Welcome to the club man. I got my mac 26 about 4 years ago and I've been smiling ear to ear every since! My learnings include: • Do not attempt to navigate in close quarters without center board and rudders down (navigation mode). Otherwise it's a big bathtub with an engine on the back and no pivot point to steer. • when operating as above in shallow water, do not use the lines to lock down the rudders, leave them lose in case you strike bottom (rudders cost $300 EACH! But don't ask me how I know this...😆)
Bought out Mac26X new in 1998 ,best money we ever spent.. trailered it to every pot hole in Alberta ,then to Ontario lower Great lakes and then 12 times to the PNW
Thanks for sharing. Great boat. I've been admiring them over the years. One day I'll probably buy one & take it up the Great Barrier Reef in Oz. Happy sailing/motoring.
thanks for showing headroom, had 26c the older kind and lack of headroom made me miserable over time, , , 26x/m seem most headroom for 2000lb boat ,, , ,, 4500 is steal,,,,
Like others have said- you stole that boat! Even if you spend your money again on parts and repairs, you are still ahead of the game. Around here the 26X sell for $12K USD and go up to $22K ! Finger's crossed that everything just need a good cleaning/ fresh batteries/ fresh fuel and your sails are in good shape. I like the interior layout of the X better than the M, but the M has nicer cushions and a few other features that I could take or leave.. Enjoy the boat! Yours is the most comprehensive video of the interior I have seen to date!
I think the fact that it has a steering wheel and standing room, along with self fill/bail water ballast is what sold me on this boat. Someone said it handles different and takes practice. I wonder how. I want one so bad! Great score!
We have a Mac X and we love it, yes they do sail differently, the rudders have always been a bit small and the underside of the back of the boat is best part of flat z(5 degree V I think) so you need to come off the wind for a few seconds to build speed before tacking or the rudders will stall, its no biggie, if you get in irons half way around just back wind the jib and she comes around fast enough, You get used to it. Otherwise she is a great sail boat, you will never win a race in one but then again the go fast boys have to crap over the side, bend over double to make a cup of coffee and share their beds with bags of sails. While far for perfect these are the best do anything boats made.
I did see these in sailing magazine ads in the UK and did consider one, but ended up with a British Hunter 26 which was ideal for channel crossing to France or the channel islands. The hunter was not great in light winds, but for a small yacht was very safe in extremes.
Mac's need a lot of modifications. My biggest ones were: bring the sail lines back to the cockpit (you can NEVER have too many lines coming back, I recommend at least 3, but if you sail a lot you'll find uses for 5), turn the "bathroom" into storage (I put three full shelves in it, custom cut to that crazy interior shape), removed the black fiberglass front cover of the "sink" area and replaced it with some big doors to give decent access to under the sink/stove (if I would of had the energy, I would have smashed that crappy black cover up with a hammer into tiny pieces, but them in a big glass jar and looked at them with satisfaction every time I used the boat, god that cover sucks), put some plywood above the hull along the port side of the boat to give a decent level surface to put stuff on. These are only the big ones though. The Mac's sailing characteristics suck, but the big upside is that you can tow and launch them almost anywhere. The single axle trailer will give you no end of worries on long trips... (Glad I could help with that last one.) Fortunately when I had a bearing go out it was a few miles from my house on the way to a storage facility. My saying is "The best boats are the ones that get used." So get out there and use it! I've had mine in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, the Florida Keys (visited the Dry Tortugas for 2 weeks), in the Atlantic off of the Georgia coast, and sailed it to Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Go, go, go!
I've skimmed around a bit and like the X model the best - it's the lightest of all the Macgregor 26's I've a Macgregor 21 and am outfitting it with 1500 watts of solar, nice size for one or 2 but if I ever want more room it will be the X I go for.
gary gerard I havent taken it out yet because i have a baby on the way but I got the engine running and replaced a few small filters.... can’t wait to take it out! Video follow up will come soon I hope!
Isn't Margaret happy... Mr Mcgregor sold 38,000 of them! And now his daughter has taken over the company... and called them Tattoo Yachts! Not junk... Good on ya Greg, ya got a bargain... Great yacht and enjoy your new toy! Love your enthusiasm...
Hi, saw your video. I have a 26X as well. May I recommend getting two batteries with a battery switch so if you need two batteries to start your boat your good to go. I have one and it’s gotten me out of trouble before. Also, on the trailer you may want to put some boat bumpers on the end of the trailer, so if the wind picks up it will guide your boat onto the trailer and stay there until your ready to haul out. Enjoy!
yankepilot I appreciate the comments and suggestions..... I have a two battery setup unfortunately the previous owner left the engine out so I’m probably going to have to clean out the components to get it running good again. Only turns over with stater fluid
Not sure what engine you have. I have a honda 50 4 stroke. I had to go on ebay and buy new sub components. I made sure it was all fresh water engine parts. By the way I only spent 3,500 dollars to buy my boat. So don’t worry about putting money into it. You will be happy when your done. I promise. David
Okay... let me preface this by saying that I am GREEN with envy!!!!!!!!!!... I have been looking at the 26x for months... at the price that you paid for it... you stole it.. AND you got the original trailer as well... good luck... have fun... enjoy it ... keep the videos coming ;)...
Thumbs down babe... no offence. In this boat I've sailed like a king, motored like a king, dined like a king, and gotten laid like a king... Can anyone ask for more from a sailboat?! 😁
Welcome to the club man. I got my mac 26 about 4 years ago and I've been smiling ear to ear every since!
My learnings include:
• Do not attempt to navigate in close quarters without center board and rudders down (navigation mode). Otherwise it's a big bathtub with an engine on the back and no pivot point to steer.
• when operating as above in shallow water, do not use the lines to lock down the rudders, leave them lose in case you strike bottom (rudders cost $300 EACH! But don't ask me how I know this...😆)
Bought out Mac26X new in 1998 ,best money we ever spent..
trailered it to every pot hole in Alberta ,then to Ontario lower Great lakes and then 12 times to the PNW
Thanks for sharing. Great boat. I've been admiring them over the years. One day I'll probably buy one & take it up the Great Barrier Reef in Oz. Happy sailing/motoring.
thanks for showing headroom, had 26c the older kind and lack of headroom made me miserable over time, , , 26x/m seem most headroom for 2000lb boat ,, , ,, 4500 is steal,,,,
Very cool ride
Thank you for showing
Like others have said- you stole that boat! Even if you spend your money again on parts and repairs, you are still ahead of the game. Around here the 26X sell for $12K USD and go up to $22K ! Finger's crossed that everything just need a good cleaning/ fresh batteries/ fresh fuel and your sails are in good shape.
I like the interior layout of the X better than the M, but the M has nicer cushions and a few other features that I could take or leave..
Enjoy the boat! Yours is the most comprehensive video of the interior I have seen to date!
I think the fact that it has a steering wheel and standing room, along with self fill/bail water ballast is what sold me on this boat. Someone said it handles different and takes practice. I wonder how. I want one so bad! Great score!
We have a Mac X and we love it, yes they do sail differently, the rudders have always been a bit small and the underside of the back of the boat is best part of flat z(5 degree V I think) so you need to come off the wind for a few seconds to build speed before tacking or the rudders will stall, its no biggie, if you get in irons half way around just back wind the jib and she comes around fast enough, You get used to it. Otherwise she is a great sail boat, you will never win a race in one but then again the go fast boys have to crap over the side, bend over double to make a cup of coffee and share their beds with bags of sails. While far for perfect these are the best do anything boats made.
@@mikeobrien9829 Thank you for the invaluable information!
great video, thanks from Switzerland
I like to furl the jib downwind after you blanket it with the main, and unfurl the jib with a little help from the wind.
How much for that boat?? Wiring is always shitty in boats. Conduit and some reengineering would make it great. Oh!!!!! 4500? Got a steal there man!!
I did see these in sailing magazine ads in the UK and did consider one, but ended up with a British Hunter 26 which was ideal for channel crossing to France or the channel islands. The hunter was not great in light winds, but for a small yacht was very safe in extremes.
Mac's need a lot of modifications. My biggest ones were: bring the sail lines back to the cockpit (you can NEVER have too many lines coming back, I recommend at least 3, but if you sail a lot you'll find uses for 5), turn the "bathroom" into storage (I put three full shelves in it, custom cut to that crazy interior shape), removed the black fiberglass front cover of the "sink" area and replaced it with some big doors to give decent access to under the sink/stove (if I would of had the energy, I would have smashed that crappy black cover up with a hammer into tiny pieces, but them in a big glass jar and looked at them with satisfaction every time I used the boat, god that cover sucks), put some plywood above the hull along the port side of the boat to give a decent level surface to put stuff on. These are only the big ones though. The Mac's sailing characteristics suck, but the big upside is that you can tow and launch them almost anywhere. The single axle trailer will give you no end of worries on long trips... (Glad I could help with that last one.) Fortunately when I had a bearing go out it was a few miles from my house on the way to a storage facility. My saying is "The best boats are the ones that get used." So get out there and use it! I've had mine in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, the Florida Keys (visited the Dry Tortugas for 2 weeks), in the Atlantic off of the Georgia coast, and sailed it to Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Go, go, go!
Very nicely done :)
Thats a steal! Looking for an Mac x now and its gonna be $10k+.
I've skimmed around a bit and like the X model the best - it's the lightest of all the Macgregor 26's
I've a Macgregor 21 and am outfitting it with 1500 watts of solar, nice size for one or 2 but if I ever want more room it will be the X I go for.
gary gerard I havent taken it out yet because i have a baby on the way but I got the engine running and replaced a few small filters.... can’t wait to take it out! Video follow up will come soon I hope!
Isn't Margaret happy... Mr Mcgregor sold 38,000 of them! And now his daughter has taken over the company... and called them Tattoo Yachts! Not junk...
Good on ya Greg, ya got a bargain... Great yacht and enjoy your new toy! Love your enthusiasm...
Hi, saw your video. I have a 26X as well. May I recommend getting two batteries with a battery switch so if you need two batteries to start your boat your good to go. I have one and it’s gotten me out of trouble before. Also, on the trailer you may want to put some boat bumpers on the end of the trailer, so if the wind picks up it will guide your boat onto the trailer and stay there until your ready to haul out. Enjoy!
yankepilot I appreciate the comments and suggestions..... I have a two battery setup unfortunately the previous owner left the engine out so I’m probably going to have to clean out the components to get it running good again. Only turns over with stater fluid
Not sure what engine you have. I have a honda 50 4 stroke. I had to go on ebay and buy new sub components. I made sure it was all fresh water engine parts. By the way I only spent 3,500 dollars to buy my boat. So don’t worry about putting money into it. You will be happy when your done. I promise. David
yankepilot wish I had a honda..... it’s a Suzuki 50hp
you mention head room - how tall are you?
4500 is a killer deal, the cheapest I've seen one of these is 9 - most are 11 and 12 and go up from there.
Nice 👍🏻
Okay... let me preface this by saying that I am GREEN with envy!!!!!!!!!!... I have been looking at the 26x for months... at the price that you paid for it... you stole it.. AND you got the original trailer as well... good luck... have fun... enjoy it ... keep the videos coming ;)...
Rj Gillens thanks for the kind comments.... def testing the waters with TH-cam and looking foreword to getting the Mac on the water soon!
Just came across you video...how well does the Tacoma handle towing? I have a 98 V6 Tacoma and was wondering if it could handle all that boat. Thanks!
V6 shouldn’t be an issue. Think you could tow up to 5,000lbs. Just make sure trailer has working brakes for emergency stops….. drum or disc work fine.
Do you know the size of the cooler? Just got the 26X myself and need to figure out the food storage!
Check out Macgregor Facebook page... a lot of support!
The cooler doesn’t really hold the cold well. But adding the styrofoam may help.
Nice video. How tall are you for headroom?
christina wedow I’m about 5’ 10
Do you still Sail with it?
is it for sale ?
Hey, are you in St George, Utah?
FlyNineVictor no in California!
@@gregripko we are in st George UT. Just sailed out to Catalina island two weeks ago. If you ever want to sail lake mead. Let's meet up
How tall are you? Looking to get one and I’m rather tall.
I’m 5’ 10” ....can’t stand completely throughout boat .....but it’s probably the best trailer sailer out there
@@gregripko yeah all the trailer sailers I’ve looked into that seems pretty good!
Hi, would you like to sale it?
these boats are absolute garbage,,,,,,,the worst built sailboat ever.....calling them junk is an insult to junk
Thumbs down babe... no offence. In this boat I've sailed like a king, motored like a king, dined like a king, and gotten laid like a king... Can anyone ask for more from a sailboat?! 😁
@Paul A I've never met you of course, but I'm sure you are a genius! 😁