I've been bitten by the boat bug, and I think I want to buy a Macgregor 26. I live in Northeast Texas, about 20 minutes from a Corps of Engineers lake (Lake Pat Mayes) that lacks a marina or a place to moor a boat long term. Several large lakes are approximately one and a half hours away, including Lake Texoma. Hence, I've decided to buy a trailerable boat that will live on the trailer in my side yard when not on the water. So far, the Macgregor 26 looks like the best bet. I've found several late 80s to mid 90s Macgregor 26's in the price range I want to pay (under $10,000). I've done some research, and I think I know most of the basic questions to ask and things to look for. What I'd like to know is, are there not-so-obvious problems of which I should be aware, and are there questions I should be asking if I knew more about what to look for? I'm pretty much a novice--I have a basic keelboat certification from a sailing class, but I haven't sailed much. I'm not getting younger though, and it's now or never, so I want to jump in. Any advice from you old salts (or lakers, I guess, would be the right word for fresh water sailors)?
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If you are set on a Mac, read the "what's the difference" sticky to see if you want a classic or a powersailor. $10K would buy you anything you want already set up or something basic you can rig how you want it.
A furler is nice, but a PITA when trailering. I highly recommend a mast raising system with the boat, any boat. My biggest concern on a used boat would be the condition of the hull. i.e. blisters, gouges etc. Next would be the motor. Does it run well? Electric start and a generator are nice - I don't have either.
Good luck. Post some prospects and someone will help you.
A furler is nice, but a PITA when trailering. I highly recommend a mast raising system with the boat, any boat. My biggest concern on a used boat would be the condition of the hull. i.e. blisters, gouges etc. Next would be the motor. Does it run well? Electric start and a generator are nice - I don't have either.
Good luck. Post some prospects and someone will help you.
Thanks, Justin. Do you (or anyone else) have any idea what it might cost to transport a 26 ft. boat to Texas from another state, say, New Mexico, or Colorado? Obviously, I could drive out and pull the boat back on its trailer, but I'm thinking I don't want to do that. I appreciate the wisdom.
I wouldn't trust myself to guess how much. There's fuel expenses plus labor (mileage) of some sort. If it were me, I'd be going out there to check it out anyway, so I'd haul it back myself. Either way presents some issues: you definitely want everything secured well so the rigging doesn't get beat up on the journey. You also need to know if the tires and the bearings can take the trip, not to mention the tow vehicle.
That seems like a big enough sum to make it worth going there and check it out in person.
I got the 26S for the same reasons you are. It's the biggest truly trailerable boat that I know of.
I got the 26S for the same reasons you are. It's the biggest truly trailerable boat that I know of.
Tell me about the 26S. How does it differ from the 26D and the 26C? It looks like one of those models will be the best bet at the price I'm willing to pay. I've heard the fiberglass may be poorly laid and subject to delamination. I've also heard the wood in the cabin is cheap and generally needs to be replaced. I also hear the factory trailer is inadequate. Any thoughts?
A couple of years ago I saw a Mac in StrictlySail show and knew I want one. Not knowing anything about sailing, I took basic keel class and then got a 26d. Used it for one year and realized the huge difference between the d/s types and x/m types. I now have a 26M. For your budget I would highly recommend 26X. It's taller and more spacious inside. Maybe not sailing as well as 26d, but if you need to go fast, just fire up the larger outboard and you are flying by any sail boat except AC72 (Team Nespresso flew by me last weekend during their practice). Also, an X would be newer and most likely in better condition. Final note, like was said before on the thread, I would go see it personally before purchasing. I towed my 26M from Idaho to San Francisco using my Benz S430 sedan. No problems. My wife and I made a road trip out of that and saw places we never would have otherwise.
Read the sticky. The S (swingkeel) and D (daggerboard) are both C's
I've not had any problems with the things you mentioned. It's not the Cadillac of sailboats, but it trailers easier than most. The Hunter 260 might work. My friend calls his a Hunter-bego.
the D is typically cheaper, older and less desirable. the S might be better for man made lakes (with stumps and trees). but I've really not had any problems running aground. (run aground but not on rocks and never stuck).
the D has a simpler daggerboard, needs less maintenance, and the rudder is simpler.
however the cockpit coamings are higher on the S (except in 1989, the d had that and the flotation over the V berth.
-pick the best boat example you can find. condition is everything.
and yes the factory trailer is marginal, when new. biggest single expense is replacing it. (next to the engine)
double axle is better in the long run.
the D has a simpler daggerboard, needs less maintenance, and the rudder is simpler.
however the cockpit coamings are higher on the S (except in 1989, the d had that and the flotation over the V berth.
-pick the best boat example you can find. condition is everything.
and yes the factory trailer is marginal, when new. biggest single expense is replacing it. (next to the engine)
double axle is better in the long run.
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Now I feel really dumb. I've hung around on forums for years and I never knew why they called them stickies!
Tackigator,
Yep, read the stickies to compare the boats, and check out all the pictures in the mods section.
When I was shopping I was sure that I wanted the D model because I liked the daggerboard. The guys on here made me rethink that. I'm glad I listened.
There is a lot of shallow water where I sail and I know I would have been hitting stuff with it. The swing keel will swing back and go over obstructions.
A lot of us end up using the area under the V berth for storage. The D has flotation in there, the S does not. It's overhead.
I'm willing to bet you'll like either model.
Trailers?
Yeah the factory one is kinda flimsy. BUT, mine is a '93 and it still works. I broke a spring on it this year but that's the only problem I remember having on it.
I finally did buy an aluminum one that has brakes and I like it better but the old ones do work. (got one for sale!)
Tackigator,
Yep, read the stickies to compare the boats, and check out all the pictures in the mods section.
When I was shopping I was sure that I wanted the D model because I liked the daggerboard. The guys on here made me rethink that. I'm glad I listened.
There is a lot of shallow water where I sail and I know I would have been hitting stuff with it. The swing keel will swing back and go over obstructions.
A lot of us end up using the area under the V berth for storage. The D has flotation in there, the S does not. It's overhead.
I'm willing to bet you'll like either model.
Trailers?
Yeah the factory one is kinda flimsy. BUT, mine is a '93 and it still works. I broke a spring on it this year but that's the only problem I remember having on it.
I finally did buy an aluminum one that has brakes and I like it better but the old ones do work. (got one for sale!)
check out Sailing Texas website. There are usually lots of Macs listed and most look in fair to good shape. Might find exactly what you are looking for there and save a ton on towing cross country. If not, you can look at the asking prices and use those for comparisons.
Looks like a nice boat for someone and some of the mods look familiar
,Sum
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Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
It's been awhile now but, there used to be a very active Venture Sailing Club in the Dallas area. They could give you some ideas.
Mac 26 long distance trailering.
I have a MacGregor 26S for over 20 years. Keep in mind that the factory trailer has only 1 axle. Have the bearings, tires, brakes etc. checked before hauling your new boat hundeds of miles. I trailered mine 2-300 miles on many occasions but always kept the running gear in top shape. A failure on the Interstate could be disappointing to say the least.
If you are looking at a Mac for inland lakes that are shallow, have submerged trees, or can go low during periods of drought I'd get the S over the D. We bought the S over the D for the swing keel as we felt we would be sailing unknown waters and it has paid off as we have run into the bottom or items on it more than once. The S is real forgiving in that respect.
If you sail the same lake all of the time and become very familiar with it that might not be a big thing.
One other item that I like and didn't know when we bought the boat was that the area under the v-berth isn't used for foam as it is above the v-berth. That area and the use of it had been a very big help in cruising for weeks on end.
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/inside-16.html
We have 40 gallons of water there along with clothing, food and usually a spare laptop.
I saw a S for under $4000 the other day using http://www.onecraigs.com/
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
If you sail the same lake all of the time and become very familiar with it that might not be a big thing.
One other item that I like and didn't know when we bought the boat was that the area under the v-berth isn't used for foam as it is above the v-berth. That area and the use of it had been a very big help in cruising for weeks on end.
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/inside-16.html
We have 40 gallons of water there along with clothing, food and usually a spare laptop.
I saw a S for under $4000 the other day using http://www.onecraigs.com/
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
Found this on Dallas Graig's list
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/bod/4043753678.html
You might want to consider a Catalina 22 swing keel as well They are very good boats if you do not need the room for spending several days on the boat.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/bod/4043753678.html
You might want to consider a Catalina 22 swing keel as well They are very good boats if you do not need the room for spending several days on the boat.
We love our 26D. She is really fast and easy to sail. We were going to a area with a beach and we just raised the dagger board up in we were in about 3 feet of water. I came from a Catalina 22 swing keel. I love the water ballast and the room in the boat.
So far, everything we raced - we left them behind. Someone posted the 26D was the fastest of the 26's.
So far, everything we raced - we left them behind. Someone posted the 26D was the fastest of the 26's.
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