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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Sadler 26: the little boat with big attitude

• Rachael Sprot
• September 8, 2022

Is the Sadler 26 the ultimate small yacht or just an overgrown dinghy? Rachael Sprot steps aboard to find out

Most of the Sadler 26s built had twin keels, although deep and shallow fins were also available. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images Credit: Richard Langdon

Product Overview

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I’ve always been a fan of small yachts. They’re exponentially cheaper to buy and maintain, the loads are lower, making them safer for new crew, and the shove ‘n’ go boat handling saves a lot of hassle in marinas .

But even by pocket-cruiser standards, 26ft is tiny. And although extraordinary voyages are made on tiny boats, I’ve always thought you’d need an MBA (Masters in Bunk Arrangement) to cope in such confined quarters.

Would the Sadler 26 change my mind?

I joined John Dickson on his Sadler 26, Ella , to find out. John sails Ella on the south coast and English Channel with his wife, Nao, and children, Ollie, 13, and Georgina, 10.

The cockpit is deep and comfortable, with coaming lockers on each side and good leg bracing. Credit: Richard Langdon

He seizes every chance to head out, sometimes just with cockerpoo, Maggie, for company. The first thing I noticed when I stepped aboard Ella in the river Hamble, was that she didn’t baulk at my weight, as I was expecting.

She may only be 26ft long, but with over 9ft of beam there’s plenty of form stability. The real secret behind her feeling of buoyancy, however, is that her double-skinned hull is filled with foam.

John Dickson sails his Sadler 26, Ella with his wife, Nao, and children Ollie and Georgina. A professional jazz musician, John also sails Ella solo from the river Hamble on the UK’s south coast. Credit: Richard Langdon

Scarred by the terrible loss of life of the 1979 Fastnet Race when several yachts sank, Martin Sadler, David Sadler’s son, designed the 26 and 29 to withstand significant water ingress.

Although their unsinkability was never officially established, in one test the 26 was sailed through overfalls under full sail in a Force 5 with the seacocks open and half full of water, which sounds pretty conclusive to me.

Folkboat DNA in the Sadler 26

Like all successful species, the Sadler 26 is the product of evolution. Deep in her ancestry you’ll find the Folkboat, but you’ll have to go via the Sadler 25 and Sadler-designed Contessa 26 to find it.

There’s still a hint of her Nordic origins in the high bow and swoosh of sheer, although the full stern looks somewhat truncated. The underwater profile is sea-kindly and a transom-hung rudder has a full-depth skeg providing protection and directional stability.

The helm is light and responsive, and the cockpit is well set up for singlehanded sailing. Credit: Richard Langdon

There were several keel options. Most were built with twin keels , but there are also deep and shallow-fin keels and lifting keels. The twin keels are relatively fine and deep in order to preserve sailing performance to windward.

Aloft, there’s a masthead rig with large overlapping genoa and respectable ballast ratio of 41%.

The construction technique is quite different to modern balsa or foam-cored hulls. The outer skin is full strength and the inner skin is a moulded lining.

The 9ft 4in beam gives the Sadler 26 a wide deck, with enough room to stand by the shrouds. Credit: Richard Langdon

Apparently the foam wasn’t originally considered essential for strength but it does play an important role in this regard, providing extra stiffness.

The strategically placed pockets of polyurethane foam don’t just provide buoyancy, they also insulate the hull, reducing condensation and noise.

Around fittings such as keel bolts there’s no foam: the two skins meet to form a solid layer of GRP .

The major downside of this construction method is that it could be expensive and complicated to repair if water seeps into the foam, which may become increasingly likely as these boats age.

A pre-purchase survey will be important to identify any problems.

Well-considered cockpit

On deck, the coachroof remains in proportion to the rest of the yacht, the curved top softening the outline.

Two pairs of rounded portlights, one small and one large, are easy on the eye.

A teak handrail accentuates her lines and breaks up the otherwise large expanse of gelcoat. The teak rubbing strake is another attractive detail which also covers the hull-to-deck join, which is bolted and glued together.

The Sadler 26 came with a masthead rig, supported by a forestay, backstay and in-line caps and lowers. The foretriangle is larger than the mainsail. Credit: Richard Langdon

The moulded toerail gives a secure foothold, but the scarcity of scuppers means that water collects on the sidedecks, especially if you’ve slightly altered the trim by adding too much weight in the bow or stern, which is easy to do on a small boat.

The stanchions drop into sockets in the toerail, which seems like a neat solution, but means that if you have any abrupt encounters with the dock you not only bend a stanchion, but might damage the deck-moulding too.

Some boats, including Ella , have fitted bolt-on stanchion bases instead. The sidedecks are wider than you might expect thanks to her beam, with room to stand by the shrouds when coming alongside.

The anchor well is sealed off from the vee-berth. Credit: Richard Langdon

There’s a proper anchor well to keep muddy chain sealed off from the vee-berth. Look closely enough at the cockpit though, and you start to have a sense of where Sadler’s priorities lie. It may look unremarkable, but it’s an excellent working area when sailing, both comfortable and functional.

The square shape of the cut-off transom is a compromise worth making, allowing room for three adults or a few more little people. The benches are the perfect width to brace across when heeling, even for those of us with short legs.

It’s still small enough to reach all the controls when singlehanded though, with halyards and reefing lines led back along the coachroof.

Bolt-on stanchion bases replace the original moulded ones in the toerail. Credit: Richard Langdon

The transom-hung rudder positions the tiller well aft, so that it doesn’t dominate the space.

Standing with the tiller in hand, there’s a clear line of vision forwards even with the sprayhood up. The deep coamings make a comfortable backrest.

The recessed storage cubbies are a useful feature often missing on larger yachts.

When beating to windward, the coachroof gives shelter from a full bombardment of green water.

The only drawback is that the traveller position is directly in front of the companionway hatch. Owing to the small mainsail though, it’s relatively easy to manage.

A good use of space

The starboard-side cockpit locker swallows up gear and houses a stainless-steel fuel tank. Ella had a large removable panel to give better access to the back of the engine , gearbox and stern gland, which is a very practical modification.

A 90-litre flexible water tank lives under the cockpit sole, making good use of otherwise redundant space. Slide back the companionway hatch and you reveal a bright, compact interior.

Immediately to starboard of the companionway is the galley with a small sink, coolbox and boat cooker . The previous owner had dispensed with the full-sized oven and put extra stowage beneath the hob.

Mounting navigation equipment by the companionway makes it easier for John to sail singlehanded. Credit: Richard Langdon

Locker space is minimal here, but if you’re not too ambitious about what you cook, the space is perfectly adequate. The top of the engine box provides additional work surface for food prep.

A spacious quarterberth runs under the port side of the cockpit and a cleverly designed nav table pulls out above it on older models.

John has mounted navigation equipment here which made it easy to reach from the cockpit, a useful feature when singlehanded sailing .

The hanging locker is useful for storing lifejackets and foulies. Credit: Richard Langdon

In a neat metamorphosis, the saloon table drops down to create a double bunk. The starboard-side bench is too short to be a full-sized bunk, unless you push through into the hanging locker forwards as some owners have done.

Beyond the main bulkhead is the heads compartment with wet locker opposite.

The vee-berth gains a feeling of additional space from the raised coachroof and large foredeck hatch above. It’s not a plush interior, but the inner mouldings have aged well and provide plenty of storage beneath.

The transom-hung rudder is supported on a full-length skeg and gives the Sadler 26 good manoeuvrability. Credit: Richard Langdon

The foam insulates each stowage compartment, meaning that items stored under bunks suffer less condensation and mildew.

The major drawback of the interior is headroom. John is 5ft 6in and can stand up in the cabin, but if you’re much taller you’ll be spending most of your time stooped over – many people would find the maximum headroom of 5ft 10in restrictive.

Without totally destroying the proportions, it would be hard to achieve more headroom on a boat of this size and for those with longer legs, the similarly constructed Sadler 29 is worth considering.

Impressive handling

The original engines were 10hp Bukhs and then 9hp Volvo Pentas. Ella had a more recent 20hp Beta Marine.

It’s a tight fit in the engine compartment, but the enlarged access panel in the cockpit locker allows most jobs to be conducted in situ. It gave an impressive 6 knots through the water at 2,000 RPM.

‘I’m really glad of the extra power,’ said John. ‘When the kids have had enough and you’re fighting the tide and you just want to get home, she can do it.’

The 5ft 10in max headroom in the saloon can feel restrictive. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

She was pretty nifty when it came to tight turns in the river Hamble, employing all the leverage of her transom-hung rudder. Although Sadler is renowned for producing yachts that sail well, I confess I was a little dubious about the 26.

There’s a lot of yacht crammed into 26 feet and with the twin keels too, I wondered what had been sacrificed in the quest for interior volume and a moderate draught.

But after hoisting the main and unfurling the 140% genoa on Southampton Water, she set off impressively.

There’s a good view from the cockpit when helming, even with the sprayhood up. Credit: Richard Langdon

Despite only having 7-8 knots of true wind, she made 4 knots with ease and the helm was feather-light.

In fact, she was so well balanced that we gave up helming entirely and just tweaked the sails to adjust the course.

She made 35°AWA when the wind held, slipping off to 40°AWA when it decreased.

It was a slack tide and the chartplotter showed crisp, right-angled tacks. She was a pleasure to sail.

Compact but clever

Tacking a boat with a big foretriangle is harder work than modern, fractional rigs, but she’s small enough that most of the genoa sheet can be pulled in by hand.

Downwind there wasn’t enough breeze to put her through her paces, but she ghosted along at 3 knots in only 5-6 knots of wind. It’s a fairly modest sail area, but she still felt responsive and moved with a sense of purpose.

For singlehanders and families alike, you don’t want too much power anyway.

Interior mouldings have aged well, including in the galley, where the engine box provides an extra food preparing area. Credit: Richard Langdon

Underpinning all of that, there’s a feeling of seaworthiness and the design is well-proven. Sadler 25s and 26s have been used successfully in short-handed events such as the AZAB and OSTAR .

One of the pleasures of small boat sailing is that you’re more likely to sail the boat to its full potential. It’s much less arduous to play with the control lines so you can experiment with twist and car position without breaking into a sweat. But the boat needs to be responsive to sail in the first place.

On the Sadler 26, performance has been preserved to the right level: she’ll reward an ambitious sailor and take care of a novice.

In the summer, John and the family use the boat for hybrid sailing holidays. He’ll deliver her to the West Country or Channel Islands alone or with friends, and then they’ll join him for a week of cruising, perhaps taking a holiday cottage for a few days to give themselves a bit more space.

Continues below…

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As the children grow up they might consider upsizing, but John is pragmatic about the fact that they may not share his passion for sailing. If not, he’ll continue to enjoy the solitude of solo sailing without the stress of handling a larger yacht.

The compression of space on a small yacht means that every centimetre matters and each element of the design has to be carefully weighed.

I was impressed by how little was missing from the Sadler 26. Things work harder by multi-tasking and ingenious transformations turn chart tables into sleeping areas and bunks become dinner tables. So you can have it all on a 26 foot boat, just not at the same time.

There’s a can-do attitude to the Sadler 26. It’s a boat that can be sailed solo or with a family. The inherent buoyancy inspires confidence for those venturing further afield, or you can creek crawl and escape the marina scene locally.

The large forepeak hatch makes the vee-berth feel spacious. Credit: Richard Langdon

She has all the facilities of a bigger yacht, albeit not simultaneously. The accommodation is well-laid-out and will just about allow for the routines of normal life. I wouldn’t attempt a Sunday roast on board but knowing the kind of people who sail these boats, it’s probably been done.

For all her merits though, it’s the sailing performance that stands out for me.

How many boats out there can accommodate a family of four and offer safety and seaworthiness at only 26ft? Not many. And how many of those will be fun to sail? Even fewer.

Overgrown dinghy? Absolutely, in the best possible way.

Expert opinion on the Sadler 26

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Marine Surveyor and full member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA) www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk

Back in the day I used to own a Sadler 25, and my friend’s dad ordered one of the 26s off-plan and was certainly not disappointed with the level of fitout. Whilst many have stood the test of time, there are some niggles you need to be aware of.

In my view, and the view of many other surveyors, the infill foam is actually an essential part of construction, bonding the outer hull moulding to the internal moulding.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges with the 26 today is where the foam has absorbed water. This causes softening of the structure, both externally and internally, and should not be ignored.

Like the Sadler 29, the Sadler 26 is double-skinned, with polyurethane foam between the outer hull and interior moulding boosting buoyancy even when flooded. Credit: Richard Langdon

This is common with twin-keel versions that have taken the ground regularly, which will result in softening around the keel root externally and movement of the internal framing near the keel fastenings.

I’d strongly recommend seeing the craft lifted and tip tests undertaken on the keels to see what deflections are occurring, both inside and outside.

Other issues include moisture in the deck pad due to the wiring of deck instruments, rotten ply where the chain plates have been fitted internally, seriously worn fastening points on the stem cap for the forestay, and the overloading of the rudder skeg on the twin-keel versions, where there has been repetitive grounding.

Alternatives to the Sadler 26

Contessa 26.

The Mini Cooper of the sailing world, there were almost 800 of these little yachts built over a period of almost 30 years and they’ve gained a cult following.

A mould was exported to Canada where several hundred more were built as the Taylor 26, after a trademark dispute.

Remarkably, the lines were never drawn as such, but a mould was made from a Folkboat hull and a few adaptations made to give a higher freeboard and slightly more internal volume.

A deep forefoot makes motion smooth on the Contessa 26. Credit: Rupert Holmes

Unlike the Folkboat, the Contessa 26 has a masthead rig and large overlapping genoa. The cockpit is small, even for a boat of this size, but having the mainsheet at the aft end of it makes the space there more usable.

Sail area-to-displacement ratio is low but a lot of that weight is in the keel. They aren’t renowned for their light airs performance, but the wetted surface area is less than you might imagine, thanks to the short waterline length and narrow beam.

In fact, the Contessa 26 often features in podium positions for Round the Island Race and has won a few too.

The encapsulated long keel and transom-hung rudder are attractive features, and the solid deck eliminates the problem of a soggy core.

The price you pay for an attractive boat that sails well is accommodation. There’s only 5ft of headroom except directly under the raised companionway moulding.

The sheets are in easy reach of the helm, making the Contessa 26 good for singlehanding. Credit: Graham Snook

There were three original layouts, A, B and C. All had two 6ft 6in saloon berths and 6ft 3in vee-berths.

The main differences were that there was no heads compartment in layout A; the loo was positioned between the vee-berth. This brought the vee-berth aft and created space for a proper anchor locker. On B and C configurations, a starboard heads compartment pushed the vee-berth right forward. A and C have the galley amidships; it is aft by the companionway on layout B. There’s no room for a saloon table and it’s minimalist-style living.

The Contessa 26 is incontestably pretty and has proven to be a bulletproof offshore cruiser boasting many high-profile circumnavigations.

They command a premium because of their deserved reputation, but won’t suit everyone.

Very much of their time, they’re nonetheless sought-after for 21st century adventures.

Trapper 300

Until recently, I’d never heard of Trapper, but when my sister bought a Trapper 500 a few years ago, I wondered why they weren’t better known.

They produced several pokey performance-cruisers in the 70s and 80s with nice lines and a good turn of speed. The 300 was designed by Bruce Kirby, who also drew the Laser dinghy (enough said), and based on a successful Quarter-Tonner, but they were aimed at the cruising market.

The 300 is a fin-keeled, masthead sloop with a semi-balanced spade rudder. The bow is razor-sharp and there’s a neatly tapered stern.

The saucer-shaped hull profile is much wider at deck level than it is at the waterline, creating space on deck and increasing buoyancy when heeled, but with minimal wetted surface area in light airs. The cockpit is compact but deep and safe.

A deep cockpit on the Trapper 300 provides security. Credit: David Harding

The traveller location right in front of the companionway hatch might be frustrating on long passages if you’re often going in and out, though it’s less of an issue when coast-hopping.

The internal layout varies between the Mk 1 or Mk 2 but both have comfortable saloon seating and a saloon table.

On the Mk 1 version the galley is by the companionway, on the Mk 2 it occupies the port side of the saloon.

There’s a standard heads and hanging locker arrangement forwards of the mast and full-length vee-berth. Largely composed of interior mouldings, the insides of many remain in good condition.

If you want something that’s rewarding to sail, looks pretty and has enough space for minimalist cruising, they’re a really good option, and often better value than higher- profile designs.

Westerly Griffon

The Griffon is unmistakably Westerly , with a high coachroof and square-cut transom utilising every inch of boat length.

She was the first Westerly designed by Ed Dubois, and has a more streamlined look than the older Laurent Giles models.

Although she’s still a bit boxy to the eye, the rewards are reaped below where there are two-and-a-half double bunks and 5ft 9in headroom all the way forward.

There’s the usual vee-berth arrangement, generous saloon with pull-out seating that converts to a double, and an almost double bunk in the port quarterberth.

High topsides on the Westerly Griffon and a chunky coachroof offers ample headroom down below. Credit: Bob Aylott

The Mk 1 version had a fold-down saloon table and sapele joinery. The Mk 2 had a sturdy fixed table with folding leaves and teak woodwork.

The galley occupies the starboard side as you come down the companionway and beneath the starboard side of the cockpit there’s a large locker. On deck, the cockpit is larger than average with the mainsheet position aft.

It will comfortably accommodate four for sailing, and six for cockpit drinks with the tiller up. Halyards and reefing lines lead to the cockpit, making her suitable for singlehanded sailing .

Most of them were bilge-keelers but a few had fin keels. They are reported to perform well for this keel configuration and have plenty of sail area, but pointing probably won’t be their forte.

If creek crawling and getting away from it all is more your thing than haring round the cans, and you’re looking for a boat with a nice temperament that’s comfortable for longer periods of time and gentle on the crew, here she is.

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• Sadler 26 Yacht

The Sadler 26 has one of the most remarkable pedigrees of any yacht of her size. In the 1960s, David Sadler designed the Contessa 26 as the modern version of the Scandinavian Folkboat.

Following the success of the popular Contessa, David Sadler designed the Sadler 25 in the mid 70s and both these boats are now widely regarded as two of the all time classics.

The Sadler 25 proved that the traditional virtues of its predecessors could be retained whilst providing a good deal more performance and accommodation in a boat of a similar overall length.

The Sadler 25 distinguished herself in AZAB and OSTAR events, finishing in the top half of the 1980 OSTAR fleet, despite being the smallest boat in the race!

The Sadler 26 represents the ultimate step in this process of evolution. Since her launch in 1981, she has proven her ability to deliver her crew quickly, safely and comfortably to wherever they may choose to sail her and to withstand full gales offshore. The Sadler 26 is no overgrown dinghy, as are so many yachts of her size. This is a proper yacht, with a high ballast ratio for stiffness and upwind power, an efficient, easily handled rig and a roomy, deep cockpit with high coamings.

She is not designed around an aft cabin, which so many modern designers try to accommodate in a yacht of this size and which so often results in an overly broad-sterned yacht which will not handle properly in rough weather. Instead, there is a comfortable quarter berth, ideal as a sea berth, a cockpit that the crew sits in, rather than on, and a cavernous cockpit locker for all the gear a yacht needs to carry.

Below decks the layout is surprisingly roomy, providing berths for up to six, a separate heads compartment, spacious forecabin and fully fitted galley The main saloon, with the dinette to port converting to a large single cosy double berth, occupies the beamiest part of the boat and is outstanding for a yacht of this size.

The galley, right by the companionway, boasts a cooker, complete with grill and oven, large cool box and plenty of stowage.

The smooth and efficient hull shape, combined with a well proportioned rig, produces a superbly balanced boat. With a finger-light helm, there is none of the unnerving tendency of so many modern designs to round up head-to-wind in every gust. The Sadler 26 is exceptionally easy to sail single handed – an important consideration for both coastal family sailing and long distance passage-making. The transom-mounted rudder gives her superb manoeuvrability under sail and power, while the full length skeg affords additional protection to the rudder and enhances her directional stability. The Sadler 26 is available with fin or twin keels and while the fin keel might be favoured by the more competitive-minded owner, twin keel versions have shown a clean pair of heels to many a racing fleet and have embarrassed many larger and racier craft.

Round Britain or Round the World

Sadlers of all sizes tend to go places and the 26 is no exception. “Sadler Girl”, sailed by Christine Bryan and Sally Harrison, was one of the smallest finishers in the arduous 1985 Round Britain Race, in which 22 yachts failed to complete the course.

A single-handed passage from the UK to Venezuela and back was made in a bilge keel 26 and in 1990 David Folbigg set off on a single-handed circumnavigation.

Far though she can travel, and spirited can she be, when given her head, the Sadler 26 is the perfect choice for yachtsmen who want their sailing to be simple and undemanding. Her perfect manners, total lack of ‘nervousness’ and superb sea-keeping qualities make the Sadler 26 stand out as the ultimate performance cruising yacht in her class.

The Sadler 26’s two-module construction and built-in foam buoyancy make her one of the very few unsinkable cruising yachts every designed . . . a reassuring thought, particularly if you sail with a family crew.

In a test carried out with independent yachting journalists all the seacocks were opened.

With the water lapping the berth-tops, equilibrium was reached but she still floated perfectly with a crew of three in the cockpit.

Her seacocks open, the Sadler 26 begins to fill.

Later, when the water has stopped coming in, she is still floating and her crew are safe and dry in the cockpit and able to sail her back to harbour.

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The Sadler 26 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Sadler 26 is a small but sturdy sailboat that was designed by David Sadler and built by Sadler Yachts. It is a descendant of the famous Contessa 26 and the Sadler 25, and it inherits some of their best features, such as a sea-kindly hull, a well-balanced rig, and a foam-filled double skin that makes it virtually unsinkable.

The Sadler 26 is a versatile boat that can accommodate up to six people for coastal cruising, or take on longer voyages with a smaller crew. It has proven its ability to handle rough weather and challenging conditions, as well as to perform well in races and rallies.

Published Specification for the Sadler 26

Underwater Profile:  Fin keel with transom-hung rudder

Hull Material:  GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall:  25'9" (7.9m)

Waterline Length:  20'6" (6.3m)

Beam:  9'5" (2.9m)

Draft:  4'8" (1.4m)

Rig Type:  Masthead sloop

Displacement:  4,800 lb (2,177 kg)

Designer:  David Sadler

Builder:  Sadler Yachts (UK)

Year First Built:  1981

Published Design Ratios for the Sadler 26

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.3

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.7

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 237

4. Comfort Ratio: 20.8

5. Capsize Screening Formula:   2.0

The Sadler 26: A Few FAQs...

Based on the published Design Ratios for the Sadler 26, how would you expect the boat to perform under sail?

The Design Ratios indicate that the Sadler 26 is a moderate weight sailboat that is slightly underpowered, but very stable and stiff. It has a low risk of capsize and a moderate level of comfort for offshore sailing. It is best suited for light to moderate wind conditions, and it can sail close to the wind with good pointing ability. It may need to reef early in strong winds, and it may not be very fast or responsive in light airs.

Is the Sadler 26 still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

The Sadler 26 is no longer in production. Production ended in 1991, after about 200 boats were built.

What, if any, alternative versions of the Sadler 26 were built and what are the differences between them?

The Sadler 26 was available with three keel options: fin, twin, or shallow fin. The fin keel version has a draft of 1.37 m (4.5 ft), the twin keel version has a draft of 1.07 m (3.5 ft), and the shallow fin version has a draft of 1.22 m (4 ft). The fin keel version is slightly faster and more agile than the other versions, but the twin keel version has better stability and shoal draft capabilities. The shallow fin version is a compromise between the two.

The Sadler 26 was also available with two rig options: masthead sloop or fractional sloop. The masthead sloop has a taller mast and a larger genoa than the fractional sloop, which has a shorter mast and a larger mainsail. The masthead sloop has more sail area and more power in light winds, but the fractional sloop has more balance and control in strong winds.

How many people can sleep on board a Sadler 26?

The Sadler 26 can sleep up to six people in three cabins: a V-berth in the forepeak, a double berth in the saloon (converted from the dinette), and a quarter berth aft on the starboard side. However, for longer trips or more comfort, four people would be more realistic.

How did the sailing press review the Sadler 26?

The sailing press generally gave positive reviews to the Sadler 26, praising its seaworthiness, safety, practicality, and performance.

For example, Yachting Monthly described it as "the ultimate small yacht or just an overgrown dinghy" and "a proper yacht, with a high ballast ratio for stiffness and upwind power".

Practical Boat Owner called it "a very capable little cruiser" and "a boat that will look after you" .

Sailing Today said it was "a great little boat that will take you anywhere".

What is the history of the builders of the Sadler 26 and is the company still in business?

The Sadler 26 was built by Sadler Yachts, a family-run company founded by David Sadler in 1974. David Sadler was a naval architect and yacht designer who had previously worked for Jeremy Rogers, the builder of the Contessa 26 and 32. David Sadler designed the Sadler 25, 26, 29, 32, and 34, as well as the Starlight 35 and 39. His son, Martin Sadler, joined the company in 1979 and took over as managing director in 1986. He designed the Sadler Barracuda and the Starlight 46.

Sadler Yachts ceased trading in 2008, after being hit by the financial crisis and a fire that destroyed their factory in Poole. The company was acquired by Vector Works Marine Ltd, which continued to produce the Starlight range and offer spares and services for existing Sadler owners. However, Vector Works Marine Ltd also went into administration in 2012. The Sadler and Starlight brands are now owned by Discovery Yachts Group, which offers brokerage, refit, and repair services for these boats.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Sadler 26?

The average cost of a secondhand Sadler 26 depends on several factors, such as the year of manufacture, the condition of the boat, the equipment and accessories included, and the location of the boat. According to some online sources, the price range of a secondhand Sadler 26 can vary from £7,000 to £18,000.

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the Sadler 26?

The designer of the Sadler 26 is David Sadler, a naval architect and yacht designer who has created several other sailboats, such as:

• The Contessa 26, a classic and elegant sailboat that was designed in 1965 and built by Jeremy Rogers. It is famous for its seaworthiness and beauty, and for being the boat that Tania Aebi sailed around the world solo at the age of 18.
• The Sadler 25, a predecessor of the Sadler 26 was designed in 1974 and built by Sadler Yachts. It is similar to the Contessa 26, but with more beam, headroom, and freeboard. It has a single-skin hull and a fin or twin keel option.
• The Sadler 29, a successor of the Sadler 26 that was designed in 1981 and built by Sadler Yachts. It is larger and more spacious than the Sadler 26, but with the same foam-filled double skin construction. It has a fin or bilge keel option.
• The Sadler 32, a larger version of the Sadler 29 that was designed in 1979 and built by Sadler Yachts. It is a fast and seaworthy cruiser that can accommodate up to seven people. It has a fin or bilge keel option.
• The Sadler 34, a further development of the Sadler 32 that was designed in 1983 and built by Sadler Yachts. It is a comfortable and capable cruiser that can handle long passages or short hops. It has a fin or bilge keel option.
• The Starlight 35, a performance cruiser that was designed in 1990 and built by Starlight Yachts (a division of Sadler Yachts). It is a sleek and stylish boat that combines speed and comfort. It has a fin keel and a fractional rig.
• The Starlight 39, a larger version of the Starlight 35 that was designed in 1992 and built by Starlight Yachts. It is a spacious and luxurious boat that offers excellent sailing qualities. It has a fin keel and a masthead rig.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge,  we believe them to be accurate.

Other sailboats in the Sadler range include:

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• Sailboat Guide

Sadler 26 is a 25 ′ 9 ″ / 7.9 m monohull sailboat designed by David Sadler and built by Sadler Yachts starting in 1981.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Like the SADLER 29, the SADLER 26 was provided with the same kind of extra flotation making it unsinkable even when flooded. Bilge keel version draft: 3.5’. Shallow fin: 3.83’.

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Search our catalog, go direct, enter a boat reference, new engine new main sail, £ 0 sold / unavailable.

• Boat REF#  ·  325775
• Length  ·  7.85m
• Year  ·  1986
• Construction  ·  GRP
• Underwater profile  ·  Fin
• Sleeping berths  ·  5
• Engine  ·  1 x diesel 16hp, Beta 16 (2021)
• Lying  ·  Gosport

Boatshed Portsmouth

This boat is off the market but here are some boats that are still for sale.

• Specification
• Additional Information

Extra Details

Sloop rigged Kemp Aluminium spars (1986) with Stainless Steel standing rigging (2018)

Electrical Systems

12 volt battery, 240 shore power voltage, 2 batteries charged by: engine, shore power

Construction

Accommodation.

2 burner propane Stove

2 halyard winches 2 sheet winches 2 anchors (25lb Plough with chain and warp re-galvanised 2010) second anchor : 15lb CQR anchor in locker with warp

Nav Equipment

Safety equipment.

1 bilge pumps (1 manual / 0 electric)

Broker's Comments

Perfect little pocket cruiser a very tidy Sadler 26 with WOW a nearly new engine (2021) and a new main sail this year! Plus standing rigging 2018. All areas of this boat appear to be very well cared for.

These boat details are subject to contract. Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.

Owners FAQ's

How long have you owned the boat for.

Since August 2022

Why are you selling her?

New child and relocation

Where have you sailed her?

Please note this comments section is public . Please do not post your personal details here. To enquire about purchasing this boat, please contact the broker directly at [email protected] Please read our commenting guidelines before posting.

Can you tell me exact location of this Sadler please? Regards John Macdonald

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Boats similar to Sadler 26

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Sadler 26 for sale in Gillingham, Kent United Kingdom

Gillingham, Kent United Kingdom

Make & Model

DESCRIPTION

Lucas Yachting:NEW LISTING We are pleased to be selling this delightful Sadler 26 (bilge keel). She is in good condition and can come with her mooring in Gillingham. She is fitted with a Yanmar 1GM 10hp diesel engine, which is in good operational condition and has a new starter fitted. Bo Jangles is a 1986 boat, with all the acknowledged sailing qualities which have made this model so appealing. A capable offshore yacht that also has the comforts and insulation of the interior mouldings. Bo Jangles is equipped with Plastimo Furler, lazyacks, reefing led aft and a tabernacle mast-step. The above information is supplied by the owner, who will expect an offer close to the asking price. CALL MIKE FOR MORE DETAIL:or email: [email protected] Lucas Yachting are yacht brokers representing boats throughout the UK.

ABOUT SADLER 26

The Sadler 26 is a 26 feet long

SIMILAR LOCATIONS

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March 19, 2024

Australia's only two-storey beach box up for sale in the Mornington Peninsula with price hopes of $500k

A beach box that’s thought to be the only double-storey one in Australia is up for sale on the golden sands of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

At Hawker Beach, this 26-square-metre hut stands tall against all the others, offering fabulous elevated views over the crystal waters of Port Phillip Bay to the Melbourne skyline.

And despite having no bathroom, no kitchen, no bedroom and no electricity, the old 1930s box is up for sale at a snip – an expected half a million dollars.

“It is very special as we’ve done searches all over the country, and we believe this is the only two-storey beach box in existence,” said sales agent Darren Sadler of Woodards Peninsula. “The owner is also adamant that it’s the only one.

“We’re very excited to be selling it as these only come onto the market rarely, and this is the largest beach box in the area, and a real beauty.”

The beach box, at 35 Hawker Beach , has a lower storey for hosting a small boat – without a mast – a tinnie, kayaks, dinghy, surfboards or any kind of beach toy.  

The upper level, with the best views, has a small sink for washing hands or the catch of the day – but no running water – and a lounge and dining area, as well as a bar bench for sitting and looking at the views.

It’s been in the same family for 30 years but it’s finally come onto the market via an expressions-of-interest campaign.

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“When we bought it, it belonged to a local fisherman and he had it all set up for fishing, with a little varnished timber antique sailing boat, fishing nets, fish bones and shark jaws,” said owner Henry Sciberras. “It was like something out of Tom Sawyer.

“It used to be rusted corrugated iron and we set about restoring it, and my dad had a group of pensioners get involved in the refurbishment program. It’s now weatherboard-clad with a couple of great access double doors, a tin roof, and a Hamptons look inside.”

The $500,000 price expectation could, however, be far from a record. In February, a tiny 18-square-metre beach box on the Blairgowrie coastline sold, after a heated auction battle, for an incredible $900,000, despite a price guide of $450,000-$495,000. That one was also exceptional, with power connected, and had been in the same family for six decades.

Earlier in this month, a timber boat shed in Portsea was sold for an undisclosed price after being listed for $900,000-$990,000.  

It is thought that 23 Boatshed, Shelly Beach Foreshore, with solar power and mains water, could have been bought for over $1 million.

“But these boxes are as rare as hen’s teeth,” said Sciberras, 61, who runs the Boot Factory cafe in the grounds of the old Pentridge Prison in Coburg.  

“It’s been fully restored with a lot of love and passion for old things. The water is beautiful there too. Sometimes, you look up the coastline and you can imagine you’re in Monaco!”

Sadler said it was a fabulous addition to the beach lifestyle. “This two-storey beach box would be the perfect place for fishing off the rocks or from a boat, and taking a barcecue and sitting and eating the fish or squid you’ve just caught,” he said.

“It’s great when you don’t want to cart everything down to the beach every day; it can all be sitting there, waiting for you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Hawker Beach is a 600-metre stretch of shoreline beneath steep sandstone bluffs, with safe swimming and a dog leash-free beach.

There are nearly 1000 beach boxes on the Mornington Peninsula, stretching all the way from Rosebud to Mount Eliza, with around 252 in Mount Martha alone. Mostly, they’re used for storage and easy beach access, as well as shelter from the sun and wind and rain. They can’t be slept in overnight.

They started being built from 1862 when Victorian morality demanded modesty when changing into bathing costumes. Rows of the beach boxes are now among the most iconic sights of areas like the Mornington Peninsula and bayside suburbs like Brighton.

Dream Homes

Brighton Vic

• 3 bathrooms
• 4 carspaces

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