Can anyone compare a Mac 26S to a '75 Balboa 26 with a swing keel? Speed, handling, ease of launching? What if you could choose between the two for the same price?
Mac vs Balboa?
- Thread starter jimforest
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A friend of mine has a Mac 26S
but I do not know the Balboa 26' first hand. From the specifications page on the Balboa 26' ( http://www.sailingtexas.com/sbalboa26flyer.html ) I would guess that the Balboa is a little heavier and probably not quite as tender in high winds as the Mac. The Mac has a centerboard and the Balboa calls it's centerboard a swing keel (which just means it is probably a bit heavier). I think the Mac 26S can go about 6+ knots (from GPS measurement) but I am not sure about the Balboa but it can't be far behind. The Balboa has a masthead rigged jib whereas the Mac is a fractional rigged jib (and you want a small jib on this boat). The Mac 26S can sleep up to 5 pretty comfortably on berths down below if you don't mind the slightly low headroom (pop up top though!) but I could not tell how many berths the Balboa has from the specs but it should be similar. As for trailering either of these boats, MacGregor claims the 26 can be towed with your average car but I think it is safer with a bigger engine and manual tranny. The Balboa weighs a bit more and would likely require a pickup or SUV with some heft to pull it safely. In terms of launching at a ramp I bet it is pretty much the same for either as neither have any or much of a static keel and draw very little water. Stepping and un-stepping the mast on either can be a chore. The Mac has some kind of Jin pole/A frame mast stepping system which is nice to have. Again, I am not sure whether or not the Balboa has a method for this. I was a little surprised at how light the mast and stays seemed on the Mac 26S but in this boat we weathered a thunderstorm with nearly 30 kt winds for maybe 20 minutes. I am not sure how heavy or strong the standing rigging is on the Balboa. The Mac 26S will be newer than the Balboa so check the shrouds and stays to make sure you wont have to replace these wires on a 30+ year old boat. If there are any cracks, broken strands, bends in the wire then price the replacement cost ( > $1K ) and make a lower offer for either boat as the 'recommended' replacement period for these is around 10 - 20 years, depending on use. Having said that my 27' Tartan is from 1967 which makes it 40 years old and I hope the standing rigging has been replaced at least once. One thing I will say is that they do not build boats the same way today (or 1992 thereabouts) as they did in 1975 (or 1967 for that matter). There is something to be said about older boats is that 40 years ago they built the hull (below the waterline) on my Tartan about 1/2" thick so the hull is quite solid with limited flexing. I would be surprised if the hull of a Mac 26S is much more than 1/4" thick lending the interior to 'oil canning' or flexing in any kind of significant waves and pounding. I would recommend sailing on each before deciding as they are pretty much in the same ballpark at 26 feet. Good luck.
but I do not know the Balboa 26' first hand. From the specifications page on the Balboa 26' ( http://www.sailingtexas.com/sbalboa26flyer.html ) I would guess that the Balboa is a little heavier and probably not quite as tender in high winds as the Mac. The Mac has a centerboard and the Balboa calls it's centerboard a swing keel (which just means it is probably a bit heavier). I think the Mac 26S can go about 6+ knots (from GPS measurement) but I am not sure about the Balboa but it can't be far behind. The Balboa has a masthead rigged jib whereas the Mac is a fractional rigged jib (and you want a small jib on this boat). The Mac 26S can sleep up to 5 pretty comfortably on berths down below if you don't mind the slightly low headroom (pop up top though!) but I could not tell how many berths the Balboa has from the specs but it should be similar. As for trailering either of these boats, MacGregor claims the 26 can be towed with your average car but I think it is safer with a bigger engine and manual tranny. The Balboa weighs a bit more and would likely require a pickup or SUV with some heft to pull it safely. In terms of launching at a ramp I bet it is pretty much the same for either as neither have any or much of a static keel and draw very little water. Stepping and un-stepping the mast on either can be a chore. The Mac has some kind of Jin pole/A frame mast stepping system which is nice to have. Again, I am not sure whether or not the Balboa has a method for this. I was a little surprised at how light the mast and stays seemed on the Mac 26S but in this boat we weathered a thunderstorm with nearly 30 kt winds for maybe 20 minutes. I am not sure how heavy or strong the standing rigging is on the Balboa. The Mac 26S will be newer than the Balboa so check the shrouds and stays to make sure you wont have to replace these wires on a 30+ year old boat. If there are any cracks, broken strands, bends in the wire then price the replacement cost ( > $1K ) and make a lower offer for either boat as the 'recommended' replacement period for these is around 10 - 20 years, depending on use. Having said that my 27' Tartan is from 1967 which makes it 40 years old and I hope the standing rigging has been replaced at least once. One thing I will say is that they do not build boats the same way today (or 1992 thereabouts) as they did in 1975 (or 1967 for that matter). There is something to be said about older boats is that 40 years ago they built the hull (below the waterline) on my Tartan about 1/2" thick so the hull is quite solid with limited flexing. I would be surprised if the hull of a Mac 26S is much more than 1/4" thick lending the interior to 'oil canning' or flexing in any kind of significant waves and pounding. I would recommend sailing on each before deciding as they are pretty much in the same ballpark at 26 feet. Good luck.
Comparing a mac to a sunfish Pete!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
Comparing a mac to a sunfish Pete!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
Comparing a mac to a sunfish Pete!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
Comparing a mac to a sunfish Pete!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
pretty dumb comparison....mac does what it's supposed to, lake and coastal sailing, for those not able or wanting to spend alot of dough...and it does it well. I've been off charleston, tampa, pensacola, panama city, numerous keys, and most lakes in the south east with my 26s. It has performed very well, often outsailing much more expensive boats; the wine and women taste just as good anchored out as well... I'm planning a gulf stream crossing; and MANY others have crossed in macs with no problem....you go ahead and take your sunfish across...I bet you'd be glad to see me coming your way to pick you up out there!
Catalina 25
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
Catalina 25
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
Catalina 25
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
Catalina 25
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
The Admiral and I took our first sailing lessons on a Catalina 25 while we owned a Mac X then a Mac M. The Catalina sailed very well--better than the Macs--not necessarily faster, but with a more stable feeling. I was impressed by this boat. The Catalina 25 had far less interior room than the Macs and had a keel that would make trailering more difficult than the Macs. If I could leave the boat in the water I would be tempted by the Catalina. If I always needed to trailer I would take the Mac.
Macs
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
Macs
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
Macs
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
Macs
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
My first sailboat was a brand new 1970 something Venture 22. It looked pretty good, trailered easily and sailed ok in the 2 lakes I sailed it in. However; it was not well built and the swing keel left a lot to be desired. The finish on the inside was rough and it had few ammenities. But for the price it was a lot of fun and my small family (wife and young daughter) spent many enjoyable Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the water learning to sail. You can find a used one for a really low price and it will get you started. But now that I'm older, wiser and expect more from my boat, I would go with a slightly larger used keel boat. You won't really pay that much more ($5000 - $10,000) and you will be happer with it in the long run.
Former Balboa 26 owner
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
Former Balboa 26 owner
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
Former Balboa 26 owner
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
Former Balboa 26 owner
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
I owned a Balboa 26 for nine years and sailed it on the Pungo River and Pamlico sound in coastal NC. It was a great boat for shallow waters. The most unusual thing about this boat is the rudder. The rudder isn't transom hung- it slides into a slot in the cockpit sole. This gives two advantages. First it lets the outboard motor mount on the centerline of the transom. I've never had another boat with such good access to the motor. The second advantage is that you can pull the rudder completely up if you need to. The disadvantage is that you DON'T want to run aground with the swing keel up and the rudder down. Unless the rudder is perfectly centered when you hit it's almost impossible to pull the rudder up through the slot. I thought the Balboa was built plainly but decently. The finish level wasn't high at all, but everything seemed to be plenty strong. It sailed well and was easy to maintain. The berths aren't made for tall people. I'm 5 foot 6 and my wife is 5 foot 4 and we were comfortable overnighting and spending a week on the boat. I hope this helps.
Mac 26D
We have owned a Mac 26D for many years. My kids and grandkids have enjoyed many an afternoon sail and overnighted on it. Recently, we passed our 26D on to my son when we bought a Hunter 260. We love both of these boats. Here are my two cents worth of opinion about the 26D/S, Pros: -There was a ton of these boats built, maybe more than any other single make, and there is a large supply of inexpensive used boats on the market. Shop carefully and you can get a great starter boat for very little money. -For a 26 footer, it is very easy to trailer and quick and easy to rig and launch. We have set up next to other brands of 22-26 footers, and most of the time we were on the water 30-45 minutes before they were. Tip: A forestay lever will allow you to tune the rig one time, and then to set up quickly without adjustments from then on. -It is excellent in light air. Get one and go eat the more expensive chunky boats for breakfast. Cons and recommended mods: -When the wind picks up, reef early and do not overpower the boat. The water ballast boats are initially tender, and the boat is faster and more stable if you remember to reef! -Replace all nylon cleats with SS ones and add backing plates -Check wiring and replace with tinned marine cable -Replace the stock rudder with an IdaSailor model or modify the stock one per instructions on the web. This makes a vast improvement in rudder effectiveness and helm balance. -Adjust the mast rake to have only slight weather helm with sails properly trimmed.(see note about rudder above). Rig the boat with the proper tension on the stays and shrouds. Sloppy rigs are slow and dangerous. -On older models, the bolt rope on the main shrinks as the sail ages. Replace the bolt rope(yes you can do this yourself in an afternoon if you are handy) or replace the main if the sail is too far gone. This is very important to allow proper trim of the main to reduce excessive weather helm, a common complaint about this boat. This is a good time to convert to sail slugs too. - The "D" in 26D stands for daggerboard. While this model is slightly faster than the S or swing keel model, unlike the S model, that daggerboard will break if you hit the bottom very hard. This saves the centerboard trunk, but will set you back about $200 for a new daggerboard. If you sail in skinny water, look for an S unless you just must have that slight speed advantage. -Not unlike other manufactuers, Mac trailers leave a lot to be desired. Give strong consideration to the condition of the trailer, not just the boat. Experience: You really need a Van, SUV or pickup if you are going to tow long distances or in mountain regions. If you are mostly around town and live in flat country, you can get by with less, but be careful. Stopping the rig and controlling sway caused by passing semi trucks is much easier with a heavier vehicle. We took our Mac across the Gulf Stream to Bimini twice, with other Macs. On one of these trips there was over 20 boats in the fleet. There is nothing like having your own boat in the Bahamas and being able to go everywhere in the skinny water. We took our Mac to Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson (70 miles WEST of Key West). Again we were with a large fleet of small boats, mostly Macs. We have enjoyed the Florida Keys, Florida West Coast, Florida Panhandle, Pamlico Sound and had a blast in places like Key West, Okracoke, Hatteras, Panama City, Tampa, St. George, St. Joe, Caladesi, etc..... We have been through some tough times in the Gulf Stream and some surprisingly tough squalls in Biscayne Bay and other places. We have motored into headwinds coming back from Dry Tortugas where the Macs took a "licken and kept on tickin". (hate to be the one to tell you, but if you remember that Timex slogan, you ain't no spring chicken anymore; better get in all the sailing you can asap) I think it depends on what you are looking for in a boat. Macs are not Blue Water boats. With the proper preparation, careful planning, and respect for weather, you can go a lot of places for not a lot of money. They are spartan in accomodations and finish. The hulls, decks and rig are strong enough for conditions you are likely to encounter on inland lakes and near coastal cruising. Carefully inspect all rigging. All boats are compromises of some kind or another. If you buy a Mac, be prepared for comments from folks that have never sailed on one, much less owned one. Use good judgement, take care of the boat, and the boat will take care of you. Good luck, Bert PS, the Mac 25 was admitted to the Sailboat Hall of Fame. They are tough old boats too, and several are roaming the coasts still.
We have owned a Mac 26D for many years. My kids and grandkids have enjoyed many an afternoon sail and overnighted on it. Recently, we passed our 26D on to my son when we bought a Hunter 260. We love both of these boats. Here are my two cents worth of opinion about the 26D/S, Pros: -There was a ton of these boats built, maybe more than any other single make, and there is a large supply of inexpensive used boats on the market. Shop carefully and you can get a great starter boat for very little money. -For a 26 footer, it is very easy to trailer and quick and easy to rig and launch. We have set up next to other brands of 22-26 footers, and most of the time we were on the water 30-45 minutes before they were. Tip: A forestay lever will allow you to tune the rig one time, and then to set up quickly without adjustments from then on. -It is excellent in light air. Get one and go eat the more expensive chunky boats for breakfast. Cons and recommended mods: -When the wind picks up, reef early and do not overpower the boat. The water ballast boats are initially tender, and the boat is faster and more stable if you remember to reef! -Replace all nylon cleats with SS ones and add backing plates -Check wiring and replace with tinned marine cable -Replace the stock rudder with an IdaSailor model or modify the stock one per instructions on the web. This makes a vast improvement in rudder effectiveness and helm balance. -Adjust the mast rake to have only slight weather helm with sails properly trimmed.(see note about rudder above). Rig the boat with the proper tension on the stays and shrouds. Sloppy rigs are slow and dangerous. -On older models, the bolt rope on the main shrinks as the sail ages. Replace the bolt rope(yes you can do this yourself in an afternoon if you are handy) or replace the main if the sail is too far gone. This is very important to allow proper trim of the main to reduce excessive weather helm, a common complaint about this boat. This is a good time to convert to sail slugs too. - The "D" in 26D stands for daggerboard. While this model is slightly faster than the S or swing keel model, unlike the S model, that daggerboard will break if you hit the bottom very hard. This saves the centerboard trunk, but will set you back about $200 for a new daggerboard. If you sail in skinny water, look for an S unless you just must have that slight speed advantage. -Not unlike other manufactuers, Mac trailers leave a lot to be desired. Give strong consideration to the condition of the trailer, not just the boat. Experience: You really need a Van, SUV or pickup if you are going to tow long distances or in mountain regions. If you are mostly around town and live in flat country, you can get by with less, but be careful. Stopping the rig and controlling sway caused by passing semi trucks is much easier with a heavier vehicle. We took our Mac across the Gulf Stream to Bimini twice, with other Macs. On one of these trips there was over 20 boats in the fleet. There is nothing like having your own boat in the Bahamas and being able to go everywhere in the skinny water. We took our Mac to Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson (70 miles WEST of Key West). Again we were with a large fleet of small boats, mostly Macs. We have enjoyed the Florida Keys, Florida West Coast, Florida Panhandle, Pamlico Sound and had a blast in places like Key West, Okracoke, Hatteras, Panama City, Tampa, St. George, St. Joe, Caladesi, etc..... We have been through some tough times in the Gulf Stream and some surprisingly tough squalls in Biscayne Bay and other places. We have motored into headwinds coming back from Dry Tortugas where the Macs took a "licken and kept on tickin". (hate to be the one to tell you, but if you remember that Timex slogan, you ain't no spring chicken anymore; better get in all the sailing you can asap) I think it depends on what you are looking for in a boat. Macs are not Blue Water boats. With the proper preparation, careful planning, and respect for weather, you can go a lot of places for not a lot of money. They are spartan in accomodations and finish. The hulls, decks and rig are strong enough for conditions you are likely to encounter on inland lakes and near coastal cruising. Carefully inspect all rigging. All boats are compromises of some kind or another. If you buy a Mac, be prepared for comments from folks that have never sailed on one, much less owned one. Use good judgement, take care of the boat, and the boat will take care of you. Good luck, Bert PS, the Mac 25 was admitted to the Sailboat Hall of Fame. They are tough old boats too, and several are roaming the coasts still.
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