I am new to this marvelous sport. I am in the market to purchase a sailboat, but at this time my situation requires me to buy a trailerable so I have some flexibiity of using several lakes. The mass market trailerables appear to be mostly of the water ballast variety. IN the 24-26 foot range my choices are Hunter (240), Catalina 25 and MacGregor 26x. THese appear to be somewhat popular and the used market somewhat active. I am trying to buy something 3-10 years old. Of course, I read a lot of comments about MacGregor's questionable quality and capabilities. However, the 26X appears to be very functional with nice dimensions. My primary use will be for sailing (occasional overnighting) and not for power boating. Can anyone provide an objective and unbiased comparison of the sailing performance of these three water ballast vessels?
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I own a 260
I own a 2003 Hunter 260 and so far I love it. I also owned a 1983 or 84 Mac 25, which I also really liked. Bfore bought the 260 I looked seriously at the 26x, but decided on the 260 because of the interior room and the room in the cockpit. The 260 appeared to me to have more of both and I thought it would be important for overnighters if I had a fair amount of room in each. As for sailing qualities, the 260 is somewhat more tender than other boats I have sailed but I think its the H2O balllest and not the boat design. I suspect the 26x will handle much the same....reef early, reaf often is a saying Hunter owners know well. I have never sailed the 26x but I have heard that it is difficult to drive at speeds with the motor. I do know some people have died as a result of accidents caused by driving the 26x on plane. When I went through the process you in right now I went slow and looked at everything I could find that even came close to fitting my ideas. I would recomend you do the same. All in all I am extremely happy with my 260 and I would definatly buy one again. well thats my thoughts, I hope this helped some, and good luck Brad s/v KIVALO
I own a 2003 Hunter 260 and so far I love it. I also owned a 1983 or 84 Mac 25, which I also really liked. Bfore bought the 260 I looked seriously at the 26x, but decided on the 260 because of the interior room and the room in the cockpit. The 260 appeared to me to have more of both and I thought it would be important for overnighters if I had a fair amount of room in each. As for sailing qualities, the 260 is somewhat more tender than other boats I have sailed but I think its the H2O balllest and not the boat design. I suspect the 26x will handle much the same....reef early, reaf often is a saying Hunter owners know well. I have never sailed the 26x but I have heard that it is difficult to drive at speeds with the motor. I do know some people have died as a result of accidents caused by driving the 26x on plane. When I went through the process you in right now I went slow and looked at everything I could find that even came close to fitting my ideas. I would recomend you do the same. All in all I am extremely happy with my 260 and I would definatly buy one again. well thats my thoughts, I hope this helped some, and good luck Brad s/v KIVALO
Santana 2023
W.D. Schock makes Santana sailboats - a quality product. They made one known as a Santana 2023 and it is water balasted. It was produced from the early '90s until sometime around 2000. I owned one for 5 years and it was a great boat and specifically built to handle SF Bay where I sail. I highly recommend it, although you won't find too many available. Their "C" version (2023C) is built specifically for cruising with a nice cabin top. There is also an A version and an R version - R is a race version. All have the same hull, but the others have different deck and rigging arrangements. Check out this boat if you can. Perhaps you can see some photos by doign a search on www.yachtworld.com Enjoy! Rob
W.D. Schock makes Santana sailboats - a quality product. They made one known as a Santana 2023 and it is water balasted. It was produced from the early '90s until sometime around 2000. I owned one for 5 years and it was a great boat and specifically built to handle SF Bay where I sail. I highly recommend it, although you won't find too many available. Their "C" version (2023C) is built specifically for cruising with a nice cabin top. There is also an A version and an R version - R is a race version. All have the same hull, but the others have different deck and rigging arrangements. Check out this boat if you can. Perhaps you can see some photos by doign a search on www.yachtworld.com Enjoy! Rob
Go 26 Feet
I would recommend going the extra 2 feet if you are looking between 24-26 feet. Just much more you'll get with this extra space in a 26 footer. I really like the Hunter 260. It has lots of versatile room in the cockpit and down below. Would recommend the tiller steering with this model. Even though the wheel is cool, you'll find yourself on the rails due to the tenderness of water ballast boats and the wheel is not as workable on this boat. Even though trailering is a requirement, don't rule out a fixed keel boat with trailer. Not as easy to rig but one of these other boats you mention don't go up in minutes either - they're all a process. But with a fixed keel such as an older Hunter 25.5 or 26.5, you have much more stability, a sleek design and even more affordable prices. These older boats typically come with more affordable accessories such as roller furling and electronics. Good luck! The looking is half the fun!
I would recommend going the extra 2 feet if you are looking between 24-26 feet. Just much more you'll get with this extra space in a 26 footer. I really like the Hunter 260. It has lots of versatile room in the cockpit and down below. Would recommend the tiller steering with this model. Even though the wheel is cool, you'll find yourself on the rails due to the tenderness of water ballast boats and the wheel is not as workable on this boat. Even though trailering is a requirement, don't rule out a fixed keel boat with trailer. Not as easy to rig but one of these other boats you mention don't go up in minutes either - they're all a process. But with a fixed keel such as an older Hunter 25.5 or 26.5, you have much more stability, a sleek design and even more affordable prices. These older boats typically come with more affordable accessories such as roller furling and electronics. Good luck! The looking is half the fun!
Your Criteria
One of your criteria was good sailing ability so I'd eliminate the 26X but maybe look at older Macs like the 25D. I'd also put the Hunter 24 lower on my list if the sailing will include any amount of cruising. The Catalina 250 w/b as well as the Hunter 260 are both good choices. I have over 2500 cruising miles on the Great Lakes on my C250 wb. I would go wheel steering only if the boat is used for cruising or with crew who rarely sail and want to do some helming. A tiller can be learned quickly. The great advantage of a wheel is less effort is needed for cruising and it gives the crew standing exercise which helps out greatly when cruising.
One of your criteria was good sailing ability so I'd eliminate the 26X but maybe look at older Macs like the 25D. I'd also put the Hunter 24 lower on my list if the sailing will include any amount of cruising. The Catalina 250 w/b as well as the Hunter 260 are both good choices. I have over 2500 cruising miles on the Great Lakes on my C250 wb. I would go wheel steering only if the boat is used for cruising or with crew who rarely sail and want to do some helming. A tiller can be learned quickly. The great advantage of a wheel is less effort is needed for cruising and it gives the crew standing exercise which helps out greatly when cruising.
towing
Hello, What is your tow vehicle? I don't know about the Mac, but the Catalina and the Hunter both weigh around 3000 lb. On the trailer, ready to roll, I bet both are around 5000. That will require a real truck to safely tow. Also, the dirty little secret about trailerable boats is that rigging, launching, retrieving, and unrigging is not fun. The bigger the boat, the longer and more complicated the process. I had a Catalina 22 for a year. Great boat to learn on. However, it took about 1 hour from the time we arrived at the marina until the boat was ready to sail. And another hour from the time we arrived at the dock until we were driving home. Are you planning on leaving the boat, fully rigged, in one place for a period of time, or do you plan on trailering the boat each time? Do you have young kids that need to be watched while the boat is prepared, or can you easily allocate the rig, launch, haul, stow time? To me, if I had to trailer a boat each time I sailed, I would get an 18' boat like a Catalina 18. That's light enough for 1 person to easily handle the mast, can be towed by any car, can be managed on a trailer, etc. The nice thing about buying older boats, is that if you pick a nice one, you will be able to sell it for about the same price if you want to move on, up, or over. Good luck, Barry
Hello, What is your tow vehicle? I don't know about the Mac, but the Catalina and the Hunter both weigh around 3000 lb. On the trailer, ready to roll, I bet both are around 5000. That will require a real truck to safely tow. Also, the dirty little secret about trailerable boats is that rigging, launching, retrieving, and unrigging is not fun. The bigger the boat, the longer and more complicated the process. I had a Catalina 22 for a year. Great boat to learn on. However, it took about 1 hour from the time we arrived at the marina until the boat was ready to sail. And another hour from the time we arrived at the dock until we were driving home. Are you planning on leaving the boat, fully rigged, in one place for a period of time, or do you plan on trailering the boat each time? Do you have young kids that need to be watched while the boat is prepared, or can you easily allocate the rig, launch, haul, stow time? To me, if I had to trailer a boat each time I sailed, I would get an 18' boat like a Catalina 18. That's light enough for 1 person to easily handle the mast, can be towed by any car, can be managed on a trailer, etc. The nice thing about buying older boats, is that if you pick a nice one, you will be able to sell it for about the same price if you want to move on, up, or over. Good luck, Barry
26s, for the money
I bought a 94 26s for 8,900$, and have been VERY happy with the boat. If I had the money I would probably go with a Hunter because of the inside comforts. I don't have alot of experience with sailing other boats, so can't really compare...I do think the Mac is one of the lightest 26er's to trailer. For me, the rigging and de-rigging is no big deal. By myself, I can go from trailer to sails up and in the water in 25-35 min.'s. De-rig takes about 20-25 min.'s. Compared with the huuuge freedom to venture into new waters trailering gives you, the time to rig, to me, seems very negligible. The inside of the boat is pretty spartan and the construction materials are not as durable as the more expensive boats...but, most people in this size range aren't blue water cruising anyhow. I have been in big wind and 7 foot waves...though exciting, the boat (and helmsman!) handled it with no problem. I think the big thing to think about with the Mac is that, relative to the fiscal input, you get alot of boat! Richard
I bought a 94 26s for 8,900$, and have been VERY happy with the boat. If I had the money I would probably go with a Hunter because of the inside comforts. I don't have alot of experience with sailing other boats, so can't really compare...I do think the Mac is one of the lightest 26er's to trailer. For me, the rigging and de-rigging is no big deal. By myself, I can go from trailer to sails up and in the water in 25-35 min.'s. De-rig takes about 20-25 min.'s. Compared with the huuuge freedom to venture into new waters trailering gives you, the time to rig, to me, seems very negligible. The inside of the boat is pretty spartan and the construction materials are not as durable as the more expensive boats...but, most people in this size range aren't blue water cruising anyhow. I have been in big wind and 7 foot waves...though exciting, the boat (and helmsman!) handled it with no problem. I think the big thing to think about with the Mac is that, relative to the fiscal input, you get alot of boat! Richard
Although slightly smaller
you might want to consider a Beneteau 235. Has many of the conveniences of a larger boat, head galley etc. I have heard from friends who "used" to own water ballasted boats that they were not comfortable getting them out in higher winds. The 235 will handle the wind and is probably faster than most of the boats you mentioned.
you might want to consider a Beneteau 235. Has many of the conveniences of a larger boat, head galley etc. I have heard from friends who "used" to own water ballasted boats that they were not comfortable getting them out in higher winds. The 235 will handle the wind and is probably faster than most of the boats you mentioned.
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