Our switch from sail to power
Part II
Our first summer with the GM 26 was 2008. Spring fitting-out -- equipping, replacing and refinishing -- was a pretty big project, but just look at how pretty she turned out.
Photos courtesy Jim Fetters
We got the Downeast boat we thought we wanted. So how is she? What do we like, and what’s not to like? Here’s our overview of the GM 26 Cricket. By Jim Fetters For Points East he GM 26 hull was designed by Stacey Raymond of General Marine and incorporates much of what is to like about a Downeast hull. They rarely pound, their motion is seakindly and, even at rest, comfortable. The hull displaces quite a bit more than some of its competitors. When turning, this boat barely heels. So,
T
40 Points East December 2011
it seems, for a 26-foot boat you get a lot of good performance characteristics – common, we think, for most Downeast designs. The GM 26 on deck and below: The boat is a sedan cruiser with the starboard side open, but with windows and canvas, as is the case with many lobster boats. At first we thought we’d want to close in the starboard bridge side off permanently, but that idea changed the more we used the boat. We like having the ability to open the side up. The boat has a hefty bow rail, a bow platform with anchor-roller, two deck pipes for anchor rodes, storage for two anchors on deck and storage belowdecks in a split bow locker, for two anchor rodes with chain. Fuel capacity is 70 gallons total, in two tanks. Water editor@pointseast.com