Just baught a 26.5 and have started fitting it out. First the out board motor support seemed to be less than perfect. I have purchased a EEZ lift mount and have done some simulation with the motor mounted to it and the mount attachted to my work bench. I can lift the motor with one hand! I will also only have to tilt the motor to the first setting. By the way I have a Nissan 9.9, it weighs 87 LBS. It will also be much easier to reach the tilt lever with the motor riased. I am looking forward to trying it out on the boat this spring! The next piece of gear added is the Hood 700-6 SL furler, I chose this one because of the propriatary haulyard swivel asssembly it uses, the only other furler that uses it is Harken they lience it from Hood. It has an aluminum extrusion as well, which I wanted believing it will be better for reefing in heavy air. The other big challenge is biulding a trailer for the boat, this may sound a bit un usual for someone to do on their own but I am a welder and metal fabricator turned structural engineer( the spelling should give me away) so I can't help myself. I have spent a lot of time designing the trailer, and will start fabricting about the begining of March. The unique feature of the trailer is that it will allow the boat to float off while remaining about 1 deg from level. I think this is important with a boat that has a hull and keel such the 26.5. I will let you all know how it works. If anyone has fitted a furler to a 26.5 and knows what the luff of the head sail should be I would be interested in knowing it. Eric