macgregor sailboat specs

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Pay My Bill
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter
• Give a Gift

How to Sell Your Boat

Cal 2-46: A Venerable Lapworth Design Brought Up to Date

Rhumb Lines: Show Highlights from Annapolis

Open Transom Pros and Cons

Leaping Into Lithium

The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning

Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection

Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling

Rethinking MOB Prevention

Top-notch Wind Indicators

The Everlasting Multihull Trampoline

In Search of the Snag-free Clew

What’s Involved in Setting Up a Lithium Battery System?

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Breaking Point: What Can Go Wrong With Your Yanmar?

Mildew-resistant Caulks for Boats

Can We Trust Plastic Boat Parts?

Repairing Molded Plastics

Mailport: Marine plywood, fuel additives, through bolt options, winch handle holders

The Day Sailor’s First-Aid Kit

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

Rhumb Lines: Livin’ the Wharf Rat Life

Resurrecting Slippery Boat Shoes

Shoe Goo’s Gift to Sailors

Tricks and Tips to Forming Do-it-yourself Rigging Terminals

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

Learning to Live with Plastic Boat Bits

The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Clear Plastic

• Sailboat Reviews

MacGregor 26 (newer model)

This hybrid powersailer is so popular that the company has a year- long backlog of orders. its an inexpensive entry level sailboat also capable of towing a water skier..

MacGregor Yachts, one of the largest builders in the US, has a well-established reputation as the producer of inexpensive boats. Located in Orange County, California, its plant sits across the street from the former headquarters of Westsail and Islander in a neighborhood that in 1973 built more than 24,000 boats with a retail value of $88 million. A year later, the number of boatbuilders shrank from 46 to 22. MacGregor endured by sticking to a business plan that is strong on financial and management principles and devoid of romance.

The company was founded by Roger MacGregor as a hobby following his successful completion of the MBA program at Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, second in a class of 200; he had previously graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in economics from Occidental College.

MacGregors studies at Stanford produced a business model based on the sailboat industry that he eventually used as the blueprint for the company. In 1964, while employed at Ford Aerospace, he began building boats as a hobby. Wife Lou, who is still active in the business, oversaw the embryonic stages of the company.

In 1967, when I was finally making more money from the hobby than my real job, I moved into boatbuilding full time, he recalled.

Since that modest beginning the company has built more than 37,000 boats in its 65,000-square-foot factory, and has annual sales of $10 million. It employees 150 people.

Initially marketed under the Venture brand, the name was changed to MacGregor in 1977. Though the company focused on 22- to 25-foot fiberglass sloops, it made a foray into the big boat market in the 1980s with the MacGregor 65 ULDB, which MacGregor claims was the most successfully produced big boat in the industry. A decade earlier, MacGregor built a 36′ catamaran.

Unlike many industry doomsayers, MacGregor doesn’t agree that the sailboat market has dried up; he thinks people have lost interest because of a perception that sailing is too complicated. To attract newcomers to the sport, he builds boats that are simple to operate, require little maintenance, and are low-priced. His 28-page owners manual is written in everyday English, and includes basic sailing instructions. He also has recruited a loyal dealer network that understands the product and caters to first-time buyers.

MacGregors strategy is to concentrate the entire production effort on one boat so as to amortize production and tooling costs over a long run.

Over the years we have zeroed in on the 26-footer for a number of reasons. It is the largest boat that can be easily and safely trailered and launched, and economically shipped in containers.

Originally introduced as the 26X, the new model replaced an earlier MacGregor 26, a water-ballasted sloop previously reviewed in PS (November 1, 1987 and August 1, 1995); 7,000 of the first model were produced. Since its introduction in 1995, 4,000 of the new 26s have been built, and the company enjoys a backlog of orders stretching into 2001. MacGregor sees no need to increase production, which currently turns out one boat every two hours.

The Design The 26X, conceptually similar to the powersailers built by Lancer in the 1980s, represents MacGregors attempt to reach several markets with a boat capable of sailing at 7 knots and powering at 20-plus knots.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the boat gets average marks. Viewed from the bow, with an entry angle of 18, it has a conventional appearance. Viewed from the beam, its high topsides are evident. Freeboard amidships is 3′ 5″.

Unlike the rounded sections of her predecessor, the new model has a flat, straight bottom designed to enhance planing while under sail or power. It also has a harder turn of the bilge, which translates to a higher initial righting moment. Some owners say the boat will carry a genoa in 15-18 knots of wind before reefing the main or shortening the headsail.

The boat displaces 3,750 lbs. with full tanks; the sail area/displacement ratio (SA/D) is 19 and the displacement/length ratio (D/L) is 138, which indicate the potential for speed.

However, MacGregor says, these figures don’t mean much because crew and gear weight is such a big part of the all up weight. He said that every 100 pounds of weight in the boat reduces speed under power by one mile per hour.

Construction MacGregors theory is that he can sustain his success by eliminating inconsistencies and waste from the production process. Fiberglass fabrics used in the lay-up are cut in patterns and bundled in sequence for laminators.

The hull, deck and interior liners are solid, hand-laid fiberglass, and MacGregor brags that theres not a chopper gun in the factory; instead, workers use low-volume airless guns to wet out resins. No cores are used.

He is particularly rankled by critics who claim his methods are quick and dirty.

We have the neatest, most tightly controlled plant on the earth, and these boats arent failing, he said.

The lamination schedule calls for a layer of 1-oz. mat, followed by 10-oz. cloth, a layer of 1.5-oz. mat, 24-oz. roving, and layers of 1.5-oz. mat and roving. High-load areas in the centerboard trunk and bow have 15 layers of fiberglass built to a thickness of 3/4″; low-load areas are 3/16″-3/8″ thick.

The hull-deck joint is two outward-turning flanges that are secured with stainless steel bolts and locknuts with nylon inserts located on 4″ centers. The joint is bonded with 3M 5200 and the seam is covered with a rubber rail.

The liners are bonded to the hull with 6″ wide strips of mat and roving.

Boats built since spring 1999 have a new deck structure. Older boats have a balsa-cored deck and companionway hatch. The new deck is stiffened by a series of solid fiberglass U-shaped beams with an outer flange bonded to the inside of the deck. The beams, which are on 4″-6″ centers, are filled with foam, over which are laid layers of 1.5-oz. mat; the deck liner is then laid over the deck, which compresses the foam and bonds the deck and liner.

MacGregor said the new method produces a stronger structure and avoids the problems of rot with balsa. The process also reduces weight by 125 lbs.

Water ballast is carried in a chamber that runs from 3′ forward of the transom to the V-berth; it is 4′ wide and acts as a longitudinal stringer. It is enclosed by a fiberglass module bonded to the hull.

This leaves precious little area below the sole for a bilge. Because there is no way to inspect the bilge without looking behind the galley, there is no way of knowing how much water is in it. The company now drills a 1/2″ hole in the sole below the companionway to allow bilge water to appear on the floor of the main cabin.

Without the hole it is possible for the boat to collect a really large, stability-threatening load of bilge water, MacGregor said. Since the liner floor area is essentially a watertight tub, the skipper had no way of knowing until it reached the level of the cutout in the face of the galley.

I prefer a more obvious warning. When he steps in the cabin and ends up with water up to his ankles he will get the message. I recommend owners of older boats make a similar hole, being careful not to drill into the water tank.

One owner said cleaning up bilge water on the sole is messy.

A company video shows that, will full ballast tanks, the boat is self righting. With 120 lbs. of pressure on the jib halyard, the mast lay in the water, and immediately popped upright when the halyard was released; MacGregor said the limit of positive stability is about 115.

MacGregor also claims the boat has positive flotation; the same video shows a boat still floating that is filled with water halfway up the cockpit floor. Flotation is Styrofoam blocks in the cockpit coaming, bow, and under the anchor locker.

As weve written before, water ballast doesn’t produce as stiff a boat as lead, but because you can drain it on the ramp (or dump it underway going 8 knots or faster), you don’t have to tow it down the road.

The centerboard is hollow with drain holes, the bottom of which is filled with resin. It weighs 25 lbs., compared to 600 lbs. in the original 26. The board retracts into the hull, thus avoiding potential damage while launching and loading.

Access to deck hardware and wires is via liner plugs mounted throughout the boat; access to the motor mount and rudder mount are through a hatch in the stern.

The mast is a 7/8 fractional rig with swept-back spreaders and two shrouds; spreaders are mounted in sockets on the mast, an improvement over the original 26. MacGregor constructs the spar from 3″ x 4″ extrusions with wall thicknesses of 1/8″. Standing rigging is 1/8″ 7 x 19 wire on the stays, and 5/32″ 1 x 19 for the shrouds.

Despite criticism that the rigging is too light, MacGregor said, These rigs just don’t come down.

Chainplates are bolted through the hull with stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts. They are strong enough that during construction they are used to remove the hull from the mold;

Deck The cockpit and deck are typical of boats this size; however, there are no side decks so movement forward is over the cabintop. There are lifelines running from the stern pulpit to the base of the bow pulpit; owners with small children would be well-advised to install safety netting at the bow.

Deck hardware consists of two Lewmar #6 winches and cam cleats for the centerboard and furler lines, vang and halyard, located atop the cabin. The centerboard raises easily from the cockpit.

The helm is a movable seat on the transom behind a steering pedestal; cockpit seats are more than 6′ long, and wide enough to be comfortable for most adults.

Because of its size, the small stainless steel steering wheel looks out of place in the cockpit; however, it is reachable from the helmsmans seat, or the rail.

The mainsheet terminates at a padeye atop a stainless steel pipe inside the pedestal. Though the mainsheet arrangement is convenient to the helmsman, we think a sailor intent on proper sail shape will be frustrated.

MacGregor disagrees. The vang (a $69 option) will control the leech adequately.

The boat is equipped with twin rudders, which improves handling when heeled, and provides space on the transom for up to a 50-hp. motor. The rudders raise easily with ropes cleated on the transom.

The motor is raised electrically from controls on the steering pedestal. One boat we inspected had the cables hidden under a polypropylene strip on the cockpit sole, and on another boat they were led through a hole in the side of the cockpit aft through the stern.

A stainless steel rod attached to the rudders and the front of the motor allows moving them simultaneously.

We were alarmed at the location of the factory-installed stern ladder, which is mounted between the port rudder and the engine, close enough to the engine propeller to be a hazard. Todd McChesney of Bluewater Yachts in Seattle, with whom we sailed, installs a ladder fabricated in Seattle that is mounted outboard of the rudder, a better alternative.

Accommodations The area belowdecks feels spacious, a reflection of the 90″ beam, lack of bulkheads or visual intrusions, shiny gelcoat surfaces that are devoid of any wood trim, and reasonable headroom. The company advertises standing headroom. We measured 510″ headroom at the foot of the companionway, but theres less amidships.

Accommodations include a king-sized berth below the cockpit, galley and two settees to port, head and dinette to starboard, and V-berth large enough for two adults.

Though the boat is advertised as having sleeping accommodations for six, MacGregor says thats two too many. The aft berth measures 90″ x 78″, and has enough headroom to use the hull as a backrest. The forward V-berth is 76″ wide at the head, and the dinette converts to a double that measures 80″ long and 41″ wide.

Except for a smoked Plexiglas door enclosing the head, the entire area is wide open, so privacy curtains fore and aft would be high on our list of additions.

The dinette is elevated, providing virtually 360 sight lines through fixed ports, forward hatches and the companionway hatch-a good touch. The table, which is nearly 36 inches square, has a clever feature-a clear acrylic insert flush with the surface of the table under which a chart can be placed. The aft dinette seat is 41″ wide and 18″ deep; the forward seat is slightly smaller.

Stowage below the forward seat extends to the V-berth, and stowage for a removable 48-quart ice chest is located below the aft seat.

The head is marginally large enough to allow showering. It is 25″ wide, 40″ long, and has 57″ of headroom. The only furnishings are a molded sink, small storage area, and a mirror on the bulkhead. A porta-potty is equipped with a holding tank.

The galley is quite small. Counter space consists of several 4″ x 5″ ceramic tiles, a molded fiberglass sink with a freshwater faucet, and cutout for an optional two-burner stove. The galley could use more stowage.

The finish of stowage areas isn’t great; we found rough surfaces on the hull as well as fiberglass shards that can produce cuts.

Performance We tested the boat on a dead calm day so were able to try her agility under power. We had to rely on owner comments for input about sailing characteristics.

Because of its high profile and hull shape, upwind performance is average at best. Most owners opt for a CDI roller furler, a $495 option.

I usually allow 95-105 for a tack, the owner said. Absolute perfect sailing is in 10-15 knots of wind on a close reach. Ive sailed the boat in as much as 35 knots with reduced sail.

Gene Arena, a dealer who has represented MacGregor in San Francisco since 1968, said the boats fare well in the bays gusty, lumpy conditions.

We have to reef this boat sooner than a typical 25′ keel boat, he said, but even novices learn to sail the boat quickly. We typically put the first reef in when wind speed reaches 15-20 knots; when wind speed exceeds 25 knots we tuck in the second reef and reduce the headsail to 65%.

The calculated jib sheeting angle is 11, but Arena said, I don’t think this boat points as well as the old 26 because it has more windage and a different hull shape, so the best bet is to foot off 10.

An owner who sails regularly on San Francisco Bay said, My wife and I sail the boat regularly in 20-knot winds with no problems. With a reef in the main, shes stable and sails well, heeling about 15. But Id never take her into blue water.

Another owner, who sails off the coast of Northern California, said, We typically have 15-20-knot winds, and long 8′-10′ swells, which she handles easily. I think this is an outstanding boat. I was knocked over 50 by a 40-mile per hour gust, and she popped right up and nothing broke.

A Puget Sound sailor, who said he usually sails the boat under shortened sail, records speeds of 8 knots on a broad reach with the genoa. I also like the fact that the bigger motor allows me to fight the heavy current we experience in the Northwest, he said.

The PHRF handicap is between 240 and 250.

MacGregor claims top speed under power exceeds 20 knots, which we confirmed on our test with a boat powered by a 50-hp. outboard. A 9.9-hp. will push the boat at 6-7 knots, a 25-hp. at 12-14 knots. Most buyers opt for the 50-hp. motor. But the added weight of the big outboard has its downside. One owner said, The boat ends up with too much weight aft with 180-230 pounds of motor on the stern, ballast tank, gas tanks, and passengers.

In addition to straight-ahead speeds, we made 360 turns at 18 knots with relative ease and noted that the boat stays relatively flat. In choppy seas, the flat bottom could be expected to pound.

As for its seaworthiness, Roger MacGregor said, The 26 was designed for typical small cruising boat use-inland waters and limited coastal sailing. It is too small to be a long-distance passagemaker. It wont hold enough gear and supplies, and the long-term, day-after-day motion of a small, light sailboat can be tough on the crew.

There are thousands of these boats out there, and many have been caught in, and survived, some really extreme weather conditions, on both lakes and oceans. Like most small cruising sailboats, the 26 can handle high winds and nasty seas, but risk and discomfort levels increase dramatically in severe weather. To maximize fun and safety, most of our owners wisely keep a watchful eye on the weather and try to avoid severe conditions.

Conclusion Theres no question MacGregor is building an inexpensive product that sells for $4,000-$6,000 less than its primary competitors. The list price for boat, sails and trailer is $14,995 FOB the factory. Genoa and gear, roller furling, cruising spinnaker, vang, mast raising system, stove, cushions and transportation jump the price to $17,000; add $5,000-$7,000 for engine and electronics.

They also enjoy relatively high resale. Two-year-old boats on the market are selling for 85%-90% of their original prices.

The owner of a recent model sums it up well, She is fast enough to be pleasurable, forgiving enough that I can be stupid, balanced enough that I can be lazy.

The two-year warranty covers all parts manufactured by MacGregor.

Contact- MacGregor Yacht Corp., 1631 Placentia, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627; 949/642-6830.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

I’d like to add that my MacGregor 26 M has as much room as some 35 footers. I bought it new in 2006 and I will never tire of it! It is the “Jeep” of sailboats, it can float in 12″ of water, and can drive right up on the beach. With a 4-stroke Merc 60 hp, she’ll do 21 mph fully loaded (actually overloaded). She’ll get up on a plane and you’re gone, baby! And at terrific fuel mileage. She sails ok but you won’t win any races, however it wins points being able to sail on a beautiful sunset evening, with nothing but music and no engine noise. She is amazing and people are curious to see how it functions and love it. In Puget Sound the weather changes quickly, but you can get home or back to safe harbor lickity-split, Thank you Roger MacGregor! Mike Jones “Antares”

There is so much information to read I’m wondering if the information to be processed is still relevant. I learn so much about the Mac Gregor 26. This sailboat sounds to amazing to be true in todays market prices. Just starting to to research and there are a lot of older ones out there for sale. Millions dollar question -wait and get new or get old to learn as I go knowing a boat will be more costly so I have to have some throw-away cash on the side

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

How To Make Starlink Better On Your Boat | Interview

Catalina 380: What You Should Know | Boat Review

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager

Macgregor 26s

The macgregor 26s is a 25.82ft fractional sloop designed by roger macgregor and built in fiberglass by macgregor yacht corp between 1990 and 1995..

The Macgregor 26s is an ultralight sailboat which is a good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.

Macgregor 26s for sale elsewhere on the web:

Main features

Login or register to personnalize this screen.

You will be able to pin external links of your choice.

See how Sailboatlab works in video

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Accommodations

Builder data, other photos.

Modal Title

The content of your modal.

Personalize your sailboat data sheet

Owner's Review of the MacGregor 26 Sailboat Models

There is some confusion about all of the different MacGregor 26 models and some controversy about their sailing abilities.

The MacGregor 26 evolved after the Venture 22 and the MacGregor 25, which had been built from 1973 to about 1987. 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). These features carried forward into M26 models and helped make MacGregor one of the bestselling sailboats.

Differences in MacGregor 26 Models

• The MacGregor 26D (daggerboard), built from about 1986 to 1990, introduced water ballast to replace the weighted keel. When the water was drained for trailering, the boat weighed only 1650 lbs, making it even more attractive for towing with a regular automobile. The daggerboard, like a keel, helps prevent the boat from being blown sideways but could be lifted up for shoal water and trailering.
• The MacGregor 26S , 1990 to 1995, replaced the daggerboard with a swing centerboard (which kicks up in an accidental grounding) and made other smaller changes. Together, the 26D and 26S are often called the "classic" MacGregor 26, and sometimes the 26C. Owners of these earlier models tend to refer to them as "the real sailboats" prior to the changes coming with the MacGregor 26X.
• The MacGregor 26X , 1996 to 2004, marked a major change from the earlier "classic" M26 models by allowing a relatively huge outboard engine that essentially turned the 26X into a powerboat with a mast. Earlier models typically carried outboards as low as 5 or 6 HP (max. 10 HP), but the 26X now took up to 50 HP. For comparison, many thirty-six foot sailboats of this era, displacing more than five times the M's weight, had inboard engines of 25-30 HP. The water ballast could be drained of power, allowing the M26X to come up on a plane like a speedboat. The outboard well had to be moved to the centerline, with twin rudders to each side, and steering changed from tiller to a small powerboat-type steering wheel. The cabin height was increased for greater room inside and the boat is said to sail less well than the earlier 26.
• The MacGregor 26M (motorsailor), 2005 to present, continued the 26X's trend, now allowing up to a 60 HP outboard. The swing centerboard was replaced with a daggerboard to free up more space below and the second tier of windows was added with standing headroom. The boat is advertised to motor at 24 MPH. In addition to the water ballast, there are 300 lbs of permanent ballast, likely needed for stability with so much windage and the high weight of the engine. At 2550 lbs dry (excluding engine), it now needs stronger vehicle and tow package.

Risks and Precautions

Many traditional sailors joke about MacGregors because of the light fiberglass construction (the hull can "oilcan" flex in places if you push hard against it) and its powerboat characteristics since 1996. Many say it is not a "real sailboat." Most misunderstood, however, is the water ballast that has been a hallmark of all twenty-six models.

The water ballast tank is horizontal and only a foot or so beneath the surface, unlike a vertical ballasted keel or centerboard that extends much deeper. Some have even questioned how water, weighing the same as the water displaced by the boat, can be called ballast at all. The ballast tank has been well engineered, however, and does provide righting moment the same as a keel when the boat heels over, because the weight of water far out from the centerline on the "uphill" side (in the air once heeled over) does pull the boat back down the same as a weighted keel.

This does mean that the boat is more tender, or tippy, initially. A story has been told about a sailor on one edge of the deck who grabbed the mast when the boat heeled, and his own weight pulling on the mast that far above the waterline caused the boat to capsize all the way over. Whether true or not, the story illustrates a common perception of how tender the MacGregor is.

It is true that an M26 with 10 people aboard capsized with two fatalities -- most likely due to uneven distribution of the human weight on the boat.

Safely Sail the Water-Ballast

In normal conditions, however, careful sailors can safely sail the water-ballast M26 by following standard precautions:

• Reef sails when the wind is blowing.
• Maintain good balance with crew weight balanced against heeling.
• Prevent accidental gybes.
• Keep the ballast tank full and well-sealed.
• Maintain steerage control at all times.
• Heave to or take other storm action in high wind or waves.
• Don't drink and sail.

The larger safety issue is that for many owners, the M26 is a "starter boat" and they may not have the experience or knowledge to avoid possible problems in time. The bottom line is that anyone who goes sailing needs to be fully aware of the limitations of their boat and practice all safety guidelines.

Experience With the MacGregor 26S

Having owned and sailed a 26S extensively for three years, it indeed sails fairly well and lives up to its reputation of being a roomy and easily trailered pocket cruiser. This sailboat can meet most budgetary needs and has room enough for a family of three to cruise for up to a week at a time.

It is a light boat, but with sailing experience and caution, trouble in winds to thirty knots can be easily avoided. The fiberglass is thin but you can avoid running into rocks. Thousands of MacGregor owners have had experiences where they thoroughly enjoyed sailing.

Keep in mind that it's a light boat and always take the precautions listed above. For powerboat owners of the 26X and 26M, the boat should be as safe as any powerboat but do not hit a rock or another boat at 24 MPH.

Learn the Parts of a Sailboat and How to Communicate Them

Heavy Weather Sailing

Learn How to Sail a Small Sailboat

The 4 Best Bass Boats

West Wight Potter 19 Sailboat Review

The Best Beach Tents of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Review of the O'Day Mariner 19 Sailboat

The Best Boat Anchors to Fit All Types of Vessels

How to Rig Your Small Sailboat and Prepare to Sail

The 9 Best Life Vests For Every Age and Sport

The 9 Best Boat Covers of 2024

The 12 Best Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboards of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

The 10 Best Lake and River Canoes of 2024

Tips for Buying a Used Boat for Water Sports

The Best Tandem Kayaks for a Smooth Ride

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Macgregor Yacht Corp

MacGregor Yacht Co. was founded by Roger MacGregor in 1961 as part of class project while he was an MBA student at the University of California. Located in southern California ,the company is still in business.(2008) The first boat was a small catamaran, but the product line consisted mainly of small, trailerable sailing yachts, from a 15-foot (4.6 m) catamaran to 17-foot (5.2 m) pocket cruisers, up to 26-foot water ballasted trailerable sizes. MacGregor has also built a 36-foot catamaran, and a 65-foot ULDB cruiser-racer. The MACGREGOR 65, with more than 100 sold, was one of the most successful boats of this size ever built. Early models were called VENTURE’s, but after 1969, all models were called MACGREGOR’S. Currently the only model in production is the extremely popular MACGREGOR 26M, a 26-foot (7.9 m) trailerable sailboat that can except a large outboard motor makin it capable of relatively higher speeds under power. It is estimeated that more than 3600 Ventures/MacGregors have been built. Thanks to Samuel Trickey for his help in getting something of the specs sorted out for different models. HOT NEWS: After 58 years of production, and 38,000 sailboats, the MacGregors are retiring. Production of the MacGregor 26 has been discontinued. Our daughter and son in law, Laura and Paul Sharp, have opened a new boat building business in Stuart, Florida, and are manufacturing a boat similar to our MacGregor 26. Contact them at tattooyachts.com

• Roger MacGregor

22 sailboats built by Macgregor Yacht Corp

Macgregor 25

Macgregor 26X

Macgregor 36

Macgregor 65 Pilot House

Macgregor 65

Macgregor 19

Venture 222

Macgregor 22

Venture OF Newport 23

Macgregor 26M

Macgregor 26S

Macgregor 26D

Venture 2-24

Venture 15 Catamaran (1970)

Macgregor 24.

Macgregor 21

Venture 15 catamaran (1974).

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

HOT NEWS from Roger MacGregor :

AFTER BUILDING 40,000 MACGREGOR SAILBOATS, ITS RETIREMENT TIME.  (Sort of) .

It has dawned on the MacGregors that we are suddenly way beyond retirement age, beyond geezerhood, and it’s time to start a new career. We have recently ended production of the MacGregor sailboats at our Costa Mesa, California plant, and are continuing to develop our all new MacGregor 70. We have converted our 5 acre production site to 11 industrial rental units. We are now big time landlords.

EVERY YEAR, FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS , THE VARIOUS MODELS OF THE MACGREGOR 25 AND MACGREGOR 26 HAVE BEEN THE BEST SELLING SMALL CRUISING TYPE SAILBOATS, NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.   WE CAN THINK OF NO OTHER MANUFACTURER, OF ANY TYPE OF PRODUCT, THAT HAS SO TOTALLY DOMINATED ITS MARKET FOR SO LONG A PERIOD OF TIME .

SEE BROCHURES FOR ALL OF THE SAILBOATS WE HAVE BUILT (click here)

MACGREGOR RETIREMENT, DETAILS (Click here)

ROGER MACGREGOR PERSONAL INFORMATION (click here)

HOW WE STARTED AND WHY IT WORKED SO WELL (click here)

THE GOLDEN ERA OF SAILBOAT BUILDING (click here)

INSTRUCTION MANUALS FOR EACH BOAT (click here)

HOW TO SAIL (click here)

VIDEOS (click here)

CONTACT US (click here)

adventures aboard our CS34 sailboat

• Thousand Islands
• Ontario to Bahamas 2023
• Maintenance
• Just Pictures

Macgregor 26x Sailboat

The MacGregor 26x sailboat was first introduced in 1995 by the Macgregor Yacht Corp, built by Roger MacGregor. Later, in 2003, it was replaced with the Macgregor 26m. And in 2013, MacGregor stopped production of their sailboats. The same design was continued by a separate company, Tattoo Yachts (daughter Laura Macgregor Sharp), with a Tattoo 26 sailboat.

Some prefer the 26M vs 26X since it is newer. Personally, my favourite is still the 26X, my opinion is biased because I owned one.

Below is the video that made me want a Macgregor power sailor. OK, I admit, it looks ridiculous seeing a sailboat go so fast. But it is fun.

2012 Macgregor Boat Specifications

• Overall length: 25.82ft (7.87m)
• Waterline length: 23.00ft (7.01m)
• Draft – swing keel down: 5.50ft (1.68m)
• Draft – swing keel up: 0.75ft (0.23m)
• Mast height (above deck): 28ft (8.5m)
• Mast height (above water line): approx 36ft (11m)
• Boat height (mast folded): Approx 11ft (3.4m)
• Displacement: 2,250lbs (1,021kg)
• Water ballast: 1,500lbs (680kg)
• Outboard engine: 50hp (but have seen some 60hp or higher)

DISCLAIMER: I suggest taking your own measurements before attempting to squeeze under or over something. The measurements above are estimates. Height and depth will change with ballast and amount of weight you have on the boat. 

Benefits of a Macgregor Sailboat

After two years of experience on the water, here’s why I loved our Macgregor:

Get to your destination faster

It seems to happen more times that I was expecting. Out for a great sail and then the wind dies down. Or your destination is exactly upwind. If you are in a rush, you can start up the motor and you will easily beat the rest of the sailboats back to the dock, and the bar.

A large keelboat is heavily anchored to their home port. With our trip to the Thousand Islands, it would have taken us three days to sail there. Having a boat on a trailer allowed us to get there within a day. For further destinations, like Bruce Peninsula, can also be quickly and easily reached. Our Macgregor allowed us to spend more time at our destination.

You don’t need a massive pickup truck to trailer. The boat is light on the trailer with the water ballast emptied, I’ve seen Macgregor’s being towed by cars and minivans.

Low maintenance

Boat exterior is mostly fiberglass and stainless steel with no wood to maintain each season. A buff and a wax makes the hull shine like new every season. The gear on board is simple, and replacing lines and other equipment is very cheap compared to other boats.

At end of season, watching larger boats prepare for winter looks painful and expensive with boat cradles and cranes being setup in the marina. We just pull the boat up onto the trailer and take it home.

You can trailer it to where you want to do maintenance. Have a mechanic on the other side of town? No problem! I also liked the fact I could bring the boat home and work on it in my front yard.

I replaced all of the interior cabin lights for $4. Yes, I bought LED lights for all two of the interior cabin lights. You hear of others spending hundreds of dollars to retrofit to LED.

There are two batteries, one automobile battery and one deep cell battery. Both can easily taken out of the boat and replaced.

Simplicity and easy sail

Lines leading back to the cockpit are simple. While more experienced sailors will scoff at the lack of a traveller, or adjustable backstay, no whisker poles or laugh at the few available tiny winches. As a new sailor, I  really enjoyed the simplicity. It made sailing really easy. In the end, I’m probably losing a knot of speed compared to a fully equipped sailboat but I never really cared. It was the journey. And if it was more about getting to the destination faster I would just start up the engine and beat every other sailboat there.

I’ve read that some people say that the Macgregor suffers in big wind. I found the opposite, our best sail was with a nice steady gust coming in and we skimmed along on a close reach for about 30 mins. Outpacing two other sailboats. Under light wind, performance was slower. Mostly because we had a small jib. But as a beginner, I preferred this as it kept the boat more upright.

No matter the weather, I always felt safe in our boat. Knowing that we can outrun almost any unexpected storm by starting up the motor and racing back to port.  We’ve been in big waves and we’ve been in high wind. And never felt like the boat was unsafe.

There’s also some great videos online showing the Macgregor in big waves and even one attempting to roll the boat. The boat will self right (with ballast full) and even if it fills with water it will continue to float the foam built into the hull.

Go places where sailboats can’t

We spent a season on the Trent Severn waterway. Not a typical spot for a sailboat. But since we could easily tilt our mast down to get under bridges and into lift locks we could explore areas that sailboats have difficulty getting into. We are probably one of the few 26 foot sailboats with a sail up on Clear Lake.

With a low draft we found spots to stay overnight in the thousand islands that the bigger boats couldn’t get close to. I’ve even seen other Macgregor sailboats pulled up onto a beach. I could never bring myself to do this, but maybe in an emergency.

Negative aspects of a Macgregor

I’ll admit, it’s not the perfect boat. I don’t think a perfect boat exists out there. So here’s a few things to consider with a Macgregor.

Neither powerboat or sailboat

It’s a hybrid, and like a hybrid bicycle, it has benefits of both worlds but doesn’t excel in either. It’s a sailboat, but won’t perform as well as a true sailboat. It’s a powerboat, but it’s not going to be faster than other powerboats with a 50hp engine.

You don’t quite fit in with the powerboat crowd. They will make fun of your sail and how slow you go under sail. They will complain about your lines clanging against your mast. They will laugh at your tiny cabin and lack of a 500watt stereo system.

You don’t quite fit in with the sailboat crowd. They will scoff at your motor, thinking it’s cheating when you race them back to dock. They will grin as they pass you under sail mocking your tiny sails and lack of a 10 ton lead keel. 

It’s sparse inside

For a couple going for a week long cruise, or a family going out overnight. It’s perfect. I think of it as a nice step up from camping in a tent trailer. You have basic amenities on board, two beds (third if you fold down table), water, cooler, toilet, kitchen and bathroom sink.

Storage is limited, and most of it is carefully tucked away under seats and secured in plastic bins. We’ve put some temporary shelves next to the sink. But it really could use more shelving, we were just too cautious about putting any screw holes into the fiberglass to secure new shelving.

Bathroom is tiny, and not really sure why there’s a sink in there. Would have preferred a little more room. We joked that the easiest way to use the toilet was to drop your pants outside and then wedge yourself backward into the bathroom. The toilet is a porta-potty. It technically is a “holding tank” that can be pumped out through plumbing on the exterior of the hull. But it really is a self contained toilet that you can completely remove from the boat. The running joke is that if you can’t get to a pump out, you can do the walk of shame and carry the holding tank to the bathroom and dump it into a toilet.

Simple kitchen

We use a portable stove and space is tight for cooking. I found the best method for cooking (and it is enjoyable) is to stand at the ladder looking into the cockpit and have the portable stove right in front of me. Again, perfect setup for a couple on the boat but gets too crowded with a family on board.

You are handcuffed by the requirement for ice. You either pack food like you are back country camping or you need to find ice every couple of days. And then you deal with the growing pool of melted ice each day in your cooler. I’ve seen people put fridges into their Macgregors but this ruins the simplicity. Bigger batteries, portable generators, …

More info on Macgregor Sailboat

If you are looking for more information, check out my Macgregor Checklists , with some more useful information on the Macgregor 26x. Looks like most people really like my post on how to raise and lower the mast on a Macgregor sailboat .

Related Posts:

December 4, 2021 at 6:54 am

Dziękuję autorowi za obszerny i szczery opis. Jak wysoko jest wewnątrz w kabinie ? Bardzo cenię sobie prostotę i użyteczność takich jachtów a amerykańskie tym się różnią od europejskich. Wiele lat pływałem O’day25 (balastowo-mieczowy) w Polsce (Mazury – kraj 1000 jezior). Sprzedałem, bo już zbyt niska kabina. Teraz chcę kupić Mac Gregor 26x. Ofert w Europie jest jednak bardzo mało. Pozostaje zakup USA i transport w kontenerze. Mam tylko obawy, by nie kupić kota w worku 🙂

December 4, 2021 at 5:17 pm

Hi Janusz, I had to use Google translate to read your comment. Height inside the 26x is not that tall. It has been a while but I believe it was approx six feet in the center. But most of the cabin was much less. It probably isn’t any better than your O’day sailboat.

Here’s the translation of your comment to English. Not sure how accurate it is.

— Above comment translated —

Thank you to the author for a comprehensive and honest description. how high is inside in the cabin? I really appreciate the simplicity and usefulness of such yachts and the American ones are different from the European ones. for many years I have swam o’day25 (ballast and sword) in Poland (Masuria – the country of 1000 lakes). I sold it because the cabin is already too low. now i want to buy mac gregor 26x. however, there are very few offers in europe. what remains is the purchase of the USA and transport in a container. I only have concerns not to buy a pig in a poke 🙂

March 20, 2023 at 7:37 am

Hi To All I just bought a Mac Gregor not sure if its a s or and M I love both sailing and speed boat need to learn more about it but looks to be be a nice

7 Pingbacks

• For Sale: 2001 Macgregor 26X – MosieGrimm
• Bluffers Park to Cobourg – MosieGrimm
• Removing CS34 Sailboat Mast for Winter Storage – MosieGrimm
• We bought our new anchor! – MosieGrimm
• Beautiful sunset anchored off Cobourg Beach – Foghorn Lullaby
• Hiding from the storm in Belleville – Foghorn Lullaby
• SOLD: 2002 Macgregor 26X – Foghorn Lullaby

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 Yes, please add me to your mailing list

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

You will receive a maximum of one email per week with links to the latest stories published here (only for the type of stories you selected above). We do not share this list with anyone and you will not receive any spam from us.

Thank you! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recent Comments

• Crystal Liimatta on Week 9: Around Cape Fear, NC to Beaufort, SC
• Patricia Latimer Martin on Week 9: Around Cape Fear, NC to Beaufort, SC
• Kevin on Week 8: Belhaven, NC to (almost) Southport, NC
• Linda Grimm on Week 8: Belhaven, NC to (almost) Southport, NC
• Glenda Liimatta on Week 8: Belhaven, NC to (almost) Southport, NC

Learn more about our Canadian Sailcraft CS34 Sailboat

Lake Ontario Weather

Various topics

© 2024 Foghorn Lullaby — Powered by WordPress

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑