You could cross the Atlantic in a Macgregor 26 - people have crossed the Atlantic in dories and other types of rowboats so it is possible.
Macgregor 26 ocean crossing. At sea thats about the difference between being in a cardboard box or a bunker - which would you rather be in. At 26 feet it is simple to rig and sail and just as easy to transport. Now this is not to say one that isnt like the MacGregor is not a good or even a great boat - it is a great boat for its purpose.
The Binliner would be just as poor on a serious Atlantic. The Cal 26 for example is 6700 lbs compared to the 1800 lb MacGregor 26. The MacGregor 26 is a hybrid appealing primarily to trailersailors strapped for time and concerned about the rising cost of slip and mooring fees.
Yes the Mac is light and this is an advantage up to some point but for true ocean crossing she is not designed for and we should respect this. A deep Keel is what is needed. I know that smaller boats have crossed the Atlantic safely but they are generally very different in construction and design from the Macgregor.
After reading many articles about owners of Macgregors crossing the Gulf stream we started to. I got scared too often when sitting on my Mac hooked to the cockpit and praying that the mast does not come down although I was only sailing with a hankerchief. Instead of chugging with the diesel at 4 knots the Macgregor 26M speeds along at 22 mph.
Beneteau Oceanis 510 Motion Comfort2602 Benford 26 Cutter Motion Comfort245 Benford 34 Badger Motion Comfort2197 Benford 36 Donna Motion Comfort2601 Benford 375 Motion Comfort2565 Bengel lm32 Motion Comfort2783 Bodega 30 Motion Comfort2636 Bolger AS29 No Reacher Motion Comfort2862 Bolger AS29 With Reacher Motion. We mostly day sailed the two summers we owned the boat but in the second summer we spent some weekends and one niters having a great time. Instead of chugging with the diesel at 4 knots the MacGregor 26 speeds along at 22 mph.
Water Ballast is not what one needs. We have been thinking of buying a MacGregor for years mostly because we live right on the Intracoastal at a place that the bridge over the inlet does not raise a MacGregor would let us lower the mast so we could get out to the ocean without having to sail 3. Any Mac model would be good for sailing on.