Hi there, I'm looking for boat under $4K. I was looking at a 1988 26 daggerboard model , but was sold by time I got there... also looking at 1973 25. (swing keel I think) $2500. (a little worried of age). I've been all over web reading macgregor stuff. I was wondering if anyone has details on models over years. I saw something detailing innerliners, waterbalast, etc , but didnt bookmark it.. (damm) cant find it again. I think I like the water balast, dagger board best,(87-91 ???) and really like the stern double berth. (as on 88-???) I am really shocked to find how popular these small boats are... and how big inside they seem... anyway, I can sail anything, and figure this a good keys/biscayne bay boat. -Is there a racing/crusing class in s fla? (like, maybe I'll be better off w/ M25, than 26 so I can race it??? ) not in big hurry to buy, but want to get right model. thanks, bill ps: anything anyone wants to know about s fla crusing write back (ftldiver@yahoo.com) -biscayne bay, fla keys, etc...
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Doug Rodrigues
Various models
1987-1989 Water Ballast-DaggerBoard. Stern bed. 1990-1994 Water Ballast-Swing Keel. Stern bed. 1995-Present 26X Water Ballast motor/sailer. That 1973 25?...(1974-1979)Venture 25. No hull liner. Aluminum window frames that probably leak rain water. Cannot get new rubbers for the window frames....I tried with a '72 2-22. On the MacGregor 25's, 1980-1987: 620 lb. cast iron swing keel...they all look the same inside and out. No aluminum window frames. I've got the 1983 model. I was originally looking for "a deal" on a 26D ($6,000) but that sold before I got to it. Along came my 25 for $3,500 which included a 1998 galvanized tandem trailer with surge brakes, and 1998 8 hp two stroke outboard long-shaft Johnson outboard. There are some problems with the swing keel: the pivot bolt hole is worn and the keel cable was trash. Had to have the sails cleaned. The rudder is too small. Other than that, it was a deal I couldn't turn-down. It was like buying the trailer, and getting the boat and outboard free. Of course, given a choice, I'd prefer the 26D. The rudder is too small on that one too. Try to find something 1980 or newer. They are more of a modern interior design, especially with the hull liner. Without the hull liner you'll need to have a sponge handy as you'll often have water on the bare floor. The hull liner keeps you above the water making the floor underneath a sort of bilge. However, my 25 doesn't leak any water and the "bilge" is always dry. Anyway, that's my personal experience. As for the different models, they probably all sail pretty much the same although my old 2-22 seemed to handle a little better than the 25 I now have. Use your search engine and locate the sailboat "blue book" values. Really low prices. Seems to be a buyers market now. You just need to have your money ready and beat the next guy to "that deal." As for racing class: Maybe someone out in MacGregor land does that. I can't imagine seriously racing a MacGregor but it's probably done somewhere. Different strokes for different folks.
1987-1989 Water Ballast-DaggerBoard. Stern bed. 1990-1994 Water Ballast-Swing Keel. Stern bed. 1995-Present 26X Water Ballast motor/sailer. That 1973 25?...(1974-1979)Venture 25. No hull liner. Aluminum window frames that probably leak rain water. Cannot get new rubbers for the window frames....I tried with a '72 2-22. On the MacGregor 25's, 1980-1987: 620 lb. cast iron swing keel...they all look the same inside and out. No aluminum window frames. I've got the 1983 model. I was originally looking for "a deal" on a 26D ($6,000) but that sold before I got to it. Along came my 25 for $3,500 which included a 1998 galvanized tandem trailer with surge brakes, and 1998 8 hp two stroke outboard long-shaft Johnson outboard. There are some problems with the swing keel: the pivot bolt hole is worn and the keel cable was trash. Had to have the sails cleaned. The rudder is too small. Other than that, it was a deal I couldn't turn-down. It was like buying the trailer, and getting the boat and outboard free. Of course, given a choice, I'd prefer the 26D. The rudder is too small on that one too. Try to find something 1980 or newer. They are more of a modern interior design, especially with the hull liner. Without the hull liner you'll need to have a sponge handy as you'll often have water on the bare floor. The hull liner keeps you above the water making the floor underneath a sort of bilge. However, my 25 doesn't leak any water and the "bilge" is always dry. Anyway, that's my personal experience. As for the different models, they probably all sail pretty much the same although my old 2-22 seemed to handle a little better than the 25 I now have. Use your search engine and locate the sailboat "blue book" values. Really low prices. Seems to be a buyers market now. You just need to have your money ready and beat the next guy to "that deal." As for racing class: Maybe someone out in MacGregor land does that. I can't imagine seriously racing a MacGregor but it's probably done somewhere. Different strokes for different folks.
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ftldiver
Thanx, Q: hull inner- liner 1980 -> present?
Thanks very much for the reply... so, the inner liners started which year? was it 1980 on the 25'... OR? Did inner liners start w/ 26'? (1987) The 25 plans I can see, look like 2 split stern berths, correct? are they usable for sleeping? 25's never had water balast, so no inner liner,,, correct? looks like 87-89 is hot model... and 90-94 2nd choice. thanks again.
Thanks very much for the reply... so, the inner liners started which year? was it 1980 on the 25'... OR? Did inner liners start w/ 26'? (1987) The 25 plans I can see, look like 2 split stern berths, correct? are they usable for sleeping? 25's never had water balast, so no inner liner,,, correct? looks like 87-89 is hot model... and 90-94 2nd choice. thanks again.
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Doug Rodrigues
Get the 26
The hull liners for MacGregors started with the 1980 model 25. Earlier versions of the MacGregors were the "Venture" series. i.e., Think of a Venture 25 as a Mac 25 without the hull liner. At this point, I'm not too sure that the hull liner was an improvement, but it does make the boat look more modern (and top heavy). I suspect that the Venture 25 probably handles slightly better than the MacGregor 25 in heeling ability, but I'd have to find one to compare. If you want sleeping room, the 26C, 26D or 26X are the only answer. The 25 lacks the sleeping space under the cockpit. The 26 models are of a newer design and don't have that cast iron swing keel of earlier designs. But everything is a trade-off. The cast iron swing keel makes the 25 a little stiffer than the 26 with the water ballast. Too bad there wasn't such a thing as a model 26 with a cast iron swing keel! Also, the 26C and 26D are more of a "sailboat" than the flat bottom motor/sailer that the 26X is. Search the internet for every bit of information that you can find on MacGregor sailboats. If you plan on ocean sailing, you may want a different type and brand of sailboat altogether! I recommend that you go sailing in different types of boats in order to to make an intelligent decision of what you truly want and or need. i.e., A full keel sailboat (*just sailed a 27 footer with a full keel in San Francisco) is a joy to sail, but doesn't fall into the trailer-sailor catagory. It all depends on what you'll be using the boat for. The information is out there...you just have to search and find it.
The hull liners for MacGregors started with the 1980 model 25. Earlier versions of the MacGregors were the "Venture" series. i.e., Think of a Venture 25 as a Mac 25 without the hull liner. At this point, I'm not too sure that the hull liner was an improvement, but it does make the boat look more modern (and top heavy). I suspect that the Venture 25 probably handles slightly better than the MacGregor 25 in heeling ability, but I'd have to find one to compare. If you want sleeping room, the 26C, 26D or 26X are the only answer. The 25 lacks the sleeping space under the cockpit. The 26 models are of a newer design and don't have that cast iron swing keel of earlier designs. But everything is a trade-off. The cast iron swing keel makes the 25 a little stiffer than the 26 with the water ballast. Too bad there wasn't such a thing as a model 26 with a cast iron swing keel! Also, the 26C and 26D are more of a "sailboat" than the flat bottom motor/sailer that the 26X is. Search the internet for every bit of information that you can find on MacGregor sailboats. If you plan on ocean sailing, you may want a different type and brand of sailboat altogether! I recommend that you go sailing in different types of boats in order to to make an intelligent decision of what you truly want and or need. i.e., A full keel sailboat (*just sailed a 27 footer with a full keel in San Francisco) is a joy to sail, but doesn't fall into the trailer-sailor catagory. It all depends on what you'll be using the boat for. The information is out there...you just have to search and find it.
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ftldiver
26d 1987-1989 or 1990?
Do you know if 26 dagger board was built from 1987 thru 1989 or 1990? I see some adv as 1990 26d. ? like the idea of weighting a daggerboard. wonder if glass could handle stress.. (in shallow grounding) theres a lot nice protected bays in fla east coast. perfect for trl sailboats. But I suspect ocean sailing in winter should only be tried by brave souls or fools.
Do you know if 26 dagger board was built from 1987 thru 1989 or 1990? I see some adv as 1990 26d. ? like the idea of weighting a daggerboard. wonder if glass could handle stress.. (in shallow grounding) theres a lot nice protected bays in fla east coast. perfect for trl sailboats. But I suspect ocean sailing in winter should only be tried by brave souls or fools.
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Roger
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