Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26D by Jeff M.

Year built	1989
Location of boat	Sly Park Lake
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	2003
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Definitely, for the money she's one of the best choices around. Easy to sail, easy to trailer, big enough for a couple to spend a long weekend, small enough to store easily in the winter.
Gear that's been added	New wiring, stereo, GPS, VHF, trolling motor, small TE fridge, more batteries, fishfinder/depthsounder, swim ladder, all lines led to cockpit, jib downhaul, rope clutches, Halon fire extinguisher, washdown pump, electric sink pump and water tank, galley accessories, spinaker and 150 genoa, etc.
Structural or complex improvements	Currently working on hydraulic assist for raising pop-top, but that's not really a complex or structural improvement
The boat's best features	Trailerability, water ballast system, daggerboard (I can take her right up on the beach and not worry about getting stuck), easy to singlehand, low cost
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The rudder needs some help, I'll probably end up getting the improved one from IdaSailor, the electrical system was pretty lousy, a lot of small details that could have been done better, but I kind of think of her as a kit that has all the pieces to go sailing NOW and you can add whatever you want or need to get the boat just how you want it.
Sailing characterisitcs	A bit more weather helm than she really needs, but the new rudder should fix that. Otherwise, she's fairly well-mannered. Also a real blast to race, she'll definitely hold her own against similiar sized boats!
Motoring characterisitcs	Does just fine under power and goes in reverse a lot better than most boats. My 9.9 hp 2 stroke will get her to hull speed at just a bit over half throttle and a 55 lbs. thrust trolling motor will get her to about 2.5 knots.
Liveability	Well, she's way too small to be considered a 'liveaboard' in my opinion (I guess you could if you REALLY had to) but for a couple or a couple and 1 or 2 kids she'd be fine for a week or so, especially if you stay near enough to shore to get off once in awhile. For a couple to go weekending on, she's great.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Never talked to them.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Bought her from a private seller (and got a great deal!)
Other comments	The boat definitely fills a specific niche of the market. There are bigger boats, smaller boats, more expensive, less expensive, etc. But for my requirements at this time, she's just about perfect. A great first boat for pocket cruising in protected bays, moderate coastal cruising and the like and a terrific trailable lake boat.

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