Kenner Privateer 26

[SkiprJohn]

Is there anyone out there with some experience on the subject boat? I saw one post by Chad that mentioned he owned one.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Regards,

JohnL

[tex105]

Yes...I have one. great little boat.

[SkiprJohn]

And, it is a beauty!

Any particular problem areas?

Do you use an outboard or have an inboard?

Kind regards,

JohnL

[tex105]

hey john...go to www.privateer26.org . lots of info and pix. "Petrel" is inboard diesel.
They have some with an outboard in a well. thay came in sloop or ketch.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Tex,
I visited that site but was trying to get personal accounts. Thanks for your input.
I understand their plus but consider their minuses to be little room down below and all the disadvantages of a ketch rig in a very small boat, i. e. extra rigging, not so good windward performance, extra sail to handle.
I do understand they are good for inland lakes, rivers or coastal work. Would you consider them seaworthy?
Kind regards,
JohnL

[tex105]

oh yes john they are sea worthy. yes there are small inside and thay are a little wet in a blow. .But I would take mine just about any where. I have a life raft, epirb, ham radio,autopilot and selfsteering vane.and of course GPS. Went to bahamas one winter and Ft pearce to biloxi the next. Came out at tampa and back in at appalatchacola.
The boat will take more than than I can.

Fred

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Tex,
That really is good to hear. I'll go check out the one for sale. Although it has an outboard vs diesel inboard it might still be a great boat for my purposes.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Pappy Chris]

I bought one this summer out of storage. It is a project boat for sure I have fallen in love with it. Mine has a Petter diesel inboard (dismantled but not seized). I located parts for the engine near me in Olathe KS.
I have many plans in my head for this beauty. It is a cutter rig and has no sails with it. Sailrite has specs in their database. Mine has by comparison a large diameter mast on it with no spreaders. No number plate on the hull so I have no idea what year it is. It's former name was Tonga Trader (in case anyone has seen it and could offer input).
I am gutting the interior and going to put in my own.
I hope to be able to sail it in 2 or 3 years.
Cheers- Chris

[SkiprJohn]

Good luck in your project. I would think the cutter rig would be a good thing.
I didn't make a move on the one I was looking at. I've decided to concentrate on the boat I have here.
regards,

[Pappy Chris]

Since there seems to be no activity on the privateer26.org web site I started a new group on Yahoo -- Kenner_Privateer : Kenner Privateer
I waited for 6 months to become a member on that site and gave up.
For those of us who would like to participate in an active group of Privateer owners. I am going to email directly to the members registered on the site to advise them.
I'm going to need a lot of special parts, advice specific and counseling while I rebuild mine.

Chris

...

[DaveC]

Although I don't own one, I've always regarded the Privateer as one of the more beautiful sailing vessels. Beautiful, classic lines and trim make her look like a ship lost in time.

-David

[Pappy Chris]

Agreed 200%. I drool alot looking at mine. 8-)
I've gotten to know the design so well that I can look at a Thomas Gilmer design and recognize it. When we went to the Annapolis boat show I spent 3 hours aboard Pride Of Baltimore II.... Thomas Gilmer design there again.

-Chris

[wyejay]

Just a note here say that Thomas Gillmer died in mid-December, 2009, at age 98. A U.S. Naval Academy professor, he was one of the great American small craft designers of the 20th century. He operated in multiple arenas, also creating such tall ships as the Pride of Baltimore and the Kalmer Nyckel, while authoring textbooks on modern ship design. The more I learn about him, the more I love my Privateer ketch. If you buy a Privateer, be prepared to have your boat photographed often.

[Pappy Chris]

I started a Privateer group on Yahoo a couple of months ago.
Kenner_Privateer : Kenner Privateer

Join us!

Chris

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[Pappy Chris]

There is now a Kenner Privateer group on Facebook as well. I replaced my Privateer cutter (rpoject) with a 1972 Privateer Ketch that is much less of a project. I still have the first one and is for sale.
I have now moved 2 of my 3 boats to Texas (Portland) and will be sailing Corpus Christi Bay in a couple of months. We hope to have the relocation of the secondary stuff (household) completed by late June. In a year or so I am going to start shopping for a Privateer 35. I love these boats.