Advice on buying 26M/X

[Starscream]

F.Bill probably didn't expect this to be a real site where people actively reply and try to help.

Gaz, you should have told him about your 110HP motor on your X.


When you have that much power you can stop counting.
What's +/- 5HP among friends?

[Gazmn]

What's +/- 5HP among friends?

You're Absolutely right Bro

O.G. Out

[sailboatmike]

F.Bill probably didn't expect this to be a real site where people actively reply and try to help.

Is trying to help a new thing we are starting?????

I thought it was all about poking fun at each other!!

Well there you go, a new day and I have already learnt something new, the day is off to a great start

[JotaErre]

's are much prettier... Especially white ones....

Condition is the big one.....and hours/condition of the outboard. Beyond that, a big factor is what equipment comes with the boat. Is it working? Is it what you want/need? Is it almost out of date? Is it wired or connected in a silly/dangerous/sloppy manner? I did not change a thing on my for a year, and am very glad I did not. I have taken much more out of the boat than into it.

Just my 2 cents...

Good advice. If the electric and electronic part is not well done, it can turn into a nightmare.

[BOAT]

Yeah, bottom line - the M boat is better.

[sailboatmike]

Yeah, bottom line - the M boat is better.

This place seems to be full of delusional people of late, its a well established fact that the is a far superior design and I know because I'm A" stable genius"

[scottman0]

I am late to this post but having owned both a X and a M version of the 26, I thought I would give my two cents on the boats. Each has pluses and minuses. Going from the back of the boat forward, The M has the cockpit pushed back a foot which puts the motor under the rear seat. This makes the interior a little bigger but in the case of my M, the engine hits the sit. I have a Merc 60 HP bigfoot and thus the motor is standard for the boat but it doesn't clear the seat. This makes the steering with the engine dragging in the water unbalanced since the engine wants to fall to one side. I prefer the X over the M for the engine area. Also getting in and out of the back is much easier for the X than the M. As for the cockpit, I am not really sure if the M is that much smaller than the X but I feel that the seats are wider in the M. This allows two 12 gallon gas tanks which is nice. In the X you can get 8 gallon tanks. The lifting hatch for the gas tank is also a plus since on my X we cut holes to get to the gas tank to fill them. The M has the cockpit about 8 inches higher than the X and this allows the rear berth much needed extra height but adds an extra step down. Careful going down the steps since you can slip and it is further in the M than the X. Overall, I like the cockpit of the M better than the X because of the extra space below. As you move into the interior, The X has the larger, more usable head and the kick up centerboard which affect the interior. The X also has the seating area and front berth together with the fixed cabinet versus the M with the small nearly useless head but the larger seating area and movable cabinet. This is tough because I like things with both. I like the X's real head that you can stand in and I like the kick up centerboard because you will hit stuff, trust me. On the other hand, I like that the rear berth is usable to some extent on the M (on the X it is mainly just for storage because I cannot image sleeping there unless it is a child). I also like the larger seating area on the M where it is near the cockpit and where the height is almost six feet tall versus where it is forward on the X and the height is 5'5". Thus, if you want a real head then the X is better, otherwise the M is better. I do like the interior upgrades on the M where they cover the thin fiberglass sides and the vinyl seats are nicer. As for sailing, The M does sail better, slightly. It is about one knot faster than the X and thus, there isn't a huge difference between the two on speed but I do like the somewhat V hull of the M which allows it to track better than the X. The flat bottom of the X will just float like a jet ski when the engine stops while the M will continue somewhat straight. This is helpful for docking with a wind. The M also takes waves much better than the X which slaps on the water with its flatter bottom. Thus, both are great boats but if a real head is important than go with the X, otherwise go with the M. Of note, even when I sit on the toilet in my M, you can barely shut the flimsy bi fold door which they could have designed better.

[BOAT]

Yeah, bottom line - the M boat is better.

This place seems to be full of delusional people of late, its a well established fact that the is a far superior design and I know because I'm A" stable genius"

Indeed.

In my book the head is the only real advantage of the X boat. If your in the shallows a lot the centerboard comes into play. "Superior Design" is in the eyes of the "Designer", and in that regard the real question to ask is: Why was it re-designed? (Things that make you go "Hmmmm")

Since the head really is the only advantage on the X boat it seemed fitting to me to redesign the head on the M so it was more roomy. This change and the addition of the full height hot shower in the cabin sort of made me forget about the X head:

[dlandersson]

Thrrrrppp!!!

Yeah, bottom line - the M boat is better.

[dlandersson]

Yeah, bottom line - the M boat is better.

This place seems to be full of delusional people of late, its a well established fact that the is a far superior design and I know because I'm A" stable genius"

[BOAT]

Yeah, the debate rages on. What advice to give a person on this topic? It's not easy. I do not think either choice will make you regret - that's the important thing. You will not be regretting the choice no matter what way you go so it's probably not something that requires a lot of fretting.

The really important thing that IS critical is to make sure you get a white hull - the blue hulls are slower. You WILL regret not getting a white hull.

[lingvo]

I am late to this post

You are not late, as I'm standing just in front of such deal - get Mac 26X or wait for 26M. I'm in south Germany where used X can be found for 15-18k€ while M starts from 25k€ and it's very hard to find one.
So does it really make sense to wait for right M or grab a good cheaper X? I don't know. I was riding X couple of times with my family on charter and it was quite nice, but 25PS engine was really nothing, so couldn't test it under power. M I've seen only on photos. It's going to be my first boat.

I've got feeling on cockpit and dagger differences. What about rig? I know M has this mast raising system, which makes it sail-ready in 10 mins one handed. I really need it here, as I won't get any water parking place, so the boat will be slipped every time. Does X have same system?

[kurz]

Hallo lingvo

Schau doch beim Kauf auch auf den Trailer.
X hatten immer Stahltrailer, nur lackiert. Dann dürften die wohl so gut wie durchgerostet sein.

M hatten Alutrailer ab Werk. Die Frage ist aber, ob der Voreigner den Alutrailer nach EU-Norm mit Tandemachse umgebaut hat (habe ich so gemacht).
Ein fetter Stahltrailer kann das Gespann richtig schwer machen.

Schöne Grüsse aus Zürich...

[NiceAft]

I am a proud owner.

This is not a fact:

I know M has this mast raising system, which makes it sail-ready in 10 mins one handed

Ingvo, you will not raise a mast and rig an in ten minutes. You will need the Mast Raising System; the mast is too heavy. While it’s possible to raise the mast without the MRS, it’s not worth the struggle. The mast is not as heavy, and more doable, but you need to decide if that is enough to make a decision.

[Russ]

Of note, even when I sit on the toilet in my M, you can barely shut the flimsy bi fold door which they could have designed better.

Agreed. I removed it and put up a curtain.

The BWY quick motor disconnect will keep the motor from flopping when tilted up.

http://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/5712-1m0.htm