Is A MacGregor the right boat for me?

[OverEasy]

Just my two cents….
There are lots of nice boats out there.
Some better kept than others.
Some cost more than others.
Etc, etc, etc…..

You have to find what you like and what you’ll tolerate and what you want to do with it.
Yes we like our Mac26X ! Yes, we like it a lot!
It’s not perfect… NOTHING is in life… but it’s a lot of fun and gives us a great canvas to work with and enjoy doing so.
The price was right for us as we’re all the features that were designed into it.
Not too expensive that we’d be afraid of making a scratch and nice enough that we want to take care of it.
Not so complicated that one can’t improve on it and functional enough that it can be comfortable.
That us…..

This is about your journey to finding what works and appeals to you.
What you will feel comfortable with.
What you will actually get enjoyment and plenty of use of….for hopefully years and years to come.

There is no perfect boat, car, plane, sneaker……bicycle……
There are things though that you can use and enjoy.

The IMEXUS 28 is a nice boat with nice features and so are Mac26X, M, S, D as are the Mac25 and Mac19 (as are the Catalina’s and many others) and they are all compromises of various extents…

We made a detailed list of what we wanted to do and what we had to work with.
We also made a list of what we would need to compromise on and learn about as we evolved…we all change over time.
We then kept an open mind about what we were doing and looking at as we tried to see how the various boat options could work for us.
The C-Dory 28 looked like a fantastic boat for us at one point until we realized we would need a much bigger budget to afford the vehicle to tow it with….like an additional $35k+ for a good used F250 truck !
One feature we wanted was some sort of a “private” head….and the realistic capability to motor at a reasonable speed for long distances on rivers and estuaries as well as large open water….sailing was a nice extra feature we could evolve into.

Your list is gonna be different as you have your own objectives and desires.
Take the time to define them and what you have, or are willing, to work with….not just money but time, skills, space, region, seasons…
We would want you (and your family) to be happy, to enjoy using and growing with what ever you decide to get.
Things can be changed as your desires, needs, skills evolve.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[MactheKnight]

Thanks a million.

The very best thing about Macs is probably this community you've built

Cheers, joeri

[NiceAft]

MactheKnight said:

the mast sits on the roof and I couldn't move it.

The M mast is significantly heavier the X’s. You will need the mast raising system to rig the boat. At your height, I would be surprised if you have headroom in any trailerable boat.

[MactheKnight]

Sitting on a trailer its quite impressive but when I'm inside or walking on the deck it feels small.

The mast raising system is on the boat but it hasn't got the mast holder in the back so test-raising the mast will be cumbersome.

If I decide to go for a Mac, I think this boat would be fine to start with - especially if I could knock down the price a bit more.
End 2022 a very nice looking white 2010 26M was sold in Belgium for €16.000
It's the end of the season, if it doesn't get sold now, it will probably sit in the brokers' yard untill next year march, april, ...

I'm offcourse looking at all trailerable boats and found a 1999 Morgan with trailer in Belgium for sale on a bidding platform - starting price was €10.000 - it didn't get one bid.

Dragonly 28 cats are too expensive. New Imexus and Nuva MS6 too. Viko 26 is quite cheap - even new - but too much a sailor with small motor.

I'll keep looking for an Imexus just to check how it feels inside - found one in Spain from 2007 thats very cheap with a 110Hp inboard. Same asking price as the Mac. Hope to find one nearby - even if its much more expensive - so I could see it 'in the flesh'.

Some things are a must: trailerable, large enough motorisation and room inside - if it doesn't exist, then I think its smarter to pass.

Thanks again for the nice reception, if I decide to go for this or another Mac, I'll be back

Warm regards,
joeri

[MactheKnight]

I'm back! That was quick

Just found anoter Mac for sale - ad was published only a few days ago - this one is an X from 1999 and a bit cheaper than the M.

This is a totally different beast: clearly a cherished and totally outfitted boat.

Very much underpowered motor-wise but apart from that it comes with every mod you can imagine. (The M also had a light motor so that doesn't change)

Again, I haven't seen an X in real life (yet) but I like the open construction in the front (no mirror) and the closed toilet room.

Is this just an idea or does it make the boat feel much roomier? I also like the white plastic interior compared with the beige M.

This is the link to the ad - this boat is also in the Netherlands and is being sold directly by the owner.

https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/watersport ... tzeiljacht

This is the Google translation of all the equipment - I can imagine this costing a small fortune.

The Eclips is a second generation 26X.

It has CE Cat. C for inland waters and spacious coastal waters.

Particularities
In order to enjoy our hobby as much as possible, we have converted and adapted the Eclips over the past 9 years into a full-fledged boat for longer trips and comfortable stays during the entire water sports season, with special attention to safe navigation and power supply using solar energy. This makes the boat virtually independent of shore power!

Equipment
Fixed marine radio (Cobra) with high-quality cabling and antenna
Handheld VHF radio
AIS transponder
On-board network with WiFi, 4G internet and navigation data via NMEA0183
Depth sounder
Autopilot

Energy supply
2x 40 Wp Solar panels with Victron MPPT charger on guard rail, adjustable for maximum yield
Victron BMV-712 “smart” battery monitor
LiFePO4 (lithium) battery 100Ah, suitable for starting and peripheral equipment, status readable via Bluetooth and on-board network
Shore power connection
Victron shore power charger, max 15 A, suitable for lead and lithium batteries
True sine wave inverter (300 Watt) for laptop and small 230 volt equipment.

Equipment
Engine: Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust (2008) with power-tilt and voltage limiter for Lithium battery, annually maintained by specialist.
Kobra anchor with 12 m anchor chain and 20 m line
New rigging (2018)
Water tank 90 l in front point (2020)
Automatic bilge pump (Whale)
Mast lowering system with self-braking winch
Emergency tiller
Hexagonal radar reflector in backstay
Unique: in 2019 the rudders were fitted with stainless steel sleeves to prevent wear when sailing in shallow water.

Sails and Canvas
Furling jib with UV strip (2019)
Fully battened mainsail, 2 reefs (year unknown, but heavy quality and in excellent condition)
Halfwinder
Mainsail cover (2021)
Sprayhood 2016 (window renewed 2023)
Cockpit screens (2017)
Bimini
Boom tent

Layout/interior
Separate toilet room with fixed toilet with frost-resistant TrueDesign valves
Kitchen block with Trespa worktop
2-burner Origo alcohol stove (safer than gas!)
Running water through 12v pressure pump and pressurized water system
Storage space under the benches
Large compressor cool box under a bench
Various storage racks, organizers and luggage net
Cushions inside and outside renewed in 2015
LED-lighting
Parking heater with its own tank for (diesel) fuel

Trailer
The boat is on a Pega tilting trailer with a single axle and Winterhoff anti-sway coupling.
Bearings renewed in 2018. Because the boat is trailerable, it can often be stored at a reduced (winter) rate. And of course it can also be taken to completely different sailing areas!

Could this be the better boat for me?

If I add a new outboard to this X - how much can it handle?

Grazie.

[NiceAft]

It appears to be a better boat for you just from the excitement you are broadcasting.

The motor is underpowered.

The is roomier than the and it obviously excites you.

12meters of anchor chain is good. To me, 20 meters of rode is not enough. I would prefer 61 meters, but you an add that later.

[MactheKnight]

Is the height inside the same on X and M?

[NiceAft]

Yes.

I believe MacGregor claimed a six footer (1.8288m) could stand without hitting their head.

[March]

That is correct--but there will always be people complaining about the lack of head-room. My mate is under 6 feet tall and he was still bitching and moaning that he couldn't cook 'properly' at the stove. Had to point out that he could easily slide the hatch open and stand on a stool, if he so desires.
I am guilty of that, too: seems to me that the rear berth is cramped--but I never bother to state the obvious. Just work with what I have

[C Buchs]

The very best thing about Macs is probably this community you've built

Cheers, joeri

This community is a big reason why I bought my . Seeing all the mods and having all the help. I knew these were my people!

Jeff

[MactheKnight]

Hi there,

Boating season is ending here and more Mac's are coming to the market - gives me opportunity to compare

Finally got in touch directly with the owner of the dark-blue 2005 M: he bought it a year ago and intended to start & learn sailing but never got to it.

He claims the repaint was only done for cosmetic reason. The boat seems to have been the demonstration boat of the distributor and probably the first M that came to Belgium.

Found another M in Belgium: this one is from 2006 and in original condition but with a 50Hp Yamaha instead of a 40Hp. Will be checking this boat next tuesday. It is on its trailer at the moment.

And I hope to check the X next weekend in the north of the Netherlands (long drive) when it is pulled out of the water for winter maintenance & storage. Gives me the opportunity to see it in the water and out and see the way the rigging comes down.

Greetz, joeri

[Seth08321]

Question for the group , I see a few 26 S for sale but more 26 D for sale , are the "S" harder to come by in the NE USA, I reached out to a few but no replies , which I find odd, if you put your boat for sale I figure you would reply when someone inquires about it, but I guess I may be wrong. I assume a "S" is better for getting right up to the beach correct? TIA

[Maraquita]

I have a D and would not agree with that. When I want to beach it I can pull the board up completely into the trunk and have a smooth bottom, so it probably is as easy to beach as an S. I have put it on the sand and let the tide go out from under it with no problem.

I haven't been in an S, but I think the interior is nearly the same between the 2, but the centerboard trunk does take up some room on the D.

Some people claim the D is faster, but I bet that depends more on the driver than the daggerboard.

The S is definitely more forgiving of shallow water then the D. The S centerboard will swing up at least a little when you ground it. Because I'm stupid and hard to train I have hit rocks twice with my D and both times it cost me a new centerboard. If I remember correctly, the last one was about $400.00. That was awhile ago and probably will cost more the next time I do it!

[Seth08321]

Question for the group, where the heck are the Mac 26 s for sale in the metro NY area, I thought offseason is when I would see some for sale and so far they have been few and far between, am I not looking in the right spots, here FB market place , boat trader ... I understand they are getting older but figured I would see more for sale in the offseason. TIA

[LordElsinore]

Check out popyachts.com. There's where I found mine a few years ago, and where I waited patiently for the right one to come along for a couple years before that.

I see a 2010 for sale right now in NY. Not sure if that's "metro NY" though:

https://www.popsells.com/motor-sailboat ... -r1-342981