hamble
New member
hi i am thinking of buying a macgregor 26x anyone out their got one and if so what do you think of them,it,s a trailer sailer i am after, is their better options.
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macgregor 26x
- Thread starter hamble
- Start date
BobA
New member
Hi Hamble
I noticed on motorboat chat that you got short shrift with your question about the Mac 26X, don't be disheartened as there are actually quite a few owners of mac 26 who regularly use this forum, I know from my own experience that the people on this forum are really helpful.
For my part I really enjoy my Mac and so do the rest of the family - where are you thinking of sailing her?
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I noticed on motorboat chat that you got short shrift with your question about the Mac 26X, don't be disheartened as there are actually quite a few owners of mac 26 who regularly use this forum, I know from my own experience that the people on this forum are really helpful.
For my part I really enjoy my Mac and so do the rest of the family - where are you thinking of sailing her?
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nct1
Member
I also seriously looked at this at the boatshows as I could not believe you could get a 6 berth sailing boat for that money, that would float if the hull was breached, and you could save money by trailering.
We had a go on one, but saw a 19 foot yacht with 6 teenagers larking about could easily go faster.
We decided sailing is what we wanted to do, and found that the boat's underside is set up for planing, not sailing. Add to this the fact that the boat is only rated for for sheltered waters (cat C) rather than offshore waters (cat B). Having got caught offshore in an un-forecast force 7 last year, I was really glad I had a boat that was designed to take it.
So you must decide what you want out of a boat.
If you want to go sailing offshore, then go for a yacht, there are plenty of second hand yacht's even trailable ones in this price range (we were impressed by the smaller Hunter Legend's, but eventually went for a non trailable 33 footer).
If you want to motor around, on more sheltered waters, and occasionally sail (in sheltered waters), and keep the ownership costs to a minimum, then this is a good compromise.
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We had a go on one, but saw a 19 foot yacht with 6 teenagers larking about could easily go faster.
We decided sailing is what we wanted to do, and found that the boat's underside is set up for planing, not sailing. Add to this the fact that the boat is only rated for for sheltered waters (cat C) rather than offshore waters (cat B). Having got caught offshore in an un-forecast force 7 last year, I was really glad I had a boat that was designed to take it.
So you must decide what you want out of a boat.
If you want to go sailing offshore, then go for a yacht, there are plenty of second hand yacht's even trailable ones in this price range (we were impressed by the smaller Hunter Legend's, but eventually went for a non trailable 33 footer).
If you want to motor around, on more sheltered waters, and occasionally sail (in sheltered waters), and keep the ownership costs to a minimum, then this is a good compromise.
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graham
Well-known member
This boat has been the subject of intense debate on this forum and elsewhere.
Most other 26 foot yachts are selfrighting in the event of wind or wave action turning them over.
The Mac x has waterballast to lighten the trailer load.I dont know if they are selfrighting with the ballast in but they definitely are NOT with the ballast out.
If you want to take advantage of the boats highspeed motoring ability then the boat must be used without water ballast.
Thousands of Macs are in use in the USA and UK the vast majority operate safely ,the owners presumably know the boats limitations and stay within them.BUT there have been documented capsizes in the USA and UK.
Some of the capsizes can be attributed to overloaded boats,drunken skippers and operating the boat incorrectly undersail with no ballast.But at least one capsize has occured with a boat motoring with no sail set, in admittedly fresh conditions but notably on a day when many smaller"conventional"boats coped without problem.
Personally I think that you would do better to decide if you want a fast motorboat or a seaworthy yacht. The Mac compromise is probably fine for somepeople but I would not be tempted.
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Most other 26 foot yachts are selfrighting in the event of wind or wave action turning them over.
The Mac x has waterballast to lighten the trailer load.I dont know if they are selfrighting with the ballast in but they definitely are NOT with the ballast out.
If you want to take advantage of the boats highspeed motoring ability then the boat must be used without water ballast.
Thousands of Macs are in use in the USA and UK the vast majority operate safely ,the owners presumably know the boats limitations and stay within them.BUT there have been documented capsizes in the USA and UK.
Some of the capsizes can be attributed to overloaded boats,drunken skippers and operating the boat incorrectly undersail with no ballast.But at least one capsize has occured with a boat motoring with no sail set, in admittedly fresh conditions but notably on a day when many smaller"conventional"boats coped without problem.
Personally I think that you would do better to decide if you want a fast motorboat or a seaworthy yacht. The Mac compromise is probably fine for somepeople but I would not be tempted.
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Miquel_Culzean
New member
Hi,
I bought a Macgregor 26X January 03, second hand. I had sailed in various sailboats from 23 to 42 feet, and the moment arrived I wanted to buy one.
We are 6 of family (my wife, 4 children & myself), and we decided we wanted a boat to be able also to spend our holidays in.
My wife (and the children also) wanted a boat that would allow us to sail in different parts of "the world", so not being limited (due to the small time we have of holidays) to the harbour where we would keep the boat. That made quite a lot of points for a trailorable.
We wanted to buy, not to rent, so that we could also spend week ends sailing, or just one afternoon if we wanted.
Our program is coastal navigation, thus going from haven to haven or cove to cove every day, or sometimes "sleeping in the middle of the sea" for the fun of the boys. But we don't want offshore navigation (maximum a passage to some Mediterranean islands, so about 50 M max, if needed by motor).
My wife wanted a boat that would have "plenty of room" inside.
I wanted a good sailboat, but that was the least of the priorities, when all put together (5 against one).
To make short the explanation of the process, that took abut 1 year, we ended up with the Mac 26X. I had taken a look to the Hunter 260, also water ballasted and trailorable, but it was too beamy (>2,50 m), so that theorically it needs a special trailer permit in Belgium (where we live), France & Spain (where we go often). The Odin 820 was not still in the market. And other trailer sailors where outrouled by the family or by the car (a WV Sharan 1.9 TDI 130 pK) because of needing at least a 4*4
After 1 year of sailing with the boat, mainly in Oosterschelde (The Netherlands, a piece of closed sea), or the North Sea (from Oostende), I alm still happy of the decision we took, for the money we paid.
It is not the best sailboat I have been in, but I have been in the North Sea with 7B blowing and a sea of about 2m, and she has taken it quite well. It was not confortable, but in any moment had I the impression that the boat was going to capsize, break appart or sink. I would not do it just for fun, but if I get it again, I am sure of my boat and how to handle it.
I have had lots of fun reaching when blowing 4-5B, with the spi, at 7-8 knots (so over the theoreticall hull speed limit), because the boat can plan, standing at the "rithm" of some 36-footers (without spi, of course).
I have also had some frustrations when trying to be as closed as possible to the wind to reach my destination, and seiing some 23 - 26 footers passing by and we not being able to do real way, and having to help with the motor.
All my family is very happy with our boat, and loves Culzean (our boat) so much that they really are waiting the 3rd of April, the day we will put her again in the water. By the way, I have also learned to love her after this year together, with her good and bad things.
Choosing a Macgregor 26X was a compromise to be able to have fun all the family together (the only crazy for "real sailing" is me), a compromise which I am happy to have taken, and it's a choice I don't regret. It was the best we could get for our expectations, budget and navigational purposes as a family.
By the way, there is a board dedicated only to MAcgregors at www.macgregor26x.com, if you want to get more info.
I hope it helps. Fair winds,
Miquel
Culzean
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I bought a Macgregor 26X January 03, second hand. I had sailed in various sailboats from 23 to 42 feet, and the moment arrived I wanted to buy one.
We are 6 of family (my wife, 4 children & myself), and we decided we wanted a boat to be able also to spend our holidays in.
My wife (and the children also) wanted a boat that would allow us to sail in different parts of "the world", so not being limited (due to the small time we have of holidays) to the harbour where we would keep the boat. That made quite a lot of points for a trailorable.
We wanted to buy, not to rent, so that we could also spend week ends sailing, or just one afternoon if we wanted.
Our program is coastal navigation, thus going from haven to haven or cove to cove every day, or sometimes "sleeping in the middle of the sea" for the fun of the boys. But we don't want offshore navigation (maximum a passage to some Mediterranean islands, so about 50 M max, if needed by motor).
My wife wanted a boat that would have "plenty of room" inside.
I wanted a good sailboat, but that was the least of the priorities, when all put together (5 against one).
To make short the explanation of the process, that took abut 1 year, we ended up with the Mac 26X. I had taken a look to the Hunter 260, also water ballasted and trailorable, but it was too beamy (>2,50 m), so that theorically it needs a special trailer permit in Belgium (where we live), France & Spain (where we go often). The Odin 820 was not still in the market. And other trailer sailors where outrouled by the family or by the car (a WV Sharan 1.9 TDI 130 pK) because of needing at least a 4*4
After 1 year of sailing with the boat, mainly in Oosterschelde (The Netherlands, a piece of closed sea), or the North Sea (from Oostende), I alm still happy of the decision we took, for the money we paid.
It is not the best sailboat I have been in, but I have been in the North Sea with 7B blowing and a sea of about 2m, and she has taken it quite well. It was not confortable, but in any moment had I the impression that the boat was going to capsize, break appart or sink. I would not do it just for fun, but if I get it again, I am sure of my boat and how to handle it.
I have had lots of fun reaching when blowing 4-5B, with the spi, at 7-8 knots (so over the theoreticall hull speed limit), because the boat can plan, standing at the "rithm" of some 36-footers (without spi, of course).
I have also had some frustrations when trying to be as closed as possible to the wind to reach my destination, and seiing some 23 - 26 footers passing by and we not being able to do real way, and having to help with the motor.
All my family is very happy with our boat, and loves Culzean (our boat) so much that they really are waiting the 3rd of April, the day we will put her again in the water. By the way, I have also learned to love her after this year together, with her good and bad things.
Choosing a Macgregor 26X was a compromise to be able to have fun all the family together (the only crazy for "real sailing" is me), a compromise which I am happy to have taken, and it's a choice I don't regret. It was the best we could get for our expectations, budget and navigational purposes as a family.
By the way, there is a board dedicated only to MAcgregors at www.macgregor26x.com, if you want to get more info.
I hope it helps. Fair winds,
Miquel
Culzean
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Gunfleet
New member
The categories are conservative
He'll be fine. We rarely get force 7 in England and never above.
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He'll be fine. We rarely get force 7 in England and never above.
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charles_reed
Active member
A refreshingly different concept which providing you stick to sheltered waters and have sufficient experience to avoid overstretching its capabilities can prove exhilarating.
I wouldn't recommend it as first boat as it is far less forgiving of error than more conventional boats and it certainly is limited in use as a cruising boat.
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I wouldn't recommend it as first boat as it is far less forgiving of error than more conventional boats and it certainly is limited in use as a cruising boat.
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Brierley
New member
We've got one (our first boat!) and we think she's great. We spent about a year considering our options and deliberating on what was available on the market and the 26X was the only one that came close to all our criteria. Having since seen the Odin, we still wouldn't swap though it really does depend on your personal criteria.
We moved up from dinghies (Wayfarer, Laser 2000, Laser Stratos) though we'd never actually owned a dinghy, just used them at sailing clubs and on holiday. We both had our RYA Level 2 dinghy certificates and had crewed & bareboat chartered on yachts so had a fair idea of what we were doing.
We consider the 26X to be an over-sized sleep-aboard dinghy rather than an cheap under-sized yacht - I think too many people try to compare the MacGregors with lead ballasted yachts which isn't fair. Of course you're not going to get the same type of performance in the same way you wouldn't realistically compare a caravan with a motorhome. They are designed for different things.
If it helps, our criteria included (these are all relative to lead ballasted yachts which we originally considered!):
cheap. To buy, to maintain and to store. We keep her on her trailer in a field even in summer, though some people do use marinas/moorings for part of the year;
easy to move from one place to another. We will trailer her to Devon and/or Cornwall this year, and would consider trailering her over to France. We also plan to go on the Norfolk Broads and maybe some of the canals over the next couple of years.;
very flexible - we sailed a lot in the Solent last year but also motored on the Thames. We prefer sailing whenever possible but have also had fun powering her when the winds dropped or we had to get back, having sailed a bit further than we anticipated! We also plan to try going up the Beaulieu river, drying out up the river Medina (Isle of Wight) and going other places where it's not practical for most yachts.
She's very easy to handle with 2 crew and we do know some people who sail single-handed though neither of us would attempt it! There's a lot of room inside for 4 people, though 6 might be pushing it if you want to sleep and have room to move. Storage is pretty limited, whatever the brochure may say! There's enough room for 6 to be comfortable in the cockpit though.
Hope that helps with your considerations!
Brierley
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We moved up from dinghies (Wayfarer, Laser 2000, Laser Stratos) though we'd never actually owned a dinghy, just used them at sailing clubs and on holiday. We both had our RYA Level 2 dinghy certificates and had crewed & bareboat chartered on yachts so had a fair idea of what we were doing.
We consider the 26X to be an over-sized sleep-aboard dinghy rather than an cheap under-sized yacht - I think too many people try to compare the MacGregors with lead ballasted yachts which isn't fair. Of course you're not going to get the same type of performance in the same way you wouldn't realistically compare a caravan with a motorhome. They are designed for different things.
If it helps, our criteria included (these are all relative to lead ballasted yachts which we originally considered!):
cheap. To buy, to maintain and to store. We keep her on her trailer in a field even in summer, though some people do use marinas/moorings for part of the year;
easy to move from one place to another. We will trailer her to Devon and/or Cornwall this year, and would consider trailering her over to France. We also plan to go on the Norfolk Broads and maybe some of the canals over the next couple of years.;
very flexible - we sailed a lot in the Solent last year but also motored on the Thames. We prefer sailing whenever possible but have also had fun powering her when the winds dropped or we had to get back, having sailed a bit further than we anticipated! We also plan to try going up the Beaulieu river, drying out up the river Medina (Isle of Wight) and going other places where it's not practical for most yachts.
She's very easy to handle with 2 crew and we do know some people who sail single-handed though neither of us would attempt it! There's a lot of room inside for 4 people, though 6 might be pushing it if you want to sleep and have room to move. Storage is pretty limited, whatever the brochure may say! There's enough room for 6 to be comfortable in the cockpit though.
Hope that helps with your considerations!
Brierley
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xcw
Active member
I have owned a macgregor 26C for 9 years (the proper sailing version rather than the hybrid/power version). We have had a huge amount of fun with her and I agree with most of the comments made previously in this post. She was our first yacht, having previously sailed dingys and in my view great to learn on. Like most things in life the macgregor is a compromise, but, if you want cheap and easy sailing in relatively sheltered waters she is certainly worth considering. We sailed ours in Chichester Harbour and around the Solent. If you want sailing performance rather than the sail/power hybrid the 26C is worth looking at, they are also cheaper due to their age. PM me if you would like further details.
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