Columbia 26 MkII

Built 1969–1977 by Columbia Yachts (Whittaker Corp.)

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About the Columbia 26 MkII

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Columbia 26 MkII — **Illustration, not a photo of this model.** AI-generated illustration of a typical small cruising sloop.

Built: 1969–1977
Builder: Columbia Yachts (Whittaker Corp.)
Designer: William H. Tripp Jr.
Length: 25.58 ft
Waterline: 21.5 ft
Beam: 8.5 ft
Draft: 4.33 ft
Displacement: 5,900 lb
Ballast: 2,500 lb
Hull / keel: fin keel
Rig: sloop
Propulsion: outboard
Fuel: 9 gal
Water: 13 gal
Number built: 950
Stern thruster: not fitted
Steering: tiller

Tank capacities — where the figures come from

Fuel 9 gal
“Optional Fuel: 9 gal.” — owners' association (1969-1977), columbia-yachts.com

Only with the optional inboard (9.5 hp OMC through-hull gasoline drive or 5 hp Pattar diesel); outboard boats had no built-in tank. Figure from the Columbia owners' spec page, which reproduces factory specs.
Water 13 gal
“Water: 13 gal.” — owners' association (1969-1977), columbia-yachts.com
Water heater unknown
The Columbia owners' site specification gives a 13 gal water tank and an optional inboard (outboard standard); nothing on hot water.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from

Bow thruster unknown
No source mentions a thruster on this 26-footer.
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
Steering tiller
Our earlier figure of tiller rests on one owner's account; the transcribed spec page and an owners' forum thread don't state the steering, so it isn't confirmed.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Outboard-powered pocket cruiser with the Columbia bubble cabintop style; owners fit roughly 8-10 hp outboards on a transom bracket (a well mount is also discussed). Shoal-draft version draws 3.16 ft. Small 13 gal water tank; no factory holding tank on the owner's boat (portable toilet). Only production years 1975-1977 overlap the catalog window. Sources for this model are thin (one owner essay plus sailboatdata).

Engines fitted

OMC Thru-Hull Drive (inboard gasoline) — 9.5 hp, gas, single factory option
Builder spec sheet lists it as one of two optional inboards; the boat was sold without a motor as standard.

Sources: columbia-yachts.com · listingsport.com
Petter AB1WM — 5 hp, diesel, single factory option
The alternative optional inboard. The owners' spec page spells the maker 'Patter'; Petter's AB1W was a 5 hp marine diesel of the period.

Sources: columbia-yachts.com · listingsport.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Manuals and brochures online

Spec sheet Columbia 26 Mk II and K Specifications (with running-rigging lengths) (1969-1977) — columbia-yachts.com

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

Unprotected spade rudder steering
The stock rudder has no skeg and is considered undersized in strength; an experienced owner recommends a new, stronger rudder and post before any offshore use.
columbia-yachts.com
Hull-keel joint and keel bolts hull
The same owner lists reinforcing the hull-to-keel joint and renewing keel bolts as part of a serious refit. Ballast is cast iron per sailboatdata.
columbia-yachts.com · sailboatdata.com
Icebox drains to bilge and hard-to-pump bilge plumbing
The icebox drains into the bilge, causing odors, and on at least some 1974 boats there is no room under the sole for a proper bilge pump pickup forward.
columbia-yachts.com
No insulation, condensation interior
The hull and cabin have no insulation, so condensation and mildew are persistent without active ventilation.
columbia-yachts.com
Transom outboard lifts clear in a seaway running gear
A transom-mounted outboard can ventilate or come out of the water in steep seas, over-revving and shearing the prop pin; heavy motors also stress the transom.
columbia-yachts.com

Model sources (4)

sailboatdata.com · columbia-yachts.com · columbia-yachts.com · listingsport.com

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Other Columbia models

Columbia 10.7 1976–1979
Columbia 8.7 1976–1987

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.