interior layout: old M versus *new* M versus X

[Paul S]

No matter which boat someone buys, they will make it work..and will get used to, or find workarounds for what doesn't work for them.

We have the early M design, and like it a lot. We prefer it to the X and later M design. Having the compact galley is great. Dropped an origio in it, done. Nice use of space. Don't miss the table. I made a table, but rarely use it other than for eating. Don't see a need for it otherwise. No doubt having a table is a draw for others.

If you want to lounge, the early M design is it. The port settee is awesome.

Not sure the reason for the M interior change, I don't think it was for consumer demand..It was probably more of an evolution rather than revolution!

whenever anyone comes on our boat for the first time, the first words are always 'Wow, this is huge'.

Hope to make it to Cuttyhunk sometime this year

Paul

[Andy26M]

Hey folks,

I have the 2004 wide-open "M" layout and love it. I, too, hear the "wow this is way bigger inside than it looks from outside" every time anyone looks inside.

Regarding "needing the extra berth from the table and benches" I'm a little confused, given that with the fixed galley you have both the port and starboard settees as single berths (plenty wide enough for an adult to sleep if you remove the back cushions for the night) - plus the full width of the aft berth and the V-berth... As has been said above, you really have to go look at each to see which you like better. I'm guessing the 2003-2005 "wide open style" is rarer to find for sale given that it was only really produced for 2.5 years, one of which was the intro year, whereas the sliding-galley model has now been running for a solid 5.5 years.

If you're more of a "gourmet" - by which I mean you get more complex than a steak on the grill with some beans and instant rice - you might like the sliding galley as it's more of a "kitchen" feel. I do all of my cooking on a single-burner stove and my Magma kettle BBQ in the cockpit...

- Andy

[Terry]

. Best part? You can pop two screws and entirely remove the galley from the boat, leaving the interior completely open with a port side settee from the V-berth to the aft berth and a table with two seats on starboard. This presumes that you've not hooked a water system up to the galley. If you were only going to be day-sailing, you can leave the galley in your garage.

I think that is what I would do with that nuisance sliding galley, just remove it and store it in the back shed. Moving it back and forth all the time sounds like an annoyance.
I don't get the berth from the table & bench idea either, my port single berth would accommodate an eight foot tall giant. I think some of the bias is attributable to how folks choose to berth, my wife and I sleep in the wide open 2003 aft berth, easy access in & out with no galley or table in the way. All storage is in the V-berth. We only do breakfast at our little dinette, lunch and dinner are usually in the cockpit. Magma Bar-B-Q is also in the cockpit, as is the coleman stove, we only boil water on the orgio galley stove. The salon area is always wide open and roomy in the '03 layout, you can really stretch out and put your feet up. Funny thing is, when we first made the decision to buy a MacGregor it was the X, and by the time we got it together to buy it the new M was in the showroom with no X available, so the M is what we got.

[Russ]

It's all a matter of personal preference.

Our sliding galley IS a nuisance. We keep it locked in the forward position always and have a small cushion just aft of it. This works well. I also removed those stupid cubby pockets and installed 2 real doors on the galley and a real stainless sink. Now we have decent storage inside the galley.

We've never been inside an X, but my wife believes there must be better headroom in the aft head. Ours is also a joke for full sized adults. I removed the door and hung a curtain up. This works MUCH better for us.

It's all about making it your own. All these boats have great attributes and frankly I would be happy with an X, or any flavor of M.


--Russ

[jschrade]

I really like the head in the X better than the M - not sure there are many negatives on the X head design or placement. It also seems to be a natural for putting a shower in, where it's sort of pointless on an M.

I like the sliding galley and think this was all the X was missing inside. The open view forward is much nicer than the M. The ability to extend the V-berth so it's long enough to actually accommodate an adult is nice in an X.

I prefer the M for is sailing setup and cockpit - even though the cockpit is smaller. Being able to easily put your feet on the lee seats for support makes it very comfortable when healing. Stern rails seats fix the cockpit size problem quite nicely. I am not sure how the X sailors manage without a traveler - it's critical to sailing well and sailing comfortably. The rotating mast is questionable in its effectiveness.

My preference would be the X interior with the sliding galley and the rest being the M.

Jim

[Hardcrab]

Just to clarify, the fixed stbd galley was 03 and 04.
The 05 and later is the port sliding galley version, as I recall.
My 05 has the sliding version at least.

Perhaps some of the very earliest 05's had the fixed galley before the changeover ???

Kinda like the 03X and the 03M overlap.

[mastreb]

The rotating mast is questionable in its effectiveness.
Jim

Concur. I've just not seen the supposed speed advantage of the rotating mast as being important compared to the additional hassles of a floppy mast foot when raising and trailering and the additional maintenance, plus the fact that you can't put an electronic anemometer on the masthead. I think a fixed mast should be a (lower priced) option. I'd much rather trade a rotating mast for a boom roller reefer if given my druthers.

As to interior, the comment that it's all in how you berth is the key point. We use the table all the time as the centerpiece of our camping but that's because we have three young crew and we play games, read, and teach navigation on it. The kids also prefer to sleep together, and its easier for the three of them to dog pile on the long and large table berth than anywhere else. It's also the best berth on the boat for various other activities when the kids aren't along.

[jschrade]

The dining table on my 26M is a relished sleeping spot. Dropping the dining table also make a lot of room.

jim

[pokerrick1]

Terry;

Moving the galley is NOT a nuisance; it slides very easily! I didn't move it much because I didn't need to.

Rick

[DaveB]

Paul,
I to like the early layout of the M as it is much like the Mac S.
I need the centerboard of the macX to go thru thin waters I travel at times,also anchor.
I would love to have a settee with 6.5 berth length on Port and /Settee Starboard with a drop down Table.
Have a head that I can at least get out of (have the liner go to bottom of keel shape).
The gally on the side is very important to the better half and if you expect her to have a good time you have to have a good gally.
Slide away will work but I need my reading bunk that is aft Port quarters and that means no gally on my berth.
So back to original, at least one side has to have a 6.5 ft settee for me .
Go Figuare, Maybe Rodger is working on a fact people do grow to be 6 ft. or more and will come up with accomadatons.
Dave

No matter which boat someone buys, they will make it work..and will get used to, or find workarounds for what doesn't work for them.

We have the early M design, and like it a lot. We prefer it to the X and later M design. Having the compact galley is great. Dropped an origio in it, done. Nice use of space. Don't miss the table. I made a table, but rarely use it other than for eating. Don't see a need for it otherwise. No doubt having a table is a draw for others.

If you want to lounge, the early M design is it. The port settee is awesome.

Not sure the reason for the M interior change, I don't think it was for consumer demand..It was probably more of an evolution rather than revolution!

whenever anyone comes on our boat for the first time, the first words are always 'Wow, this is huge'.

Hope to make it to Cuttyhunk sometime this year

Paul