Dawson 26
The Dawson 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Robert Finch as a cruiser and first built in 1973.[1][2]
 Class symbol | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Robert Finch |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1973 |
| No. built | 300 |
| Builder(s) | Dawson Yacht Corporation |
| Boat | |
| Boat weight | 4,700 lb (2,132 kg) |
| Draft | 5.33 ft (1.62 m), centerboard down |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | Fiberglass |
| LOA | 25.58 ft (7.80 m) |
| LWL | 22.17 ft (6.76 m) |
| Beam | 8.00 ft (2.44 m) |
| Engine type | Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | stub keel and centerboard |
| Ballast | 1,165 lb (528 kg) |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mounted rudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| I (foretriangle height) | 29.25 ft (8.92 m) |
| J (foretriangle base) | 10.00 ft (3.05 m) |
| P (mainsail luff) | 24.00 ft (7.32 m) |
| E (mainsail foot) | 10.33 ft (3.15 m) |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Masthead sloop |
| Mainsail area | 146.25 sq ft (13.587 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 123.96 sq ft (11.516 m2) |
| Total sail area | 270.21 sq ft (25.103 m2) |
Originally known as the Midship 26, the Dawson 26 design was later developed into the Parker Dawson 26, a boat with a lighter displacement and ballast.[1][3]
Production
The design was built by the Dawson Yacht Corporation in the United States, with 300 examples completed between 1973 and 1982, but it is now out of production.[1]
A brochure, created in 1976, described it as, "a center cockpit, trailerable, auxiliary yacht, engineered and built without compromise for extended ocean going capability. Two separate cabins, five full size berths, sloop or ketch rigged."[4] The "D" for Dawson became a trademark on 8 February 1977 and was used in company advertisements. It was cancelled on 5 July 1983.[5]
Design
The Dawson 26 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig or optional ketch rig, with a mizzenmast. It features a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a wheel and a retractable centerboard. It displaces 4,700 lb (2,132 kg) and carries 1,165 lb (528 kg) of ballast.[1]
The design has an unusual configuration for a boat of this size, with a center cockpit and an aft cabin.[1]
The boat has a draft of 5.33 ft (1.62 m) with the centreboard extended and 1.67 ft (0.51 m) with it retracted, allowing beaching or road transportation on a trailer.[1]
The boat is optionally fitted with a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds 18 U.S. gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal).[1]
Operational history
In the Story of the Windship 'Prodigal', Bob Lengyel writes about a journey across the Atlantic Ocean on the Dawson 26 Prodigal. Lengyel sailed in June 1975, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, stopped at the Azores, arriving in Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1975, having sailed 4,400 nmi (8,149 km) in 42 days at sea. This was a "warm up" for the 1976 OSTAR, which Lengyel completed in his Dawson 26, during the summer of 1976.[6][7]
See also
Related development
Similar sailboats
References
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Dawson 26 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Robert Finch". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Parker Dawson 26 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- Dawson Yacht Corporation, 1976, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Image Trademark with Serial Number 73090105
- Lengyel, Bob (1975). Story of the Windship 'Prodigal'. Dawson Yacht Corporation.
- Hollingsworth, Hank (6 October 1976). "Bob Lengyel: The Loneliness of the Long-distance sailor". Press-Telegram Sports.