Any information about this unusual sailboat?

[Brioche]

Anyone recognize this unusual sailboat? It is probably a bit under 30 feet, and has a small doghouse (as its name suggests) behind the cockpit. I am trying to figure out how this would even work. The rudder is mounted on the transom and slides up and down with no internal connection, so it looks like a tiller would slide on to the top of the rudder -- but then it seems the tiller would be blocked by the doghouse. This boat seems powered by a large outboard, but it has a small saildrive mounted aft of the swing keel. I just saw this sitting on the hard getting ready to go in the water this spring and was curious if anyone has any information about this boat.

[Orion Jim]

A peek at the hull I.D. on the transom would reveal all.

[kayakerChuck]

She looks like a Parker Dawson 26.

A search here will turn up lots of info.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by kayakerChuck

She looks like a Parker Dawson 26.

A search here will turn up lots of info.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Dawson_26

The Parker Dawson 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Robert Finch as a cruiser and first built in 1972.

The design has been sold by a number of different manufacturers under several names, including the Midship 25, Dawson 25, Nauset 26 and Bombay 26.

The Parker Dawson 26 is a development of the Dawson 26.

The design has an unusual configuration for a boat of its size, with a cabin forward and one aft, with a center cockpit. The aft cabin has two bunks and a sink, with space for a portable or marine head. The forward cabin is located with the main cabin, as there are no internal bulkheads in the hull. The head is located under the starboard settee which can be used as a berth. There is a removable dinette table. The galley in the main cabin is to port. There are four fixed portlights in the forward cabin, while the aft cabin has two fixed ports and one that opens.

The boat has a hinged mast, mounted on the forward cabin roof. There are two jib sheet winches and one for the halyards and an anchor locker forward.


https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/dawson-26

[Mlp48]

I knew a man who one and must have been 6'6" and wondered how he managed. I never saw below but he said he loved it !

[JoeRobertJr]

That Wikipedia article linked by Montanan suggests the rudder is controlled by a wheel or geared tiller, presumably connected to the aluminum frame around the rudder. Interesting design for sure.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Brioche

Anyone recognize this unusual sailboat? It is probably a bit under 30 feet, and has a small doghouse (as its name suggests) behind the cockpit. I am trying to figure out how this would even work. The rudder is mounted on the transom and slides up and down with no internal connection, so it looks like a tiller would slide on to the top of the rudder -- but then it seems the tiller would be blocked by the doghouse. This boat seems powered by a large outboard, but it has a small saildrive mounted aft of the swing keel. I just saw this sitting on the hard getting ready to go in the water this spring and was curious if anyone has any information about this boat.

When doing my boat search I ran across one similar to this in Port Angeles, WA but it was larger boat, mid 30s, made by Chris Craft of all things. The owner had sailed it from the Great Lakes all the way to China and back after his divorce. He was an electrical engineer and had redone all the wiring, the best job I have ever seen; I wish I had kept his contact information.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by kayakerChuck

She looks like a Parker Dawson 26.

A search here will turn up lots of info.

Also agree on a Dawson 26. Saildrive is probably OMC.

[Caleb_Grey]

Lyle hess did it better on the Nor'Sea 27