I am in the process of purchasing a Macgregor 26. I am viewing it on line and have spoke with the owner. I ask if it was a dagger board model or swing keel. I had to explain the difference and afterwards he said it was a dagger board. I get the feeling he is not that sure what it is. I am really interested in the dagger board model. Is there anyway to tell by the manufacturer's model/serial number on the stern or the year it was built? Thank you steve
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Dagger Board or Center Board M26
I bought a Center Board MacGregor 26 in 1990 and it was immediately after they made the change from the dagger board to the center board. It was so recently after the change that there were still stickers in the cabin warning you not to drop the dagger board below this level. If the boat was made pre1990, it's most probably a dagger board.
Is there a reason why you favor the dagger board. We sailed in New England with the MacGregor Owners Association of New England and had a boat get badly damaged when they hit their dagger board where those with center boards simply popped their downhaul cable which we replaced all the time.
I bought a Center Board MacGregor 26 in 1990 and it was immediately after they made the change from the dagger board to the center board. It was so recently after the change that there were still stickers in the cabin warning you not to drop the dagger board below this level. If the boat was made pre1990, it's most probably a dagger board.
Is there a reason why you favor the dagger board. We sailed in New England with the MacGregor Owners Association of New England and had a boat get badly damaged when they hit their dagger board where those with center boards simply popped their downhaul cable which we replaced all the time.
I'm not 100% sure on this, But I think that the models they made were a 26D and a 26S. after that, it was the motor sailors X'sand M's. The D was a dagger board, and the S was a swing keel. I had the 26S it was a 1991 It would have been a nice boat if it had the Ida sailor rudder, and more room inside the cabin. Too small for me though
Dave
Dave
www.macgregorowners.com
The easiest way to tell he difference between the two is the 26D has the dagger tube that goes through to the deck. Just under and behind the mast will be a hole straight through about 2" wide x 20" long with 2 lines coming out and hiding in there is the D.board.
The easiest way to tell he difference between the two is the 26D has the dagger tube that goes through to the deck. Just under and behind the mast will be a hole straight through about 2" wide x 20" long with 2 lines coming out and hiding in there is the D.board.
If it was made before 1990 it is a 26D (daggerboard); 1990 on is the 26S (swing keel). The D is supposed to be marginally faster. The S takes a grounding easier, and goes plenty fast for me! For more info on both, go the the Macgregor forum on this site and look up boat info. -Paul
Hi, Chuckbear. Was your boat a water ballast boat? All of the Mac 26 models are water ballast, and the first ones were made in 1987. The D with a daggerboard was made 87-89, and the S with a centerboard was made 1990-95. Before the 26 models, the largest boat was the 25 (made 1973-87), which did not have water ballast, and did have a swing keel (cast iron). -Paul
Uncertainty???
The uncertainty would put me on yellow alert in an instant. I find it hard to comprehend that an owner of a MacGregor has to have the differences explained to determine what model his is. Kind of makes me wonder how little he knows and what else about the boat he does not know. I would want to see the boat in person and go over it with a fine tooth comb before making any decisions and would not trust the owners knowledge of anything on the boat. He has already demonstrated his lack of understanding sailboats.
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