What to look for on a used macgregor 26

[Julio Roman]

Hi
My wife and i are talking about buying a sailboat . We have been looking around and came across the macgregor 26 video on youtube and we both fell in love with it . I have experience with power boats but ive been in love with sailboat sense i was a child .
So not havind much experience with sailboats or with the macgregor brand i was wondering if someone can tell me what to look for . Good and bad how to make sure im not buying a pos and what is a good price range for a used macgregor been the x,s or m something no later that 1995

 

[Justin_NSA]

Your first decision is whether you prefer the swing keel or the dagger board

 

[RussC]

Actually your first decision is weather you want a sailboat or a power boat. You can't have both (IMHO).

 

[Justin_NSA]

Reread your question. "No later than 1995" only leaves you the M. It's a major compromise IMHO.

There's a sticky in the Mac forum you should read.

 

[Benny17441]

The Mac 26, some people love them and others hate them. It has to do with their compromise design to both act as a power boat and a sailboat and the limits of its capabilities in either endeavor. Do your homework and find out about keel boats, water ballasted boats, displacement hulls and planning hulls; different boats and design stability factors, boats intended for protected waters, coastal cruising or offshore boats. First define where and how do you intend to use the boat and choose an appropriated design. Read about the Mac and talk to folks about the Mac so that if you purchase one there will be no unpleasant surprises. Those who did their homework are probably today in the group that loves them. By the way, I went to you tube to see the video and seen there is one video of a Mac 26 being sailed offshore in brisk conditions. What is really taking place is that a very experienced Captain can sail almost anything if he works hard enough at it. In the hands of an average or less experienced person the boat may not act as forgiving. This is a boat for protected waters.

 

[Tally Ho]

When I first saw the advertisements for the M26M, I thought that it must be the perfect boat...sails and can handle a 50hp outboard and pull a water skier.

Wrong !

I found a nice guy who was willing to take me out on his 26X.

We met at a boat launch and rigged the boat and got her in the water. Motored out to Lake Michigan. Sailed around some. Very tender, lightly built boat. Didn't sail all that well IMHO.

Fired up the outboard and opened it up WOT. Boat wallowed, really wouldn't get up on a plane. Didn't really motor all that well IMHO.

Returned to the ramp, got her on a trailer and spent 60 minutes tearing down the rig.

As I drove home that day, I made 2 decisions about buying a boat:
1) I don't want a trailer-sailer that I have to set up and tear down every time I want to sail...if I can't afford a slip, I should not own a boat.
2) I do not want a water-ballast boat. I want a real, fixed, Lead keel .

I sail on Lake Michigan.

I bought a Hunter 280. Loved it!
Then bought an O'Day 322, and love it more.

Your needs may be completely different.

 

[walt]

I think the OP said no later than 95 which was the last year the S was made. I would take that to mean your looking for a classic D or S which are more traditional "under 10 hp" sailboats. After 95, the 26 foot Mac sailboats accommodate the large outboards which were the X and M models. This forum tends to be much more traditional sailboat oriented so not so good of a source of info on the power sailers.. might even say a poor source. If its the power sailer (large 50 plus HP outboards "no earlier than 96") the OP was interested, I would tend to steer you to another forum where you will get better info.

 

[Perew]

We had a 1994 26C and loved it, but then wanted more room inside to go on 2-4 day overnights. Therefore we upgraded
to a 1996X which fits the bill well. I don't feel it sails quite as well, but not being into racing, gets us where we want to go
quite well. We are at 5,000 feet elevation, and it will not plane with the 50 horse engine, but I suspect it will at sea level. There
was a 26M towing a skier a few weeks ago, sure looked strange. We love our MacGregor, and keep it on the trailer, near the
ramp so we don't need to demast. Had the old boat in the water, and hated the scum on the hull.

 

[Bilgemaster]

Julio,

If I understand you correctly, wanting a Macgregor "[built] no later than 1995", then you'll most likely be looking at the so-called "Classic Macgregors", the later models of which are often collectively called "26C" (for classic), but are actually designated as "26D" (for daggerboard) or "26S" (for swing keel). These are more or less traditional sailboats, but with a water ballast system (which makes them MUCH lighter and easier to trailer around). These "classic" models are reasonably well regarded and inexpensive sailboats, and there are many other earlier and smaller models of Macgregor or the earlier Ventures going back to the '60s. Of course, if the video you mention is one showing a water skier being towed along, then these traditional pre-1995 models are not what you're looking for. Like other typical sailboats of their class, they rarely have engines more than 10hp. If you like the idea of being able to charge around at about 15 or 20 knots or miles per hour, then you'll be wanting one of Macgregor's hybrid "power-sailers" built after 1996, namely the 26X (made 1996-2002) or 26M (2003-2013?), or maybe the rarer little 19. All these models can handle motors of 50hp or more. The 26Xs tend to be about half as expensive as the newer 26Ms, but have their own virtues. I just adore my 2001 26X. Lots of traditional purist Sailor Joe types with bowline knots in their pubes have nothing good to say about these hybrids, but you can safely disregard them. They may not be "blue water sailers" suitable for circling the globe, but if you just want to get a small family or a couple-few friends out on a lake or bay or do a little extended coastal cruising, they really can't be beat. Think: "Waterbago". Sure, some head off to the Bahamas or Florida Keys or Dry Tortugas every year, but these are typically some very skilled sailors...more so than me, anyhow. I just like to poke around the Potomac River and Cheasapeake Bay, with that option to fire up that "big iron wind" to get where I want really quickly if need be.
Obviously, as with any boat, surfboard, motorcycle or other summery toy, generally the best time to buy is, say, November through maybe March...NOT in Spring or Summer...though bargains may present themselves at any time.

Happy hunting!