Looking for my first sailboat and I've come across a 1970 Columbia 26 mkII. I'm going to actually see the boat (and if the weathers right take a ride on it) this weekend, but I have seen a great deal of pictures and talked a great deal to the owner and I can really see myself buying this one. I just want to know what people think of these boats. I don't see too much about them online. This specific boat is older, but has been completely redone. All new plumbing for the head, electrical and halogen lighting throuhout, the woodwork has all been redone with some added, a kerosene heater has been added, it has 10 sails, gps, depth finder, autopilot, and more than I can remember. The one thing the owner did say was that it has an aluminum keel that will rust over time. He just pulled the boat out last month and had the keel ground down back to bare metal (it had rusted a bit) and then put a coat of rust prevention paint and then three coats of epoxy so I'm guessing that should last a while. The whole exterior of the boat has fresh paint, and it's got a real nice '99 Honda 9.9 outboard with electric start. It's beautiful, but is there anything I should be leary of with this brand? Thanks, Brent
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Jeff D.
Columbia
The 26 bubble top is a well designed Bill Tripp boat that has a good turn of speed. Despite its high freeboard, it handles most weather with ease. I have sailed one in 25-30 and had a very nice balanced helm. They are very competitive for racing even by today's standards. I think they are fairly prone to leaks around the windows and toe rails which are more like rub rails. This is pretty routine for boats that age. Look for the usual soft spots around deck hardware and chainplates. Below there is a lot of room with good head clearance for a 26ft boat due to the high freeboard and bubble top. If you don't need to trailer it is nice little cruising boat.
The 26 bubble top is a well designed Bill Tripp boat that has a good turn of speed. Despite its high freeboard, it handles most weather with ease. I have sailed one in 25-30 and had a very nice balanced helm. They are very competitive for racing even by today's standards. I think they are fairly prone to leaks around the windows and toe rails which are more like rub rails. This is pretty routine for boats that age. Look for the usual soft spots around deck hardware and chainplates. Below there is a lot of room with good head clearance for a 26ft boat due to the high freeboard and bubble top. If you don't need to trailer it is nice little cruising boat.
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Joe
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Ed Allen
Perfect 26
The boat is refered to as the perfect 26 by the owners group that was and may still be in the San Francisco area. This is a great boat to sail. I put a 155% high cut jib on mine and won tons of races and had many years of great service. more room than any 26 i know of. the bunks are a bit short if your a 6 footer, i cut a hole and extended it. if the engine is installed thru the cocpit. thats how it came, you will want to put a hose on the upper exaust hole on the motor to vent fumes out into to water. i used a copper tube, worked great. other wise exaust fumes can accumulate in the cockpit and if the companionway is open they will fill the cabin. so if you motor put in the companion way doors. or do the slight mod to the engine. some have moved the motor to the transom but i did not like the motor hanging out. I put a 6 hp outboard in mine . easy to put in and out and worked fine. burnt less fuel than the 9.9, we spent lots of week-ends with 2 kids and 2 adults. and some with 4 adults. big hatch was great! used a wind scoop for ventalation and it was good. Boat willsail really well. balances to steer with one hand. I raced it for years singlehanding. The keel is cast iron not alum. IT will rust if it gets wet. I sanded mine down, then put ospho rust inhibitor and painted it with petit marines system. A metal primer, then a red vinal paint then the bottom paint. it lasted several seasons before we had to strip it again. The boat is bullet proof. got hard aground with it and bounced it on the keel in a storm for hours. then got it off and sailed it home. no damage.
The boat is refered to as the perfect 26 by the owners group that was and may still be in the San Francisco area. This is a great boat to sail. I put a 155% high cut jib on mine and won tons of races and had many years of great service. more room than any 26 i know of. the bunks are a bit short if your a 6 footer, i cut a hole and extended it. if the engine is installed thru the cocpit. thats how it came, you will want to put a hose on the upper exaust hole on the motor to vent fumes out into to water. i used a copper tube, worked great. other wise exaust fumes can accumulate in the cockpit and if the companionway is open they will fill the cabin. so if you motor put in the companion way doors. or do the slight mod to the engine. some have moved the motor to the transom but i did not like the motor hanging out. I put a 6 hp outboard in mine . easy to put in and out and worked fine. burnt less fuel than the 9.9, we spent lots of week-ends with 2 kids and 2 adults. and some with 4 adults. big hatch was great! used a wind scoop for ventalation and it was good. Boat willsail really well. balances to steer with one hand. I raced it for years singlehanding. The keel is cast iron not alum. IT will rust if it gets wet. I sanded mine down, then put ospho rust inhibitor and painted it with petit marines system. A metal primer, then a red vinal paint then the bottom paint. it lasted several seasons before we had to strip it again. The boat is bullet proof. got hard aground with it and bounced it on the keel in a storm for hours. then got it off and sailed it home. no damage.
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Mike I.
Columbia
I read an article not long ago about a man that sailed from Southern California down Baja and up and around the Sea of Cortez. I think he's still there (not sure). He was sailing a Columbia 26 Mk II.
I read an article not long ago about a man that sailed from Southern California down Baja and up and around the Sea of Cortez. I think he's still there (not sure). He was sailing a Columbia 26 Mk II.
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John Dawson
Coronado 27
The Columbia 26 was modified to make the almost identical Coronado 27, which we have found to be pretty solid. You might include that model in your research.
The Columbia 26 was modified to make the almost identical Coronado 27, which we have found to be pretty solid. You might include that model in your research.
Excellent choice
In my opinion the Bill Tripp Columbia 26 ought to go down as one of the BEST production cruising boats of the late 20th C. My research tells me a decent one can be had for $4500. I passed one up IN the water, with outboard, in excellent sail-home (150 miles) condition for ASKING $4400, ONLY because the bank would not lend me less than five grand (is that INCREDIBLE??? They 'advised' me to pay cash, which I did not have at the time. You come up with a deal like that and--! Banks!). The only detriment I know is that the galley is awkward and cramped. And the headroom is about 5'9. But the rest of the interior and the deep safe cockpit are perfect for a couple with two little kids. I say BUY IT. BTW some 'boomers' may recall an ABC-TV movie starring Desi Arnaz Jr inspired by 'Dove', the 1973 fictionaised film version of Robin Lee Graham's voyage. It aired in about 1974 or 75 and was called 'The Voyage of the YES', in which a kid sails a boat to Hawaii and finds out his sailing partner is a wanted man. The boat used in the movie was a Columbia 26. It's priceless if only because you get to see so much of the boat in action. JC
In my opinion the Bill Tripp Columbia 26 ought to go down as one of the BEST production cruising boats of the late 20th C. My research tells me a decent one can be had for $4500. I passed one up IN the water, with outboard, in excellent sail-home (150 miles) condition for ASKING $4400, ONLY because the bank would not lend me less than five grand (is that INCREDIBLE??? They 'advised' me to pay cash, which I did not have at the time. You come up with a deal like that and--! Banks!). The only detriment I know is that the galley is awkward and cramped. And the headroom is about 5'9. But the rest of the interior and the deep safe cockpit are perfect for a couple with two little kids. I say BUY IT. BTW some 'boomers' may recall an ABC-TV movie starring Desi Arnaz Jr inspired by 'Dove', the 1973 fictionaised film version of Robin Lee Graham's voyage. It aired in about 1974 or 75 and was called 'The Voyage of the YES', in which a kid sails a boat to Hawaii and finds out his sailing partner is a wanted man. The boat used in the movie was a Columbia 26. It's priceless if only because you get to see so much of the boat in action. JC
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Marc
Thumbs up
I owned a 1969 model for 8 years in Texas. I sailed up and down the TX coast and only sold it when I moved up to a Beneteau 35 (10 foot rule). No problems, a good solid boat. I had a saildrive inboard (9.5 HP) but it finally could not be revived after it's 27th birthday. I pulled the plug in the cockpit and installed a Nissan 8 HP. I had two outdrives until I hauled the boat and had the saildrive removed. I purchased it for $5600 and sold it for $4400 eight years later. Have Fun, Marc
I owned a 1969 model for 8 years in Texas. I sailed up and down the TX coast and only sold it when I moved up to a Beneteau 35 (10 foot rule). No problems, a good solid boat. I had a saildrive inboard (9.5 HP) but it finally could not be revived after it's 27th birthday. I pulled the plug in the cockpit and installed a Nissan 8 HP. I had two outdrives until I hauled the boat and had the saildrive removed. I purchased it for $5600 and sold it for $4400 eight years later. Have Fun, Marc
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Brent
Bought it
Well, Thanks so much for all the responses! This boat was a bit more than what everyone was saying is a great price, but with all the work that had been done to it I still felt it worth it, so we went ahead and bought it. The current owner took us out on it for a full day and it was a dream. Going out this weekend for our first solo trip, I can't wait! Thanks again, Brent
Well, Thanks so much for all the responses! This boat was a bit more than what everyone was saying is a great price, but with all the work that had been done to it I still felt it worth it, so we went ahead and bought it. The current owner took us out on it for a full day and it was a dream. Going out this weekend for our first solo trip, I can't wait! Thanks again, Brent
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