Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26M by Jeff Woods

Year built	2006
Location of boat	West Palm Beach, FL
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
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, it was (and still is!) the perfect boat for us at the time. For a trailer sailboat, it is very easy to set up and get on/off the trailer. We have had a few minor problems with the boat, but they were all easily fixed.
Gear that's been added	We bought the boat "loaded", including the furling genoa, cockpit cushions, second (house) battery, GPS/depth finder, VHF radio, bimini top, mast raising system, swim ladder, Yamaha 50hp outboard, head, solar hatch fan, boom vang, and blue hull. Since purchasing the boat, we have added a Ferris power system (water generator and solar panel), stereo, external (cockpit) speaker for VHF radio, steering compass, clinometer ("roll gague"), and have changed out much of the original deck hardware to make setup easier.
Structural or complex improvements	We have swapped out the bolts and nuts in the mast mounts with hitch pins to make setup easier. This simple step has actually eliminated about 10 minutes from our setup time (no tools required!).
The boat's best features	There is plenty of power to get in and out of our local inlets, which can have strong currents. The MacGregor 26M was the largest trailer sailboat we could find, which is a big plus since we typically use it in coastal waters off of S. Florida. It is very easy to get on and off the trailer, and is very easy to rig (about 40 minutes to set up, about 30 minutes to take down). The large cabin is comfortable for two on long weekend trips. Under power, the boat is pretty quick, making it easier to get out of the way of afternoon thunderstorms when necessary.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The spreaders are set up in a "V", and the main sail rubs on them when on a reach or run -- after just four months, we alreay have a hole in the main. The cockpit is a bit small, and it would be uncomfortable with more than 4 adults onboard.
Sailing characterisitcs	This is our first sailboat, and is generally easy to handle. All of the lines except the vang are comfortably located. The lines are easy to handle, and we have rarely had to make use of the winches. Our biggest problems have been in heavier seas (3+ foot swells). The boat tends to get pushed around a bit by the waves, but that is to be expected for its size. In these seas, keeping the boat on course can become very tiring because the large (50 HP) outboard is still attached to the steering system, and adds a lot of resistance to the wheel. Also, the deck seems to get pretty small when you're up there raising/lowering the main and it's a little bumpy.
Motoring characterisitcs	It can be a little sluggish under power, especially when the ballast is full. It is very sensitive to crosswinds, which can make approaching or leaving the dock difficult if the winds exceed about 10 kts.Fully rigged with the ballast empty, we've reached 15 kts with the Yamaha 50 HP. With the ballast full, 9 kts is typical.
Liveability	My wife and I have had it out for several overnighters and a three day trip in the FL Keys, and have found it to be very comfortable. For its size, the livability of the boat is perhaps its greatest attribute. The cabin is large, almost to the detriment of the cockpit. I can see four people living onboard for a short (two day) trip, or two onboard for a longer (four or five day) trip.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	No experience.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	We bought the boat from Power Sailboats in Melbourne, FL. They did a tremendous job in getting the boat ready for delivery, and we received the boat just two weeks after making our down payment. Other than one minor problem (the GPS/VHF radio interface was not wired correctly), we have had no complaints with the work which was done. Unfortunately, the company is run by two retired gentlemen, and it was made pretty clear that they were only interested in selling the boat (ie, did not want to supply replacement parts or upgrades). I do not feel that they were entirely honest with us through the entire transaction, and have proof that they bent the truth (I hesitate to use a stronger term!) when I questioned their sales volume. This seems typical of many sales people, though.
Other comments	It's a fun boat, and is easy for a first-time sailor to handle. It does well in the open ocean on nice days.

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