I have a friend looking into a Macgregor 26 and is asking for opinions. I have read several threads, some people like them, others complain that they are unstable and cheaply built and tendor. The boat will be mostly used on an inland river for day sails. I would like to hear from owners or former owners......Thanks in advance.
Macgregor 26
- Thread starter Rob2435
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The newer Mac's are power boat hulls with
sails. I have seen them with 50 horse power outboards and been told that they can pull a water skier. From my perspective they look rather topsidey, but there seems to be quite a few of them so some body must like them.
sails. I have seen them with 50 horse power outboards and been told that they can pull a water skier. From my perspective they look rather topsidey, but there seems to be quite a few of them so some body must like them.
i have a macgregor and love it! i am a former small boat racer and am now a lazy comfortable cruising boat guy. this is the do it all boat. although not GREAT at sailing or powering, one can do either easily and do them decently. for someone like you are describing this would be perfect. and yes 50 horse is very common and makes for some nice "just getting there" when you need/want to do so. if you want to learn more, use this weblink. good luck!!
There is a difference between ...
a Mac 26 swing keel sailboat and a Mac 26X water ballasted hybrid cruiser. The first one can be a fun trailerable but the 26X does not handle well under power and worst under sail more appropiate for lakes and inland waterways. The boat has a following for its toy appeal at a low price. You can waterski or tow an inflatable, get fast from one place to another or raise the sails and play around a little. For hanging out at anchor it looks as good as any in its class and its cabin is larger than a similar power boat. Decide what do you want to use the boat for and remember you usually get what you pay for in quality and performance.
a Mac 26 swing keel sailboat and a Mac 26X water ballasted hybrid cruiser. The first one can be a fun trailerable but the 26X does not handle well under power and worst under sail more appropiate for lakes and inland waterways. The boat has a following for its toy appeal at a low price. You can waterski or tow an inflatable, get fast from one place to another or raise the sails and play around a little. For hanging out at anchor it looks as good as any in its class and its cabin is larger than a similar power boat. Decide what do you want to use the boat for and remember you usually get what you pay for in quality and performance.
I liked mine
Well I had one and it was a good boat. It was a good sail boat and a good power boat, not great at either but then you would not expect it to be. Someone said they did not handle well that is not necessarily true. Under power you had to let the center board down a couple of inches and that helped the stability. Under sail it would balance out fairly well. As far as being tender well what the h..ll does that really mean. I sailed on lake Michigan and if anyone doesn't know how bad Lake Michigan can get ask Ted Turner after he sailed the MAC. Having said that we now own Hunter 31 and what a difference. It is a "real" sail boat not a hybrid. So it will not pull a tube or power at 20 MPH. Anyone who tries to compare the Macgregor to a power boat or a sail boat can find faults because it is neither but both and as such works well for it intended purpose. It is not a toy however it is hybrid.
Well I had one and it was a good boat. It was a good sail boat and a good power boat, not great at either but then you would not expect it to be. Someone said they did not handle well that is not necessarily true. Under power you had to let the center board down a couple of inches and that helped the stability. Under sail it would balance out fairly well. As far as being tender well what the h..ll does that really mean. I sailed on lake Michigan and if anyone doesn't know how bad Lake Michigan can get ask Ted Turner after he sailed the MAC. Having said that we now own Hunter 31 and what a difference. It is a "real" sail boat not a hybrid. So it will not pull a tube or power at 20 MPH. Anyone who tries to compare the Macgregor to a power boat or a sail boat can find faults because it is neither but both and as such works well for it intended purpose. It is not a toy however it is hybrid.
I have owned
two of these boats, a 26x (1995-2003) and an M (2003 on). They are unlike any other power or sail boat and find themselves in a unique niche. 1. They will power from 16 to 22+ knots, depending on the power used. They will not quzzle a lot of gas in the process. 2. They will sail at 4 or 5 knots in normal breezes and are easy to sail short/single handed. 3. They have more interior space than anything in either power or sail at the same LOA. Two weeks or more on the water is fun--not a chore. We have sailed all through the San Juans and Gulf Islands and ate well and slept comfortably--oh yes one of our passengers was my 86 year-old mother-in-law. Nary a complaint 4. Moorage and insurance are not expensive. Many home insurance companies will insure a boat up to 26 ft. The Mac is 25'10". When travelling and in need of guest moorage there is more of it for a Mac than for a larger boat. (At least in this neck of the woods.) 5. The boat is unsinkable! It has built in foam compartments and will float even with a hole in the bottom. 6. Is it tender? Yep--the initial stability leads to early heeling, but once it gets going it firms up and is fairly stable. In rough water (25 kt. winds 4-5 ft. waves) you will not be comfortable, but you will get home safely. And if you see the bad weather approaching, just lower the 50 to 70 hp "iron genny" and get out of the way. 7. The folks that own these boats generally like to tinker with them. At rendezvous people go from boat to boat to see what modifications others have made. This is great fun and is the source of many new friends. The Mac community is unlike anything I have ever seen. These folks like to be together having fun and sailing/powering their boats. 8, The boat can be stored and launched from the trailer. If you have the space store it in your side yard and save on moorage costs. 9. Problems? These boats generally are purchased by new sailors. As such I have seen some strange and wonderful boat handling which could look from the shore like a boat problem. For example to dock the boat the ballast should be in and the centerboard/daggerboard and rudders should be down. If the operater forgets to do this after motoring to the marina he will discover the boat handles like an inner tube. Properly ballasted and fins down it is a cinch to handle in close quarters. 10. Who shouldn't buy this boat? If you belong to a sailboat racing club you will be perpetually dissapointed. If you think those Fountains that cruise by at 50mph are cool, you will be dissapointed. Everybody else should at least have a test sail.
two of these boats, a 26x (1995-2003) and an M (2003 on). They are unlike any other power or sail boat and find themselves in a unique niche. 1. They will power from 16 to 22+ knots, depending on the power used. They will not quzzle a lot of gas in the process. 2. They will sail at 4 or 5 knots in normal breezes and are easy to sail short/single handed. 3. They have more interior space than anything in either power or sail at the same LOA. Two weeks or more on the water is fun--not a chore. We have sailed all through the San Juans and Gulf Islands and ate well and slept comfortably--oh yes one of our passengers was my 86 year-old mother-in-law. Nary a complaint 4. Moorage and insurance are not expensive. Many home insurance companies will insure a boat up to 26 ft. The Mac is 25'10". When travelling and in need of guest moorage there is more of it for a Mac than for a larger boat. (At least in this neck of the woods.) 5. The boat is unsinkable! It has built in foam compartments and will float even with a hole in the bottom. 6. Is it tender? Yep--the initial stability leads to early heeling, but once it gets going it firms up and is fairly stable. In rough water (25 kt. winds 4-5 ft. waves) you will not be comfortable, but you will get home safely. And if you see the bad weather approaching, just lower the 50 to 70 hp "iron genny" and get out of the way. 7. The folks that own these boats generally like to tinker with them. At rendezvous people go from boat to boat to see what modifications others have made. This is great fun and is the source of many new friends. The Mac community is unlike anything I have ever seen. These folks like to be together having fun and sailing/powering their boats. 8, The boat can be stored and launched from the trailer. If you have the space store it in your side yard and save on moorage costs. 9. Problems? These boats generally are purchased by new sailors. As such I have seen some strange and wonderful boat handling which could look from the shore like a boat problem. For example to dock the boat the ballast should be in and the centerboard/daggerboard and rudders should be down. If the operater forgets to do this after motoring to the marina he will discover the boat handles like an inner tube. Properly ballasted and fins down it is a cinch to handle in close quarters. 10. Who shouldn't buy this boat? If you belong to a sailboat racing club you will be perpetually dissapointed. If you think those Fountains that cruise by at 50mph are cool, you will be dissapointed. Everybody else should at least have a test sail.
26x...worst of both worlds...
...in my opinion. If you want a power boat...get a power boat, like wise with a sailboat. This boat will satisfy neither... besides it looks funny/ugly. I think they are a joke someone has played on a gullible newbie to the yacht scene. Can you figure out why no other boat manufacturer has a similar product? I know I've offended you M26x owners out there, Sorry.... but, man, Rob of NYC did ask for opinions.
...in my opinion. If you want a power boat...get a power boat, like wise with a sailboat. This boat will satisfy neither... besides it looks funny/ugly. I think they are a joke someone has played on a gullible newbie to the yacht scene. Can you figure out why no other boat manufacturer has a similar product? I know I've offended you M26x owners out there, Sorry.... but, man, Rob of NYC did ask for opinions.
I've sure never seen one capable of making
4 or 5 knots under sail in any condition. When under sail they mostly look like they are dead in the water. No offense intended but they really don't sail well at all.
4 or 5 knots under sail in any condition. When under sail they mostly look like they are dead in the water. No offense intended but they really don't sail well at all.
Try one
Note the range of responses. Californians accustomed as they tend to be to snobbery, will have you think they are junk. They'll happily drink you beer long as you're paying, so avoid these nuts. Tom is an owner, his comments are spot on and honest. Mine happily cruises at 4-5 kts given 10 kt breezes. I is, as all sailboats are, a compromise. S and D models are water ballast, easy to trailer, and fine handling poptop sailboats. Race one in somethting else and find out. X and M models have large roomy cabins with standing room, and are good, not great sailboats.They are excellent cruisers, and both X and M can carry larger outboards and will make 10-15 kts under power. All MACs are made from inexpensive, easily available parts and are designed to be low maintenance, hence thhey do not sport a lot of impressive teak. I've enjoyed the he** out of mine, but then i don't spend any time tied up at a yacht club. I'd rather sail. The worst thing about mine is it's trailer, but these are easily replaced.
Note the range of responses. Californians accustomed as they tend to be to snobbery, will have you think they are junk. They'll happily drink you beer long as you're paying, so avoid these nuts. Tom is an owner, his comments are spot on and honest. Mine happily cruises at 4-5 kts given 10 kt breezes. I is, as all sailboats are, a compromise. S and D models are water ballast, easy to trailer, and fine handling poptop sailboats. Race one in somethting else and find out. X and M models have large roomy cabins with standing room, and are good, not great sailboats.They are excellent cruisers, and both X and M can carry larger outboards and will make 10-15 kts under power. All MACs are made from inexpensive, easily available parts and are designed to be low maintenance, hence thhey do not sport a lot of impressive teak. I've enjoyed the he** out of mine, but then i don't spend any time tied up at a yacht club. I'd rather sail. The worst thing about mine is it's trailer, but these are easily replaced.
I just happen to be an ATF man.
(Anything That Floats)
, and while a Mac wouldn't be in my first ten choices I would be more than happy to have one if that was all I could have. I don't, won't, disparage someones choice in a boat because I can't know all of the reasons for him/her making that choice. I know of a woman, a very skilled wood worker, who picked her new machines on the basis of the color they are painted. They are also good machines.
(Anything That Floats)
, and while a Mac wouldn't be in my first ten choices I would be more than happy to have one if that was all I could have. I don't, won't, disparage someones choice in a boat because I can't know all of the reasons for him/her making that choice. I know of a woman, a very skilled wood worker, who picked her new machines on the basis of the color they are painted. They are also good machines.Since Mac is a Costa Mesa, CA company,
they must have been able to find a couple un-snobby Californians.On second thought, You guys are correct, Mac's are GREAT sailboats, everybody should buy 2 or 3 to help keep my property taxes down and people here employed. And I won't drink your beer unless it's a brand I like. Okay, I guess I'm a beer snob anyway.
they must have been able to find a couple un-snobby Californians.On second thought, You guys are correct, Mac's are GREAT sailboats, everybody should buy 2 or 3 to help keep my property taxes down and people here employed. And I won't drink your beer unless it's a brand I like. Okay, I guess I'm a beer snob anyway.
What are your needs?
I own a 26M. The 26D daggerboard Macs often win their classes in the local racing. They sail with a phrf rating of 222, which isn't going to beat a J-22 or U-20, but Macs are a lot more affordable. The 26M (phrf 235) has a lot of freeboard, the cost of 6' standing ht. in the cabin, and yes this effects it's competitive racing ability. It "crabs" a bit more than other boats on a tack. It's great on a reach. It will sail as well as many other boats in it's class, 22' to 25', except sport boats. 4-5 kts. is below what I expect from my 26M on any decent day, 10-25 kts. of wind. They do need to get 8-20 degrees of heel to perform well. this gets the windward water ballast effectively above the water line, and reduces the amount of wetted surface from the slightly flattened aft section. I could have had a Beneteau 235, Catalina 25, San Juan 24, Cape Dory, and so on. I needed a boat that was easy to launch and retrieve, once or twice a week , and the Mac 26m filled that requirement.
I own a 26M. The 26D daggerboard Macs often win their classes in the local racing. They sail with a phrf rating of 222, which isn't going to beat a J-22 or U-20, but Macs are a lot more affordable. The 26M (phrf 235) has a lot of freeboard, the cost of 6' standing ht. in the cabin, and yes this effects it's competitive racing ability. It "crabs" a bit more than other boats on a tack. It's great on a reach. It will sail as well as many other boats in it's class, 22' to 25', except sport boats. 4-5 kts. is below what I expect from my 26M on any decent day, 10-25 kts. of wind. They do need to get 8-20 degrees of heel to perform well. this gets the windward water ballast effectively above the water line, and reduces the amount of wetted surface from the slightly flattened aft section. I could have had a Beneteau 235, Catalina 25, San Juan 24, Cape Dory, and so on. I needed a boat that was easy to launch and retrieve, once or twice a week , and the Mac 26m filled that requirement.
overnight?
In all fairness to your question there are other models you might consider if you're daysailing only? The Mac strengths are: cost, lots of room below, and a motor that will rapidly take you to areas far from your port. Something like a used Capri 22 might be a better choice for close in daysailing maybe. Are you keeping it on the water? Launch ability is a big factor for daysailing.
In all fairness to your question there are other models you might consider if you're daysailing only? The Mac strengths are: cost, lots of room below, and a motor that will rapidly take you to areas far from your port. Something like a used Capri 22 might be a better choice for close in daysailing maybe. Are you keeping it on the water? Launch ability is a big factor for daysailing.
A New Mac26M Owner
We have had our brand new 26M since April. Spent a few weekends out on it,sailed it in some pretty brisk conditions-hey,I still like it! Slow..not really 7kts with just a genny on a run! Is it perfect..nope. If you like the fit and finish of an Island Packet---this isn't it,but for the money it's a lot of fun. The interior is just about as roomy as the 35ft O'Day I have sailed,so we get the comfy weekend without the mooring/slip fees,bottom painting,hauling,storing etc. As Tom Spohn pointed out,the "mods" are what make the boat fun. From the factory it's like a sailing "starter kit" which you make into your style of sailboat. The original factory stuff is ok,but most will want to upgrade the rigging,etc. Plenty of ideas on Macgregor mods on line. I have made lots of upgrades,and still working on it,and I still spent less on upgrade gear than last years mooring cost me! Mac owners are a pretty friendly social group too! Our first splash with the club,these folks went above and beyond to make it a great launch for us. Last thing,it seems that most of the negative feelings are from people who haven't owned/sailed a Mac. Like the old auto ad said"Ask the Man who owns one!"
We have had our brand new 26M since April. Spent a few weekends out on it,sailed it in some pretty brisk conditions-hey,I still like it! Slow..not really 7kts with just a genny on a run! Is it perfect..nope. If you like the fit and finish of an Island Packet---this isn't it,but for the money it's a lot of fun. The interior is just about as roomy as the 35ft O'Day I have sailed,so we get the comfy weekend without the mooring/slip fees,bottom painting,hauling,storing etc. As Tom Spohn pointed out,the "mods" are what make the boat fun. From the factory it's like a sailing "starter kit" which you make into your style of sailboat. The original factory stuff is ok,but most will want to upgrade the rigging,etc. Plenty of ideas on Macgregor mods on line. I have made lots of upgrades,and still working on it,and I still spent less on upgrade gear than last years mooring cost me! Mac owners are a pretty friendly social group too! Our first splash with the club,these folks went above and beyond to make it a great launch for us. Last thing,it seems that most of the negative feelings are from people who haven't owned/sailed a Mac. Like the old auto ad said"Ask the Man who owns one!"
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