bolinj
Member
I'm a novice and considering trying to find a Mcgregor 19 Powersailer, as it would seem perfect for my needs. Has anyone had any experience sailing one? I can't seem to find any objective reviews.
Thanks
Colin
Thanks
Colin
Mcgregor 19 Powersailer
- Thread starter bolinj
- Start date
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I think you'll find only novice's buy them, they soon trade them in for a proper boat, sorry if thats a bit blunt /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Seems to be the trend for the few owners I've met. It neither does one thing nor the other particularly well (ie sail or motor).
jhr
Well-Known Member
Neither fish nor fowl, so a compromise and, like most compromises, they neither sail nor motor as well as the real things. They usually prompt derision and scorn from sailors (a) because they are capable of more than 5 knots /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and (b) because of their water ballast system, which has been the cause of at least one capsize where someone got trapped in the cabin and drowned.
But...... As you say, they tick the right boxes for some people, and sell in respectable numbers. So long as you keep in sheltered waters, make sure that you are properly ballasted when sailing and don't mind people sniggering at you, a Mcgregor could well be fine. It won't sail as fast as a full on yot and can only do about 18(?I think?) knots, which is slow for a mobo but it will get you home fast if the weather starts blowing up, and anything that gets someone out on the water is all right by me.
There's one moored near me and the owner always looks happy enough. I think there's also a couple of forumites who have owned or currently own one and they may stick their heads above the parapet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
All imho.
But...... As you say, they tick the right boxes for some people, and sell in respectable numbers. So long as you keep in sheltered waters, make sure that you are properly ballasted when sailing and don't mind people sniggering at you, a Mcgregor could well be fine. It won't sail as fast as a full on yot and can only do about 18(?I think?) knots, which is slow for a mobo but it will get you home fast if the weather starts blowing up, and anything that gets someone out on the water is all right by me.
There's one moored near me and the owner always looks happy enough. I think there's also a couple of forumites who have owned or currently own one and they may stick their heads above the parapet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
All imho.
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
okay ill stick my head out,i own a macgregor 26x.People do snigger at a macgregor but i just snigger back when i buy equipment for it,i Just paid around 500 pounds for a Gennaker and a working jib.
The boat is safe despite the poor attempt at a side swipe in the earlier post,the mac factory in California had built some 6000 of these water ballasted boats,as far as the fatality goes well ALCOHOL and boats dont mix.
The roughest conditions that ive had my mac out in was at Orford Ness,in a F5-6 with east in the wind and the tide was on the ebb,the boat held together fine,no problems,ive also entered wells harbour in a F6 northerly.
A mac is a jack of all trades and master of none,what it excells at is that it go almost anywhere,it is not a blue water boat,ive had mine in the rivers and canals,having a mast that lowers helps and ive had it out coastal cruising.My max speed under sail so far was 9.1 knots sog,i probably could have gone over 10 if i had had more experience and with the engine ive seen 17 knots.
For a novice sailor it is a very good choice,i like yourself had decided to get into sailing and i looked around at what was available,i had been a bit aprehensive about the running costs of a keel boat so i went with a mac.
As far as its performance goes,it does not point into the wind very well and it gets bullied by the waves.However whist other boats are waiting for enough water at the Deben bar,you can cross over with confidence even at LW,the mac draws 22 inches with the motor down and 9 inches with the centerboard and engine up and if you find yourself at someplace that has a bridge,you can just lower your mast and nip under,ive had my boat through tunnels that have a 2.2 meter air draught.
The other advantage worth mentioning is its trailer abillity,so if you fancy a change of sceenery pop it on the trailer and off you go.It does 60mph on a motorway
There are however people who feel the need to snigger at a macgregor,recently a friend of mine was in San Francisco,he was using his mac to test some new sails.some guys started popping at the mac.my buddies friends defended the boat,they included an Americas cup skipper,two olympians,a world authority on sail design,the yotties parting shot to these guys was" you lot know nothing about boats"
The owner of that particular mac has had his in 155mph winds,he is an internationally respected explorer,currently sailing between the western seaboard of the USA and heading to hawaii in his mac,the same guy will caution you not to take the mac into anything greater than 8ft waves
If you want to find out what owners have done with their macs take a look at macgregorsailors .com
The boat is safe despite the poor attempt at a side swipe in the earlier post,the mac factory in California had built some 6000 of these water ballasted boats,as far as the fatality goes well ALCOHOL and boats dont mix.
The roughest conditions that ive had my mac out in was at Orford Ness,in a F5-6 with east in the wind and the tide was on the ebb,the boat held together fine,no problems,ive also entered wells harbour in a F6 northerly.
A mac is a jack of all trades and master of none,what it excells at is that it go almost anywhere,it is not a blue water boat,ive had mine in the rivers and canals,having a mast that lowers helps and ive had it out coastal cruising.My max speed under sail so far was 9.1 knots sog,i probably could have gone over 10 if i had had more experience and with the engine ive seen 17 knots.
For a novice sailor it is a very good choice,i like yourself had decided to get into sailing and i looked around at what was available,i had been a bit aprehensive about the running costs of a keel boat so i went with a mac.
As far as its performance goes,it does not point into the wind very well and it gets bullied by the waves.However whist other boats are waiting for enough water at the Deben bar,you can cross over with confidence even at LW,the mac draws 22 inches with the motor down and 9 inches with the centerboard and engine up and if you find yourself at someplace that has a bridge,you can just lower your mast and nip under,ive had my boat through tunnels that have a 2.2 meter air draught.
The other advantage worth mentioning is its trailer abillity,so if you fancy a change of sceenery pop it on the trailer and off you go.It does 60mph on a motorway
There are however people who feel the need to snigger at a macgregor,recently a friend of mine was in San Francisco,he was using his mac to test some new sails.some guys started popping at the mac.my buddies friends defended the boat,they included an Americas cup skipper,two olympians,a world authority on sail design,the yotties parting shot to these guys was" you lot know nothing about boats"
The owner of that particular mac has had his in 155mph winds,he is an internationally respected explorer,currently sailing between the western seaboard of the USA and heading to hawaii in his mac,the same guy will caution you not to take the mac into anything greater than 8ft waves
If you want to find out what owners have done with their macs take a look at macgregorsailors .com
oldsalt
Well-Known Member
115 mph winds????????!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to sell the Vancouver.
Dyflin
Well-Known Member
Well done for posting, it sounds like you are as happy and proud of your boat as most other owners.
One question that I would like to ask is for the marina based macgregors, how do you get onboard easily? There is one 26 (and a 19) in my marina and I have noticed that the high sides make boarding a nightmare?
Here's a pic I found to illustrate my point.
One question that I would like to ask is for the marina based macgregors, how do you get onboard easily? There is one 26 (and a 19) in my marina and I have noticed that the high sides make boarding a nightmare?
Here's a pic I found to illustrate my point.
jhr
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The boat is safe despite the poor attempt at a side swipe in the earlier post
[/ QUOTE ] Wasn't meant to be a side swipe - I just wanted to make the point that you need to understand the ballast system, or else unfortunate consequences could ensue - and have done in the past. I'm not anti Mcgregors per se: they're not for me but they have their place and have introduced a number of people to sailing - and that gets my vote, however it's done.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The boat is safe despite the poor attempt at a side swipe in the earlier post
[/ QUOTE ] Wasn't meant to be a side swipe - I just wanted to make the point that you need to understand the ballast system, or else unfortunate consequences could ensue - and have done in the past. I'm not anti Mcgregors per se: they're not for me but they have their place and have introduced a number of people to sailing - and that gets my vote, however it's done.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
wakeup
Well-Known Member
I think the fender step hanging on the rear quarter may answer your question. However I would be interested to know what it is like going forward when under sail, must be quite scary and involve hugging the mast.
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
getting on and off the mac is fun in a marina,i have the 26x,the one in the picture is the 26m. on my X i have the safety lines around the cockpit,set up with locking pins,i just remove the pin and deop the line,exit is no problem,on the 26m,macgregor the designers increased the rear bunk height and increased the freeboard,its a cheap extra to use the fender step.My X has a step ladder ajacent to the outboard.
Jhr,sorry if i bit,ive had a lot of people knock my boat,it gets a bit boring when you hear"i hear that you have to reef it in 6 knots,snigger snigger" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You are right to caution people about the water ballast,the mac is designed to self right if you have the ballast in,recently a guy in the states got hit by a sudden squall,he dropped the mainsheet etc but broached,the boat self righted after a couple of mins,he then went around and picked up a few people from other boats that did not self right,if you put up the sails make sure you have the ballast in.
i would however like to have a boat with some of the macs qualities but sails better,id like a 28ft with lifting keel and a mast that lowers and preferrably no heavier that 3 tons gross weight.That way i can overwinter the boat in my garden.
I really do enjoy the macgreggors abillity to be run up a beach,i love having it in the garden over winter,its great for grabbing a coffee and doing some dreaming,err i mean passage planning /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
This is my first season as a boat owner,im still trying to work out how to ballance the boat, and get my sail trim right,the 50hp outboard is usefull,if you are going to miss the tide,then heading for port at up to 17knots has its uses.
theres a guy called Mike Dunn,he was mentioned at Sir Edmund Hillarys service about a story involving Neil Armstrong,Sir Edmund and Mike dunn anyhow madd mike as he is known has taken a mac wayyy beyond its design,he has put a carbon fiber mast on it,carbon fibered the centerboard and beefed up the rudders,the last modification to his boat was a set of outriggers,he runs a 6hp on the riggers and a 25hp off the stern,madd mike is somewhere between the US and Hawaii
Jhr,sorry if i bit,ive had a lot of people knock my boat,it gets a bit boring when you hear"i hear that you have to reef it in 6 knots,snigger snigger" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You are right to caution people about the water ballast,the mac is designed to self right if you have the ballast in,recently a guy in the states got hit by a sudden squall,he dropped the mainsheet etc but broached,the boat self righted after a couple of mins,he then went around and picked up a few people from other boats that did not self right,if you put up the sails make sure you have the ballast in.
i would however like to have a boat with some of the macs qualities but sails better,id like a 28ft with lifting keel and a mast that lowers and preferrably no heavier that 3 tons gross weight.That way i can overwinter the boat in my garden.
I really do enjoy the macgreggors abillity to be run up a beach,i love having it in the garden over winter,its great for grabbing a coffee and doing some dreaming,err i mean passage planning /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
This is my first season as a boat owner,im still trying to work out how to ballance the boat, and get my sail trim right,the 50hp outboard is usefull,if you are going to miss the tide,then heading for port at up to 17knots has its uses.
theres a guy called Mike Dunn,he was mentioned at Sir Edmund Hillarys service about a story involving Neil Armstrong,Sir Edmund and Mike dunn anyhow madd mike as he is known has taken a mac wayyy beyond its design,he has put a carbon fiber mast on it,carbon fibered the centerboard and beefed up the rudders,the last modification to his boat was a set of outriggers,he runs a 6hp on the riggers and a 25hp off the stern,madd mike is somewhere between the US and Hawaii
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
If you hunt around on Google you can find info on a retro-fit ballasted lifting keel conversion.
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
there are a few guys in the US who have filled their keels with lead,its one of the mods that im thinking of doing
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
Don't you dare /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
At least, not until we've got her back here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
But can we miss Orford Ness overfalls this time please /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
At least, not until we've got her back here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
But can we miss Orford Ness overfalls this time please /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
bolinj
Member
Ahh! Some positives about the boat. The more I think about it, the more I reckon it could be the boat for me.......if only I could get over the sniggering! As a beginner, I'm not yet ready for the open sea, and we have many lovely Islands in protected waters, which are often shallow. My 3 year old would love the possibility of camping over night on it! and on a sunny evening we could load up the bbq and 'shlapp" (possibly literally) to one of the beaches! Are they economic under power?
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
A sterling defence of a boat that ticks the right boxes for some people.
I have considered a McGregor and have mentioned it on here to much derision, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The thought of spending my life in a boat that is dependent on tides frightens me and the ability to sail and have the option to motor rapidly to a safe haven appeals to me.
I have considered a McGregor and have mentioned it on here to much derision, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The thought of spending my life in a boat that is dependent on tides frightens me and the ability to sail and have the option to motor rapidly to a safe haven appeals to me.
Clyder
Well-Known Member
Me too!! There's 3 Mac's that sail out of Largs regularly, I am waiting on the oppertune moment to speak with their skippers before "dipping my toe".
Never say never, I might ens up with one yet...take a look here... http://www.braemor.co.uk/id20.html
Never say never, I might ens up with one yet...take a look here... http://www.braemor.co.uk/id20.html
Searush
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
(cut) Are they economic under power?
[/ QUOTE ]
OK so I have no experience of the McG, but outboards in general are not as economic as inboards. I suppose a big diesel O/B would help, but I saved a fortune despite getting a much bigger boat & engine when I switched from a 2/- O/B to a Diesel inboard.
(cut) Are they economic under power?
[/ QUOTE ]
OK so I have no experience of the McG, but outboards in general are not as economic as inboards. I suppose a big diesel O/B would help, but I saved a fortune despite getting a much bigger boat & engine when I switched from a 2/- O/B to a Diesel inboard.
xcw
Well-Known Member
I owned a Macgregor 26C for 10 years sailed out of Chichester Harbour and around the Solent. Had a huge amount of fun and cheap sailing as I kept it on the hard and brought it home in winter. Like any boat, know it's limitations and you will be safe.
bolinj
Member
Many thanks for that.
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
i have had quite a bit of fun with my boat,i have stuck her on a sand bar but,i just jumped of at the bow,the water came up to the top of my shins and i just pushed her back into deeper water.
every sailor has his or hers ideas about sailing or motorboating,every baot is a compromised on the design of another
The macgregors strength is that it does a bit of everything,it may be that you decide that you want a motorboat or preferr sailing,or just want to stay in the middle with a mac.
come the winter months,i can have my boat in my garden to work on or if i get withdrawal symptoms,take it out for a jaunt
every sailor has his or hers ideas about sailing or motorboating,every baot is a compromised on the design of another
The macgregors strength is that it does a bit of everything,it may be that you decide that you want a motorboat or preferr sailing,or just want to stay in the middle with a mac.
come the winter months,i can have my boat in my garden to work on or if i get withdrawal symptoms,take it out for a jaunt