FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Steve Colgate
Steve@colgate26.com
(866) 842-4355
Just Ten Boats To Go To The Next Milestone
Ft Myers, Florida (May 2007) – The innovative award-winning Colgate 26 is about to reach its next milestone as hull number 300 is expected to come off the line soon. “We have sold 290 boats so far,” says Steve Colgate who wrote the design parameters for the Colgate 26. As founder of the 43-year old Offshore Sailing School, Colgate has tested many sailboats in the 20-26 foot range. “I could not find any production boat that met my requirements for safety, stability, high performance and maximum comfort when we decided to produce our own training boat in 1997,” Colgate explains.
The Colgate 26 soon became the training boat of choice for the U.S. Naval Academy which bought ten in its first year of production and now has a fleet of 30. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Maine Maritime Academy followed suit, as did several other service institutions.
The Knickerbocker Yacht Club in Port Washington, NY chose the Colgate 26 in 2006 for its annual Knickerbocker Cup, where international teams vie for International Sailing Federation (ISAF) rankings in this sanctioned event. Pictured here (courtesy of Andrea Watson) Team Miniprio from New Zealand with Scott Dickson steering, on boats loaned by Offshore Sailing School for this event. Colgate 26s will be used for the 2007 Knickerbocker Cup to be held August 23-26.
Tim Leach, Waterfront Director of the Maine Maritime Academy, has just announced the purchase of more Colgate 26 sailboats to add to their existing fleet of seven. "We want to round out the fleet at ten boats so we can host the New England Sloop Championships, perhaps the National Sloop Championships and more collegiate regattas." He added that they are extremely happy with their Colgate 26's.
Eric Jorgenson, Sailing Master of the Maine Maritime Academy, adds "I have no reservations in recommending the Colgate 26 as a great all around program boat. We use the boats daily to instruct beginning to advance sailing to our students. It is not uncommon for a sailing class to step off the boat just as the racing team steps on board. Whether for racing, instruction, or recreation, our students are waiting in line to sail them.”
The Colgate 26 is not just for training. There are many private owners and fleets in Nyack, NY and Marblehead, MA that race regularly. “We are not alone in our love of the C26,” adds Jorgenson. “The number of private boats in our area is increasing. This offers great potential for one-design sailing in the future. We already enjoy the chance to race C26s at the Coast Guard and Naval Academy. It is a growing fleet in the college sailing arena. I think we have a winning combination in the Colgate 26. We have a stable, roomy platform for instruction at all levels, a sporty racer that appeals to college-aged sailor, and a boat that meets the high safety expectations of the Waterfront Staff at Maine Maritime Academy."
Over the years, small improvements have been made: Combined sidelights on the bow pulpit rather than on deck; a strong stainless steel outboard bracket for a heavier, higher horsepower motors. The port cockpit locker, formerly used for a small engine, has been converted to a “wet” locker open at the bottom for draining. Perfect for life vests and lines, a 7” wide section of Star Board has been added to keep items from falling out when the hatch is opened. The beauty of this locker is that it is relatively shallow so lines and other items don’t get lost in a deep bottomed opening.
In addition, an improved new trailer is available, built by Magic Tilt Trailers and legal in Canada, which has stringent requirements. Two Colgate 26s were just delivered to a Canadian buyer on these new trailers.
For many years Offshore Sailing School has offered a management program: the buyer purchases a new Colgate 26 at a discount; the boat is used for three years in the school’s training fleet. This program was recently enhanced to offer a return of 10% on the owner’s investment each of the three years with a $10,000 discount at time of purchase. At the end of the term, Offshore Sailing School returns the boat to the buyer. “Owners have been pleasantly surprised at how well the boats held up and how good their condition is upon return,” reports Colgate.
The Colgate 26 is built by Precision Boat Works in Bradenton, FL and sold exclusively by Colgate Management, a partner of Offshore Sailing School. For more information on individual, fleet or management purchases call Steve Colgate toll free at 866-842-4355 or email Steve@colgate26.com.
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Editor’s Note: Contact Mary Orme at mary@amcENERGY for a high-resolution image to accompany this article or call 727-733-9332.