Colgate 26

The producer of the Colgate 26 has over forty years of sailing school management and teaching under his belt. Steve Colgate teamed up with renowned designer Jim Taylor to prove the a design concept that establishment builders did not agree with.

Requirements of the Coastguard

At 25′ 8″ long the design falls into Class 1 specifications, being less stringent for vessels over 26′. This also makes ease of insuring on a lower premium.

Legal width for towing

Unlike other small boats the design legally makes within the trailerable sailboats category. At 8′ 6″ it is on the legal limit. As technology improves. More and more traffic police will be using lasers to determine the width of trailed loads. Some small boat owners maybe in for a shock!

Strength & durability

At 2,600 pounds the Colgate 26 is designed to cope with higher winds than you might expect from a 26. The keel weighs in at 1,200 pounds aiding stability. It has been known for learners to be out in twenty five to thirty knots of breeze!

Proactive safety

The was a series of fatalities on other small boat designs during the concept period. This lead Steve and Jim to change some key features. The transom should allow ease of access for crews getting from the water. The transom is only a few inches above the water line.

After consulting some novice sailors it was decided to have a barrier between the transom and cockpit for a more enclosed feeling of space. This gave novices and learners confidence with out interfering with the tiller.

The Rudder

Another major factor which aids stability is the rudder. Usually right aft of a vessel on the 26 it is below the cockpit. The reason is that when heading down wind with the kite boats are likely to broach. If a broach is in process and the stern is raised out of the water then the rudder is not able to offer steerage.

By placing the rudder beneath the cockpit this problem is removed. Steerage is maintained and the sailors are not ruffled! We are currently researching the best accessories for the Colgate 26. Please bare with us as we would like to offer visitors the best price – for a last relationship. If you would like to learn about marine finance.

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