Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26D by Kay Arnold

Year built	1988
Location of boat	Lake Pleasant Arizona
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	less than 10 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2002
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, for the money this is a nice boat. Lots of places to take her sailing. Launches easily; no fuss. Two persons can do it in minutes a little longer with one. Fun to sail and comfy.
Gear that's been added	Solar trickle charger to keep the battery up. I plan to add Depth and knot meter, GPS, and another battery. I plan to replace the plastic covers and compartment doors with wood and put in shelves, dish rack, new port-a-potty; lights in the V-berth and head. I also want to replace the interior cushions, and canvass cover for the poptop. I would like a Bimini too.I might put in a wooden cabin sole I have seen others and it adds a warm comfy feeling.
Structural or complex improvements	I built a new table using RV post and fittings. now the table can be used in the cockpit because it is free standing and stable.
The boat's best features	Very trailerable, easy to launch and recover, can anchor close to shore if desired. Lots of room for two OK for three day sails four comfortably.sails great in light air, sails good in moderate air. Tacks very easily with the daggerboard; a lot like a dingy. The rig is simple; easy to understand and use. Your basic sloop. The water ballast is great, works very well.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The rudder seems to be to small for this size boat but I am no expert. The cockpit could have been deeper and another scupper would have been nice too. there is no designed place for a cooler in this model, one has to find or make a place, no big deal just would have been nice.
Sailing characterisitcs	she holds course well, tacks easy and jibes okay too. When the wind gusts she wants to head up wind and fights the tiller. I plan to rake the mast forward to see if that helps if it doesn't a larger rudder will have to be fitted to the boat. If the wind kicks up REEF right away and keep her 10 to 15 degrees of heal. She will move much better.Quite a few lightweight boats have the same sailing characteristics; weather helm, needs to be sailed level etc. I am not unhappy with it just know the boat and sail within the boats characteristics.
Motoring characterisitcs	I have a Honda 10hp, purrs right along, more power than I need on a Lake.
Liveability	Fun, cozy, great for weekends or a couple of weeks as long as you work out the shower possiblilites. This is basic sailing sort of like camping out with comfort. You can sleep very well in the double berth under the cockpit. I am tall and love that berth under the cockpit. I cook with a one burner butane stove it cooks as well as at home. I use multiple small ice chests (easier to stow)keeps things segregated, drinks vs food. One could carry enough supplies for two weeks for two people with plenty of room. It is great to have your coffee and breadfast in the cockpit in the morning look over at the 30+ footer fifty yards away and glow knowing you are having as much fun as they are and paid lots less for it :)
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	I have not contacted MacGregor for anything all parts are available after market.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I bought the boat from a private party and got a very good deal.
Other comments	This is a fun boat and a safe boat; if used within its limits. The places to take her sailing seem boundless. Easy to sail, easy to repair, easy to trailer, a high investment is not required. To me this is fun sailing; pick a spot on the map trailer her over there, rig her, launch her, sail her and smile a lot :) I always smile and wave as I sail by :)

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