South Coast 26A

Description

The South Coast 26A (often referred to simply as the South Coast 26 or SC 26A) is an American trailerable pocket cruiser designed by James "Jim" Monroe and built by South Coast Seacraft Co. (based in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA) starting in 1977–1978. It evolved from market research in the early 1970s, with prototypes tested from 1974 onward, incorporating customer feedback from boat shows (e.g., Chicago 1977). Production ran through the late 1970s/early 1980s, with a limited run (exact hull count not well-documented but in the low hundreds). The "26A" designation highlights refinements like the innovative retractable bulb keel (lowered via electric winch for sailing draft, retracted for trailering/launching in shallow water—drawing only ~22 inches up), fiberglass construction, and a focus on family cruising comfort with significant freeboard for storage and accommodations (berths for 4–6, including V-berth forward, settees, quarter berths, compact galley/heads, and ~6 ft headroom in the main cabin). It stands out for its trailer-launchable design (lightweight yet sturdy), good stability and handling, retractable keel for versatility (beaching, ramp launching), mid- or aft-cockpit options in some variants, and practical features for weekending or short coastal cruises—though not intended for heavy offshore use due to lighter displacement.