storage and transportation. The boat is easy to maintain, with a solid hull that is simple to repair, and the deck is cored with Core-cell foam for rigidity.

Overall, the Colgate 26 is a versatile and capable boat that is well-suited for both novice and expert sailors. It offers a safe, stable, and enjoyable sailing experience, making it a popular choice for sailing schools, clubs, and recreational sailors alike.

The Colgate 26 is easy to maintain, with a solid fibreglass hull and positive foam flotation

The Colgate 26 is a durable and easy-to-maintain sailboat. Its hull is made of solid fibreglass, which is not only sturdy but also easy to repair. This is a practical choice, as any sailing school boat is bound to endure some knocks and scrapes. The fibreglass hull is also appreciated by private owners for its durability. The hull's solid construction makes it easier to maintain than a boat with a hull made from other materials.

The Colgate 26's deck is made from Core-cell foam, adding further rigidity to the boat. This foam also provides positive foam flotation, making the boat virtually unsinkable. This is a key safety feature, giving peace of mind to sailing students and recreational sailors alike. The positive foam flotation is a major contributor to the boat's overall safety, which is a key selling point for the Colgate 26.

The hull and deck are securely joined, with a flange and chemical bonding, as well as through-bolting. This is then covered with a rubber bumper. The hull is also reinforced in key areas, such as the bow, under the stanchion bases, around the mast support area, and where the stainless steel keel bolts are attached. This additional reinforcement ensures the boat can withstand greater stresses and impacts, further reducing maintenance requirements.

The combination of solid fibreglass hull, foam-cored deck, and structural reinforcement makes the Colgate 26 a low-maintenance boat. This is ideal for sailing schools, where boats are subjected to heavy use, and for private owners who want to spend more time sailing and less time on upkeep. The ease of maintenance, along with its safety and performance, makes the Colgate 26 a popular choice for sailing enthusiasts.

It's a trailerable boat, with a maximum legal width for highway towing

The Colgate 26 is a trailerable sailboat, designed by naval architect Jim Taylor, with input from Steve and Doris Colgate. It was first built in 1996 by Precision Boat Works in Palmetto, Florida, but since 2020, production has been handled by Waterline Systems in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The boat's dimensions are notable for its trailerability. Its length overall (LOA) of 25 feet, 8 inches means it is classified as a Class I vessel by the Coast Guard, which limits basic requirements and keeps costs down. The beam (maximum width) of 8 feet, 6 inches is the maximum legal width for highway towing. This means the Colgate 26 can be stored on a trailer in your driveway, reducing sailing costs.

The boat's relatively small size, therefore, makes it ideal for novices and those looking for an affordable sailing experience. It is also a popular choice for sailing schools and clubs, with its sturdy construction and unsinkable design making it perfect for training and racing. The boat's performance is impressive, with its nimble and spirited handling being a standout feature.

The Colgate 26 is a versatile vessel, suitable for both racing and cruising. Its compact size and ease of handling make it a great choice for daysailing, while its comfortable interior and sailing performance make it ideal for longer trips. The boat's sleeping accommodation includes a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, and the galley is well-equipped with an alcohol stove, portable icebox, and optional sink. The boat also features a VHF radio and a soft solar panel to keep the battery charged.

Frequently asked questions