Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26X by Jim Laird

Year built	1996
Location of boat	Raleigh, NC
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2006
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes
Gear that's been added	Volt meter to keep an eye on the battery levels. Extra battery for backup.
Structural or complex improvements	The transom was professionally strengthend and reinforced by a marine dealer. The 50hp was removed and replaced with a DF115hp Suzuki 4-stroke. The previous owner had this done.
The boat's best features	Dual roles of sailing and powering. When the wind blows we put up the sails- when it's not, we throw out the ski ropes.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	No design problems.
Sailing characterisitcs	Boat sails ok. I've had several other sailboats and it ranks right in the middle. Not as fast and responsive as my Catalina 22, but more so than my Compac 16. It is predictable and very stable. Long as you keep water in the ballast tank it is safe and forgiving of mistakes. We regularly heel to 30 degrees and it's a very comfortable and stable ride.
Motoring characterisitcs	The previous owner had the transom professionally modified and strengthend. He replaced the stock 50hp with a 2005 DF115hp Suzuki four-stroke. With four people and a days worth of stuff the boat will top out at 30mph. Boat is remarkably stable and easy to control at that speed. Now, it is a big boat so it has a big boat feel. The low end torque of the 4-stroke pulls 2 skiers up and out easily. The boat will s-turn good enough to give great rides on the tube.
Liveability	We have only daysailed with it so far, but the head is very convenient and when it's time for lunch, you already have your picnic table with you!
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	No- purchased boat from private seller.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
Other comments	IMHO- For real skiing and water sports on the Mac 26x, I wouldn't go anything less than 115hp. I find it hard to belive that anyone with a 50hp gets anything close to the advertised 24 mph the factory claims. Seems typical speeds are 16-19mph with a normal load. This is ok for a tube or kneeboard, but as soon as you turn you'll slow down to a crawl. The 26x is built light so compared to a regular sailboat, it is flimsy and thin. BUT it works and is functional. The rigging is stong and solid as any sailboat. I would recommend the boat for everyone. It will challenge the seasoned sailer, it will keep the kids entertained on the tubes, and mom has lots of storage space. But I can't stress enough to opt for a bigger motor if it's available and the transom is reinforced. With a bigger motor the 26x is TRULY the best all-around boat. It will be the last boat you'll ever buy.

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