Looked at the new Macgregor 26 (sp?) and watched their video. Very interesting. A VERY popular boat. Seems to have everything covered for inland lake sailing. Owner experiences?? Roger
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Compromise boat
Your level of satisfaction with the MacGregor 26M will be tied directly to your expectations. The 26M is not a great powerboat and it is not a great sailboat. It is a great multi-purpose boat that is designed to appeal to people that want to do both. As a sailboat, it will heel rather quickly due to the water ballast design. The freeboard is pretty high to allow the six-foot headroom in the cabin and that makes for some interesting times when docking in a crosswind. It doesn't point as high as most purists would like. As a powerboat, it will not get a top speed (as seen in the video) unless you get a motor that is capable of turning a 14 inch prop (Mercury bigfoot or equivalent). This is a mutli-function boat that is great for families but is NOT a racer. It is a no-frills production boat and the owner is expected to add those items that he/she wants or needs vs. a more expensive boat that comes with all the bells `n whistles. This is our "haul `n launch it anywhere" boat and we love it because it meets our family's needs. However, I crew on a bigger boat at South Shore Yacht Club (Lake Michigan) to get my competitive sailing fix every week. If you have experience sailing on other boats, make sure you get a chance to test sail a Mac before you buy one. They are not for everybody but their owners are pretty loyal and love their boats. We do! Most of the MacGregor owners that frequent this site have one of the "classic" MacGregor sailboats (pre-power sailer). To locate a Mac 26X or 26M owner in your local area, I would suggest go to- http://macgregorsailors.com/ to find Mac owners in your area. One regular contributor to that board is "beene" and he is somewhere in Ontario too. Enjoy! Paul `06 MacGregor 26M
Your level of satisfaction with the MacGregor 26M will be tied directly to your expectations. The 26M is not a great powerboat and it is not a great sailboat. It is a great multi-purpose boat that is designed to appeal to people that want to do both. As a sailboat, it will heel rather quickly due to the water ballast design. The freeboard is pretty high to allow the six-foot headroom in the cabin and that makes for some interesting times when docking in a crosswind. It doesn't point as high as most purists would like. As a powerboat, it will not get a top speed (as seen in the video) unless you get a motor that is capable of turning a 14 inch prop (Mercury bigfoot or equivalent). This is a mutli-function boat that is great for families but is NOT a racer. It is a no-frills production boat and the owner is expected to add those items that he/she wants or needs vs. a more expensive boat that comes with all the bells `n whistles. This is our "haul `n launch it anywhere" boat and we love it because it meets our family's needs. However, I crew on a bigger boat at South Shore Yacht Club (Lake Michigan) to get my competitive sailing fix every week. If you have experience sailing on other boats, make sure you get a chance to test sail a Mac before you buy one. They are not for everybody but their owners are pretty loyal and love their boats. We do! Most of the MacGregor owners that frequent this site have one of the "classic" MacGregor sailboats (pre-power sailer). To locate a Mac 26X or 26M owner in your local area, I would suggest go to- http://macgregorsailors.com/ to find Mac owners in your area. One regular contributor to that board is "beene" and he is somewhere in Ontario too. Enjoy! Paul `06 MacGregor 26M
MSN said it Best
Looks like MSN gave you some good advice. The MacGregor is a price point boat, they bring it to market at a price the average person can afford and then the average person can add to it all the extras/improvements they require for their sailing style. Think of it as a blank canvas for you to paint what you will. My own personal compromise pet peave is the skinny beam, even though it makes for legal towing right across North America and some overseas destinations it is still skinny. Not a problem for everyone. Sounds like you are on a lake, a great venue for the Mac as is protected coastal water too which is where I use it. It makes a very great daysailer and weekender and for the die hard camper one can go extended weeks. A very versatile boat for the money. Make sure your engine can swing a 14" prop, you won't regret it.
Looks like MSN gave you some good advice. The MacGregor is a price point boat, they bring it to market at a price the average person can afford and then the average person can add to it all the extras/improvements they require for their sailing style. Think of it as a blank canvas for you to paint what you will. My own personal compromise pet peave is the skinny beam, even though it makes for legal towing right across North America and some overseas destinations it is still skinny. Not a problem for everyone. Sounds like you are on a lake, a great venue for the Mac as is protected coastal water too which is where I use it. It makes a very great daysailer and weekender and for the die hard camper one can go extended weeks. A very versatile boat for the money. Make sure your engine can swing a 14" prop, you won't regret it.
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