Designed by Jim Monroe and built by South Coast Seacraft starting in 1974, this compact cruiser represents thoughtful engineering for coastal and protected water sailing. With only 80 hulls produced during its production run, the South Coast 26 remains a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. The boat's most distinctive feature is its lifting keel configuration, which retracts the 3.67-foot draft to allow exploration of shallow anchorages and easy trailer launching. This versatility makes it particularly appealing for cruising areas like the Chesapeake Bay, Florida's ICW, or similar coastal regions where depth can be limiting. The 1,350-pound ballast provides reasonable stability for a boat of this size, though the lifting keel design prioritizes versatility over ultimate stiffness. At 25.83 feet overall with a masthead sloop rig carrying 303 square feet of sail area, the South Coast 26 offers respectable performance for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The fiberglass construction ensures durability, while the boat's modest displacement of 3,550 pounds keeps it manageable for trailering. The comfort ratio of 14.31 suggests this is primarily a daysailer or weekend cruiser rather than an extended cruising platform, making it ideal for sailors seeking an easily handled boat for coastal exploration.
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What is the South Coast 26's sail area to displacement ratio?
The South Coast 26 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 20.89. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the South Coast 26's comfort ratio?
The South Coast 26 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 14.31. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the South Coast 26 safe for offshore sailing?
The South Coast 26 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 2.1. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the South Coast 26?
The theoretical hull speed of the South Coast 26 is 6.46 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a South Coast 26 weigh?
The South Coast 26 has a displacement of 3,550.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 25.83 ft.
Who designed the South Coast 26?
The South Coast 26 was designed by Jim Monroe, first built in 1974.