Looking for opinions on a South Coast 26

[sail_MN]

I am considering buying a South Coast 26. I would like to hear from anyone who has owned or sailed on one of these boats. All opinions will be appreciated good or bad. It is a 1978 SC26A with a 15hp saildrive motor. It has a drop down keel and wheel steering. Overall it is in decent shape for its age. It appears that the chain plates are concealed behind wood so I wasn't able to get a look at them. I am curious how well they sail and how stable they are when the weather kicks up. How reliable is the saildrive Zephr motor? I am planning to trailer up to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. I am also curious how this boat would compare to a Catalina 25 or an O'day 25/26. Thanks.

 

[rjbeasock]

Check out http://southcoastsailortalk.multiply.com/ the administrator has a SC26 and I'm fairly sure he likes it.

 

[sailormanbigd]

i had a SC22 that i liked but it don't come close to a Catalina or an oday in my opinion. Mine did'nt have an interior liner. It was plywood that was tabed in with glass. The centerboard was a solid slab of cast steel and the rudder was a flat piece of aluminium-no foils below the water. It was a pig to sail and did'nt like to go to weather. The oday 25 i had was a much better built sailboat, stronger, nicer finish, actual foils for cb and rudder, and sailed wonderfully! That said I still loved to take the lightweight SC22 out and owned it for 10+ years.