Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26M by Calin Bugnariu

Year built	2006
Location of boat	Lake Lewisville
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?	Without hesitation. The best thing about this boat is its versatility at an affordable price. I have shopped around quite a lot and finally decided to go for a Macgregor 26M. Then I tried to find a dealer. My search ended after I talked to Bill from Boats4Sail. Because I was living in Canada, Bill put me in contact with other Canadians customers he had, enabling me to get all the taxation and registration information I needed. The service and the care he took in preparing the boat for me was well worthy the 950 miles drive from Ottawa Canada to Wisconsin. I was a novice sailor but the boat, packed with the Bill’s Rig-Pak, a roller furling Genoa is a dream to sail. The Rig-Pak spoiled me; it brings all controls to the cockpit making the sailing alone a pleasure. Being trailerable I can sail on various water bodies around my home town or easily trailer the boat when I move. It took 3 days to haul the boat to Dallas which is 1750 miles away from Ottawa. My dream now is to prepare the boat for a longer sailing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat is so spacious inside that it is easy to add new improvements for an extended trip. And that is where the fun begins!
Gear that's been added	Rig-Pak, roller furling, 2 anchors one attached to the bow with its chain and line stored together with a second anchor in the anchor locker. A sonar and GPS, 2 solar fans, solar panels (well good for trickle charging), VHF radio.
Structural or complex improvements	Yamaha 50HP high thrust engine and two 6 gallon tanks, gas tanks attachment, engine new link design that does not requires nuts to engage the engine with the rudders –they turn together- or to disengage it –rudders turn but engine does not turn points forward, a second battery and power switches, 2 chairs on each side of the stern, no screw hatch locking assembly, shelves in the cabin, easy access tool storage area, LED lights, added a flat bearing to the rotating mast, a porta potty, with all required tubing. Epoxyed a short metallic cylinder in the balast air intake hole to better fit the air plug. Trailer damper to avoid lateral sway.
The boat's best features	I like the boat versatility: It sails well, easy to maneuver, it’s roomy and the fact that a large engine can be installed, it allows for high speeds while motoring. The later comes handy when the weather turns bad.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I usually do not like screws and nuts to attach items that I need to access quickly: hatch, mast raising system, engine link.
Sailing characterisitcs	The boat is a little tender up to 5 degrees heeling. After that, the water ballast starts to be quite effective. Never passed the 45 degree but in high winds was always on guard to release the sails if needed. I can not mentioned enough how easy is to release the sail with the Rig-Pak. A whip it’s all that it takes. However, upwind this boat does not have the performance of a typical keel sailboat because I think of the high freeboard (that also makes it so roomy -can’t win). I am not an experimented sailor but I thing I am loosing 5-7 degrees on each side. So, do not sail to close into the wind and the boat will soon pick up speed. Down wind I would like to experiment with a spinnaker. That will be my next purchase. The Genoa + main is not the great combination with back winds in parts because the main does not go all the way to 90 degrees due to the shrouds attached aft to avoid the need for a backstay. In higher winds, 15-22 knots, reefing the mail sail is a must to properly control the boat. Also, the front sail should be properly reduced to achieve the desired slight weather helm. Not doing so will force on the rudders, reduce the boat control and will slow it down. Well but nothing new here for a sailor. Finally, I have not observed any speed improvements while heeling more than 20 degrees except for the excitement that I get from my crew. All sailing except down wind: - Fully filled ballast (never have it partial filled -its more dangerous than empty), - engine link disengaged, stopped and raised This will allow easy whelm maneuverability -down dagger board - down rudders Down wind sailing: - same as previous but dagger board can be raised or partially raised
Motoring characterisitcs	I have installed a Yamaha 50HP high thrust. Like many others, I could not reach the advertised speeds. A mismatch propeller is typically blamed. The max speed I’ve reached is 18 MPH. However, I rarely go that fast so I am not overly troubled by this mismatch. While motoring there are 3 configurations I typically use: - High speed: - raise the dagger board, -Raise rudders -engine link engaged, -lower sails ;) - also, on calm weather, you can empty the ballast for max speed. Now you have a motor boat! - High maneuverability: - Fully filled ballast (never have it partial filled -its more dangerous than empty), -engine link engaged, -down dagger board -lower sails - both rudders in the water. - High maneuverability trailer loading : same as previous but raise the dagger board.
Liveability	6 peoples for few hours, max 4 peoples for longer duration
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Never had to deal directly with Macgregor
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I wonder what is best, the boat or the service Mr. Bill provides. Well, glad I didn’t have to choose as I’ve got both . He prepared perfectly the boat for me; he accommodated me by been available on a weekend day when I traveled from Canada to pick the boat. Bill put me in contact with other Canadian customers to gather info needed to prepare all custom required documentation. He explained me all the boat functions and patiently rigged the boat for me. Finally, he was prompt in answering my questions and recently in helping me with a broken dagger board. Then his humor,… well you need to talk to him for that.
Other comments	I love this boat! One reason I moved to Dallas was that I can sail it all year long 

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