This past weekend, I had my down to the SF Bay, and stopped in at my dealer in San Rafael. I got a chance to see and sit in two of the 2005 "M" models. One of them was actually the first pre-production unit to roll off the factory floor, and the other was one of the early production run.
This boat has many of the features that make "M" and "X" owners love their boat. My observations:
The head has been modified slightly. The "Shelf" the portapottie used to rest on is now a lower, molded in fiberglass shelf. This means there is now room for the larger capacity holding tank model of the portapottie.
The galley has been moved. The galley is now on the port side, much like the "X", but the entire galley and storage module is on slides. When you need to have maximum seating down below, you can slide the galley aft, and install the port-side lounge seat. When you need to cook, you remove the lounge seat, and slide the unit forward. The unit I was looking at slid very easily, but it was new and empty, so I can't say how durable this arrangement will be.
The table has changed. The right side lounge seating has been modified, and a new permanent table, much like the "X" table has been installed. Out of the factory, the table is smaller than the "X", but still large enough to take up a bunch of space. The folks at Arena are working out the details for a folding table, and Roger may be considering including this folding table instead of the fixed one in the future. Another feature of this new table is that in it's "Half" configuration, when moved down to the lowered position (as if to make up for a bunk), you can put a cushion on it and create a U-shaped seating area.
Seating cushions are now leather (or a very leather-like material). This could be good or bad, depending on whether you have pets or small children aboard. It looks great, feels good, but I wonder about the durability. Then again, the cushions on my "X" didn't even last a year, and that was without any pet damage. Who can tell.
Vee-berth area seems unchanged. Too small for adults (at least my sized adults) to use, but might be adequate for children up to mid-teen years.
Aft berth area seems to be unchanged, with the exception of the sliding galley which must be forward in order for anyone other than a child or midget to sleep on the port side.
Upon leaving the dealership, my wife opined that she liked the new layout better than our "X". Oh great. Just when I was getting into the projects on my "X". Now I need to decide whether to trade up or not.
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Mark Galbraith
Mac 26X "Offline" (2002)
Oakley, CA
I also heard that MacGregor will have two new sail options available soon. One is a self-tending jib and the other is pretty wild. A detachable bow sprit and a much larger spinnaker for down wind runs. Supposedly both of these items can also be ordered and installed for folks that already have a M.
I'm glad to hear about the table.
I know it's nit-picky, but I really dislike the current "M" dining table. I usually leave it completely behind as it's more trouble than its worth.
I guess if that's my biggest problem, I'm a pretty happy guy...
The current head shelf is just plain stupid. I ripped it out of our boat. That does leave a small fiberglass shelf. Can be used for running wires I guess. I put the xcapacity head on the floor.
Can't picture in my head what the galley will look like. Sounds a bit weird. But open for other ideas.
Thanks for the update Mark. I'm frankly a little bit unconvinced by the switchable galley change, but at the same time I'm sort of glad we can now call our M the "old" model. New things are always exciting because they're new, for a limited time. Good things in life are sometimes referred to as "good old", and no matter what boat you own it's nice to think of it in that way.
There's never been a doubt in my mind that the M interior inspires more radical change and dreaming about bizzar ways to individualize simply because it is so open down there.
One idea I can't seem to convince my wife about, is tearing down all the walls and door surrounding the head area. This would allow the v-berth to be extended by about a foot. Privacy in the head would be accomplished with a curtain instead of a hard wall. Head privacy towards the rear of the boat would involve a different curtain (from port side wall to daggerboard trunk) that we already use. The mirrored wall separating the galley & head would remain.
Obviously, you'd want to clear people out of the v-berth if you... well in certain circumstances. But the reality is, the hard walls aren't all that private anyway. Extending the v-berth, and the weight reduction seem like a close balance to me. I've been on other boats where the potty was just a bucket sitting in the cabin. Hey it's better than that.
[quote="GreatLooperDave"]the factory web
site still brags [quote]
Don't hold your breath Dave.
We picked up #32 in the beginning of May and the factory Fedex'd the freshly printed 26M manual 2-3 weeks later. As I recall, the website wasn't updated from the X to the M until several months after that.
Hull #32 was built in March, but the factory change over took place in January.
So based on the 2003 M performance we can expect;
Production change over beginning 7/1/04
New manual in 11/04
Website update 1/05
I find the galley comments interesting. I have been toying with the idea of building/buying a "chuck box" and working out a method to secure it where/when needed for extra galley functionality, but still be able to slide it back into the aft berth when not needed (or leave it on the dock for daysails).
I'd have to see this sliding rack arrangement, but a removable box still sounds more attractive to me...
Here's a link to what I am talking about Click Here
I think the chuck box combined with this (note this stove costs about HALF of the identical model that carries the Kenyon name) would really flesh out the 26M galley for longer trips, while preserving flexibility. In my case, most cooking is done on the Magma hanging off the back rail, anyway.
I am having trouble visualizing this Chuck Wagon concept described below:
"The galley has been moved. The galley is now on the port side, much like the "X", but the entire galley and storage module is on slides. When you need to have maximum seating down below, you can slide the galley aft, and install the port-side lounge seat. When you need to cook, you remove the lounge seat, and slide the unit forward. The unit I was looking at slid very easily, but it was new and empty, so I can't say how durable this arrangement will be. "
SO where do you stow the "port-side lounge seat" when using the galley?
How far forward do you slide the galley when you want to use it ?
All the way to the bow? Or just out of the aft stow area?
What do you do if you need power to the galley for say a coffee pot ? Can you add receptacles easily along thePort side wall ? Reason I ask is you could not wire into the poertable galley easily without a quick disconnect.
What has happened to the mirror and counter that was up in the bow/head area on the starboard side - is it all removed ?
WOw !! I knew the bathroom was smaller on the M but not until this post did I learn that the bow sleeping area is shorter than the X . But in the M's defense the "Void-Aft" is larger from what I understand.
How far forward can you go in a M before the Head room shrinks? In an X a 6 footer can stand as far forward as the Port Galley.
It sure will be nice to see some pics of this new M !!
down to the SF Bay, and stopped in at my dealer in San Rafael. I got a chance to see and sit in two of the 2005 "M" models. One of them was actually the first pre-production unit to roll off the factory floor, and the other was one of the early production run.
Bowspirit.
