Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26M by Lowell Carrington

Year built	2005
Location of boat	Chesterfield, Virginia
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2005
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, this is my second Macgregor. I owned a 1998 26X for a couple of years and then sold it to buy a 24 ft. Bayliner. Everytime I was on the Bayliner I missed my Mac 26. It was just more fun sailing and a lot cheaper than running a gas guzzler. A lot more room for the money in the Mac 26.
Gear that's been added	I have added a porta potty, bimini, Loran 3500C GPS, depth finder, hatch adjuster, Magma grill, butane stove, second battery, battery selector, and 12 volt outlets in the cabin. I also have the furling genoa, mast raiser, boom vang and spare tire.Next year I plan to add shore power and a two screen DVD player.
Structural or complex improvements	No structural changes.
The boat's best features	For the money, you just can't beat the interior space in the MacGregor. I really like the fact that you can sail when you want to and if you need to get somewhere in a hurry, you can always make great time by using it as a power boat. There is also plenty of storage and with a 24 gallon fuel capacity, I can cruise almost any where I want without worrying about where the next fuel stop will be.Another good feature is that you can trailer the boat to those distant locations, launch and enjoy. That certainly beats being limited to "just around" your local marina, as is the case with most other sailboats that you can actually spend overnight time on.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	So far I have not had any significant problems. I have noticed that the seat cushion fabric may be subject to staining. I plan to treat mine with a protective sealer.
Sailing characterisitcs	I really like the rotating mast. The boat sails great using the main alone. As with any sail boat, you have to learn its characteristics and limitations. So far, the 26M has proven its self a joy to sail.The Chesapeake Bay can get nasty real quick, but I never feel insecure in the Mac. Seems to handle the rough weather like a champ.
Motoring characterisitcs	I always use ballast. At slow speeds the boat can have a tendency to feel as though it is wandering. You just have to give it a little gas and it tracks straight as an arrow.As with the Mac 26X, the 26M can be a handfull trying to dock in a wind or with water current. I found that with rudders down and a little dager board down, it controls a lot better.
Liveability	I have spent up to a week on the boat with two of my brothers. We enjoy visiting the towns that line the Chesapeake Bay. My wife loves the boat, but she is only good for a day on the boat. No reason in particular, she is just not the outdoors type.I think the 26M gives me my money's worth in the area of "liveability". Yes, the head is a little tight and there is no shower, but when I am out for more than a weekend I generally spend the night at a marina and have access to their facilities as well as restaurants.I find it has great space for three or four aboard. Especially if they are not strangers. I am used to ruffing it on camping trips, so I find the comfort afforded by the 26M great.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	I have not dealt directly with MacCregor.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I purchased my 26M from Otheo Campbell at New Millennium Sail Boats. This is the second MacGregor I have purchased from Otho. I bought a 26X from Otho in 1998.Otho is a great guy to deal with. He is a genuinely nice person and honest in his dealings. When mine was on order I called him frequently with questions and order changes. He was always courteous and whether I contacted him by telephone or email, he always got back to me quickly. Otho even delivered my Mac 26M.Before purchasing my 26M, I did check with a few other dealers. They all seemed OK. But in the end, I decided that based on my previous experience with Otho, I knew how he would treat me after I accepted delivery.I highly recommend New Millennium to anyone looking for a MacGregor.
Other comments	I find that people are always fasinated with my Mac 26, whether they are boat owners or not. It looks like it cost a lot more that it did. It sure draws attention when I am trailering or when pull up to the ramps.I was joking with a friend of mine and said to him "I have a poor man's sail boat." He quickly pointed out to me that "poor men don't sail".

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