Hunter 25 vs. MacGregor 26 for my first boat?

[Paul S]

26M owner here

Answer is..depends. We looked at everything and decided on the 04 Macgregor 26M. Great decision. Awesome interior, decent sailing, great powering. Best of all worlds.It was truely the only boat that met all the criteria for US: Easily trailered (we trailer ONLY). Easy to rig. Shallow depth for our ramps in the area (floats in 12" of water). No trailering permit to trailer anywhere (and we do). Insanely low price new ($15,900 back in 03, 26,400 well equipped with 50 hp motor and trailer). There is nothing else that can fit every criteria we were looking for. The boat does have it's shortcomings, as do all boats. But it is made well where it counts. No it is NOT the best sail boat. Not the best power boat. But if you have to choose between no boat and a Mac, go for the Mac. I know of no owner that didn't like their boat. Resale value of Macs are very good. The price of a late model X was in line with a new M. They are selling every unit they make. They are doing something right. It sure is not for everyone, especially owners of 'real' sailboats. If you can be flexible, the Mac is a great choice. There were 2 Mac owners on the Charles river for the July 4 fireworks. launched at a ramp in the river. Motored down the river under quite a few bridges..Many area pretty shallow (2-3')...raised the mast at anchor in the river. Pretty nice to be on a 26' sailboat in the river. Only sailboats there!! Raised quite a few eyebrows to say the least!! Check out http://www.geocities.com/yellow_mgb/mac26m/2006_nets_july4/ for some pics!also check out www.macgregorsailors.com for other views on the boats. Paul

 

[richard]

disagree with the crap statement

They are not built as well as many others..thats for sure, and many other sailors would never own one and deride them with glee...But, most of them have never sailed one. I know there are much better boats to buy IF you have the money, but for what I need it performs flawlessly. I pass hunter 26's and catalina 25's easily as long as the conditions aren't too choppy and the winds are under 18-20. You compromise some quality and durability for trailorability and being able to spend 8,000 for a boat that will tke you to most of the places most people on these threads go to. Your crap, higgs, has been, for me an awesome exploratory vehicle that passes the majority of boats in it's size range in common conditions. I will move on to a better boat in a few years...I would love to get a J boat if I move... The main problem with the macgregor (under most conditions) is the conceded jerks who have to make themselves feel better by placing others beneath them. It all depends on where you live and what you want to get out of a boat. If you are going to trailor alot, and don't want to spend more than 5,000-10,000 for a boat, the 26s is a great deal!

 

[Sean]

Viperidae - I got mine last year - Mac 26S

I was brand new to sailing and I jumped in both feet first and bought the Cousin Larrrry off of Craigs List, out of all places(and this was all before I new how to sail!). Between taking a short 2 day lesson with Annapolis Sailing School and some personal courage, I got myself out as often as I could, mostly single handing(fortunately we're all sailors here, or the pun would be terrible...)the boat. I've had my Mac out on the Bay in steady 20 mph winds with gusts up to 30mph(a little hairy-but still fun preferably without the gusts). For the price she's been a good boat, I did have to outfit her with more rigging to be able to control the lines more comfortably from the cockpit (she was barebones when I got her).Though I'm new to sailing, one of the first things I noticed was that the lack of headroom does make it a little uncomfortable for the long haul. Now, I have done some overnighters and made it work. The pop-top allows for a little more room, less cluster phobic of an experience when it's up and the overnighters were actually pretty fun.I don't know enough about the Hunter to give you a pro/con approach, but what I can say is that the shallow draft has been a wonderful asset with the swing keel. So you don't have to worry about the shoals as much. And as others have mentioned here, in heavy wind conditions, she does crab a little, I'm not sure if it's because she's so light, or the swing keel or because I still have the original rudder, but you have to be prepared in heavier winds to compensate for your side to side drift.Good luck, and if you ever want to try it out before making your decision shoot me an email, ha.ya.doin@gmail.com. I'm out most weekends.-Sean

 

[cockneyboy]

Hunter v Mac

Viperidae. Have you ordered the MacGregor dvd yet.Hers the web site www.macgregor26.com Have a look at it before you decide. Also look up Conch Cruisers on these pages.

 

[richard]

owners sailing ability scott

is the more likely variable concerning your comment: "Many Macs on our lake move along fine when the wind is almost non-existent, only to be knocked down and slipping sideways as soon as the wind is over 10 knots." 10-12 knots is the best wind for my boat(mac 26s); no reef (till about 15-18 knots) with about 15-20 degrees of heel on a close haul with good pointing ability. Trailoring can be a pain steping the mast and all...But, I think I would get tired of sailing the same waters time after time. I enjoy looking at maps/charts and exploring NEW waters, unseen anchorages, virgin beaches that the mac can sail right up to. You can just hop of the boat and onto the beach without needing a dingy. Every time I sail around Charleston the marina's I see are filled with boats just sitting in their rental slips...which is more expensive than sitting in the back yard!It's all about your location/ needs & wants.

 

[sailortonyb]

If I were a betting man..................

If I were a betting man, my money would say that the 'most sailed' boat is a Mac. I would also say thet macs go out in rougher weather than most other boats.This is from observation and not from actual statistics. There are a gazillion Mac clubs that trailer and cruise everywhere. I almost sold my Catalina 30 to buy a new Mac. The only reason I didnt was that I decided to do some blue water cruising. I had learned on an older Mac 25 and took that thing everywhere. I was new at sailing when someone told me that my Mac 25 shouldnt go to Florida from Ms. Boy, was he ever wrong. My GF always used to say "how come we are the only ones out here today?" when the wind was really blowing in the gulf. We had been sailing about 6 months when someone in the marina told us that the boat wasnt made to go out in the weather we used to go out in. He owned a more substantial boat that rarely left the slip.Anyway, its hard to spend a lot of money when you are not really sure of what you want. Figure out a way to go out on a mac and check it out yourself. Im almost 60 and when I get top old for my Allied 39, Im sure i will get a new mac.BTW, does anyone remember seeing an elderly gentleman that was cruising in a Mac? He took it through the Panama Canal and was somewhere on the west coast last i heard. Back to original question.....depends on what you really intend to do with the boat. Good luck with either choice.

 

[richard]

panamal canal in a mac...?This is an out of date

link. Looks like a pretty wild dude.http://members.tripod.com/~lbucko/index.html