1998 MacGregor 26x

[springer45]

Hey ever one, new to sailing just bought a 1998 MacGregpor 26x has 90 hp Honda thats shot, was wondering does anyone have a 60 hp motor and how fast can you go and what fuel consumption at what rpm thanks Randy

[PhysicsTeacher]

I have a 60 HP Yamaha on my 99 , and I have a friend who has a 60 HP Suzuki on his '98 . Both of us got the "High Thrust" version of the motor. We both found that this helped immensely in situations where you had to drive the boat on or off the trailer (as opposed to being able to walk it on and off using docklines). I've hit 18 knots at WOT fully loaded for a vacation (so lots of extra weight in the cabin) on glassy seas with empty ballast, but that doesn't happen often. With passengers and empty ballast I'm usually hitting around 15-16 knots. That said, 90% of the time I'm cruising with ballast in at 6 knots. That's typically at around 2800 RPM. I have two 6 gallon tanks, and I typically get around 75+ nautical miles at 6 knots before needing to refuel, and around 50 nautical miles if I'm averaging around 13 knots with empty ballast.

[NiceAft]

Springer45,

Welcome to the forum. As you can see, we are a welcoming group that is full of information.

Browse through the “Mods” section to see what changes others have done to their Mac’s.

As a new owner, you will learn what our Mac’s can do that make them a very different boat.

I would suggest that you read your manual more than once. If you did not get one with the boat, you can find one in the resources section.

I also strongly suggest you keep that ballast full. Read your manual.

Again, welcome. We look forward to seeing post from you; where you’ve taken your , and the photos of your adventures.

[dlandersson]

FYI, new members hafta buy pizza

Hey ever one, new to sailing just bought a 1998 MacGregpor 26x has 90 hp Honda thats shot, was wondering does anyone have a 60 hp motor and how fast can you go and what fuel consumption at what rpm thanks Randy

[Russ]

Many Macs are equipped with 50-60hp motors which is factory recommended. 90HP is not typical, however, there are some and some even larger.
My boat has a Suzuki DF70 that moves it along nicely, similar to the experiences above.


You say: "has 90 hp Honda that's shot"

What is wrong with it. These motors, especially Honda, are very strong and resiliant. Repowering can be expensive and often a wait to order a new outboard. Unless it's truly shot, rebuilding carbs etc, can bring these motors back to full.

[socalmacer]

I second the comment on the Honda 90 HP being shot. I have the original 50 HP on my original to me, 1996 26X and it still runs very strong. The only issue now is it's getting more difficult to get parts if needed. I've literally only changed the oil, the water impeller, fuel filters and re-built the carbs one time since 1996. So. recommend getting the motor fully checked out before changing out. If you still want another motor, let me know as I maybe interested in purchasing your old motor. Best of luck and welcome to the MAC community.

[Herschel]

As a fellow Floridian, welcome aboard. I, too, have a '98X. Purchased it in 2003. Primary cruising area is the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe in Sanford. I did trailer her to Lake Harris near Tavares on two occasions back when I first bought her and spent a few months on Lake Toho near St. Cloud. We did do a couple of weeks on the GICW between St. Petersburg and Venice, and back a few years ago we took her to north Georgia on Lake Allatoona once, as well. We started with the original 1998 50 h.p. Mercury Big Foot. We got about 500 total hours from that engine before it became uneconomical for me to run it, not being skilled in mechanics. I replaced it with a 50 h.p. Yamaha HT fuel injection. I typically top out 15-16 mph with just my wife and I w/o ballast. We keep it in a slip at a marina on Lake Monroe, and I always empty the tank before coming back into my slip. For routine motoring on the lake or in the river in non-rough conditions, we nearly always cruise without ballast. If I load up with guests or if conditions are rough or I am planning on sailing, I will fill ballast tank before heading out. The only time I got caught in a situation without ballast that I deeply regretted was trying to cross the entrance to Tampa Bay with 6–8-foot swells rolling in from the gulf. So, I think with experience you can pick your situations where you can save on fuel and cruise without ballast if motoring. We recently cruised on the St. Johns for 40 miles on only 5 gallons of gas at about 5-6 mph. I always ballast up when sailing even if it's just 5 knots of wind. That said, I do have two batteries, two 9-gallon freshwater tanks, one 13 gallon holding tank, a large anchor, a toolbox, a "ton" of miscellaneous "essential" gear stowed under the cockpit and in the storage lockers, so even without water ballast, I know I have an easy 300 lbs. of "ballast" down below. Since I am not a mechanic and I do have all my engine work done by techs, I do have to say that the fuel injection Yamaha has been, overall, much less troublesome that the carbureted Mercury. And I much prefer Krispy Kreme donuts to pizza! Welcome to the community.

[Starscream]

We recently cruised on the St. Johns for 40 miles on only 5 gallons of gas at about 5-6 mph. I always ballast up when sailing even if it's just 5 knots of wind.

This kind of surprises me. At 7mph, 40 miles would take maybe 3 gallons of gas with our E-tec 90 running at just over 2,000 RPM. Maybe a 2-stroke thing, maybe a prop thing?

[Herschel]

We recently cruised on the St. Johns for 40 miles on only 5 gallons of gas at about 5-6 mph. I always ballast up when sailing even if it's just 5 knots of wind.

This kind of surprises me. At 7mph, 40 miles would take maybe 3 gallons of gas with our E-tec 90 running at just over 2,000 RPM. Maybe a 2-stroke thing, maybe a prop thing?

I may not have been topped off completely at the start. So, it may not be a particularly accurate figure. Nonetheless, $20 or so for a nice cruise seemed a reasonable cost for the pleasure. My minimum engine rpm before prop stall and the need to shift into idle is about 700 rpm, so I feel pretty good about my prop. I didn't notice my RPM's in transit too much, but I don't think I got as high as 2000 very often. We were pushing a week's worth of camping gear (e.g., luggage, bedding, electric frig, microwave, CPAP, etc. plus dodger and Bimini deployed) in addition to the usual "miscellaneous essential" gear listed above. Maybe folks that have technical info on 2 vs. 4-stroke can comment on fuel efficiency differences. My Yamaha is a 2013 model if that helps.

[dlandersson]

I can't send my kids (2) to the movies for less than $60 dollars

Nonetheless, $20 or so for a nice cruise seemed a reasonable cost for the pleasure.

[Be Free]

Measured results for Honda BF40D (fuel injected) 12x10 3-blade Solas, light chop, no current, averaged into/with wind: @2000 RPM 6.1mph 10mpg

[Herschel]

Measured results for Honda BF40D (fuel injected) 12x10 3-blade Solas, light chop, no current, averaged into/with wind: @2000 RPM 6.1mph 10mpg

Appreciate the technical info. I am running a 14x11 dual thrust prop on a 50 HT Yamaha. That may explain part of the difference in fuel economy. That and the "kitchen sink" that I typically carry below!

[Be Free]

I'm' constantly fighting the "kitchen sink" problem. One of these days I'll take everything out and weigh it but I'm sure I am carrying way too much "stuff".

Those numbers were with a normal cruising gear (way too much), about 400 lbs of "crew", mast up (main on boom but under cover, jib stowed), and no ballast.

[Drifter]

Welcome to the board!

This place is a real treasure, with some amazingly helpful people; do take your time to sniff around

[dlandersson]

And in fact the yard owner made that observation to me yesterday, that I had everything "but the kitchen sink" stowed aboard my X.

I'm' constantly fighting the "kitchen sink" problem. One of these days I'll take everything out and weigh it but I'm sure I am carrying way too much "stuff".

Those numbers were with a normal cruising gear (way too much), about 400 lbs of "crew", mast up (main on boom but under cover, jib stowed), and no ballast.