Looking to move up from my Oday Mariner 2+2 to a 26S or 26D I think. One thing is not clear to me is the boat a swing keel or a dagger board or is it that some are one and some are the other? Owners! I would like to hear from you. My thoughts are that I will teach three boys how to sail on this boat. I am 51 and the oldest boy is 7 when I'm 60 something is this boat thougth through to the point that an old man who takes care of himself can still put the mast up? This boat looks like what I have been looking for except for it's length or just how big it is, I have been looking at smaller boats and someone on the net told me to check this one out. Is it really no harder to rig then my Mariner? He told me that even with the taller mast that the rig goes up faster then my Mariner. Is there a old factory web site I can still go to or has someone put the old brouchers on the net someplace? 7 foot ietes
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26S or 26D
Basically they are the same boat. The D stands for dagger board and the S for swing keel. I bought mine over the age of sixty and my only problems were learning experiences. Do a search on the web and you will find a lot of information. The mast raising system works like a charm, but needs some tweaking. If you have roller furling it adds quite a bit of weight. With out roller furling a girl could lift the mast using the system. The water ballast system is just great, makes it a lighter boat to trailer. Go to the Northeast Trailer Sailors site for lots of information. My health has since failed but my son-in-law is taking over and we hope to get the grand kids and cousins out this summer. There ages are from 5 to 11.
Basically they are the same boat. The D stands for dagger board and the S for swing keel. I bought mine over the age of sixty and my only problems were learning experiences. Do a search on the web and you will find a lot of information. The mast raising system works like a charm, but needs some tweaking. If you have roller furling it adds quite a bit of weight. With out roller furling a girl could lift the mast using the system. The water ballast system is just great, makes it a lighter boat to trailer. Go to the Northeast Trailer Sailors site for lots of information. My health has since failed but my son-in-law is taking over and we hope to get the grand kids and cousins out this summer. There ages are from 5 to 11.
our first
Rodger, we have a '92 26S with the swing keel and love it. I'm 51 and it is my first boat. The Macs are very easy to maintain and sail. They heel a little quicker with the water ballast but it is beachable when you raise the keel. Like Roger says, get the mast raising system. I step the mast by myself. I work out regularly and consider myself stronger than most guys my age that I meet. I have raised the mast by hand but I still prefer the stability of the raising system - especially with the furler. When you least expect it, a gust can really take hold of the mast. I just don't want to risk body or boat damage. Another thing you can do to improve mast raising is add V-rollers to the mast crutch so that you can position the mast more easily. It just looks too easy for the mast to jump out of the notch cut in the crutch when sliding it fore and aft. Good luck with your decision. Here's another Mac site with loads of info:
Rodger, we have a '92 26S with the swing keel and love it. I'm 51 and it is my first boat. The Macs are very easy to maintain and sail. They heel a little quicker with the water ballast but it is beachable when you raise the keel. Like Roger says, get the mast raising system. I step the mast by myself. I work out regularly and consider myself stronger than most guys my age that I meet. I have raised the mast by hand but I still prefer the stability of the raising system - especially with the furler. When you least expect it, a gust can really take hold of the mast. I just don't want to risk body or boat damage. Another thing you can do to improve mast raising is add V-rollers to the mast crutch so that you can position the mast more easily. It just looks too easy for the mast to jump out of the notch cut in the crutch when sliding it fore and aft. Good luck with your decision. Here's another Mac site with loads of info:
60+ is hardly old
Have no fear about rigging the Mac. I am 66 and have no problem stepping the mast either with or without the mast raising system. I usually sail solo so the roller furling is a great help especially in stronger wind conditions. It should be a good boat for instruction purposes also. Have fun Jim
Have no fear about rigging the Mac. I am 66 and have no problem stepping the mast either with or without the mast raising system. I usually sail solo so the roller furling is a great help especially in stronger wind conditions. It should be a good boat for instruction purposes also. Have fun Jim
keep it coming
I most say all of this makes more sence then getting a Potter 19 or a Sanibel 18. I would love to see a 26 if any one should live anyplace near Aurora IL thats just about 45min to an hour west of the big windy. I'm not asking for a ride I beleave the boat sails nice going buy the photos I have seen on the net. But I would really like to see the boat before going to who knows where to buy see the boat for the first time and for some reason not like. That and really seeing the boat would give motivation to save up the money to buy the 26s I've been looking on the web and right now it looks like the 26s a nice one with all the stuff all of us want on a boat is going for around 12 to 13K even the wife thinks that a pretty fair price for so much boat. Sign ICH ICH
I most say all of this makes more sence then getting a Potter 19 or a Sanibel 18. I would love to see a 26 if any one should live anyplace near Aurora IL thats just about 45min to an hour west of the big windy. I'm not asking for a ride I beleave the boat sails nice going buy the photos I have seen on the net. But I would really like to see the boat before going to who knows where to buy see the boat for the first time and for some reason not like. That and really seeing the boat would give motivation to save up the money to buy the 26s I've been looking on the web and right now it looks like the 26s a nice one with all the stuff all of us want on a boat is going for around 12 to 13K even the wife thinks that a pretty fair price for so much boat. Sign ICH ICH
Find a friend
Go to www.trailersailer.com/ and choose the MAC forum. Post your message there and see if there is anyone in your neighborhood who has one. If you want to come to RI I'd be very glad to do show and tell.
Go to www.trailersailer.com/ and choose the MAC forum. Post your message there and see if there is anyone in your neighborhood who has one. If you want to come to RI I'd be very glad to do show and tell.
26D
Rodger; I'm 71 and have a 26D. No problem stepping mast. I use the mast raising system. As far as I'm concerned the boat is easier to trailer, launch, retrieve and rig than Catalina 22 I used to have. If you care to drive to NW Ark I'd be happy to show you my boat and take you sailing.
Rodger; I'm 71 and have a 26D. No problem stepping mast. I use the mast raising system. As far as I'm concerned the boat is easier to trailer, launch, retrieve and rig than Catalina 22 I used to have. If you care to drive to NW Ark I'd be happy to show you my boat and take you sailing.
Thanks for the info
Thank for all the input there is one more thing I would like to know about the boats and that is what years did they make the boats if I'm going to look for one I would think I would like it to be one of the last ones
Thank for all the input there is one more thing I would like to know about the boats and that is what years did they make the boats if I'm going to look for one I would think I would like it to be one of the last ones
Welcome aboard
Rodger I am just north of you in Brookfield Wi. I have a 26d you're welcome to come up and see. We have had it three years and think its the perfect boat for us until I retire in a few years. I hope to teach my Grand kids sailing on her. Let me know if you'd lke to come up.
Rodger I am just north of you in Brookfield Wi. I have a 26d you're welcome to come up and see. We have had it three years and think its the perfect boat for us until I retire in a few years. I hope to teach my Grand kids sailing on her. Let me know if you'd lke to come up.
mast raising system
Roger, My husband bought me an '84 MacGregor for my 40th bday. He had a mast raising system put on for me because my slip was on the other side of the bridge to get to the harbor. I have no problem lowering/raising the mast by myself! Very easy to do, it takes a little bit of muscle, but really, anyone can do it! I love my boat!!! I sail alone a lot! She's a great boat.... I can see the need for a step up to another boat for far sails. I notice that she drifts in a strong current - a wider keel and a wider tiller would be nice sometimes. Does anyone else notice that? I'm not a very good sailor, it could just be me.
Roger, My husband bought me an '84 MacGregor for my 40th bday. He had a mast raising system put on for me because my slip was on the other side of the bridge to get to the harbor. I have no problem lowering/raising the mast by myself! Very easy to do, it takes a little bit of muscle, but really, anyone can do it! I love my boat!!! I sail alone a lot! She's a great boat.... I can see the need for a step up to another boat for far sails. I notice that she drifts in a strong current - a wider keel and a wider tiller would be nice sometimes. Does anyone else notice that? I'm not a very good sailor, it could just be me.
raising the mast on a 26d the easy way
i recently bought an 87 26d. i will be doing a lot of traveling by myself with this boat so i bought a great tandem trailer....6" aluminum I beams, stainless brakes and torsion bars...paid just under $3,000 and now i won't worry at all traveling up to british columbia and on the open road.. a friend came over with a 10 1/4 " saw and we carved the bunks to fit perfect. now the boat sits on the trailer like a glove..and i moved the winch system way forward so i got by perfectly with a trailer for a 20-22 foot boat. i read different articles and saw prices for mast raising systems and decided i already had everything i needed. the boat came with a heavy whisker pole and already had the hole drilled in the bottom of the mast. so, i got a long bolt and washer and wing nut and bolt the whisker pole to the side of the mast through the already existant hole slot in the whisker pole. the other end i attatch to the forestay plate that comes with the shroud with a small o ring as it holds better than trying to clip the large whisker pole end to the plate. then i attatch the mid boom sheeting blocks to the plate and the fitting at the bow and walk back to the cockpit and winch it up and if i need to stop and check the shrouds i just cleat the line and the mast stays right there..... cost to me....nothing easy to use...u bet now, does anyone know of a place north of vancouver, british columbia i can launch and then leave van and trailer for a month as i am going to live off the beaches on the way to quadra and cortez island... gary
i recently bought an 87 26d. i will be doing a lot of traveling by myself with this boat so i bought a great tandem trailer....6" aluminum I beams, stainless brakes and torsion bars...paid just under $3,000 and now i won't worry at all traveling up to british columbia and on the open road.. a friend came over with a 10 1/4 " saw and we carved the bunks to fit perfect. now the boat sits on the trailer like a glove..and i moved the winch system way forward so i got by perfectly with a trailer for a 20-22 foot boat. i read different articles and saw prices for mast raising systems and decided i already had everything i needed. the boat came with a heavy whisker pole and already had the hole drilled in the bottom of the mast. so, i got a long bolt and washer and wing nut and bolt the whisker pole to the side of the mast through the already existant hole slot in the whisker pole. the other end i attatch to the forestay plate that comes with the shroud with a small o ring as it holds better than trying to clip the large whisker pole end to the plate. then i attatch the mid boom sheeting blocks to the plate and the fitting at the bow and walk back to the cockpit and winch it up and if i need to stop and check the shrouds i just cleat the line and the mast stays right there..... cost to me....nothing easy to use...u bet now, does anyone know of a place north of vancouver, british columbia i can launch and then leave van and trailer for a month as i am going to live off the beaches on the way to quadra and cortez island... gary
Mac 26 S...a fine boat...
I sold my 92 26S, and purchased a Mac 26X. Mast raising is no problem on the MacGregors. Im over 60, and at 155 lbs...have no problem. However, with a roller furler...a second hand is helpful. The Mac 26S is a fine boat, and mine functioned real well with an 8 HP Mercury. Another plus is that the MacGregors trailer well, and are great overnighters, on or off the water. They float when flooded, making them a great safe family boat.
I sold my 92 26S, and purchased a Mac 26X. Mast raising is no problem on the MacGregors. Im over 60, and at 155 lbs...have no problem. However, with a roller furler...a second hand is helpful. The Mac 26S is a fine boat, and mine functioned real well with an 8 HP Mercury. Another plus is that the MacGregors trailer well, and are great overnighters, on or off the water. They float when flooded, making them a great safe family boat.
I have to ask
Now that you have owned a 26S and a 26X how would you compare them on the sailing end of things. I've been avouding the motor sailer idea for many reason the main one being I just don't care for the looks of them and I have no interest in motoring my sail boat. Please don't take me wrong it all just comes down to personal tast. I would like to hear why you traded you 26S for the 26X and how you feel about it now. Do you miss the classic 26? Did it sail alot better? It looks like it would.
Now that you have owned a 26S and a 26X how would you compare them on the sailing end of things. I've been avouding the motor sailer idea for many reason the main one being I just don't care for the looks of them and I have no interest in motoring my sail boat. Please don't take me wrong it all just comes down to personal tast. I would like to hear why you traded you 26S for the 26X and how you feel about it now. Do you miss the classic 26? Did it sail alot better? It looks like it would.
just one more ?
Trying to think ahead I was woundering, with the 26S or 26D will the little outboard push the boat fast enough to emty any or all of the ballest? I think the boat would go on the trail a lot easer without the 1200# of water it carries. It would also make it less work for my van to pull the boat out of the water.
Trying to think ahead I was woundering, with the 26S or 26D will the little outboard push the boat fast enough to emty any or all of the ballest? I think the boat would go on the trail a lot easer without the 1200# of water it carries. It would also make it less work for my van to pull the boat out of the water.
Not that way
Roger, the 26D and S have the ballast in the bottom of the boat. It will not empty with just boat movement. There are two suggestions and yes the boat does reload on the trailor better without the ballast. Many of the folks here use a 12V high volume inflator pump to blow the water out with air pressure. Do this via the air hole ( with the trailer water plug in it). Another way is to buy a 12V water pump and pump the ballast water out. I believe the air pump is faster. You'll need a nozzle that fits the air hole and a weight to hold down the fill plate stopper so the water can leave the bottom of the boat. Good luck Steve P.
Roger, the 26D and S have the ballast in the bottom of the boat. It will not empty with just boat movement. There are two suggestions and yes the boat does reload on the trailor better without the ballast. Many of the folks here use a 12V high volume inflator pump to blow the water out with air pressure. Do this via the air hole ( with the trailer water plug in it). Another way is to buy a 12V water pump and pump the ballast water out. I believe the air pump is faster. You'll need a nozzle that fits the air hole and a weight to hold down the fill plate stopper so the water can leave the bottom of the boat. Good luck Steve P.
removing water ballist
You know for years I past over the 26S and 26D thinking they where a form of the motor sailers and then one day I was poking around and ran into the 26 classic. The more I find out about the boat the more I like it. Have you used the blower methed on your boat will a blower used to inflate an air bed do the job?
You know for years I past over the 26S and 26D thinking they where a form of the motor sailers and then one day I was poking around and ran into the 26 classic. The more I find out about the boat the more I like it. Have you used the blower methed on your boat will a blower used to inflate an air bed do the job?
I agree
I love the 26S, it is a fine sailing boat and very comfortable. I can say yes to your bed pump but try it, that's the right idea. High volume, low pressure. The idea is to pressurize the tank and push the water out. Then close the ballast seal and load the trailer. You'll find some water left but oh what a difference. When those at the ramp ask why your boat is leaking water ( when you pull it up to empty the rest of the ballast) just tell 'em your emptying your holding tank. That'll cause them to look really funny. I love that line. Steve P.
I love the 26S, it is a fine sailing boat and very comfortable. I can say yes to your bed pump but try it, that's the right idea. High volume, low pressure. The idea is to pressurize the tank and push the water out. Then close the ballast seal and load the trailer. You'll find some water left but oh what a difference. When those at the ramp ask why your boat is leaking water ( when you pull it up to empty the rest of the ballast) just tell 'em your emptying your holding tank. That'll cause them to look really funny. I love that line. Steve P.
26C?
OK now its looking like the feild has widened From what I get off the net so far is that the 26C is much the same as the other classics but what is the difference it looks like they where all made at the same time so there most be something that sets it apart Any body out there own a 26C or know much about them?
OK now its looking like the feild has widened From what I get off the net so far is that the 26C is much the same as the other classics but what is the difference it looks like they where all made at the same time so there most be something that sets it apart Any body out there own a 26C or know much about them?
26C = 26D OR 26S
Looks like an equation. What it means is that 26C is a name common to the 26C or the 26D. It just means "classic" which separates these two models from the 26X or 26M which are totally different boats from the classics.
Looks like an equation. What it means is that 26C is a name common to the 26C or the 26D. It just means "classic" which separates these two models from the 26X or 26M which are totally different boats from the classics.
swing keel or dagger board
Ok so it's the same The one I found for sale says it's a center board boat does that mean swing keel or dagger board ? Or could it be ether one? I cannot beleave I went all these years thinking the S D and C where types of the motor sailers. If I had known back then what I know now I would own one of the classics buy now.
Ok so it's the same The one I found for sale says it's a center board boat does that mean swing keel or dagger board ? Or could it be ether one? I cannot beleave I went all these years thinking the S D and C where types of the motor sailers. If I had known back then what I know now I would own one of the classics buy now.
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