Niagara 26

The Niagara 26 is a Canadian sailboat that was designed by George Hinterhoeller as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1975.

Production
The type was initially built by Hinterhoeller Yachts in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada as one of the first designs put into production after George Hinterhoeller had left C&C Yachts to re-establish his own company.

After the first 69 boats had been built by Hinterhoeller, licensed production moved to two other Canadian companies, Goman Boat Limited and the Halman Manufacturing Company.

A total of 170 boats had been built all three manufacturers, by the time production ended.

Design
The Niagara 26 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 4000 lb and carries 1700 lb of ballast. The boat can also be equipped with a spinnaker for downwind sailing.

The boat has a draft of 4.42 ft with the standard keel fitted.

The design has sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, a single straight settee berth on the port side and a drop down table in the main cabin that converts to a double berth on the starboard side. The galley is located on the starboard side aft. The galley is split on both sides, with a two-burner stove to port and an ice box and a sink to starboard. A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on the starboard side.

The boat can be fitted with an inboard engine or an outboard motor for docking and manoeuvring. The fuel tank holds 6 u.s.gal and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 14 u.s.gal.

The design has a hull speed of 6.43 kn and a PHRF handicap of 186 to 195 for the inboard engine-equipped version and 183 to 211 for the outboard motor version.

Operational history
In a review, Sailboat Lab reported, "the Niagara 26 is a light sailboat which is a high performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat. The fuel capacity is originally very small. There is a very short water supply range."