I am looking at purchasing my first non-Laser sailboat and the MacGregor caught my eye. I had the opportunity to sail/power on one last summer and it made sense to me. However, upon further inspection I am not so sure. I "hear" that the 26x doesn't sail well, the 26m is an unknown and this is unsettling. Is the MacGregor a good choice for a first boat, or should I take my $20,000 and buy a 20-30 year old "regular" sailboat? The trailer-ability of the MacGregor is attractive, but is it any fun to sail? Oh, yeah... I am pretty lazy and the idea of a new boat with no sanding or painting is attractive! Thanks
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Great boat Matt
Hi Matt The Macgregor 26X is a great boat. It is however a compromise. It will not point as well as a conventional sailboat nor will it go as fast as a speed boat, but if your looking for a comfortable boat that you can sail at 6 kts and motor at 18 to 20 then it's a great boat. It handles well in the wind but will round up if the sails are overpowered. The water ballast make it easy for a beginner to learn on without the fear that the boat will capsize. Even with full sails out in wind gusting to 28 kts the boat would heal to about 45 degrees then round up into the wind and the sails would unload and the boat will right it’s self. The other great thing about the boat is it's interior. It's roomy and very comfortable for two to four people. Though the brochure says that it will sleep six it is way to crowded for me. It has an enclosed head. I do not recommend the port-a-potty that they sell with the boat. I put in a Sea Land Marine Traveler Toilet. It's much more civilized. http://macgregor26x.com/cgi-bin/MAC26X/modtracker.pl?action=View&record=296 I would also recommend WALLAS CERAMIC 125 DP Diesel stove/heater combination http://www.scanmarineusa.com/W_C_125_f.html . The trailer needs a second axel. It has a tendency to sway at speeds above 50 if your not careful. The tires should have a heavier rating. There seems to be a lot of problems with blowouts especially if they are under inflated. The Boat has a high freeboard which makes it difficult to put on the trailer in a cross wind. The surge brakes work very well and I would not buy the trailer without them. I have a Yamaha 50 high thrust on mine and love it. It always works. If you have any specific questions I'll be glad to answer them if I can. Best of luck, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
Hi Matt The Macgregor 26X is a great boat. It is however a compromise. It will not point as well as a conventional sailboat nor will it go as fast as a speed boat, but if your looking for a comfortable boat that you can sail at 6 kts and motor at 18 to 20 then it's a great boat. It handles well in the wind but will round up if the sails are overpowered. The water ballast make it easy for a beginner to learn on without the fear that the boat will capsize. Even with full sails out in wind gusting to 28 kts the boat would heal to about 45 degrees then round up into the wind and the sails would unload and the boat will right it’s self. The other great thing about the boat is it's interior. It's roomy and very comfortable for two to four people. Though the brochure says that it will sleep six it is way to crowded for me. It has an enclosed head. I do not recommend the port-a-potty that they sell with the boat. I put in a Sea Land Marine Traveler Toilet. It's much more civilized. http://macgregor26x.com/cgi-bin/MAC26X/modtracker.pl?action=View&record=296 I would also recommend WALLAS CERAMIC 125 DP Diesel stove/heater combination http://www.scanmarineusa.com/W_C_125_f.html . The trailer needs a second axel. It has a tendency to sway at speeds above 50 if your not careful. The tires should have a heavier rating. There seems to be a lot of problems with blowouts especially if they are under inflated. The Boat has a high freeboard which makes it difficult to put on the trailer in a cross wind. The surge brakes work very well and I would not buy the trailer without them. I have a Yamaha 50 high thrust on mine and love it. It always works. If you have any specific questions I'll be glad to answer them if I can. Best of luck, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
M26 - Classic
If you want a good sailing, trailable boat get a used 1991-1994 MacGregor Classic (M26) with swing keel. It sails beautifully in the ocean or a lake. We owned one for 10 years and loved it. Attached is a shot of her cabin. The new 26M looks like a revival of it. We now own a Hunter 260 because the 26X didn't sail as well, we were not interested in motoring, and the 26M wasn't available.
If you want a good sailing, trailable boat get a used 1991-1994 MacGregor Classic (M26) with swing keel. It sails beautifully in the ocean or a lake. We owned one for 10 years and loved it. Attached is a shot of her cabin. The new 26M looks like a revival of it. We now own a Hunter 260 because the 26X didn't sail as well, we were not interested in motoring, and the 26M wasn't available.
Attachments
Ditto
Hi Matt, I also bought my first sailboat..a 2002 26X. Maybe I don't know what to expect but I find the boat a real pleasure to be on. I no longer have a "need for speed". Flew fast airplanes for 30 plus years so that appetite has long since been satisfied. I enjoy the roomy interior, the ease of singlehanded the boat and for my ventures out onto the inland lakes it's everything I could ask for....for about a third the cost of a comparable size Hunter, Cat, etc. Don't let the naysayers influence you too much. I find it a very safe boat and one that is very forgiving. Many nice features. I'll be glad to answer any specific questions. Better yet, find one to go out on and try it out before you make a decision. Jim Humphrey Hendersonville, Tn.
Hi Matt, I also bought my first sailboat..a 2002 26X. Maybe I don't know what to expect but I find the boat a real pleasure to be on. I no longer have a "need for speed". Flew fast airplanes for 30 plus years so that appetite has long since been satisfied. I enjoy the roomy interior, the ease of singlehanded the boat and for my ventures out onto the inland lakes it's everything I could ask for....for about a third the cost of a comparable size Hunter, Cat, etc. Don't let the naysayers influence you too much. I find it a very safe boat and one that is very forgiving. Many nice features. I'll be glad to answer any specific questions. Better yet, find one to go out on and try it out before you make a decision. Jim Humphrey Hendersonville, Tn.
tender is fun
in 8-12 mph winds with all sails up including genoa it is a blast to sail, similar to my hobie catamaran, you have to pay attention (except that it won't flip). In 6-8mph, on a close reach (that's where you're sailing upwind, right?) you can steer it by just moving your weight, kind of like a 26 ft skateboard. am a similar lazy man get lazy jacks, reefing lines and lots of snap shackles. I have almost $40,000 into my 26x (but that includes the hydrolift at the slip, vital for a lazy man who doesn't want to clean bottoms) and it has been worth every penny. it does have wood on the ladder into the cabin which i plan to replace with fiberglass in the near future. hope this helps
in 8-12 mph winds with all sails up including genoa it is a blast to sail, similar to my hobie catamaran, you have to pay attention (except that it won't flip). In 6-8mph, on a close reach (that's where you're sailing upwind, right?) you can steer it by just moving your weight, kind of like a 26 ft skateboard. am a similar lazy man get lazy jacks, reefing lines and lots of snap shackles. I have almost $40,000 into my 26x (but that includes the hydrolift at the slip, vital for a lazy man who doesn't want to clean bottoms) and it has been worth every penny. it does have wood on the ladder into the cabin which i plan to replace with fiberglass in the near future. hope this helps
Try as many as you can
Try to go out on every boat you can. There are a lot out there and they all have their good and bad points. There are boats that will make you spend more time doing repair and maintenence then others. There are some that cost more to maintain. There are some with all the goodies already installed and some that are still production line bare. You say you have had a Laser before. Well a big question is, are you going to want to scoot across a lake once in a while or cruise all the time. I'm not talking a race boat. But one that will not be left behind either. Check out a Yacht Club Regatta near you. See the different size boats in competition. Most are just regular folks out for fun. People like us. But in usual winds, with others aboard, you have to look at which boat is performing the way you, and yours, want to sail. People who have bought 26x's, did so for a reason, we bought for our reasons. There is never a need for an argument of who's boat is better. We bought a 1992 26s. We sail, motor, swim fish, snorkle, cook, have potty, gee just like everyone else, except my wife and I can tighten up on the sheets, heel him over and go by all, not some, all the x models. But we wanted that performance. It was also more cost friendly in a little older boat. BTW, was that US or Canadian dollars? HA-HA Like I said there are a lot out there. What do you want out of sailing in a bigger boat?
Try to go out on every boat you can. There are a lot out there and they all have their good and bad points. There are boats that will make you spend more time doing repair and maintenence then others. There are some that cost more to maintain. There are some with all the goodies already installed and some that are still production line bare. You say you have had a Laser before. Well a big question is, are you going to want to scoot across a lake once in a while or cruise all the time. I'm not talking a race boat. But one that will not be left behind either. Check out a Yacht Club Regatta near you. See the different size boats in competition. Most are just regular folks out for fun. People like us. But in usual winds, with others aboard, you have to look at which boat is performing the way you, and yours, want to sail. People who have bought 26x's, did so for a reason, we bought for our reasons. There is never a need for an argument of who's boat is better. We bought a 1992 26s. We sail, motor, swim fish, snorkle, cook, have potty, gee just like everyone else, except my wife and I can tighten up on the sheets, heel him over and go by all, not some, all the x models. But we wanted that performance. It was also more cost friendly in a little older boat. BTW, was that US or Canadian dollars? HA-HA Like I said there are a lot out there. What do you want out of sailing in a bigger boat?
If it twas me....
I'd take my, how much did you say? $20, $30 thousand??? Either way, What's a few thou among friends. As I was saying, take half-- send it to me for saving you thousands-- then go out and buy a used Mac 26 with a swing, or dagger keel. (not the X) The X is great for headroom, wheel steering...Blah, blah. But, for all around CHEAP sailing fun- go with an older swing or dagger 26. Unless I wanted a true, ocean passage boat. Then I'd use that 30 thousand for something better than the water ballast Mac.
I'd take my, how much did you say? $20, $30 thousand??? Either way, What's a few thou among friends. As I was saying, take half-- send it to me for saving you thousands-- then go out and buy a used Mac 26 with a swing, or dagger keel. (not the X) The X is great for headroom, wheel steering...Blah, blah. But, for all around CHEAP sailing fun- go with an older swing or dagger 26. Unless I wanted a true, ocean passage boat. Then I'd use that 30 thousand for something better than the water ballast Mac.
Dont forget the Mac 25
The Mac 25 is a great sailor too. Other new boats to try are the Catalina 250 and the Hunter 240 and 260. Make sure you get a ride in all of these boats before you put down your money. The 26x is a great compromise but not the best sail boat for everyone.
The Mac 25 is a great sailor too. Other new boats to try are the Catalina 250 and the Hunter 240 and 260. Make sure you get a ride in all of these boats before you put down your money. The 26x is a great compromise but not the best sail boat for everyone.
Mac 25 is good
Read an article about a guy who bought a Mac 25 in Oregon. He was writing it from La Paz, MX. A person had just cussed his sanity for sailing it from OR to La Paz. The Mac 25 owner was trying to purchase some used charts to contiue his journey southward. So, the 25 is very worthy.
Read an article about a guy who bought a Mac 25 in Oregon. He was writing it from La Paz, MX. A person had just cussed his sanity for sailing it from OR to La Paz. The Mac 25 owner was trying to purchase some used charts to contiue his journey southward. So, the 25 is very worthy.
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