Capri 26

Summary

The Capri 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Frank W. Butler and Gerry Douglas as a cruiser-racer and first built in 1990.[1][2][3]

Capri 26
Development
DesignerFrank W. Butler and Gerry Douglas
LocationUnited States
Year1990
No. built320
Builder(s)Catalina Yachts
NameCapri 26
Boat
Displacement5,250 lb (2,381 kg)
Draft4.83 ft (1.47 m)
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionfiberglass
LOA26.16 ft (7.97 m)
LWL22.92 ft (6.99 m)
Beam9.83 ft (3.00 m)
Engine typeinboard two-cylinder diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel
Ballast1,900 lb (862 kg)
Rudder(s)internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height32.90 ft (10.03 m)
J foretriangle base8.70 ft (2.65 m)
P mainsail luff27.80 ft (8.47 m)
E mainsail foot11.00 ft (3.35 m)
Sails
Sailplanmasthead sloop
Mainsail area152.90 sq ft (14.205 m2)
Jib/genoa area143.12 sq ft (13.296 m2)
Total sail area296.02 sq ft (27.501 m2)
Racing
PHRF210

Production edit

The design was built by Catalina Yachts in the United States from 1990 to 1999, with 320 boats completed, but it is now out of production.[1][2][4]

Design edit

The Capri 26 was designed in response to customer feedback from owners of smaller Capri series sailboats. Prospective buyers were looking for a slightly bigger boat with more "large boat" comforts and enough space for a family, while retaining the capability to be road transported by boat trailer.[3]

The Capri 26 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wooden trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a walk-through reverse transom, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel or optional shoal draft, wing keel.[1][2]

The boat is fitted with a inboard two-cylinder diesel engine for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 25 U.S. gallons (95 L; 21 imp gal).[2]

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with two straight settees which can be joined over the lower-able drop-leaf table in the main cabin and an aft cabin with a large double berth under the cockpit. The galley is located on the starboard side just forward of the companionway ladder. The galley is equipped with a two-burner recessed stove, an ice box and a sink with a pressurized water supply. The spacious head is located just aft of companionway on the port side. Cabin headroom is 73 in (190 cm).[1][2]

Ventilation is provided by four opening main cabin ports, plus one in the cockpit that provides fresh air to the aft cabin beneath.[2]

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 210 and a hull speed of 6.4 kn (11.9 km/h).[2]

Variants edit

Capri 26 fin keel
Model with a fin keel and a draft of 4.83 ft (1.47 m). It displaces 5,250 lb (2,381 kg) and carries 1,900 lb (862 kg) of ballast.[1][2]
Capri 26 wing keel
Model with a shoal draft wing keel and a draft of 3.42 ft (1.04 m). It displaces 5,100 lb (2,313 kg) and carries 1,750 lb (794 kg) of ballast.[1][2]

Operational history edit

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "the Capri 26 (actually 23' 8" on deck because of her sharply raked transom) is full of big-boat features, which might make her desirable to the big-and-tall crowd. Headroom is over six feet, and the beam of almost ten feet allows a humungus double berth in the main cabin—good for a couple sailing without kids or guests, but maybe not so good for overnight parties of four or more. Best features: Cockpit seats are deep and comfortable ... Worst features: The aft berth can feel somewhat constricted to those with claustrophobia. Racing the boat is a good possibility for those of competitive spirit, with her [PHRF] handicap of 210 and max speed of 6.4 [knots] due to her long waterline, but skippers should remember to stow all heavy gear ashore. Though the bow and stern areas might look tempting as stowage areas, for best boat speed they should be kept empty of any heavy gear—and there is no significant stowage area amidships, other than on the cabin sole under the table."[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Capri 26 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 282. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-163652-0
  3. ^ a b "The Birth of the Capri 26". Catalina Mainsheet Magazine. 1998. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Catalina Yachts". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

External links edit

  • Photo of a Capri 26
  • Photo of a Capri 26