Macgregor 26X or 26M as a motor cruiser only - which one to choose?

[vas]

Ok, enough with the neg thoughts.
While I have never been in our around an M, I believe the cost and light weight for towing coupled with the relatively heavy weight once you put the water ballast in will make a super motor cruiser. To me the option to be light weight in calm, or heavy in rough makes the boat a great choice.
I have a old Evenrude V4 120 hp 2 stroke and it fits like it was designed there though a carb 2 stroke may not be for everyone.
Fully loaded with balast in I hit 20 mph (gps on my phone), when I dump the water it is much faster, but I never measured. I can say the engine gets to redline and I have made a few bass boats shut down in disgust. I guess they could not deal with a mast overtaking them.

Some mods will be needed, the freeboard causes it to be unmanageable without the centerboard down.
The hull seems designed to turn on the centerboard, so it would need chines added to provide steerage at slow speeds.
I remember someone added simple wooden ones to the back.
To me, something simular to Bilge Keels would make it ideal and cut down on some of the rocking as they would act as stabilizers.

Hi, thank you for your positive comments and advices! Bilge keel seems a good option and not very difficult to do. I also was thinking to use the boat ballast-loaded when I need more stability rather than speed, and empty the ballast in calm waters so I can do higher speeds. And you just changed my mind about the centerboard - initially I was thinking to remove it completely, now I think it still may be useful even without sails. Thanks!

[NiceAft]

Do not get rid of the centerboard, and do not use the boat without ballast unless you stay very alert to the water you are in.

When a powerboat passes too close, the wake can be extremely troublesome. Even with the ballast in, I steer into wakes at a 90 degree angle. A centerboard is not the same as a keel, and the water ballast isn't effective until some part of the ballast tank is out of the water.

[dlandersson]

The X, with it's 5% V hull, will get on plane faster. For most people and most situations this has very little bearing.

Ok, the "better V hull" (15 degrees) is for better sailing, not "rough waters".

From the prospective of planing hull(both Macs have planning hulls, right?) the more degrees V the better is stability in choppy seas and less pounding. I currently have a powerboat which has a better V than my friend's boat. And I feel the difference when we go under motor in choppy waters. I can upgrade or alter some parts in both M and X, but cannot change the V-degree of the hull, that's why I wondering if there is a SIGNIFICANT difference in choppy seas if they both go under motor in planing mode (not at hull speed)? Thanks!

[dlandersson]

I highly recomment the ICW en route to Florida - if you have the time. Kids will love it.

What is your "project" boat?

Why the Mac???

It's a specialized compromise boat. If I were starting from scratch and just a power boat, I'd probably buy a pure power boat.

I'm sure Roger bragged about every new boat design, but honestly, I doubt there is a substantial difference between the X & M.
BOTH are wet boats under power, especially in any kind of headwind.

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking to start with 'pure' powerboat, but anything close to Mac's interior space/ layout / size will be at least twice weight. My goal is to stay in 3500lb for easy trailering and have a powerboat with spacious interior and full-functional head for 2-3 days cruises. I have a wife and 2 kids, so both Mac's look suitable for us. The plan is cruising on Great Lakes and maybe (maybe!) once a year bring it to Florida for coastal cruising. I'm planning to remove everything related to sailing and install a custom hardtop for the cockpit to make it more functional. If you can advice some powerboats that can stay in ~3500lb and be as functional as MacGregor's please let me know!

[dlandersson]

Yes, but they have tons more space that a powerboat of the same size and weight - why the guy in Washington state was modifying them as motoring cruisers.

I would look for a power boat. X&M's aren't really good sailboats or powerboats, they fit in the middle because they're compromises of both. They aren't comfortable at anchor and a proper power boat will work better in every regard if that's all you want to do. If you plan to tow it to FL buy a better tow vehicle that can pull a heavier boat.

[dlandersson]

WADR, I don't see this. I'd recommend a"soft" dodger. In nice weather you're not going to want the cockpit enclosed.

Hard top and fully enclosed fiberglass/plexiglass cockpit is one of those. So wet stern seat won't be a problem.

[Be Free]

Hi Bill, thanks for your comments! I'm definitely not going to speed like crazy in rough water on this boat And I will do a lot of serious upgrades, that's why I said it will be a "base" boat for my build. Hard top and fully enclosed fiberglass/plexiglass cockpit is one of those. So wet stern seat won't be a problem. Also, thanks you for mentioning front hatch problem - will think over how to make it more sealed. Could you tell me if the X comfortable enough on planing speeds in calm waters?

All I can tell you is that it's comfortable from the helm. I've never been anywhere else when the boat was under power.

I have a 40hp Honda and it will get the boat up into the high teens but even at that speed the bow is still a little high. I usually drive standing up to improve visibility forward. Make sure whatever you do with your enclosure allows you to stand up inside and gives you good visibility forward.

I'll also confirm the recommendations that you add some sort of structure to the bottom of the boat to help with low speed maneuvering. If you start with an X there is no advantage to removing the swing keel. You won't gain any additional interior space unless you make significant modifications to the liner. Dropping the board even a little makes a big difference in low speed control.

There are two problems with the hatch: the latch and the hinges.
Unless you are very careful the latch will not pull the hatch down tight enough against the gasket to keep out rain much less waves over the bow.

The problem with the hinges is they are backwards. A water-tight hatch should not face forward. The MacGregor hatches face forward to catch wind that will keep the cabin comfortable and that is a very good thing in hot weather. Because of the way the hatch is molded to the hatch opening I don't think there is any way to change the hinge orientation. You will just need to come up with a better latch (or not let waves come over the bow regularly).

[ris]

We chose a X over a M as we planned to use the boat as a trawler when we bought it. 13,500 miles later still think the X is the way to go for a Mac trawler. When motoring you cannot turn the wheel loose and expect a Mac to go straight if you have taken off the rudders. A wheel pilot will not work as an autopilot if you have no rudders unless you add a skeg or short keel to the centerline of the Mac. Our added skeg is 42 inches long and 6 inches tall. It starts at the stern and goes forward 42 inches. We always drop the centerboard to where about 8 inches hang below the bottom of the boat (about 2 inches of center board rope) when maneuvering the boat to a dock or other boats. Here is our enclosure. It is 6’5” tall.



I this is a dodger over there companion way a Bimini over the cockpit and a connector piece and full side curtains when needed. Feel free to call if you have any other questions that you would like us to answer.

[ris]

As he can see in the picture above a motor is a 60 hp. It will not plane the boat with 30 gallons of water and clothes and stuff for long travel. Cording to our motor information system 95% of our travel is at 10 miles an hour or less. We usually cruise at 7 to 8 mph. We have a 175 W solar panel tied onto the top of the dodger, which keeps our 4, six voltTrojan 105 batteries charged.

[Be Free]

ris,
Is that 175W in addition to the engine alternator or stand-alone for the house bank?
Bill

[ris]

We only have one bank of batteries. They do motor starting and serve as house bank. The alternator puts out 27 amps, 5 for the motor and 22 amps for the batteries. So the 175 watt panel charges the same batteries as the engine alternator.
Be Free up here in Minden Canada it was 57 this morning and a high of 72. I know what it is like in north Florida. We are in our cargo trailer camper this summer. Next summer hopefully up here in our boat again.
Richard

[Be Free]

Ok, that lines up with my calculations on my boat. I have a little less alternator "leftover" and I use my engine a lot less than you do.
I also use 4x6v for my house (and used to start the engine with it). That worked great until the morning it didn't. The next trip I added a dedicated start battery.

Vas,
Richard (ris) would be a great resource for you in your planning. He has already traveled a long way down the road you are contemplating.

[Herschel]

I have had my "X" for almost 20 years. The Admiral and I have spent a good number of nights aboard. We cruise the St. Johns River system in Florida mostly, but we did do a couple of weeks on the Gulf ICW between St. Pete and Venice. For us the aft "berth" or "pizza oven" as it is affectionately called on this forum at times, is mainly used for storage. I use the port side of the V berth with an extension at night, and we cruise with the dinette in bed mode with an air mattress for the Admiral. When I look at pictures of the M's, the aft berth looks like it would be a much less claustrophobic sleeping berth. I think I would be willing to consider trading head height in the head for better sleeping/saloon experience were I to have a do over.

[dlandersson]

Very nice

We have a 175 W solar panel tied onto the top of the dodger, which keeps our 4, six voltTrojan 105 batteries charged.

[leefrankpierce]

Thoughts on engine size for a motor cruiser.
I ran my boat with the honda 50 four stroke for a long time, the size upgrade was hoping to get my son into tubing or something outside.
I find my 120hp 2 stroke is not as happy at its minimum speed in the marina as the 50 was slightly throttled up.
Point being, if long term slow cruising is expected (6 mph for hull speed), I would stay with the smaller 4 stroke.
With mine I seem to be either at idle, or needing to get to 10mph to keep the engine happy.
Could be differences between 2 stroke and 4 stroke.
Mine also seems fuel hungry, but then again I never seem to allow it to run at hull speed, just seems unhappy there.