North Star 600 (Hughes 26, North Star 26
Description
The North Star 600 is a compact 25'11" (7.9 m) recreational keelboat designed by the acclaimed Sparkman & Stephens firm (design #2135.2) as a versatile racer-cruiser, serving as a trunk-cabin evolution of the sportier North Star 500 Quarter-Tonner, and built by North Star Yachts Ltd. in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, from 1975 to 1977 before the yard's transition to Hughes Boat Works, which later rebranded and slightly modified it as the Hughes 26 (also known interchangeably as North Star 26). Constructed with a solid fiberglass hull and deck, wood trim for classic appeal, and a masthead sloop rig featuring aluminum spars, it balances performance with cruising comfort through a fixed fin keel (or optional shoal draft of 4 ft), skeg-hung rudder for protected steering, raked stem, and nearly plumb transom, delivering a hull speed of 6.4 knots and a moderate displacement/length ratio of 285 for responsive handling in coastal waters or club races—though its modest sail area/displacement ratio (15.8) favors a breeze over light airs. The practical interior sleeps five in a cozy layout with a V-berth forward, convertible dinette double in the saloon, starboard quarter berth, and amidships galley (sink, stove, icebox), plus a basic head, making it ideal for weekend getaways or family outings with tiller steering and optional outboard auxiliary (typically 6–9.9 hp). With around 50–100 hulls produced, the North Star 600 remains a sought-after vintage trailerable,
Construction Details
| Designer | Sparkman and Stephens |
|---|---|
| Builder | North Star Yachts Ltd. |
| Length | 26.000 ft |
| LOA | 25.960 ft |
| LWL | 20.250 ft |
| Beam | 9.000 ft |
| Displacement | 4598 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 31 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11 ft |
| p | 26.50 ft |
| e | 9.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 ft | 11 ft | 26.50 ft | 9.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
| Foot | * 9.5 ft - (2896 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.63 ft - (8422 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 27.84 ft - (8486 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 130.11 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 27 ft - (8230 mm) |
| Foot | 13.5 ft - (4115 mm) |
| Leech | 24.25 ft - (7391 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 110 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.1 ft - (3688 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 6.78 ° |
| Area | * 163.36 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 31.25 ft - (9525 mm) |
| Foot | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.17 ft - (8891 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.02 ° |
| Area | * 257.81 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Foot | 16.75 ft - (5105 mm) |
| Leech | 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 139.91 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.39 ft - (4691 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.7 ° |
| Area | * 230.86 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 32.25 ft - (9830 mm) |
| Foot | 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Leech | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 435 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 31.25 ft - (9525 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 19.8 ft - (6035 mm) |
| Foot | * 19.8 ft - (6035 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 526 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. 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.