FL26 preview

LOA: 26'
Max. Beam: 8'
Draft at DWL: 22"
Displacement at DWL: 2,650 lbs
Motorization: 30 to 80 HP diesel inboard
Fuel: 2 x 40 gallons
Top Speed: 14 to 18 mph

The program of the Fast Launch 26 is an easy to build, economical, classic looking, offshore capable, semi-displacement commuter style boat. On the water, it is impossible to tell that this boat has a flat bottom. Easy to build with her flat bottom, classic looks with the Sparkman-Stephens Escort look, offshore capable thanks to her size, generous flare, good sized skeg and inboard diesel. Her hull lines are well balanced and she will perform nicely in a wide range of speeds from economical displacement speed of 6 knots ( 7mph) to semi-planing at 18 mph with the 50 HP engine option. The moderate stern volume combined with a good size keel will keep her on track in bad weather. The fine well immersed bow gives her a smooth ride in a chop and the generous flare in the topsides not only looks good but add reserve buoyancy. Draft is a moderate 22" with a well protected propeller. Shaft and prop will not suffer from occasional grounding.

While not designed to round Cape Horn, the FL26 is offshore capable in the proper hands. I would not hesitate to cross the Florida Straights, the British Chanel or make similar passages.

Power and speed:
The FL26 is a narrow easily driven hull that will perform economically at displacement speeds: around 2 l/hr at 6 knots (1/2 US gallon per hour). Fuel consumption goes up a little bit 4 l/hr ( 1 US gallon/hr) at 12 knots (14 mph). 14 mph is the top speed with a 30 HP (22 KW) engine but she will reach 18 mph lightly loaded with a 50 HP (37 KW). The designer does not recommend to install engines larger than 80 HP (60 KW). With the standard 80 gallon tanks, this gives her an autonomy of around 800 NM. Thanks to it's light weight, the FL26 can be made unsinkable with buoyancy foam under the cockpit sole and along the sides.

Accommodations:
The FL26 is a day boat or picnic launch. She is best fitted for week-end cruising. The overnight accommodations are comfortable for two during short cruises: a wide vee berth with a small galley counter and an enclosed head is as much as we could fit in the short and shallow cabin. There is sitting headroom on the berth and in the head but not much floor space to move around. The cabin could be extended and the steering station covered by a light pilot house style shelter if the builder wants more protection from the elements but it is not possible to turn the FL26 in a full fledged cruising boat. That was not her program and she must be kept light for good performance.

The self bailing cockpit is almost 13' long (3,25 meters). The insulated engine box is unobtrusive but gives good access all around for easy maintenance. Air intakes are in the topsides and the cockpit will be quiet underway. The builder has complete freedom in the layout of the cockpit but the plans show dimensions for U shaped seating around a table in the stern. A swim platform is easy to add.

Construction:
Like most of our designs, the standard Fl26 hull is a plywood cored composite boat. The relatively thin plywood is sandwiched between multiple layers of fiberglass on the outside and inside. That composite panel is extremely strong but still light and requires less or the same maintenance than a fiberglass boat. She is built upside down on a simple jig made from the frames or from throw away molds. The simple hull shape makes construction easy and fast. The plans show several longitudinal cuts in the forward topside panels and a few close to the stern. This produces a smooth flared bow and gives some tumblehome at the stern. The slits are carefully calculated using state of the art CAD software and all panels take shape without excessive bending.

The plans show a superstructure made either from plywood or foam sandwich. We recommend the foam sandwich superstructure option not only to save weight but for strength and insulation, sound and heat. The foam sandwich building procedure is similar to stitch and glue. Another advantage of a foam sandwich superstructure is the extra buoyancy. The builder can also use foam sandwich for the hull and bulkheads. In that case, the boat will be unsinkable with only a small amount buoyancy foam. The cabin top and windshield are all cylindrical and conical developments, easy to cut to shape and bend.

Plans will be available within a few weeks.

Jacques Mertens
Bateau.com
October 2007

July sneak peek