Impulse 26
Description
The Impulse 26 (1984–1987) is a rare, high-performance sportboat designed by William E. Cook and built in limited numbers (approximately 40 hulls total, with Mk I versions by New Orleans Marine and Johnson Boat Works, and Mk II by New England Boat Works), offering blistering speed and agility in a lightweight, trailerable package that punches well above its 26-foot LOA. With a fractional sloop rig delivering 327 sq ft of sail area on a mere 2,750 lb. displacement (47% ballast ratio for exceptional stiffness), it routinely planes upwind in 12–15 knots and surges to 15+ knots downwind under asymmetrical spinnaker, making it a PHRF standout (around 120–140) for club racing or adrenaline-fueled day sails, while the foam- or balsa-cored fiberglass hull, wide 8 ft 5 in beam, and spacious cockpit accommodate 3–5 crew comfortably for overnights. Though production ceased after just four years, these 1980s gems hold cult status among speed enthusiasts
Construction Details
| Designer | Bill Cook |
|---|---|
| Builder | Johnson Boat Works |
| Length | 26.000 ft |
| LOA | 26.000 ft |
| LWL | 21.580 ft |
| Beam | 8.420 ft |
| Displacement | 2750 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.580 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 29.42 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 8.50 ft |
| p | 32.67 ft |
| e | 12.17 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29.42 ft | 8.50 ft | 32.67 ft | 12.17 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Impulse 26 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 32.67 ft - (9958 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 12.17 ft - (3709 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.22 ft - (10430 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 34.46 ft - (10503 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 204.95 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 24.5 ft - (7468 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 11.09 ft - (3380 mm) |
| Leech | * 21.61 ft - (6587 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.06 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.78 ft - (2981 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.02 ° |
| Area | * 119.8 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 9.167 ft - (2794 mm) |
| Leech | 26 ft - (7925 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 100 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 8.5 ft - (2591 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 5.85 ° |
| Area | * 119.02 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - GENOA
| Luff | * 29.09 ft - (8867 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.54 ft - (8394 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.75 ft - (3886 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.04 ° |
| Area | * 185.43 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 29.09 ft - (8867 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 15.3 ft - (4663 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.3 ft - (4663 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 378 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 16.84 ft - (5133 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 6.23 ft - (1899 mm) |
| Leech | * 14.21 ft - (4331 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 5.1 ft - (1554 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.93 ° |
| Area | * 42.95 ft² |
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Impulse 26 - STORMTRYSAIL
| Luff | 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 9.5 ft - (2896 mm) |
| Leech | 19 ft - (5791 mm) |
| Length Perp | * 10.75 ft - (3277 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 8.81 ° |
| Area | * 64 ft² |
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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. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.