Macgregor 26X Mr.
Macgregor 26 ocean sailing. Really enjoy taking her out for sails as me and my wife are both learning to sail. This is very important in my area because California slips are mucho expensive. Contrary to marketers of lesser vessels who like to say otherwise MacGregor Yachts is a builder of ocean sail boats and not a builder of boats meant for the first time purchaser.
Instead of chugging with the diesel at 4 knots the MacGregor 26 speeds along at 22 mph. Boats are all compromises of one stripe or another but Ive focused pretty closely on the Macgregor 26 for the following reasons. The Macgregor is an ultralight trailer sailer designed for coastal sailing not the North Atlantic.
Admittly it has limitations but you learn to live within them. The M25 had a weighted centerboard keel like other trailer able sailboats but featured positive flotation a low price easy trailer ability and a comfortable interior with an enclosed head porta-potty. The MacGregor 26 is a hybrid appealing primarily to trailersailors strapped for time and concerned about the rising cost of slip and mooring fees.
As sailpower hybrids both the M and X models are designed for use with a more than auxilary sized outboard rated for 5-50hp and water ballast. I know that smaller boats have crossed the Atlantic safely but they are generally very different in construction and design from the Macgregor. We did blue water sailing in an Ericson 35 a much heavier and stronger boat than a Macgregor.
Another graphic presentation of why the MacGregor 26 is the best selling cruising sailboat in the world. This one shows how the M26 handles high winds and ro. The MACGREGOR 26M replaced the MACGREGOR 26X in 2003.
MacGregor 26 with its poor sail performance lack of proper ballast or top. These features carried forward into M26 models and helped make MacGregor one. The Macgregor 26 is a hybrid appealing primarily to trailersailors strapped for time and concerned about the rising cost of slip and mooring fees.