coronado 28 sailboat review

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Five classic (and affordable) fiberglass mid-sized cruising boats

By: Pat Reynolds Cruising Tips , Sailboats

We have chosen to omit the word “top” from this headline. There are so many cruising boats and so many opinions, anointing rank is probably not a good idea. However, these boats are definitely very popular for good reason and worth singling out for their virtues.

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Coronado 27

Coronado 27 is a 26 ′ 8 ″ / 8.1 m monohull sailboat designed by William H. Tripp Jr. and built by Coronado Yachts between 1970 and 1973.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Rig dims. from manufacturers sailplan. (1972) Diesel inboard was an option. Shallow draft keel and keel/cb versions were also available.

Shallow draft: 3.50’ / 1.07m Displacement: 6900 lbs./3130 kgs. Ballast: 3200 lbs./1452 kgs.

Kell/CB: Draft(max.) 6.17’/1.88m Draft(min.) 3.25’/0.99m Displacement: 6250 lbs./2835 kgs. Ballast: 2600 lbs./1179 kgs.

Nearly the same as the COLUMBIA 27.

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Thoughts about a Coronado 25

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Hello all. I'm a novice sailor (but long time powerboater) considering the purchase of a Coronado 25 as my first sailboat. I plan to use it mostly on the Great Lakes with my wife and two young kids for weekends on the hook. Here's the basics about the particular boat I'm looking at: "1965 Coronado 25 has had many many parts replaced or upgraded, all new wiring and lights, sails in very good shape,Genoa was redone by sail care a year ago. New Winches,Newer Radio, Chart Plotter, Stereo & 4 Speakers, new head, roller furling, new compass. Still needs a little final finishing on the inside." The asking price is $2,700. Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations about the Coronado 25? Here's the link to the boat: http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_details.jsp?entityid=102885211&searchtype=buy&searchid=1&back=%2Flisting%2Fcache%2Flisting_search_results.jsp%3FpayingBrandsOnly%3Dtrue%26payingBrandsOnly%3Dtrue%26enid%3D0%26ftid%3D0%26ps%3D30%26bclint%3D0%26man%3Dcoronado%26psdistance%3D500%26spid%3D121%26Search.x%3D70%26searchtype%3Dbuy%26hmid%3D0%26bcint%3D4%26sm%3D3%26currencyid%3D100%26luom%3D126%26ic%3Dtrue%26sfm%3Dfalse%26Search.y%3D7%26slim%3Dquick%26searchPage%3D%252Flisting%252Fcache%252Fadvanced_search.jsp%26is%3Dfalse  

The Coronada 25 may be out dated, but it is a good boat and has served many Great Lakes sailors well in the past taking them all over the lakes back n the days when a 25 footer was a good sized boat. At the price, you could probably not even purchase the upgrades this boat has. I would consider a survey. If it is in sound condition you can hardly lose.  

Thanks for the reply. Come on Sailors! Surely someone else must have an opinion on the Coronado 25!!!  

Okay, if you want an opinion, in thier day, the Coronado 25 was a value oriented, coastal cruiser (think somewhere between Magregor and Catalina 27). At least the couple I knew were poorly assembled and cheaply built with less than ideal materials, and undersized hardware. Almost every piece of hardware was an option and so some were delivered without winches, others with simple snubbing winches way too light for their comparatively large genoas, and others with reasonably sized top-action winches. They were reasonably popular primarily because of their cheap price. They sailed moderately well for thier day (not quite as well as the similar concept Cal 25 of which they were a knockoff). They did not point very well, partially because of their hull form and partially because the design of the house prevented a good sheet lead angle for the genoa. Thier long waterline gave them a pretty good turn of speed reaching in a breeze. Coronado's were built by a succession of different companies starting out weak and going down hill from there. The earliest Coronados (1965 or so) were generally reputed to be better built than the later boats, that is until the tooling ended up at Hughes who, it is claimed, improved quality again. It is not clear to me whether Hughes ever built any of the smaller Coronado's even though they showed on their late 1970's literature. Coronado 25's were known for developing keel bolt and rudder problems sooner than similar boats of that same era, but if I remember right, the keel bolts were a comparatively easy fix. (If I remember correctly, and I may be thinking of the Coronado 23, they had cast iron keels with galvanized iron through bolts through a flange. It was relatively easy to remove the bolts and replace with monel or SS bolts and be good to go for a very long while.) The rudder had a small diameter bronze rudder post that did not fair well over time. The electrical systems were junk but having helped rewire one, access is pretty easy. The hull to deck joint also did not fair well over time being a small contact area, rolled out flange held together primarily with polyester slurry. The one in question sounds like it has had all of the big things done except keel bolt, hull to deck joint, and rudder replacement. For that price these are not bad boats to mess around in as long as you don't plan to press them too hard. Respectfully, Jeff  

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Marine News from the Great Lakes

Century coronado 26 dual console a day yacht with style, performance & luxury.

Published: Friday, September 11, 2020 By: Christopher Hughes

As our lives are now busier, how we spend our free time has evolved and become more important. This time crunch impacts every aspect of our lives, including how we boat. Enjoying time on the water with family and friends builds lifelong memories, helps us to destress from a fast-paced life, and is a relaxing and therapeutic endeavor. Of course, having the right boat makes all the difference, and knowing what boat is best for you and your family can be confusing.

Many builders focus their design around how a boat looks at a boat show, trying to cram as many features as possible into a limited space. The reality is that boaters appreciate the right features, not necessarily the most features. The Century Coronado 26 Dual Console is a perfect example. Designed by Doug Zurn, well known for ultra-stable, smooth running performance hulls, the 26DC capitalizes on this DNA and is, for Century Boat Company, a return to her classic American day-yachting roots.

A Classic Exterior with Advanced & Modern Design

One of the most striking attributes boaters first notice about the 26DC is her classic styling, a throwback to the days when only the very wealthy could afford the enjoyment of boating. Her venerable New England look is one that has become a status symbol around the world, born from the old days of wooden sport boats like the original Century Coronado, Chris-Craft, Hackercraft, and Riva. However, unlike the old days, the 26DC is a technically advanced boat, leveraging the latest in materials, technology, computer aided design (CAD), and generational craftsmanship. The result is a boat that delivers the ideal balance of comfort, style, luxury, fun, usable space, exceptional ride, and durability.

Geometry is everything! What makes the 26DC the best boat in her class is the combination of her style and hull design. Her advanced geometry hull delivers the smoothest and most stable ride in a 26-foot day-boat. By carefully managing the deep-V entry, the shape, and the positioning of the lifting strakes, and utilizing a variable deadrise, designer Doug Zurn has created a next-generation family day-boat. Wave energy is used, instead of discarded, which adds to the stability of the 26DC and enables her to remain smooth in conditions that would be uncomfortable for other boats her size. Most builders do not go the extra mile in boats under 30 feet with regards to hull design and engineering; instead, they tend to focus on adding as many features as possible. But at the end of the day, what will you, the boater, appreciate more? A better, more comfortable ride or a long list of features and an okay (or even bad) ride? Like cars, you get what you pay for, and the team at Century Boats has been hyper-focused on ensuring she is the best 26DC on the market.

Looking more closely at the overall design you will notice that she looks narrow. She is, and there is a very good reason. For a boat to travel most efficiently and smoothly across the water, there is a golden ratio of length to beam. The 26DC, along with the 26CC and 26RA, all have it. It also means that less energy is needed to propel the boat, which translates into much better fuel economy, allowing for more time on the water.

Finding Comfort and Luxury Inside

At the bow, which is beautifully upholstered, roomy, and quite comfortable, is a Corian table with fiddles, perfect for a relaxing meal. Of course, there are copious amounts of storage under all the seating and two sole lockers. A nice touch from Century Coronado is that the aft under-seat storage has bin inserts, making it easy to keep clean, and allowing for additional storage underneath for items used less frequently.

If much of your boating will consist of harbor cruising, dock & dines, and entertaining, the above-mentioned features are a nice asset. Adding to the comfort and usability, the main seating area consists of half of the entire boat. With a large “L” shaped seating area to port and loveseat lounger to starboard, the 26DC lets you easily invite ten of your friends to come along and enjoy the fun.

Keeping with the versatility theme, she is accomplished when it comes to family watersports. With plenty of storage for all kinds of towable toys, wakeboards, and everything else needed for a day on the water, she also has an extra sturdy bimini or a fully integrated hardtop for sun protection. If you and the kids like being behind the boat, the transom has a premium pop-up tow pylon to guarantee hours of entertainment for both those on the boat and those behind it. With the engine on an extended bracket, the swim platform makes reboarding simple and safe.

A Boater’s Boat

Many boats in the 26-foot range are designed to spend most of their time fishing, especially in the case of a center console, or otherwise day-boating on a smaller, calmer lake. This is not true for the Century Coronado 26. She is a boater’s boat and is specifically designed to handle bigger water conditions. The advanced geometry of her hull and its stronger composite construction give her a tremendous advantage over all other boats in class in bigger water. She requires less power to run at speed, which makes her more efficient and means more time away from the fuel dock. Most notably, she can handle conditions that would send less capable boats back to the slip; and we all know how things can pick up on a bigger lake. Thanks in part to her bow flare, angle of entry, and the variable deadrise design, she cuts through waves and uses their energy for additional stability. Pushing spray out and low, she keeps you and your guests dry while you enjoy the smooth ride of a much bigger boat.

Her handling characteristics cannot be overemphasized. Delivering the feel of a sports car on the water, her average top speed is 50 MPH. Her length to beam ratio of 3.5:1 gives her an advantage over other boats in class, meaning she rides like a luxury car on the highway, compared to an old pickup truck on a dirt road. For this reason, the Coronado 26DC is ideal for boaters who want to spend more time boating in coastal conditions and be able to explore more, as well as boaters who live on big lakes, including the Great Lakes.

Thanks to her 8-foot beam and wet weight of just under 5,300 pounds, the 26DC is a trailerable boat. Being able to take her with you on trips to the lake or coast dramatically extends your enjoyment. It’s also nice to not be locked into a slip or mooring, and to have the freedom of a boat ramp to haul her out on your own.

Overall, the Century Coronado 26 Dual Console is best described as a premium day-boat with a double major in performance and fun. She is comfortable and easy to handle. Her lines, styling, and beauty make a statement, and after all, everyone appreciates a beautiful boat.

www.centuryboats.com/26-dual-console [email protected] (727) 215-4394

Editors Note: In May 2020, Century Boats acquired Vanquish Boats . Existing Vanquish models are being reintroduced as Century Coronado, a signal to the return to the company’s roots and keeping with the natural evolution of the Century brand in the 21st century.

This article first appeared in the Fall Issue (Sep/Oct) 2020 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.

tags: New Boat Models

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Coronado 28 - Halyards

MAURIPRO Rigging Shop

Genoa halyard (cruising) for coronado 28, mpr-3418-hg-cr-10-78.

Genoa Halyard (Performance Cruise) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hg-pc-10-78.

Genoa Halyard (Club Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hg-cl-8-78.

Genoa Halyard (GP Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hg-gp-8-78.

Mainsail Halyard (Cruising) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hm-cr-10-66.

Mainsail Halyard (Performance Cruise) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hm-pc-10-66.

Mainsail Halyard (Club Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hm-cl-8-66.

Mainsail Halyard (GP Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hm-gp-8-66.

Spinnaker Halyard (Cruising) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hs-cr-10-78.

Spinnaker Halyard (Performance Cruise) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hs-pc-10-78.

Spinnaker Halyard (Club Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hs-cl-8-78.

Spinnaker Halyard (GP Racing) for Coronado 28

Mpr-3418-hs-gp-8-78.

Pre-spec and custom mainsail, genoa and spinnaker halyards for your Coronado 28 Polyester and Dyneema lines for cruising and racing halyards. Full range of options.

MAURIPRO Rigging shop brings years of expertise to the sailing community. Our riggers are constantly working with sailboat owners to provide high-quality halyards for their cruising or racing sailboats. From traditional polyester double braid to the latest on high tech lines made out of Dyneema or Stirotek, we offer a wide range of materials and diameters to fit any need of sailboat halyards.

We at MAURIPRO Sailing are looking forward to helping you the best way we can, but most importantly, we are looking forward to seeing you on the water. Let's Go Sailing!

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