Wasn't quite sure how to pose this question without ruffling feathers. I was looking at the Hunter 23.5, but had noticed a Macgregor 1992 26 c? I like the berth underthe cockpit floor for the kids, but I'm trying to look more at the techical aspects of the boat. Why would I want Macgregor 26 over a Hunter 23.5? I will not be racing. I only want to go out and explore the Northern lakes of Minnesota/Michigan/Wisconsin with my family. Any input biased or not is helpful to me. We're new to this sailboat instead of camper thing, I grew up sailing a little Windflite 14, and still love the idea of sailing. we have a 71' Oday Javelin for training the wife, and kids the basics. I like the water ballast concept, and have looked at the Hunter line, Magregor, and Santana models. Prefer to keep the cost down, so a newer boat probably is not going to happen. Boats built in the Mid 90's are showing up in my price range, but without a person to ask other tan the salesman/owner, I'm stuck. Suggestions......
Macregor 26 Better than ??
- Thread starter ptsbug
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about the macgregor
Im certainly no expert as ive only been studing the subject for about two weeks... but go to the Macgregor web site and get the $6.00 DVD, that will tell you a lot about the 26 M. but if you are on a tight budget, you will need to be considering the 26 D and 26 S or 26 x.. There is also a Vidio available on the 26 x. See my thread below about the c,d,s,x,m differences and a link to the older video. And there is a whole lot of reading available on the MacGregor if you wanna dig. BTW, there is a "nice??" Macgregor on Ebay right now in Nebraska, not that far from MN. cobraearl
Im certainly no expert as ive only been studing the subject for about two weeks... but go to the Macgregor web site and get the $6.00 DVD, that will tell you a lot about the 26 M. but if you are on a tight budget, you will need to be considering the 26 D and 26 S or 26 x.. There is also a Vidio available on the 26 x. See my thread below about the c,d,s,x,m differences and a link to the older video. And there is a whole lot of reading available on the MacGregor if you wanna dig. BTW, there is a "nice??" Macgregor on Ebay right now in Nebraska, not that far from MN. cobraearl
ebay macgregor
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT click on this link for the Nebraska Macgregor... BUY IT NOW for $4200.
cobraEarl
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT click on this link for the Nebraska Macgregor... BUY IT NOW for $4200.
cobraEarllets try again.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
one more attempt.
====http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT==== cut and paste this link without the 4 ==== before and after. Maybe that will work. IF NOT, do a search on Sail boat on Ebay. cobraEarl
====http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=290028100756&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT==== cut and paste this link without the 4 ==== before and after. Maybe that will work. IF NOT, do a search on Sail boat on Ebay. cobraEarl
About any boat
Everything we own boils down to personal preference heavily influenced by economic consideration (at least for those like me who have somewhat limited resources). I currently own the 26X which I bought after much research. I have owned it about 5 years and do not regret my decision to sell my Hunter and buy it. Do some research and buy the one you like. I ignored all those sailors who couldn't believe I would give up the Hunter for a Mac. Just a personal preference that has worked for me.
Everything we own boils down to personal preference heavily influenced by economic consideration (at least for those like me who have somewhat limited resources). I currently own the 26X which I bought after much research. I have owned it about 5 years and do not regret my decision to sell my Hunter and buy it. Do some research and buy the one you like. I ignored all those sailors who couldn't believe I would give up the Hunter for a Mac. Just a personal preference that has worked for me.
26 s, or sl I'm not sure
Oops, I though tthe Macgregor we found was a c model, but after checking Nada, it's either a 1992 S, or SL 26. I and my wife like the bed under the cockpit idea. pardon me (aft berth). Waiting patiently for the video to download. I am unable to find what the difference is between the S, and SL Looks like a nice boat. I checked out that Nebraska Mac. on ebay, looks like they will sell that boat pretty fast, I like the s model layout a little better. Hoping to wait till spring, but figure prices are higher in spring.
Oops, I though tthe Macgregor we found was a c model, but after checking Nada, it's either a 1992 S, or SL 26. I and my wife like the bed under the cockpit idea. pardon me (aft berth). Waiting patiently for the video to download. I am unable to find what the difference is between the S, and SL Looks like a nice boat. I checked out that Nebraska Mac. on ebay, looks like they will sell that boat pretty fast, I like the s model layout a little better. Hoping to wait till spring, but figure prices are higher in spring.
Roomy
Wife & Kids??? Get the one with the most room both below and in the cockpit. Nothing worse than being under each others feet. Children do not sit still for very long. A berth under the cockpit will keep the children contained and out of the way better.
Wife & Kids??? Get the one with the most room both below and in the cockpit. Nothing worse than being under each others feet. Children do not sit still for very long. A berth under the cockpit will keep the children contained and out of the way better.
your needs
The Mac 26 will probably give you the most waterline per dollar. This means a couple things; more space below and in the cockpit and more speed. You may not want to race, but you may want to get somewhere a little sooner than later. You will appreciate the elbow room below when you start stowing for a trip. The Mac is beachable but the Hunter is not in case you like exploring new shorelines.
The Mac 26 will probably give you the most waterline per dollar. This means a couple things; more space below and in the cockpit and more speed. You may not want to race, but you may want to get somewhere a little sooner than later. You will appreciate the elbow room below when you start stowing for a trip. The Mac is beachable but the Hunter is not in case you like exploring new shorelines.
ex M26S owner
Recently I semi-retired my 1993 M26S and bought a 30ft sail cruiser. I loved every minutes of the 4 years I owned her. We went to Georgian Bay for a week every summer. I love the boat so much, I must invested the same amount I bought her for. Auto pilot, Ida rudder/tiller, traveller, boom-kicker, fairlead tracks, wisker pole and track, Fortress anchors, real marine head etc, etc. I haven't sold her yet. She's still sitting in the backyard waiting for our decision to keep her just for one week trailering vacation a year. M26S (swing keel)can be beached, M26D (dagger board) may be dangerous if you forgot to pull up the dagger board. Both sails very well. I used to single hard sailing her with ease. M26X or M26M has more headroom but doesn't point as high or sail as fast. The heavy motor at the back doesn't help. The beauty of well maintained sail boat is you always get the money you paid her for. Much better investment and enjoyment than some stocks. Good luck
Recently I semi-retired my 1993 M26S and bought a 30ft sail cruiser. I loved every minutes of the 4 years I owned her. We went to Georgian Bay for a week every summer. I love the boat so much, I must invested the same amount I bought her for. Auto pilot, Ida rudder/tiller, traveller, boom-kicker, fairlead tracks, wisker pole and track, Fortress anchors, real marine head etc, etc. I haven't sold her yet. She's still sitting in the backyard waiting for our decision to keep her just for one week trailering vacation a year. M26S (swing keel)can be beached, M26D (dagger board) may be dangerous if you forgot to pull up the dagger board. Both sails very well. I used to single hard sailing her with ease. M26X or M26M has more headroom but doesn't point as high or sail as fast. The heavy motor at the back doesn't help. The beauty of well maintained sail boat is you always get the money you paid her for. Much better investment and enjoyment than some stocks. Good luck
Some Tips
Ptbug- The fellow who had the '85 Mac "26.5" on eBay either doesn't seem to know much about what he's talking about or he's trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes, that one is a 25', I own an '85 model myself. Far as I know, the 26 came on the scene in '87 or '88. Also, he must have gotten severely ripped-off on his "150 jib" if he paid $2500 for it unless, he got a very high dollar furling system to go with it. If I'm not mistaken, either the 26S or 26D are homogeneously referred to as the 26C, the "C" being for "classic" as it is not the "power-sailor" hybrid design. I've now discovered three other Macs at my marina, an older 25, a 26c, and 26X. The 26 C (I'm only referring to it as that since I'm not sure if it's a dagger board or swing keel) wasn't tagged this year and there are a couple of tubs of equipment sitting in the cockpit which look like they've been there awhile. I can check with the marina owners to see who owns the boat and find out if they are interested in selling her if you would like. As far as space is concerned, that's the only thing I didn't think out real well in buying a boat. The headroom in my 25 has made me have to adjust to it (I'm 6'). Other than that, I have plenty of storage area and my wife and I are starting to sleep pretty good on the berth you make by dropping the table top. It's usually just us sailing with an occasional friend or couple. I think you would like having a berth under the cockpit in a 26 since it's out of the way. If your kids are still pretty small, I think they would dig it. If you want more space to move around and you don't think you'll want to trailer the boat anywhere, try to find a late '70's or early '80's Catalina 27 or another 25 to 27 ft. fixed keel boat. They usually have more free-board so you can walk upright and a little more beam. There are plenty of owners who are tired of paying slip fees for a boat they no longer use. The mentality becomes that they are willing to sell the boat for less because up your way, they have slip, haul-out, launch, and dry storage fees that can cost $2000 or more a year. So they take a little less knowing they don't have the cash flow drain and the buyer is going to save them at least $2000 next year. I bought a trailerable boat, because I don't want to be limited where and when I can sail my boat. I also don't want to pay someone else any time I want to put the boat on the hard. There are compromises, but it means it won't cost me $1000 to move my boat 50 miles up the road to another lake if I get bored, or if I want to go 1000 miles to try coastal sailing or go to a remote lake.
Ptbug- The fellow who had the '85 Mac "26.5" on eBay either doesn't seem to know much about what he's talking about or he's trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes, that one is a 25', I own an '85 model myself. Far as I know, the 26 came on the scene in '87 or '88. Also, he must have gotten severely ripped-off on his "150 jib" if he paid $2500 for it unless, he got a very high dollar furling system to go with it. If I'm not mistaken, either the 26S or 26D are homogeneously referred to as the 26C, the "C" being for "classic" as it is not the "power-sailor" hybrid design. I've now discovered three other Macs at my marina, an older 25, a 26c, and 26X. The 26 C (I'm only referring to it as that since I'm not sure if it's a dagger board or swing keel) wasn't tagged this year and there are a couple of tubs of equipment sitting in the cockpit which look like they've been there awhile. I can check with the marina owners to see who owns the boat and find out if they are interested in selling her if you would like. As far as space is concerned, that's the only thing I didn't think out real well in buying a boat. The headroom in my 25 has made me have to adjust to it (I'm 6'). Other than that, I have plenty of storage area and my wife and I are starting to sleep pretty good on the berth you make by dropping the table top. It's usually just us sailing with an occasional friend or couple. I think you would like having a berth under the cockpit in a 26 since it's out of the way. If your kids are still pretty small, I think they would dig it. If you want more space to move around and you don't think you'll want to trailer the boat anywhere, try to find a late '70's or early '80's Catalina 27 or another 25 to 27 ft. fixed keel boat. They usually have more free-board so you can walk upright and a little more beam. There are plenty of owners who are tired of paying slip fees for a boat they no longer use. The mentality becomes that they are willing to sell the boat for less because up your way, they have slip, haul-out, launch, and dry storage fees that can cost $2000 or more a year. So they take a little less knowing they don't have the cash flow drain and the buyer is going to save them at least $2000 next year. I bought a trailerable boat, because I don't want to be limited where and when I can sail my boat. I also don't want to pay someone else any time I want to put the boat on the hard. There are compromises, but it means it won't cost me $1000 to move my boat 50 miles up the road to another lake if I get bored, or if I want to go 1000 miles to try coastal sailing or go to a remote lake.
Here's A 26 On eBay
This one looks pretty nice, I don't see a whole lot of extras and they are willing to include an '04 15HP Merc. for $800- not a bad buy on a 26 at the current bid price: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-26-MacGregor-Sailboat_W0QQitemZ250031442631QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63730QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This one looks pretty nice, I don't see a whole lot of extras and they are willing to include an '04 15HP Merc. for $800- not a bad buy on a 26 at the current bid price: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-26-MacGregor-Sailboat_W0QQitemZ250031442631QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63730QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Advantace Mac
Practical considerations: Mac is lighter weight for easier towing with smaller vehicles. Mac is considerably lower on trailer so launching on shallow water ramps is easier. Mac has tens of thousands of more owners world wide who are apt to help you with questions or mods through several forums such as this one.
Practical considerations: Mac is lighter weight for easier towing with smaller vehicles. Mac is considerably lower on trailer so launching on shallow water ramps is easier. Mac has tens of thousands of more owners world wide who are apt to help you with questions or mods through several forums such as this one.
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