Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26S by David Harris

Year built	1995
Location of boat	trailered
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	Yes
Owner bought the boat in	1996
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	In a heartbeat! I'm very proud to own this boat. I read all the negative comments as to her sailing abilities and rudder failures for the "pro" or "pro wannabes" but the comments are brushed off every time I fill the rush as wind fills her sails and she "takes off"! I'll never be the "hard heeler" racing her to her limits but for the "just sit back and enjoy" type sailing I do...she fills the bill just fine! I love her "long and lean and every young man's dream" profile compared to the M
Gear that's been added	Only shelves, a bimini and such.
Structural or complex improvements	I was concerned about the batteries under the stove (smell and yuck of the sulfuric acid and the fact that battery fumes are explosive) and I have never been happy with the fact that there was no individual circuit protection for the cabin lights. I was also tired of "pumping" the faucet to get water into the sink when it was so much easire to just dump some in. This spring I ran new cabling to the lazarette, installed a shelf unit which backs up the swim ladder, installed the batteries in boxes on the shelf and now filling the batteries is so much easier (don't have to rub my face on the floor trying to do it). I installed a battery switch in the cabin and built a terminal box over the sink using the faucet hole for a nipple to run my wiring between the old and the new. The fused terminal strip now protects the cabin lights individually. I do have pics if anyone would like to see how I did it all.
The boat's best features	The profile!
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	As stated above, the battery placement and circuit protection. Had to replace one of the spreader tips also (cracked).
Sailing characterisitcs
Motoring characterisitcs
Liveability	Took some work but is very "doable". I would not want 6 people living on her but for 1 or 2 she is comfortable.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	YUCK !!@ The worst part of owning a MacGregor is calling the factory! I have done so a few times and EVERY time found them to be degrading, unlikeable and fearful of offering any actual help. The dealer I bought her from was okay but not very interested in his customers after the sale (kind of like the factory now that I think about it) but luckily I found a very likeable and knowledgeable dealer in Florida and now consider them to be "my" dealer.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	already stated
Other comments	She makes living life lavita loca so much easier!

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