The Frances 26 Sailboat

The Frances 26, a long-keeled, canoe-sterned sloop was designed by Chuck Paine and built in the USA by Morris Yachts.

This Frances 26 is rigged for long offshore passages - note the windvane self-steering gear on the stern.

Essentially the same sailboat as the Victoria 26, but built in the USA by Morris Yachts and renamed the Frances 26.

Published Specification for the Frances 26

Underwater Configuration: Long keel, canoe stern

Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall: 26' 0" / 7.92m

Waterline Length: 21' 3" / 6.48m

Beam: 8' 0" / 2.44m

Draft: 3' 10" / 1.17m

Rig Type: Fractionally rigged sloop

Displacement: 6,800lb / 3,084kg

Designer: Chuck Paine

Builder: Morris Yachts (US)

Year First Built: 1975

Number Built: 200+

Owners Association: Frances 26 Owners

Published Design Ratios for the Frances 26

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.1

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 51.5

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 316

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 29.0

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

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Summary Analysis of Published Design Ratios for the Frances 26

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.1 suggests that she'll need a stiff breeze to get her going. In any other conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing will be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 51.5 means that she'll stand up well to her canvas in a blow, enabling her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 316, tells us she's clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but will come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 29.0 suggests that crew comfort in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. Her Capsize Screening Formula of 1.7 tells us that she would be a better choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making than one with a CS rating of more than 2.0.