26 Constellation

The retro look of the 26 Constellation made this trailerable Chris Craft cruiser a real head-turner a few years ago. A tall windshield provides plenty of high-rpm wind protection, and large cabin windows add to her distinctive styling. The Constellation’s high freeboard results in better cabin headroom than most express cruisers this size. The 260 sleeps four with a V-berth forward and a mid-cabin berth aft. There's standing headroom in the enclosed head compartment and a bit ore counter space in the galley than one might expect in a 26-foot boat. The deep cockpit is a plus, and a transom door, transom shower, cockpit table, wet bar, and extended swim platform were standard. In a February 2002 review, Powerboat Reports wrote that the 260 "is certainly one of the best-running, smoothest-riding, straightest-tracking boats of this size and class we've ever tested. In short, it’s a superb sea boat, capable of running offshore in conditions that would keep the vast majority of the competition tied to the dock." Built on a deep-V hull, a single 5.7L Volvo 310hp I/O will cruise at 18–20 knots (low 30s top).