F26 questions

wnyfisherman · Post by **wnyfisherman** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:36 pm

Hello all. I am interested in purchasing a 1978 F26 w/ FB here locally, and thought I'd come and ask some questions from those of you willing to help out... First, Im curious how tall (in feet) the sits boat on a trailer. It currently is sitting in the water at a marina, and the current owner has never had to trailer it (comes without a trailer). Second, I've read some horror stories on these boats acting "crazy" when hit by a following wave/wake--any truth here? Lastly, the boat is powered by a 351w merc 233. Anyone have an luck trolling around 2mph?

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:48 pm

Welcome aboard and yikes! Don't worry bout trailer height. Just make sure u get a trailer strong enuf with high bunks. 18 inches is what it took for my F-25 to get home on the interstate roads. If you have a tower then you will have to worry about removal for transport, I'm sure other guys will chime in on the the other situations

summer storm · Post by **summer storm** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:35 pm

Welcome to the forum. I am pretty sure that the flybridge 26 is to tall to tow on a regular basis. Height on a trailer? I guess that depends on the trailer but I can tell you the boat's draft is 2'7" and the height from the water line to the top of the bridge is 12' so that makes keel to bridge height 14'7" As far as acting "crazy" in a following sea I would say it jumps around a little but manageable. It's no different than any other boat in this size range with a large cabin forward. Good luck, they are great boats with a lot of space for the size.

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:36 pm

Welcome Aboard.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:10 pm

wnyfisherman wrote:Second, I've read some horror stories on these boats acting "crazy" when hit by a following wave/wake--any truth here? Lastly, the boat is powered by a 351w merc 233. Anyone have an luck trolling around 2mph?

Welcome aboard ...

Like Doug said - any tall/wide boat with a heavy cabin forward can be troublesome in a following sea. The F32 is very poor in a following sea ...

Not sure what you're asking about trolling @ 2mph ... fishing isn't too good at at that speed, and your boat should easily run 4mph or so idle /troll with the 351's (depending on props @ gearing).

If you get it, you'll learn a lot here.

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:16 pm

Not sure anything with a fly bridge is easily tow able..............having said that I wouldn't have a non-fly bridge boat.......John

DOUBLE R · Post by **DOUBLE R** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:35 am

You definitely need to worry about trailer height if you are transporting or if you are thinking of trailering regularly. The distance from the ground to the top of the hardtop on my F26 was 11'6". The trailer could have used taller bunks. The flybridge adds at least another three feet. I am not sure what maximum clearances are on most roads, but the ups man on the forum could surely tell us.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:39 am

rossjo wrote:
wnyfisherman wrote:Second, I've read some horror stories on these boats acting "crazy" when hit by a following wave/wake--any truth here? Lastly, the boat is powered by a 351w merc 233. Anyone have an luck trolling around 2mph?
Welcome aboard ...

Like Doug said - any tall/wide boat with a heavy cabin forward can be troublesome in a following sea. The F32 is very poor in a following sea ...

Not sure what you're asking about trolling @ 2mph ... fishing isn't too good at at that speed, and your boat should easily run 4mph or so idle /troll with the 351's (depending on props @ gearing).

If you get it, you'll learn a lot here.

Ross its not a F32 and it has a single engine not 351's " a 351W" so it may get close to 2-3 mph a ideal speed for striper fishing around here .

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:14 am

Welcome aboard

wnyfisherman · Post by **wnyfisherman** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:35 am

Thank you to all for your information. I will further clarify a few of my questions, as I wasnt so crystal the first time I asked. I am planning on keeping the boat in the water, but wish to transport/trailer solely for winter storage purposes (I live in Buffalo). So... My questions really was answered by DOUBLE R, as here in NY the legal height is 13'6"- probably to tall of a boat with the FB on there. Secondly, I was hoping to find out whether or not the boat is capable of trolling at 2 mph without other aid like drift socks etc...

Thanks again to all.