Need some advice!!!

[Moe]

I think the older 26X is a better boat, at least for us. Click here to find out why.

With snorkeling or diving in mind, I don't think there's any way I could squeeze by the motor on the transom of an M. There's a coupla good pictures of the X transom, with more room and a "back porch" on our Mac home page.

You owe it to yourself to get aboard both boats for a comparison. Here's an archived Mac26X website from the pre-M days.

With a 2000-later X, you can try it out for a year, then sell it for about what you paid for it if you don't like it. Not so when buying new, and that's not even considering the all the "extras" and "upgrades" you'd lose money on that may already be on a used one.

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Moe

[craiglaforce]

Think Gilligan's island:
All you need is Gilligan and his trusty bamboo bicycle that acts as dive compressor, generator, washing machine, outboard power plant etc. Just bring lots of banana cream pie to motivate him (or maybe it was Maryanne, since she always brought him the pie. Who's to say which really motivated the mighty Gilligan?).

[Rob Long]

Brian, we have a '90 26x and keep it in a slip on one of our local lakes. The boat is an excellent learning boat and others have talked at length on this post with great advice. Every time we go out we comment on what a perfect boat it is for our needs and local conditions. We have a shallow channel to get to the lake.... we do it fast and don't worry about depths. Others have problems in low lake level conditions and spend 25 minutes getting to open water to our 5. One thing that concerns me regarding your description of your local sailing is how windy it is. The 26x is a tender boat and heels readily to 10 to 15 degrees. At that point, it settles down on a heel, but you'll be reefing sooner than others. The boat's lightness also means it yields more easily to oncoming waves instead of plowing through them. But if you want to trailer and easy haul-out, those are the choices you make. Maybe the 26m has improved on both of these issues, which might make it the better choice. Only problem with that is I have seen the M first hand and don't like the cockpit and cabit layout as much as the x. Also, the pass-through in the transom is small. But if you do decide on a Mac, go with the 50 HP (or bigger on the M) 4 stroke. You will never regret the quiet performance and power. You will regret sitting at the helm if you try to save money and find yourself next to a smoke belching, noisy engine that you have to use for longer periods of time because its slower. Good luck, its a great boat.

[Divecoz]

Brian : Might I add that everything you read about motor choice is true
That,. . . . . is what is making me a bit crazy right now . I as You may . . .not even be sure what I/you really need /want /desire /are willing to live with for the buck $$$$$.There is someone on this board who is happy with just about . . . every Make and H.P. available . Toss in 2 smokes and then 4 pokes and it gets confusing as to what will really suit my needs . Best of luck to you, in your choice of . . .an X a Used M or a New M and then your motor Choice. Lot of choices out there to consider.

[richandlori]

Eventhough I purchased a 2 month old 2004 26M, I do have to say there is a LOT to be said for a 2000 or newer X with some additional gear. I paid 27,500 for the 2004 26M with 50Hp Honda, Foller furler, Mast raising, large head, USCG saftey gear pack, and a few misc doc lines. After just about 4 months of ownership, the admiral gives me "that look" when I come home with what she calls "another boat goodie bag"

Garmin 176C-$700
VHF radio w/ WHAM and antenna $300
Magma BBQ $165
Two additional batteries $120
1500W inverter $95 (great deal from COSTCO)
jump start battery $75
Ice chest $35
Cookware $25
Shore Power set-up $170
Misc saftey gear $100
New 12V electrical pannel and supplies $100
Plus concervatively $500 in other misc items that just happen at the boat supply stores

So that $27,500 (which was a good deal on a 2004 26M, has quickly turned into at least about $30,000 and that doesn't even count my $1500-$2000 worth of items still on my need/want list!

The admiral would probabally kill me if she read this post, but the truth is, after looking closely at the late model 26X's I could have been just as happy and had about $10,000 still in the admiral's bank account. But that being said, I love the boat, and don't have any regrets!

Regards

Rich

[smidnite]

Well my wife and I moved to the Kitsap Peninsula, WA, fell in love with the idea of having a sailboat living so close to the water. We never sailed. We did research and some talking to people down at the marina. Asked them the same question what is a nice affordable sailboat to learn on with zero experience. The boat most recommended was the Mac 26X , the Ranger 23 and the the Ranger 26.

We purchased a new Mac in 2002 and sail it all year. When ever I have questions I come to this board and ask. I get lots of feedback and learn what I can from it. I say with my lack of experience with anyother sailboat get the Mac!

[Moe]

Oops... Brian replied to the thread I referenced above rather than this one.

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Moe

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You might give Bill at Boats 4 Sail a ring. He sells boats almost anywhere, I'm sure he could get one to you in Iowa. He is a regular on this board and has a good reputation.

http://www.boats4sail.info/

[Casey]

We bought our 98' 26x new in Nov '97 from a dealer in Colorado while I was stationed in S.D. I had it outfitted with all the things that I thought I would need when I eventually moved to the coast. It is a forgiving boat but is more a bit complicated than a straight power boat or a straight sailboat. It has met my families needs and I have no plans on selling it. I have sailed it on several lakes in South Dakota, pulled it over the continental divide and sailed on Jackson Lake in the Grand Tetons, put in on the Missouri River at Gavin's Point Nebraska and motored down to Leavenworth Kansas, and then put in on Lake Ponchartrain in Louisiana and have taken it out to the out islands off the coast of Miss. I have never regretted owning the boat. I would take time, decide how you want to use it, what options you think you need, and look and test drive and wrangle invitations on several used boats and make your selection.

[trapeze]

Here is a 97 26x for sale, 275 miles from you!

http://www.sailingtexas.com/smacgregor26xr.html

[dclark]

Darren wrote:

"....but realisticly getting an X boat ready for diving and playing in the carribean is going to be close to $36K, ...."

You can do it for a lot less.

$19,500 bought my 2-year-old...

Actually it really depends a lot. What Darren wrote is very true if you buy new. Knock the price down from there if you buy used.

Keeping in mind of course that you will have to probably have to wait a year or two if you want a good deal on a used M. Where you could probably have a lot more to choose from with a used X. I bought my X new in 2000 w/Suzuki DF50. With addons, tax, etc. it's was cloose to $30k out the door. I've easily dumped anohter $10K into it. And I'm not done yet.

The X and M are both great beginning sailors (although as Duanne said, you'll find it to be a piece of cake) and for the lakes you describe (as far as I can tell anyway). However if you have no interest in the powerboat aspects, there are a few other and possibly better alternatives you might consider.

[Chip Hindes]

Factory options were genoa and/or spinnaker, roller furling, small Sani-Potty, alcohol stove, cockpit seat cushions, surge brakes on trailer, and trailer spare tire.

I believe except for the surge brakes and sails, the term "factory option" has very little real meaning when it comes to the Mac. Although it's no longer up, as I recall the 26X factory website for the Mac when I got in (one of the first '01) listed quite a few additional options; some I can remember specifically were the boom vang, motor bracket, mast raising kit, and (BTW), the genny cars did not come with the genny but were optional extras. The point is, it didn't (and still doesn't) much matter whether they were listed on the factory website or only on the dealers' order form, because all options, even those which came from the factory, arrived boxed in the bottom of the boat and were installed (or not installed, as was sometimes the case) by the dealer.

Besides the "factory" optional equipment, the dealer optional equipment list was pretty extensive, from simple interior lighting additions, shore power, dodgers, biminis and sail covers to pressure water; electronic options from VHF to stereo to GPS to radar, even A/C. It would have been quite easy to drive the selling price over $40K on the (at that time) $15K base. I saw several boats in the build shop at my dealer at various times which would have easily exceeded that.

[Moe]

Yeah... I forgot about those, Chip.

Web.Archive.Org has a bunch of copies of old MacGregor websites. Not all have all the pictures, and the indexing is messed up on some, but it's a good source.

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Moe

[IowaBrian]

I got sent out of town on short notice and just got back. After reading all the posts I know two things:

1. I'm definetely getting either an X or M

2. I don't have the slightest idea as to which one.

I will use the power aspect of it a fair amount. My wife will sail it more often than I, so I'm going to defer to her as to which model.

I can't tell you how much i appreciate all the replies. I'll keep you all up to date.

THANKS!!!!!

[kmclemore]

Good luck, Brian, and let us know what you (um, strike that) .. what SHE decides.
Either way, you'll have a boat that will give you loads of fun per knot, and at a great value for $.