You are right Sumner, I don't know what exactly how OP is going to use his boat....just wanted to share my decision making process. OP's mileage may vary.
Greg
Suggestions on a first sailboat,
- Thread starter azsailing
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Greg
Thanks again to everyone for the advice. Sorry to have been off line for a while, work has been killer! For any still interested, I have a Mrs. and 4 kids. I am not sure if we will all sail at once, but the space on the McGreggor 26 was particularly appealing. I have looked at a few McGregor 26 boats, but none of them are the power sailer type, which seems out of my range. I drive a tahoe, so I don't think trailering will be difficult (actually seems like the 26 would be quite an improvement from our current power boat). We live in phoenix, so we plan to sail at Lake Pleasant (inland lake near phx), as well as likely take some trips to Mead and smaller lakes in Utah. I looked at a Hunter 26 over the weekend. Seemed like a heck of a boat, but might be a little out of my price range, which is between 5-7k. Anyway, thanks again all for the advice.
If you keep looking at the Mac 26 displacement boats I'd sure try and find an S not a D for where you plan on sailing. Lots of rocks in these lakes and some like Lake Powell can have rock shelves just below the surface at different lake levels. The S has the swing centerboard (not weighted) and it will just swing up if you hit something (has happened to us). The D is a dagger board that is in a vertical trunk that can be damaged if you hit the dagger board on the bottom in some cases as it then hits the back of the trunk.
The S is just a touch slower (like 8 seconds in a mile) but is also newer. One other feature is that personally I don't like the room the trunk takes up in the cabin area of the D. We used that area for our cook stove....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/inside-13.html
Good luck with whatever you buy,
Sumner
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Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
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When customers of mine use to look at sailboats, the first question I had for them, what do you intend to do with the boat. Do you plan to stay in a slip for the season or daysail?
Do you intend to trailer a lot and of course what type of tow vehichle do you own or plan to own which to pull the boat with. Finally, do you intend to stay on the boat overnight with attention to the better half and kids. Finally, forget how many people can sail or sleep as the boat is for your family and you, not for the whole neighborhood. Yes I sold boats but if I did not have what they wanted, at least they were answering their own questions and pointed them in a direction which they could find their dream boat and the appeal of that special boat was also important too.
Do you intend to trailer a lot and of course what type of tow vehichle do you own or plan to own which to pull the boat with. Finally, do you intend to stay on the boat overnight with attention to the better half and kids. Finally, forget how many people can sail or sleep as the boat is for your family and you, not for the whole neighborhood. Yes I sold boats but if I did not have what they wanted, at least they were answering their own questions and pointed them in a direction which they could find their dream boat and the appeal of that special boat was also important too.