thomas1
Active Member
I no I no i am going to get some stick for this post but i was looking at the macgregor 26m now as I am in the prosess of learning to sail, is this boat for inshore, coastal or could it be sailed down to the med thanks tom
macgregor 26m
- Thread starter thomas1
- Start date
mirabriani
Well-Known Member
Whatever you do.....
Do not let wife / partner etc look at one....
They seemed designed to appeal....
i e "proper toilet"
"nice dining area"
even "a fridge" (coolbox)
And they can "get you home on time if the wind drops"
Ask yourself "Why do you see so many newish ones
for sale"?
I DO hope this helps Briani
Do not let wife / partner etc look at one....
They seemed designed to appeal....
i e "proper toilet"
"nice dining area"
even "a fridge" (coolbox)
And they can "get you home on time if the wind drops"
Ask yourself "Why do you see so many newish ones
for sale"?
I DO hope this helps Briani
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Thomas1 - don't get us started!
Use the search facility to discover the Macgregor's one-man fan club, and the forum's joint reaction! You might have to set the parameters for about a year back.
Use the search facility to discover the Macgregor's one-man fan club, and the forum's joint reaction! You might have to set the parameters for about a year back.
Colin_S
Well-Known Member
IIRC someone suggested T1 was on a wind up with his first posts - hmmmmmm
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/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
jimi
Well-Known Member
Excellent boat to take to the Med .............................. on a trailer
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
You might find the 26m a bit big for a first boat. 
)
Try the 26' first -- on 2nd thoughts.... NO NO NO not the MacGregor...!!
John
)Try the 26' first -- on 2nd thoughts.... NO NO NO not the MacGregor...!!
John
jverges
Member
Tom,
I had a Macgregor for 4 years. Don't credit too much opinions from people who haven't owned one. My family holidays and weekend escapades were done with a 26X, as well as some regatas in Easter (always coming in last). Basically, the boat is a lot of fun and is good to learn sailing as well as a lot of DIY stuff. It has the best of both worlds: sailing and motoring. Strictly as a sailer, she's way off what you may want later, but with a large Genova she's ok. Being able to lift the keel and empty the water tanks makes her very VERY versatile for anchoring and running. I never trailered her except on the day I bought her and the day I sold her. Some friends however trailer her everywhere and that helps them not to rely on weather so much to plan their vacations.,..say they want to sail in Ibiza for 3 weeks: no problem: get the boat on the ferry and have security in being back when you need to having a return ticket. There are a lot of MacGregor forums and newsletters on the Internet, best area to look for is in Sailnet.
Good luck and enjoy if you end up with one.
Also, they have a great resale value.
I had a Macgregor for 4 years. Don't credit too much opinions from people who haven't owned one. My family holidays and weekend escapades were done with a 26X, as well as some regatas in Easter (always coming in last). Basically, the boat is a lot of fun and is good to learn sailing as well as a lot of DIY stuff. It has the best of both worlds: sailing and motoring. Strictly as a sailer, she's way off what you may want later, but with a large Genova she's ok. Being able to lift the keel and empty the water tanks makes her very VERY versatile for anchoring and running. I never trailered her except on the day I bought her and the day I sold her. Some friends however trailer her everywhere and that helps them not to rely on weather so much to plan their vacations.,..say they want to sail in Ibiza for 3 weeks: no problem: get the boat on the ferry and have security in being back when you need to having a return ticket. There are a lot of MacGregor forums and newsletters on the Internet, best area to look for is in Sailnet.
Good luck and enjoy if you end up with one.
Also, they have a great resale value.
jerryat
Well-Known Member
I doubt whether you CAN learn to sail on a MacGregor properly as, according to an aquaintance we met with one, there is little or no 'grip' from the keel. I would learn to sail in a recognised boat, THEN decide if the Mac is really the route you want to go.
The people we met had two young children and had trailed their Mac down to Castro Urdiales (just west of Bilbao) and launched there. We met them in several places on our way westwards and they were having a really good time, though were rightly very cautious over the weather before making any passage.
Ideal for this sort of cruising, but not for any 'proper' offsore passages IMHO.
Cheers Jerry
The people we met had two young children and had trailed their Mac down to Castro Urdiales (just west of Bilbao) and launched there. We met them in several places on our way westwards and they were having a really good time, though were rightly very cautious over the weather before making any passage.
Ideal for this sort of cruising, but not for any 'proper' offsore passages IMHO.
Cheers Jerry
dedwards
Well-Known Member
I havent been on one in the water but I would say that the mac is fine for inshore, ok for coastal as long as the weather doesn't top f5 (otherwise get the sails down, keel up and get the h*ll out of there) and perfect for sailing to the med (as long as you take the canal route) as you can step the mast yourself and it has a very shallow draft.
The mac does seem to offer a good package to the first time buyer but as somebody else pointed out - does the large number for sale 2nd hand reflect people soon wanting to trade up and having trouble offloading or is it just a high volume market?
The mac does seem to offer a good package to the first time buyer but as somebody else pointed out - does the large number for sale 2nd hand reflect people soon wanting to trade up and having trouble offloading or is it just a high volume market?
dedwards
Well-Known Member
JVerges,
How easy was it to sell your macg?
How easy was it to sell your macg?
MacMan
Well-Known Member
I guess I am the "Macgregor's one-man fan club" ;-)
Actually I am not - there are many more people who have got them and love their boats but they aren't on this forum.
The only reason I write this post and similar ones is that I have got a lot of helpful information on this forum from people and want to give others useful info and appear to have good practical knowledge of their subjects. I want to do the same for other when it comes to MacGregors.
I agree with jverges - best to take notice of people who have actually owned one.
I love my Mac 26X - it's the versatility that suits us.
I wouldn't get one if you are one of the crowd and are bothered about what other people think !
If the ONLY thing you ever want to do is Sail (or race) I wouldn't get one either - there are probably better boats for this. But if you want the flexibility of being able to trail and motor etc etc then I don't find the compromises it brings that difficult to handle.
There are plenty of places on the web to get a more informed debate on Mac particulars most notably Mac discussion but there is also an active UK Owners (and prospective owners) Associations with there own website. PM me for more details if this would help you.
Interestingly, and to bring some balance, I personally believe that the 26x is a better boat (for me) than the new 26M. You can't now get a 26X new but I would strongly suggest you take a look at some of the second hand 26X's around to see which suit you best. Many find the accommodation layout better in the X and prefer a centreboard to a dagger board. Lastly the you are going to need a 70Hp on the back of an M to match the motoring performance of a 50Hp x. (extra mass in the M)
Also consider the Odin - generally more expensive though
But your original post was asking about inshore/coastal and sailing down the to the med.
I know of two boats that have gone down to the med by water (in addition to many by trailer) One was featured in PBO (I think or it may have been Sailing today) they went across the channel and then into Biscay before picking up the French canals. I personally know of a least 4 Macs that have been across the channel under their own steam. We have cruised from the Solent to the Channel Islands (crossing via Cherbourg) four times. You need to pick your weather. On our last return trip there was unfortunately naff all wind so we powered back at about 12 knots.
I have done the research on the route to the Med "outside" but if it can be broken into 90/100 mile coastal hops then I see no reason why not. Obviously most don't have the luxury of this time and trailer. Indeed one couple from Scotland I know spent a couple of weeks sailing in their native Scotland before trailing directly down to Croatia. Not many people get to do Scotland and Croatia in there own boat in one season !
I wouldn't plan to do a 2/3 day leg at sea in my boat. If this was the sort of think I wanted to do then I wouldn't recommend a Mac.
There are 7000 26X's out there and Roger MacGregor is a multi-millionaire so it can't all be bad ;-)
Cheers
Actually I am not - there are many more people who have got them and love their boats but they aren't on this forum.
The only reason I write this post and similar ones is that I have got a lot of helpful information on this forum from people and want to give others useful info and appear to have good practical knowledge of their subjects. I want to do the same for other when it comes to MacGregors.
I agree with jverges - best to take notice of people who have actually owned one.
I love my Mac 26X - it's the versatility that suits us.
I wouldn't get one if you are one of the crowd and are bothered about what other people think !
If the ONLY thing you ever want to do is Sail (or race) I wouldn't get one either - there are probably better boats for this. But if you want the flexibility of being able to trail and motor etc etc then I don't find the compromises it brings that difficult to handle.
There are plenty of places on the web to get a more informed debate on Mac particulars most notably Mac discussion but there is also an active UK Owners (and prospective owners) Associations with there own website. PM me for more details if this would help you.
Interestingly, and to bring some balance, I personally believe that the 26x is a better boat (for me) than the new 26M. You can't now get a 26X new but I would strongly suggest you take a look at some of the second hand 26X's around to see which suit you best. Many find the accommodation layout better in the X and prefer a centreboard to a dagger board. Lastly the you are going to need a 70Hp on the back of an M to match the motoring performance of a 50Hp x. (extra mass in the M)
Also consider the Odin - generally more expensive though
But your original post was asking about inshore/coastal and sailing down the to the med.
I know of two boats that have gone down to the med by water (in addition to many by trailer) One was featured in PBO (I think or it may have been Sailing today) they went across the channel and then into Biscay before picking up the French canals. I personally know of a least 4 Macs that have been across the channel under their own steam. We have cruised from the Solent to the Channel Islands (crossing via Cherbourg) four times. You need to pick your weather. On our last return trip there was unfortunately naff all wind so we powered back at about 12 knots.
I have done the research on the route to the Med "outside" but if it can be broken into 90/100 mile coastal hops then I see no reason why not. Obviously most don't have the luxury of this time and trailer. Indeed one couple from Scotland I know spent a couple of weeks sailing in their native Scotland before trailing directly down to Croatia. Not many people get to do Scotland and Croatia in there own boat in one season !
I wouldn't plan to do a 2/3 day leg at sea in my boat. If this was the sort of think I wanted to do then I wouldn't recommend a Mac.
There are 7000 26X's out there and Roger MacGregor is a multi-millionaire so it can't all be bad ;-)
Cheers
MacMan
Well-Known Member
High volume I think.
When I went to but my Mac there were about 6 advertised in the classified section on PBO/ST.
When I phoned up 4 had already gone, 1 visited and found a badly scratch model with a dodgy gas installation and 1 was fairly good. I compared this to the couple I found through brokers and got the best price/best inventory I could.
There are more than 7000 26X (not counting M) hulls worldwide.
I think on the bang per buck boating rating I am well up there on the pleasure derived versus cost outlay measure.
If and when I do want to sell mine I don't think it will take more than 3/4 months to sell if priced sensibly.
When I went to but my Mac there were about 6 advertised in the classified section on PBO/ST.
When I phoned up 4 had already gone, 1 visited and found a badly scratch model with a dodgy gas installation and 1 was fairly good. I compared this to the couple I found through brokers and got the best price/best inventory I could.
There are more than 7000 26X (not counting M) hulls worldwide.
I think on the bang per buck boating rating I am well up there on the pleasure derived versus cost outlay measure.
If and when I do want to sell mine I don't think it will take more than 3/4 months to sell if priced sensibly.
Cobra
Well-Known Member
Understatement of the decade!!
[ QUOTE ]
If the ONLY thing you ever want to do is Sail (or race) I wouldn't get one either - there are probably better boats for this.
[/ QUOTE ]
And face it the list IS endless!!!
[ QUOTE ]
If the ONLY thing you ever want to do is Sail (or race) I wouldn't get one either - there are probably better boats for this.
[/ QUOTE ]
And face it the list IS endless!!!
MacMan
Well-Known Member
Er
Er ...
I mean't Fish, waterski, cruise, beach the boat, spend time on water (i.e waterside cottage ), having fun planing in powerboat mode on windless days, chill out with a beer on board, tow a tube or wakeboard etc etc
Do you get in your boat Sail eveywhere never switch the engine or never stop anywhere and sail back to your berth ?
Maybe some do and if so then the ability to sail would be the ONLY thing I would look for in a boat.
But if that was what I wanted to do I would probably stick with a dinghy or dayboat as they are faster and more fun.
Er ...
I mean't Fish, waterski, cruise, beach the boat, spend time on water (i.e waterside cottage ), having fun planing in powerboat mode on windless days, chill out with a beer on board, tow a tube or wakeboard etc etc
Do you get in your boat Sail eveywhere never switch the engine or never stop anywhere and sail back to your berth ?
Maybe some do and if so then the ability to sail would be the ONLY thing I would look for in a boat.
But if that was what I wanted to do I would probably stick with a dinghy or dayboat as they are faster and more fun.
jimi
Well-Known Member
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Re: Er
Quite keen on them isn't he?
Quite keen on them isn't he?
tome
Well-Known Member
Re: Er
If he gets wind of this thread he'll be here quicker than a robbers dog...
Not that I'm suggesting they are dogs or anything quite so streamlined. Better stop there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If he gets wind of this thread he'll be here quicker than a robbers dog...
Not that I'm suggesting they are dogs or anything quite so streamlined. Better stop there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
MacMan
Well-Known Member
Re: Er
Frank is er well "Interesting" I believe is the term /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I would hope people can distinguish between what I believe is a reasonable defence, offering different opinions and perspectives, of a boat which is continually being slagged (often unfairly IMHO) versus that er well "interesting" philosophy.
Which may or may not be based on the same planet I live on.
If you ever see any of posts by Frank Mighetto on other websites you see a large difference. I hope !
Frank is er well "Interesting" I believe is the term /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I would hope people can distinguish between what I believe is a reasonable defence, offering different opinions and perspectives, of a boat which is continually being slagged (often unfairly IMHO) versus that er well "interesting" philosophy.
Which may or may not be based on the same planet I live on.
If you ever see any of posts by Frank Mighetto on other websites you see a large difference. I hope !
thomas1
Active Member
Hi thanks for the info it just seamed a nice boat for the money I do like the ideal of being able to beach and go for a walk and things, as for towing it every were this was not my real intension, I will be going out on dralex boat very soon and i am realy looking forward to this,only I am getting concerned by the different questions he is asking about racing I might need to go out and buy some very expensive musto offshore water proofs to keep dry when he heals it over CAN`T WAIT tom
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Re: Sailing Schools
I can't help with anyone local to you, but if you don't mind the Solent, I can recommendTeam Sailing in Haslar or Commodore yachtingin Royal Clarence, both Gosport. I booked my Day Skipper through Commodore and actualy did it on a Team Sailing boat. Good prices and decent boats. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot
I can't help with anyone local to you, but if you don't mind the Solent, I can recommendTeam Sailing in Haslar or Commodore yachtingin Royal Clarence, both Gosport. I booked my Day Skipper through Commodore and actualy did it on a Team Sailing boat. Good prices and decent boats. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot
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