Suggestions for Short list - Build Quality is important

[wytco0]

Well Well Well

I am not sure how to say this so I will just get on with it then go and hide ;-)

Having taken on board the expertise available here and from other conversations, I have decided to give up on just getting one boat for life and just buy something fairly soon so that I can gain some experience and knowledge so that I can make a more educated decision later. I know a lot of you said that and I was always aware that I was probably not going to be able to do it either, it was an aspiration that I can now see doesn't make sense.

Anyway looking at boats for sale in the local area I came across a MACGREGOR 26X.

Deep breaths
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.
.
.

Now you have got over the shock.....

I have read loads of threads on here saying how terrible a boat it is and how badly they sail but I have also read a lot of stuff from owners saying how much they like them.

It certainly does not meet some of my criteria especially about build quality which from what I read (even from owners) is not great.

But in some respects it seems almost perfect. I am based in Norfolk near Norwich and for building local experience on the broads and around the north Norfolk coast this boat seems to have a lot of advantages. It can float in almost no water which would be good for the Broads and the Norfolk coast. Its can also be moved fairly quickly both by road as its trailer-able and by water using the engine. I could also take it out of the water and keep it at home for the winter if necessary.

From Youtube clips it certainly seems to be capable of sailing and from my uneducated view, of sailing reasonably well. I know a lot of people here seem to disagree (but as Dylan asked how many of you have sailed one!). I really have no idea of whether a MACGREGOR 26X is capable of a round Britain trip but I think this should be OK if I take care with planning and weather. I am pretty certain that its not capable of going further and its certainly not a RTW boat.

So this may be a very good compromise for me at least for a year or two but I have a few more questions:

1. Is the MACGREGOR 26X such a different boat that sailing experience gained in it would not help me with a more conventional boat later?
2. Are there any points that I should check that specifically relate to the 26x if I buy one?
3. Is there a fundemental problem with taking a Mac 26x round the UK.

 

[cmedsailor]

Have you considered the Hallberg Rassy 352?
I believe it's a blue water capable boat, though I don't know how much it will cost.

 

[Tranona]

I am not sure how to say this so I will just get on with it then go and hide ;-)

Having taken on board the expertise available here and from other conversations, I have decided to give up on just getting one boat for life and just buy something fairly soon so that I can gain some experience and knowledge so that I can make a more educated decision later. I know a lot of you said that and I was always aware that I was probably not going to be able to do it either, it was an aspiration that I can now see doesn't make sense.

1. Is the MACGREGOR 26X such a different boat that sailing experience gained in it would not help me with a more conventional boat later?
2. Are there any points that I should check that specifically relate to the 26x if I buy one?
3. Is there a fundemental problem with taking a Mac 26x round the UK.

In preparation for your ultimate goal, a Mcgregor is unlikely to do anything for you.

They are indeed very popular with their owners - because they meet their needs. However if you want to learn about sailing a serious ocena going yacht you would be better served buying what one might call a "proper" cruising boat.

Your eventual boat will probably end up being a fairly heavy displacement of the tpye already suggested - either long keel or slightly more modern fin and skeg somewhere in the 32-35ft range. There are dozens of similar boats in the 26-30 foot size range which you can buy for under £20k ready to go that will not only give you a tatse of what you can do, but in fact for many with limited budgets could actually be "the boat". Buy a really good example of this type of boat that needs no work, go sailing, and you will almost certainly get your money back when you come to sell and move on.

Not going to suggest specific boats - there are just so many, but a good starting point would be to look over the back numbers of PBO over the last couple of years as Peter Poland has done a whole series of articles reviewing more modest older boats. You will get a pretty good idea of the merits of different designs to help you make yor choice.

 

[wytco0]

Have you considered the Hallberg Rassy 352?
I believe it's a blue water capable boat, though I don't know how much it will cost.

I was shown one of these by a friend (it belonged to a friend of a friend of his) and it ticked every box, build quality was superb. But its too expensive for me.

 

[Talbot]

The RTW requirement is where your price is being forced up. A boat designed for coastal cruising, or even for day sailing is certainly going to be able to cope with a bit of bad weather. However, RTW needs planning for getting the weather really badly wrong / this entails a very different type of boat. The Contessa 32 and Sadler 34 suggestions are very worthy blue water boats, and will be entirely suitable for long distance sailing, however, long time swinging on an anchore shows that the narrow hull which makes them such good sailing boats, also has disadvantages.

Personally I have gone for a different solution, but it was a bit more expensive. Some of the earlier Prout Snowgoose range are in the 50k range. However, preps for long distance will need a significant sum - new rigging, probably sails and internal add-ons need money.

 

[Norman_E]

I was shown one of these by a friend (it belonged to a friend of a friend of his) and it ticked every box, build quality was superb. But its too expensive for me.

If you liked the Hallberg Rassy 352, but they cost too much, take a look at a Moody 346. Centre cockpit, well built, good accomodation, reasonable sailing performance, especially in the fin keel version.

 

[sighmoon]

Anyway looking at boats for sale in the local area I came across a MACGREGOR 26X.

Have you considered the Hallberg Rassy 352?

The Macgregor 26X is a sailing boat, and as such is fine for getting sailing experience. In some ways ideal for the broads. A boat you can use on your doorstep will get used more than one that requires a long car drive.

You wouldn't want to take it around the world, but that's not your immediate plan anyway.

Starting off with a lifting keel is maybe sensible too, as you can easily get off if you run aground.

Good choice, perhaps.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Apart from the Tradewind 33's and 35's look at the Nicholson 38.
Inside your budget with a bit over to spend on getting it right.
Good safe sea going boat, comfortable, enough space, fairly quick.
Recently on the market by the looks of things so still asking a fairly high price......
http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/UFZUMjUyMjE1fnB2dA==-NICHOLSON_38_KETCH.html#top
Most built to Lloyds top spec.
Good main mast king post support.
Some had a little osmosis but most had treatment to avoid.
Can get water ingress through foredeck and stern deck but nothing serious.
Can be seriously well reefed down with storm sails on an inner forestay and missen.
Being a ketch can have lots of rag up on a long run.... great fun to sail.

 

[wytco0]

Its 2 lists !!! Etap 26 Advice

Right I am going to make 2 lists, a long list of what I think will be my second boat and another list with boats I might buy to learn and gain experience before I buy my second and last boat.

Taking on board some advice that I was given of getting something local as that would mean I would sail it more I have been looking at boats in Norfolk/Suffolk one I have just come across is a Etap 26.

The Etaps seems to have some good points for local Norfolk sailing and from what I have seen and read they are not bad boats for coastal work.

Does anyone have any thoughts on an Etap 26 as a first boat and how suitable it is for single handed sailing and a possible round the UK trip?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Some Rival Yachts, Refitted, Good Prices, Serious RTW Yacht, Good Reputation

I am a Rival fan. Strong boats, many fully refurbished, keenly priced, most hulls laid under Lloyds Supervision and a world girdling reputation on all sizes, the smaller ones have a good turn of speed and quite a few notched up first places. For single handing or two up the smaller sizes have good internal volume and head height compared to say a Contessa 32 (which is a very wet boat if you have to bash to windward).

Rival Yachts for sale on the Rival Owners Association (ROA) web site: -

http://www.rivalowners.org.uk/noticeboard/forsale/forsale.htm Check out the Rival 34 "Steady" for sale, looks like a good option, plenty of recent equipment (sails and engine) and a professional rebuild in 2005. She is in Dutch waters and at EUR39000 worth a look, in my opinion. Other 34's in the UK as well.

The ROA site http://www.rivalowners.org.uk/general/front.htm The web site is worth a read through as it gives a flavour of the boats capability - check the Rival Round Up back issues. Layouts for all ranges are on the site as are plenty of pictures.

In my opinion a Rival would be a better choice than the Etap. You may find that you will like the boat and keep it. If you can sail round britain, you can sail round the world. Coastal Sailing is by far more challenging than crossing Oceans.

I own a Rival 41C, have sailed another 41C Round Britain and the Western seaboard of Europe and Scotland.