MacGregorSailors.com

Hey everyone! As you may or may not know, I have been on the hunt for a M26 for some time now. Well I have narrowed my search to two M26's. Now after doing much research I am dealing with a fudundrum. Where will I keep it? I was reading a thread on here from a guy who was having nightmares launching his 26 at public boat ramps. There were responses to him from other owners saying that they fixed this issue by acquiring a wet slip to keep their boat.
Well that is where I am struggling a bit. The reason for a M26 is the trailerability of the boat plus the advantage of not having the bottom issues and exposure issues that come with wet slips. So if I have to keep it in a wet slip for convenience....why not get a Catalina with more room at half the price?
So I guess I'm asking for a survey of sorts from you guys as to what you have dome with your MacGregors? Are you happy that you got the MacGregor? Do you trailer it or wet slip it? Are you happy with the room when loaded with family for weekend sailing?
I'm on the verge and looking for opinions. Thanks! K

Great question. The answer is one that only you can determine, but I'll throw out a few comments.

The launching situation, where we are, isn't too bad. Usually, I launch during the week and have the ramp almost to my self. Fowl river, river shack, Macnally Park are all pretty good spots. Navco Park is probably ok, but it's a long run to the bay. Dauphin Island has some nice looking spots that I haven't tried yet - but hope to. You might run into the odd issue now and then, but it won't be the norm. Having said that, holiday weekends will probably be hectic.

Keeping a boat in a slip will likely result in your using the boat more often. But, a slip is an additional cost each month - and not insignificant. How will you feel about the boat during squalls, hurricanes, etc? If you can insure it and just take the loss without too much angst, then it probably won't keep you up at night. If, however, you have the tendency to worry about your stuff to the point of running down to the marina at 2am to check your lines in a blow; you may be a trailer sailer. Our mutual keel boat buddy doesn't seem to be too worried about his boat in its slip. Of course he's been through losing one in a hurricane before, and came out ok in the insurance settlement.

Think Day sailing initially. How many "family" members will you be taking on a typical sailing trip. 26M cockpit is comfortable at 4, and starts getting pretty tight at 6. We had six before the grand twins, and could easily enjoy a day sail on my 26M. But, we're a tight bunch. You won't be using overnight accommodations in the summer in Mobile unless you add AC and stay in a marina (or take a generator). But, again, 4 is ok, more starts to get a bit tight. If your family is close, 6 is doable. Also, what is the level of comfort expectation? My brother's wife will go primitive camping. My wife's idea of camping is the Hampton Inn. No AC, no hot shower with infinite water, are tough sells. My overnights will be restricted to fall and spring (possibly mild days in winter).

Bigger boat at a lower initial price is hard to argue. If you can't store your trailer boat at your house in covered storage, and would have to pay for storage somewhere, that's a factor as well.

If you are a member of a yacht club, you may be able to get a good rate on a slip, but you'll have to shop around to see what the rates are for the boat length you're looking at. You'll want to check if they have pumpout facilities if you have a marine head, power, and water.

A Mac power sailer isn't the only enjoyable way to go boating. It suits my current needs perfectly, but I'm an odd guy.

Either way you decide, you can't lose. You'll be on the water in a boat.

I have an that I've kept in a slip for 13 years. I have never trailored it to any other launch site (only partly because I've never had a vehicle that can tow it).

There's lots of things I like about having a Mac that have nothing to do with trailer-ability. I suppose the number one thing is the motor. I use my motor to get about far more than I would if I were a purist sailor. Many of my trips are 'sail out, motor home'. That also allows me a larger range for a given a fixed time window.

Something to consider if you're regularly hauling around family members who may not have quite the love for foul weather sailing as you: they may be much more willing to go with you if they know they can outvote you to get home before the storm hits.

After 15+ years of regular sailing of beach catamarans in Galveston Bay, we desperately wanted something able to reach other water bodies (read "lakes of United States mainland"). So, it had to be trailerable. Plus, it had to have at least minimal seaworthiness, to be able to reach the Bahamas. Plus, it had to be roomy enough for relative comfort for weeks, not days. Plus, it had to have ability to carry relatively big overboard motor, to escape a storm and to increase range. And, of course, it shouldn't cost too much.

MacGregor 26X it is.

hi well #1 remember in a hurricane situation & u r ordered to evacuate u can hook to the mac head out now u also got a place to live in a pinch other than a shelter or park at a shelter for the visilities & food & water & sleep in some privacy in the boat if poss. ! or just head well out of range & make it a vacation somewhere safe on the water ! as most hotels out of range will most likely b all booked up & more
#2 everything on a keel boat bigger than a mac is gonna cost u at least twice as much on maintenance because all running rigging & standing rigging will b much bigger & cost a lot more to replace , haul outs $200. out & same for back in or more , while dry docked for maintenance u will b charged a daily rate for that space ! , & most Haul-outs r by the foot so the big boy,s get first priority while u wait ! , if u don,t have a set of cradles for ur keel boat u,ll have to rent them from the marina if u do they,ll charge u for storing them ! if u need maintenance that only can b done by the marina shop u r at their mercy remember big boys get first choice if ur bill is gonna b 1 boat buck & theirs is 12 boat bucks u r sitting & waiting Oh & same goes for sail loft,s sadly if u need repairs I have 7 diff sized head sails & 2 main sails so that,s never an issue for me
#3 how big is the family r u gonna do a lot of sleep overs slipped or moored or anchored off marina,s then u can likely use most of their public vasilitie,s day time if anchored & if paid slipped or mooring u,ll get a pass key or p/w for 24hr use so no need for O/B shower if u r gonna do a lot off anchoring u can where keel boats can,t & find nice secluded sheltered spot
#4 I slipped my boat for yrs for summer months because my work schedule 4x12 hr shifts a wk aloud me to live in my boat 4 days a wk in the summer on my days off so was a no brainer for me , slip fee,s r usually cheaper for macs because u can take a smaller dock with a shallow draft like 2-3 ft usually reserved for 20-24ft run abouts with O/B engines , also if u do slip a mac u always have the option of pulling it somewhere else for a vacation can,t do that with a keel boat unless it,s trailable
#5 last time I checked 15yrs ago yacht club fee,s were min, 6 boat bucks for membership & min yrly fee 2 boat bucks & that was for dry storage a slip cost was extra , unless u can find a co-op one that does,nt have a long waiting list
#6 u should b at min waxing the bottom hull of a trailer sailor fiberglass hull with a bottom anti-fouling wax 1 or 2 times a yr whether u slip it or not it will help prevent blisters also . here,s a sample link
https://www.marineoutfitters.ca/index.c ... 8705111209

anyway somethings for u to ponder on or not ur choice also agree with the above posts

J

Hey there, the post you may be referring to is mine.

I'm a new 26M owner and it's my first boat. I ended up getting a slip and it has made boating significantly more enjoyable. I really look forward to going out and don't stress about any part of it.

One of the biggest factor for me getting a slip was taking friends and family out. Waiting in the car or on the dock isn't what people think of when they think of a sailing experience! On a slip, we park the car and less than ten minutes later we're out on the water raising the mainsail.

So then why get a MacGregor?

Once I had the boat in the slip I worried that maybe I made a mistake. "Should I have gone with a Catalina or a Hunter?" I am very happy with the specific boat that I bought because I know that it is in really good condition. I get the sense that older sailboats tend to have a lot of problems and might require more maintenance, which might take the fun out of sailing, too. As a new sailor I want to make upgrades, not repairs, and the boat I have lets me do that. I think most MacGregors that are maintained well will do that better than a decades-old Catalina. That is pure conjecture though, and I may be mistaken there.

Here are some of the pros and cons for me.
Disclaimer: These are just my opinions as a new owner and I make no claim, implied or otherwise, that these ideas were borne from a great mind.

Pros:

1)The motor counts for a lot and makes the boat incredibly versatile. Just today we went out but there was no wind, so it was a power boat day and we swam, fished, had lunch and saw some sights. I don't know if that would be comfortable or practical to do with a 5hp trolling motor.

2) There is a lot of interior space. I haven't been on a lot of other sailboats but from what I've seen, in the 26' range they have a lot more cockpit space and a lot less interior space than a MacGregor. This could also be a con, because I'm kind of envious of how roomy the Hunter cockpits look.

3) Keeping the trailer and having a boat that is easily trailerable makes large repairs and maintenance a lot less expensive and a lot more feasible.

4) 26' is the sweet spot in terms of cost of a slip and space on board. It's not a pocket sailor but it's also not $600+ a month for a slip. So don't think because you're going to be in a slip you may as well get a 32'.

5) You can beach them! I haven't done this because I haven't found a sandy place to do it, but that is a very cool feature for a boat.

6) People criticize this as a boat that does nothing well. Or rather, that a dedicated sailing boat will sail better, and a dedicated power boat will perform better. I see this is a boat that can do a little bit of everything safely, reliably, relatively inexpensively and to at least an adequate level. That's a lot of things!

Cons:

1) As mentioned above, I personally would like a larger cockpit. But I also haven't spent any time overnighting yet so perhaps I'll come to love the interior...

2) I really struggle keeping it on course when sailing solo. I think if it had a 2 ton keel underneath it it might be a little more steady? Maybe?

3) It catches wind. Having the daggerboard and rudders down does help, but it does like to catch the wind hard and then it has a mind of its own. That's the cost of the interior and a planing hull.

Ultimately, you want to be confident in what you buy. I knew that I wanted a 26M, 100%, so that's what I got. Couldn't recommend it more!

Launching isn't that bad. Just avoid crowded times and windy weather.

A compromise is mast up land storage and launch as needed.

This allows economy and the ability to move the boat on your own and not depend on a yard. I hate hate hate depending on the a boat yard.

return of the mac,
A slip is without question easier than rigging every time, BUT, the first time you wish to take that on a trailer somewhere for a weekend trip or longer, you forget about your other choices; (A) because you can easily do it, and (B) because of that roomy cabin. We sleep in the aft berth. Bigger than a queen size bed is nice.

kevinkirby wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:13 am Hey everyone! As you may or may not know, I have been on the hunt for a M26 for some time now. Well I have narrowed my search to two M26's. Now after doing much research I am dealing with a fudundrum. Where will I keep it? I was reading a thread on here from a guy who was having nightmares launching his 26 at public boat ramps. There were responses to him from other owners saying that they fixed this issue by acquiring a wet slip to keep their boat.
Well that is where I am struggling a bit. The reason for a M26 is the trailerability of the boat plus the advantage of not having the bottom issues and exposure issues that come with wet slips. So if I have to keep it in a wet slip for convenience....why not get a Catalina with more room at half the price?
So I guess I'm asking for a survey of sorts from you guys as to what you have dome with your MacGregors? Are you happy that you got the MacGregor? Do you trailer it or wet slip it? Are you happy with the room when loaded with family for weekend sailing?
I'm on the verge and looking for opinions. Thanks! K

If you are comparing a pre-26X Macgregor with a Catalina 25 or similar, then there is no big difference, especially if you are keeping it in a slip. Get whichever one you like better from a price/condition standpoint, you won't be disappointed with either.

Macgregors from 1997 (or late 1996, I believe, was the first 26X) are motorsailors with standing headroom below, and are a different animal. I wouldn't dream of trading our X for any other trailer-sailor. Sooooo many advantages of the 26X (or 26M as a close second choice) over a Catalina or any other trailer sailor that I can think of.

Any trailer-sailor is a drag to launch, especially for a day-sail. Some are easier, some are harder. With a little bit of thought, some experience, and some parts, you can launch a stock 26X in under half an hour. Ours takes about 45 minutes, but we have a full enclosure to put up, solar, cushions, BBQ, paddleboards and all the extras needed for extended trips.

Our Siren 17 was launchable in 20 minutes. But the X is on another planet compared to the Siren.

Ok, looking at M26's is a tad vague. Are you looking at M26X, M, S, C, D?

Another consideration. If you get a Mac, we all want pizza.

kevinkirby wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:13 am Hey everyone! As you may or may not know, I have been on the hunt for a M26 for some time now. W

Yes there is a learning curve when you first launch a Mac 26 I own a 26 macx . My number 1 reason for a trailer sailer is I am a coastal sailer out of Houston Texas and don’t want to deal with a boat at a slip when a hurricane pops at a moments notice ,same reason I don’t own a beach house anymore. Second reason is options to sail in different water ways , 3 rd is Macgregor sailboats are hands down one of the safest roomiest boat available.

returnofthemac wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:52 pm 2) I really struggle keeping it on course when sailing solo. I think if it had a 2 ton keel underneath it it might be a little more steady? Maybe?

I think it has more to do with the hull shape and the chines. Hull shape is necessarily a compromise for both modes.

kevinkirby wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:13 am Do you trailer it or wet slip it?

How old are you? I ask because when I bought my X over twenty years ago I was in my early 30's and needed to save money so off-marina storage was my only option. When I was in my late 30's I had some more money and wanted less work so I moved to the mast-up storage lot at the top of the launch ramp. When I was in my mid 40's I was done towing and got a slip, but liked knowing that I could trailer it anywhere I wanted to. Now that I'm in my 50's the annual maintenance haul out and drop in is enough trailering for me.

When I bought my "X" it was in the water and had been for as long as the previous owner had owned it. The person he bought if from launched it, raised the mast, and parked the trailer for him. The mast did not come down and the trailer was not moved until I took the boat to my house several years later. That worked for him.

I prefer to keep it on the trailer until I'm ready to use it. Learning to launch and retrieve the boat did take a while. I've owned trailerable boats for more than 50 years and it still took a while to learn how the boat responds to current and wind at the boat ramp. I won't deny that it was a little nerve-racking at first but it is a skill you can acquire.

Not paying for storage when I'm not using the boat was a high priority for me. I have a strong aversion to paying for something I'm not using. I could have bought a much larger boat for the same cost but one thing that I learned a long time ago was that it is not the purchase price that is important; it is the recurring costs. Around here just the cost of a wet slip (without electric) for two years would be significantly more than I paid for the boat, trailer, and outboard.

In the end, you will need to balance the various factors based on what is important to you. I knew I could learn the idiosyncrasies of launching and retrieving the boat in adverse conditions but no amount of "learning" was going to eliminate the recurring costs of keeping a boat in the water.

I am 62. Thanks for all the replies! There are definitely a lot of things to mull over. I am a member of a local yacht club so I have options. First and foremost I have to decide on a boat. So I'll put this out there for you experienced owners to give me your opinion.
First option: 2007 model 26M. White hull. Totally redone with new (2020) sails, dodger, bimini, sail covers, cushions. New double axel galvanized trailer. (2019) New Mercury 60 Four Stroke (2019 w/extended warranty till 2026) Minimal solar and new Chart plotter. Fresh Water use only. Location....15 hours away so road trip and associated costs.






Second Option: 2008 Model 26M. Blue hull. Brand new top and bottom paint. Brand new aluminum double axle trailer. Fairly new sails. Original 2008 50hp two stroke Evinrude. Everything else is pretty much stock. Location: Within 5 miles. Then there's that.....






Both are comparable in price. Love the gorgeous blue hull and the new aluminum trailer. 2008 two stroke 50hp....blah.
Love the total redo of the white boat and the warrantied new 60hp Mercury! Not too wild about the 15hour drive to get it! Hmmmmm.....