I'm looking to purchase a Sailboat around 25ft in length and have been looking at MacGregor 26X ads. I don't have a lot of experience in fact I have no larger Keelboat experience I have my WhiteSail III and have sailed Albacores and Tazer's. But I want a larger stable boat for the family and kids. What is the difference between all the MacGregor 26 models? X, D, S, M? Are they virtually untippable? I know this may be a biased group but what are some opinions as to the MacGregor 26X as compared to other models? Shawn.Graham@alcatel.com
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You are just trying
to start trouble aren't you? Did someone from the Hunter forum send you over here? *666 Ok, I'll bite. The 26X sucks...unless you want a boat that will both sail and motor reasonably well, with lots of interior space. The D and S are real sailboats and are basically the same boat, but one has a daggerboard and the other a swingboard...other than that the differences are pretty subtle to a guy from the Hunter forum. All water ballasted boats in the Mac line are "tippy" at first...takes a little getting used to if you come from a true keel boat background...given your background maybe not. Bottom line is regardless of which Mac you get, you are not likely to find a better value or a better sailer from any one you pick. So tell those guys on the Hunter forum to quit picking on us. I am sure you will get lots of serious responses...this is merely to provoke them.
to start trouble aren't you? Did someone from the Hunter forum send you over here? *666 Ok, I'll bite. The 26X sucks...unless you want a boat that will both sail and motor reasonably well, with lots of interior space. The D and S are real sailboats and are basically the same boat, but one has a daggerboard and the other a swingboard...other than that the differences are pretty subtle to a guy from the Hunter forum. All water ballasted boats in the Mac line are "tippy" at first...takes a little getting used to if you come from a true keel boat background...given your background maybe not. Bottom line is regardless of which Mac you get, you are not likely to find a better value or a better sailer from any one you pick. So tell those guys on the Hunter forum to quit picking on us. I am sure you will get lots of serious responses...this is merely to provoke them.
Bule hull
I have a Hunter 260 was looking at a 26 M till $500. extra for blue hull white not available I have a 6 mile ride to bay MacGregor would be nice getting to Bay
I have a Hunter 260 was looking at a 26 M till $500. extra for blue hull white not available I have a 6 mile ride to bay MacGregor would be nice getting to Bay
26 D,S X, M
The differences in the 26 D and S are subtle and there is no official designation difference from the factory. We owners are the ones that have dubbed them "D" and "S". The "D" stands for dagger board and "S" stands for swing keel. The difference in sailing ability is minimal. The significant difference, to me, is that with the swing keel model, if you hit something underwater, the keel will merely swing up past the obstruction....assuming you're not running aground. The water ballast is the effective means of balancing the boat and reducing the "tippiness". My V-22 has a 600 lb iron swing keel that makes it feel quite stable from the moment you put it on the water. My 26S on the other hand, feels quite tippy (my Border Collie's name) until the water ballast is filled. It has a 300 lb permanent fixed ballast and after filling the water ballast, the total ballast is 1450 lbs. It then, sits down in the water very nicely. I sail inland lakes that get very puffy winds and when the winds are up in the 15 - 20 mph range, the puffs are really exciting. I've had the chainplates of both boats running just above the water for extended runs, and then caught a puff that wants to tip it farther. I'll admit to being a vertical sailor. I like it when the mast points straight up at the sky, but that's not when the boat moves well and usually the motor is having to be used. Sooooooooooooo.......I've learned that even 30-35 mph winds are quite managable for either boat. I don't use the genoa when it's blowing that hard, but a little common sense, some trimming of the sails and some attention to tune and rudder makes both these boats very reliable and exhilerating to sail. I'll have to say, after going out in some of those higher winds (where I never thought I'd go), I learned that neither boat is very prone to knockdown and should provide a safe and fun outing for your family. I really like the winds at about 12-17 mph. I'll trim for about a 15 degree list and kick along at about hull speed. Those big gas guzzlers don't get a bit more of a thrill than I do at 6-7 mph. Wind in my face, spray on the deck, sails and lines taught, and (on my V22) the winch cable humming all combine for a wonderful day or night on the water. Oh yeah, just heave to and drop off the ladder for a swim. The boats are not all decked out with teak and chandeliers, but they are good sound boats for sailing. The 26X changed design to a v hull and twin rudders with a transom designed to mount a larger engine in the center. Same water ballast and dagger board. The M is just a slight redesign of the X and is the latest model. I hope this helps a bit. Sometimes those of us who are familiar with the boat assume that our knowledge is going to be aquired by some sort of osmosis from clever answers that, in truth, will only be understood by someone who already has a Mac. There are a lot of nice boats out there, but dollar for dollar, I'm glad that I'm in a Mac. It's safe, fast enough, and well built. Sure, I've altered stuff on it, but I do the same thing on my house and car. I went to the V-22 for the same reasons you stated you wanted. It worked(s) well for me. The 26 is just another step up along the way. I wish you good hunting and fair winds.
The differences in the 26 D and S are subtle and there is no official designation difference from the factory. We owners are the ones that have dubbed them "D" and "S". The "D" stands for dagger board and "S" stands for swing keel. The difference in sailing ability is minimal. The significant difference, to me, is that with the swing keel model, if you hit something underwater, the keel will merely swing up past the obstruction....assuming you're not running aground. The water ballast is the effective means of balancing the boat and reducing the "tippiness". My V-22 has a 600 lb iron swing keel that makes it feel quite stable from the moment you put it on the water. My 26S on the other hand, feels quite tippy (my Border Collie's name) until the water ballast is filled. It has a 300 lb permanent fixed ballast and after filling the water ballast, the total ballast is 1450 lbs. It then, sits down in the water very nicely. I sail inland lakes that get very puffy winds and when the winds are up in the 15 - 20 mph range, the puffs are really exciting. I've had the chainplates of both boats running just above the water for extended runs, and then caught a puff that wants to tip it farther. I'll admit to being a vertical sailor. I like it when the mast points straight up at the sky, but that's not when the boat moves well and usually the motor is having to be used. Sooooooooooooo.......I've learned that even 30-35 mph winds are quite managable for either boat. I don't use the genoa when it's blowing that hard, but a little common sense, some trimming of the sails and some attention to tune and rudder makes both these boats very reliable and exhilerating to sail. I'll have to say, after going out in some of those higher winds (where I never thought I'd go), I learned that neither boat is very prone to knockdown and should provide a safe and fun outing for your family. I really like the winds at about 12-17 mph. I'll trim for about a 15 degree list and kick along at about hull speed. Those big gas guzzlers don't get a bit more of a thrill than I do at 6-7 mph. Wind in my face, spray on the deck, sails and lines taught, and (on my V22) the winch cable humming all combine for a wonderful day or night on the water. Oh yeah, just heave to and drop off the ladder for a swim. The boats are not all decked out with teak and chandeliers, but they are good sound boats for sailing. The 26X changed design to a v hull and twin rudders with a transom designed to mount a larger engine in the center. Same water ballast and dagger board. The M is just a slight redesign of the X and is the latest model. I hope this helps a bit. Sometimes those of us who are familiar with the boat assume that our knowledge is going to be aquired by some sort of osmosis from clever answers that, in truth, will only be understood by someone who already has a Mac. There are a lot of nice boats out there, but dollar for dollar, I'm glad that I'm in a Mac. It's safe, fast enough, and well built. Sure, I've altered stuff on it, but I do the same thing on my house and car. I went to the V-22 for the same reasons you stated you wanted. It worked(s) well for me. The 26 is just another step up along the way. I wish you good hunting and fair winds.
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