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A great question Adrian, with that said I have to disagree with you on one point that is the idea of a sliding companion way. The solid hump or bubble entry way is one of the features I like about  my boat. It does the following
Adds to the clean line of the boat
Provides a solid deck
Contributes to a more water tight cabin

I can certainly see how many would disagree with me, but personally I say keep it the way it is.

As to what I would like to see changed, a couple of things.
1) A thru deck, keel stepped mast, although cabin size may prevent this. Many of the older
    Co26’s I have seen have soft decks in part, I believe, because of the deck stepped mast.
2) Larger hardware ie winches cleats etc
3) A larger(more powerful) less noicy engine
4) I agree that a deck accessed anchor locker would be a step in the right direction.

5) This last point gets away from your question but I would love to see the same basic boat, keeping its
    relative dimensions but at least 2-3 feet longer. This would  provide for a truly solid single handed
    ocean crossing boat , I have never used mine to cross  an ocean but I suspect it’s small cabin size
    (storage) and overall weight, as it is currently, would be its weak spot.  In other words something to
    match up against the old pearson triton or the alberg 30.

John from Kingston

Ahh summer time!!

I was sitting in my truck on the shore of lake Ontario before work this morning as I always do, thinking about all the great sailing days I had and missed last summer aboard my CO26.
Ahh summer time!!
Its not the cold weather that bothers me about winter up here in the great white north it is the fact that it seems like it will never end!!

O'well the Toronto international boat show is only a couple of days away, that always helps.

I have not heard of the vire engine can anyone provide a few details, # cylinders horse-power etc

As to the orginal question sorry I have not constructive reply my boat(my family's boat actually) is equipped with the orginal ferryman, and hopefully will stay that way for  a long time to come, the idea of spending 5000$ plus on an engine? YIKES!!

Sadie
I can’t comment on the specific year, 1978, my family owns a 1979 CO26 and it has a couple of features, the small aft hatch and a sunken floor adding a couple of inches to the headroom. As to great lake sailing, I live in Kingston Ont and sail the boat in all types of weather, quite frankly the stronger the weather the better. The CO 26 is far from perfect but, from a great lakes heavy weather perspective, it is about as good a boat in its class as there is. With the right sail configuration and sailor expertise it can handle just about anything. She is a very forgiving boat when the weather gets rough, which when reading between the lines means that she is not the best in the light air. Due in large part to her narrow berth, length and full keel. I have been told that in many ways great lake sailing is every bit has tough/heavy as blue water sailing. I can certainly think of many 30-40 knot plus days on lake Ontario where I have been thankful it be on the CO26. I would suggest that you do not get too hung up on the year of boat but rather the overall condition. There is minor differences and improvements over the years but a solid boat build in 1972 is worth more than an abused CO 26 built in 1985.
One last point, there is a book available called ’20 small boats to take you anywhere’ or something to that effect, available at the nautical mind. It takes a dispassionate, critical look at 20 boats all under 35 feet in length. A must read for someone in your position, I would think. The CO26 is one of the 20.

Good luck in your search,

John vanZanten
Kingston Ont.

Thanks Stefan  It gives me a place to start.
I plan on doing the work my self in so far as pulling the injector and sending it off to be cleaned.
You asked or wondered if the engine did in fact have a glow plug. I am assuming that it does. IF not how does the fuel combust, simply by pressure? My believe that the engine has a glow plug is based on the fact that the engine control panel has a button that when pushed and held in place is used to warm up the glow plug or so I assume.

thanks,
John

Hello all

I have a 1979 contessa 26 with the standard 8hp ferryman diesel. Up til this season the engine has started with out much effort, a couple of cranks and she fired up.At the beginning of the season I noticed that she required a bit more cranking to get her going and is now at the point where she will only fire up after up to a minute of cranking time. Now that the season is over I want to take a look and fix the problem. Any suggestions? The diesel fuel is fresh(beginning of the season).  Am I correct in saying that the glow plug either works or doesn't? can the injector be taken out and cleaned or should it be replaced?
I should add that warming up the glow plug as I crank over the engine does not appear to improve starting. As well the exhaust is darker(bluer than notmal) I believe this may be caused by the fact that the fuel is not completely burning off.

Thanks
John, from Kingston, Ont