I receintly bought an '01 H260. My last boat was a '96 MacGregor 26X. I made the change for several reasons, but comfort, quality, durability and seaworthyness were high on the list. I was asked by a '99 26X owner to compare the boats. His opinion was that the 26X was better suited for coastal cruising. I know that both of these boats realisticly have weather limitations for safety and for just being glad that you took the boat out. Does anyone out there have experience with both boats and have an opinion to share about their relative quality and seaworthyness. I would like this to be an objective discussion, based on personal experience and not hearsay or rumor, not intent on bashing any manufactor. Thanks, Joe C. '01 H260 Windward Passage
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why the change
Why the change? I'm looking to go the towards the Mac26x. Currently I have a 23.5. The 50hp would be a plus when I retire and start doing some long trips on the large rivers. also the interior of the Mac with the separate dinning table appears larger. Since you now have own both, what is your opinon ?
Why the change? I'm looking to go the towards the Mac26x. Currently I have a 23.5. The 50hp would be a plus when I retire and start doing some long trips on the large rivers. also the interior of the Mac with the separate dinning table appears larger. Since you now have own both, what is your opinon ?
Why I switched from Mac 26X to H260
Hi Jack, I had a lot of fun with the 26X. I skied behind it, ran for cover in bad weather with the 70 HP 2 stroke it had. I took coastal and lake overnights and longer. I added a great deal of equipment to the boat also. I wanted to get it fixed up very comfortable and useful and keep it a long time, but I just wasn't happy with the quality of construction or the way it sailed. The later models have some improvements to the quality, but are still lacking some compaired to the Hunters, Catalinas. The higher speed under power can often only be used to a great extent on lakes as opposed to coastal due to weather/waves limiting speed to close to hull speed. I had the boat about a year and used it a lot. I also sailed and motored on and along side other people's 26Xs. I also could never get very warmed up to the look of the boat. It's pretty sterile. I even added a mahogany and ash galley cabinet. There are pictures of my boat on the photo forum at the Mac. Owners site. Hope this helps, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage PS I am listed in the H260 owners. You can email me with any specific questions that you have.
Hi Jack, I had a lot of fun with the 26X. I skied behind it, ran for cover in bad weather with the 70 HP 2 stroke it had. I took coastal and lake overnights and longer. I added a great deal of equipment to the boat also. I wanted to get it fixed up very comfortable and useful and keep it a long time, but I just wasn't happy with the quality of construction or the way it sailed. The later models have some improvements to the quality, but are still lacking some compaired to the Hunters, Catalinas. The higher speed under power can often only be used to a great extent on lakes as opposed to coastal due to weather/waves limiting speed to close to hull speed. I had the boat about a year and used it a lot. I also sailed and motored on and along side other people's 26Xs. I also could never get very warmed up to the look of the boat. It's pretty sterile. I even added a mahogany and ash galley cabinet. There are pictures of my boat on the photo forum at the Mac. Owners site. Hope this helps, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage PS I am listed in the H260 owners. You can email me with any specific questions that you have.
I Looked at Them
I was not real impressed with the Mac though I really liked the idea and the video really sparked my interest. The sailing portion of the boat looked like someone added it as an after thought. One person could probably man handle the mast up it was so short and so thin. The interior is spartan as well. Bare fiberglass everywhere I felt like I was inside an airplane wing tank. I am still intrigued by the idea and even saw a couple while I was in the Azores last summer that had just been shipped in. They also do not come with squat with the Hunter you are pretty much ready to go when you get the boat. Folks I have spoken to who actually have sailed them said "for a motorboat it sails great and as a sailboat it motors wonderfully but as a sailboat it sails pitifully and as a motor boat it is woefully inadequate" I ended up with a 23.5 that was virtually new it had been sailed only a half dozen times and had in fact never had registration numbers put on it.
I was not real impressed with the Mac though I really liked the idea and the video really sparked my interest. The sailing portion of the boat looked like someone added it as an after thought. One person could probably man handle the mast up it was so short and so thin. The interior is spartan as well. Bare fiberglass everywhere I felt like I was inside an airplane wing tank. I am still intrigued by the idea and even saw a couple while I was in the Azores last summer that had just been shipped in. They also do not come with squat with the Hunter you are pretty much ready to go when you get the boat. Folks I have spoken to who actually have sailed them said "for a motorboat it sails great and as a sailboat it motors wonderfully but as a sailboat it sails pitifully and as a motor boat it is woefully inadequate" I ended up with a 23.5 that was virtually new it had been sailed only a half dozen times and had in fact never had registration numbers put on it.
Not Happy either...............
I currently own a 98 Mac26X and am not happy with it's sailing ability. The boat itself, is not bad, lots of room, easy to handle, etc. But...... We "try" to race it atleast a couple of times a year, but the "first Mate" is tired of being at the back of the pack!! We have friends that have a Hunter 23WK and another that has a Capri 22 that we usually sail with, but we can't even stay close to them. They will sail on ahead, turn around, get behind us, and pass us again!! (grrrrrr) I may not be the best sailor, but I'm not THAT BAD!!!!! Therefore, I am looking at either the Hunter 260 or the Catalina 250 WB or WK. I don't want to be faster than they are (well, maybe a little
), but I would like to be atleast close..... Those of you that have sailed with either of the above, how do they usually fair??
I currently own a 98 Mac26X and am not happy with it's sailing ability. The boat itself, is not bad, lots of room, easy to handle, etc. But...... We "try" to race it atleast a couple of times a year, but the "first Mate" is tired of being at the back of the pack!! We have friends that have a Hunter 23WK and another that has a Capri 22 that we usually sail with, but we can't even stay close to them. They will sail on ahead, turn around, get behind us, and pass us again!! (grrrrrr) I may not be the best sailor, but I'm not THAT BAD!!!!! Therefore, I am looking at either the Hunter 260 or the Catalina 250 WB or WK. I don't want to be faster than they are (well, maybe a little
), but I would like to be atleast close..... Those of you that have sailed with either of the above, how do they usually fair??H260 vs. Cat 250
When I was shopping for something to replace my 26X, I looked at the Cat 250. It had a very neat
When I was shopping for something to replace my 26X, I looked at the Cat 250. It had a very neat
33 knot fiasco
Joe, I purchased a H260, Y2K last year. I learned immediately the 260 has quite a bit of horsepower in the sail area. During most outings I reef immediately to avoid hassles later. In a moderate breeze (8 – 12 knots) the boat hauls. In light breeze the boat really moves with a full main. Regarding seaworthiness, I really have to say I am impressed. Chock this experience up to lack there of but during one outing we were trying to outrun a little rain/thunderstorm. We were on a reach with the main reefed and pushing about 4 – 5 knots with a 10 – 15 knot wind. All of a sudden….and I mean all of a sudden we found ourselves in a fairly precarious position. About a ½ mile away, through a channel, the wind came. We did a 180 since the jib sheet got hung up on the mast and couldn’t be released. The main was sheeted out. I kept the boat into the wind (actually we were basically being blown sideways). We managed to get main and jib down. She performed admirable in my opinion. Keep in mind, the Raytheon wind direction/speed gauge registered a peak 33 knots. Pretty seaworthy if you ask me. Joe, good luck.
Joe, I purchased a H260, Y2K last year. I learned immediately the 260 has quite a bit of horsepower in the sail area. During most outings I reef immediately to avoid hassles later. In a moderate breeze (8 – 12 knots) the boat hauls. In light breeze the boat really moves with a full main. Regarding seaworthiness, I really have to say I am impressed. Chock this experience up to lack there of but during one outing we were trying to outrun a little rain/thunderstorm. We were on a reach with the main reefed and pushing about 4 – 5 knots with a 10 – 15 knot wind. All of a sudden….and I mean all of a sudden we found ourselves in a fairly precarious position. About a ½ mile away, through a channel, the wind came. We did a 180 since the jib sheet got hung up on the mast and couldn’t be released. The main was sheeted out. I kept the boat into the wind (actually we were basically being blown sideways). We managed to get main and jib down. She performed admirable in my opinion. Keep in mind, the Raytheon wind direction/speed gauge registered a peak 33 knots. Pretty seaworthy if you ask me. Joe, good luck.
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