Frances 26 Cutter
Description
The Frances 26 Cutter is a variant of the Frances 26, a classic double-ended pocket cruiser designed by Chuck Paine in 1974 for seaworthy coastal and offshore sailing, inspired by Scottish fishing boats. Introduced alongside the sloop-rigged Frances 26, the cutter rig option enhances versatility for long-distance cruising with a divided sail plan for easier handling in heavy weather. Built primarily by Morris Yachts (USA, ~1975–1990s, ~100 units total for Frances 26 variants) and Victoria Marine/Northshore Yachts (UK, as Victoria 26, ~100+ units), it features a solid fiberglass hull, long keel, canoe stern, and transom-hung rudder. The cutter rig, with a staysail and high-cut Yankee jib, offers flexibility for solo or couple sailors tackling varied conditions, from fjords to ocean passages (e.g., Maine to Caribbean or a documented circumnavigation). Production ceased in the late 1990s after mold fires, but its reputation for beauty and seaworthiness endures, with used examples fetching $20,000–$40,000 (£15,000–£30,000), depending on condition and upgrades (e.g., modern rigging, inboard diesel).
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 34.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 9.75 ft |
| p | 29.83 ft |
| e | 11.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.50 ft | 9.75 ft | 29.83 ft | 11.50 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.83 ft - (9092 mm) |
| Foot | * 11.5 ft - (3505 mm) |
| Leech | * 31.44 ft - (9583 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.04 ° |
| Diagonal | * 31.6 ft - (9632 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | 171.32 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 28.68 ft - (8742 mm) |
| Foot | * 12.67 ft - (3862 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.38 ft - (7736 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.21 ft - (3417 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 160.72 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 34.06 ft - (10381 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.54 ft - (4737 mm) |
| Leech | * 32.3 ft - (9845 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.63 ft - (4459 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 249.03 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 34.06 ft - (10381 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 17.55 ft - (5349 mm) |
| Foot | * 17.55 ft - (5349 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 508.09 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite.