Condition
MacGregor 26 Water Ballast System:
MacGregor developed this concept. It has been widely copied, and is now the standard throughout the trailerable sailboat industry. It makes it possible to have very light weight for powering and trailering, and the heavy stability necessary for safe sailing. After launching, the transom valve is opened and a tank in the bottom of the hull is gravity filled with 1150 lbs of sea water. It takes about 5 minutes. The valve is then closed, trapping the water. Under power or sail, the ballast makes the boat stable and self righting. When the boat is floated back onto its trailer, the valve is opened. The car and trailer start up the ramp and the water drains out of the boat, leaving a trailering package that is lighter than most small powerboats. You can also empty the tank while the boat is in the water. Under power, at about 6 mph, open the valve on the transom and the tank will drain in about 5 minutes.
SAILING PERFORMANCE: If you are buying a sailboat for the first time, performance and racing may seem of little interest to you. However, a boat that performs well is generally safer and easier to sail. It will certainly yield greater long term enjoyment.
The 26 balances beautifully. The big twin rudders give excellent control. The boat is light. A light boat like this requires less sail area to sail fast, so sail handling is easy. The 26?s light weight and its powerboat underbelly allow the boat to get up on top of the water and plane in heavy winds. In such conditions, these boats have exceeded 17 mph under sail. Most small sailboats, with their round bottoms, have speeds limited to around 5 to 6 mph.
You can always make a fast boat go slower by reducing sail, but you can?t make a slow boat sail fast. There is no sacred principle that says a great cruising sailboat should be slow, and there is no greater frustration than a comfortable houseboat that just doesn?t sail. The MacGregor 26 offers the amenities of a houseboat combined with great performance sailing. There are a lot of boats on the market that do not sail fast or handle well. The best bet is to sail any boat that you intend to buy, or watch it sailing competitively against other sailboats. The turkeys will be obvious.
The rotating rig raises and lowers like a conventional mast, and requires no attention when sailing. As the boat tacks, the mast automatically aligns itself to the proper angle without human intervention. With the rotating mast, the boat heels less and goes faster. On a conventional rig, it is difficult to sail with only the mainsail. With the rotating rig, the boat sails extremely well on main alone. When the wind kicks up, getting rid of the jib and going with just the mainsail makes sailing a lot easier.
DAGGERBOARD: The long, deep daggerboard keeps the boat from sliding sideways when sailing into the wind. The board is controlled by a line leading to the cockpit, and can be pulled completely up into the boat for powering, beaching, or downwind sailing. The long, thin airfoil is far more efficient than a short, wide one. This is why racing sailboat keels are deep, and why sailplane wings are long and thin. The efficient shape increases lift and reduces drag as the boat sails into the wind. This is one of the major reasons that the new 26 will point closer into the wind and sail faster than other trailerables.
DAGGERBOARD:
The vertical retracting daggerboard has major advantages over a centerboard that swings back into the hull. The centerboard requires a huge, drag producing cavity in the bottom of the hull. It also requires a large 6 foot long bump protruding upward into the boat, interfering with the most useful part of the cabin. The big hole required for centerboard retraction presents a major structural problem. Unlike daggerboards, centerboards require lots of care and maintenance, and involve underwater metal, lines and holes through the hull. The daggerboard can be lifted straight out of the top of the trunk for repair or maintenance. Unlike a centerboard, the daggerboard can be partially raised for going upwind in shallow water, while still retaining the boat?s sailing balance. A daggerboard is less likely to rattle around when on a mooring in bumpy water. On the down side, a daggerboard will bring the boat to a stop if it hits an underwater object, as will any fixed keel on a conventional boat. Unlike the centerboards on other trailerables, the daggerboard retracts completely into the hull, allowing beaching without fear of damage.
Over the years to acommodate the owners personal comfort, he has made the following modifications:
1. Extended one side of the V-berth so both left and right sides match. Very comfortable and roomy.
2. To increase the ventilation for the two, under deck stern bunks, added an opening, screened window above each bunk. The windows are mounted into the vertical portion of the main seating in the cockpit, where your legs hang over when you're seated. When opened along with the forward vent hatch over the V-berth, they provide great ventilation for anyone sleeping in the stern bunks. No longer is it "dead space" for air movement.
3. Added a solar-powered fan to the forward hatch which runs continuously, providing air movement even when the boat is closed up and anchored in the slip. Prevents the air below from getting stale.
4. Custom teak steps into the cabin from the cockpit. Original design was inferior.
5. Trickle charger for main battery, solar-powered. Mounted on the stainless railing and easily removed during sailing/power movement. Provides trickle charge even when boat is secured and left in the slip.
6. Custom, removable, wooden outside table for dining. Great way to end the day, by sitting outside with fresh fish, a salad, and favorite drink while everyone else heads to the marinas to take their boats out! Easily removed and stored below.
7. Custom carpet below, recently replaced.
In terms of maintenance an performance, the owner applied an Ablative bottom paint which prevents algae growth.
Also equipped this MacGregor with brand new 150 Genoa sail, but standard Genoa provided in addition. Both Genoas are roller furled with cover. Custom stern winches were added to handle the larger sail area of the 150.
Main sail is new as well.
Also comes with spinnaker and spinnaker pole. The boat is extremely easy to sail and is very forgiving.
*******Custom, removable sun shade which covers the entire cockpit. Cannot sail with it up, but can easily motor with it up as owner has done frequently. When on the coast in the summer, using the boat as a hotel, the sun shade is the difference between cooking in the sun and being exceptionally comfortable. Also greatly reduces the temperature of the cabin in the heat. Since it provides rain protection for the cockpit, owner can sleep outside at the coast, and has built an extension cushion to increase the padded area for upper body. It's wonderful to sleep outside in the summer and enjoy the outdoors!
Permanently-mounted, retractible, teak and aluminum step ladder on the stern for entering and/or exiting the water.
Dual anchors, both very light aluminum which hold the boat well. 100' of anchor line on each anchor.
This amazing boat is designed to SAIL like a dream, then in seconds, convert to a fantastic SKI BOAT that develops a top speed of - 30 MPH. Go ahead...see how many adult skiiers you can pull at one time!
Inside the console is the main power switch and an extra, emergency battery. The main power battery is in a compartment in the cabin below, and it is fed by a low-voltage, solar trickle charger when the boat is in the slip; charger easily stowed when under sail or power.
Galley: has a single stainless sink, with several drawers and a large storage cabinet underneath. Comes with a twin burner, portable propane stove. Also comes with plates, silverware, cups, etc.
A private head-closet in the cabin with a door which closes. Small sink inside head. Uses standard small porta-potty. Owner removed the potty and installed removable stainless shelving to increase storage. Can easily be converted back to active head if desired, and buyer can keep the shelving that would be removed.
FOLLOWING ARE OWNER COMMENTS YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:
" Fresh Water: originally came with a small, fillable water tank under one of the cabin seats, and the sink faucets were manual: you pumped the handles to create water pressure. We installed a much larger tank, fillable with a thru-deck, stainless filler easily accessed outside so you can use the garden hose. You can also drain the tank through a bleeder hose when you return so the water won't sit in the tank and spoil. We also installed an electric pressure pump so both the main sink and the sink in the head now have pressure water. By simply flipping the power switch to the pump, turning the faucet on starts the pump and provides pressure water (cold only....no water heater). Both sinks have original thru-hull drains. "
The condition of this boat is very good. and as mentioned earlier, with a good buff and wax she would really shine!
Sails are less than one year old and MAYBE have been used one time. There is a total of 4 Sails....the MAIN, Jenn, working Jib, and Spinnaker.
Awesome cockpit cover is easily removed, looks great, and really cools the rig down on a hot sunny day.
Check these specifications:
Length overall: 25 feet, 10 inches
Waterline length: 23 feet, 2 inches
Width (Beam): 7 feet, 9 inches
Draft, board up: 12 inches
Draft, board down: 5 feet, 9 Iinches
Engine capacity: 5 to 60 h.p.
Speed, 60 hp (45 KW) outboard: 24 mph
Water ballast: 1150 lbs
Permanent ballast: 300 lbs
Boat weight, empty: 2550 lbs
Trailer weight with surge brakes: 575 lbs
Mainsail: 170 sq. ft
Jib (100%): 130 sq. ft.
Main and jib: 300 sq. ft.
Genoa (150%: 206 sq. ft
Cruising spinnaker: 350 sq. ft
Fresh water capacity: 5 gallons
Fuel capacity: 24 gallons
Mast height above deck: 30 feet
Mast height above water: 35 feet
Cabin headroom: 6 feet
Berths (sleeps 6): 2 doubles 2 singles
Sails: Doyle
Winches: Lewmar
This is a fantastic multi-function boat that does it all.....trailerable // saliable // skiable ( is that a word?) // great to stay overnight in // and very affordable.
Navigational Equipment
- Depth Instrument (Yes)
- GPS (Yes)
Mechanical
- Engine Location (Stern)
- Fuel Tank (Carry On)
- Fuel Tank Location (Side Storage)
- Hand Rails (Yes)
- Passenger Capacity (6)
Electrical Systems
- Accessory Switches (Yes)
- Battery (Yes)
- Cockpit Lighting (Yes)
- Engine Kill Switch (Yes)
- Fuse Panel (Yes)
- LED Lighting (Yes - Interior)
- Shore Power (Yes)
Construction
- Anchor (Yes)
- Ballast (Yes)
- Bottom Paint (Yes)
Sails
- Main (New)
- Other Sails (Yes)
- Roller Furling Jib (Yes)
- Spinnaker (Yes)
- Winches (Yes)
Rigging
- Mast (Yes)
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