Hunters Version of the Mac26

[Paul S]

http://preview.sailmag.com/boatreviews/ ... index.aspx

[radnroo]

I found this review.
http://madmariner.com/vessels/story/THE ... _071508_VX
My opinion - For what it is worth:
We currently have an '89 MacGregor 26D and are looking to upgrade to a 26M so, as someone "in the market" this really caught my eye... But for the concerns below we remain Mac Fans:
Weight
Trailerability
Cabin Space
and, most especially, it's not a Mac.
Having owned the 26D and now being courted by the 26M, I trust what I know and I trust what Macgregor has learned. It has taken Macgregor a few tries at the drawing board but the experience and the knowledge gained shows. I have liked Hunters, so nothing against them, but I'll have to wait until they have learned what they have to learn on this before I can think about trusting them to get this right.

[Russ]

We had a Hunter 34 for many years. Nice boat.
Obviously Hunter finally noticed the Mac and decided to get into the game.

Roger's got a special market and I don't see a threat. But competition is a good thing. Let's see what this boat prices out at.

[SailDog]

I asked a dealer a couple days ago, if he'd seen the price list. He said he's got one coming to the lot around October that's gonna list at $49 and change; and that's with a portapotty. Tricked out it'll be well into the $50's

[AWKIII]

Well into the $50's? The base boat has a Suggested Retail Price of $32K and it's pretty well equipped. Plus the option list is relatively short. We have two arriving the first week of September and our prices will start below MSRP. When comparably equipped, there isn't much difference in price between the two.

Not trying to defend Hunter, but the dark blue hull option is not something they copied from MacGregor. This option has been available on Hunter's big boats for some time.

The Hunter will sell well, especially since production of the 26M will be cut back for the 2009 model year. Our allocation from the factory has already been reduced. It looks like buying a boat in heavy demand is going to be that more difficult. Expect dealer prices and the value of your boat to increase as a result.

[Andy26M]

Why is Mac cutting abck the production numbers of the 26M for 2009?

With gas prices where they are, production of motor-sailors should be on the upswing!! I used my boat a lot last summer, and I think the total gas burned was under 50 gallons for the entire season.

- Andy

[parrothead]

As I commented previously, I think that it's good to see Hunter getting into the powersailor market because of the validation that provides for the concept. I'd be very surprised if the price of a comparably equipped EDGE really ends up being close to that of an , however. The only Mac factory options that are included as standard equipment on the EDGE [according to Hunter's site] are: trailer brakes, jib & jib equipment, boom vang, and a porta-pottie. Adding them to an raises its base price by $1,080 -- bringing it to $22,580. That's $10,410 less than the MSRP of the Hunter. Adding an outboard motor, bimini, stern seats, 2nd battery, swim ladder, roller furler, etc. should cost about the same, regardless of boat model -- so it would seem that the would continue to have a $10K price advantage at any equipment level.

I am really curious about the true fuel capacity of the EDGE. It's listed on the Hunter site as being 6 gallons, which seems way too small for a 75hp motor. But the Evinrude performance report that is referenced in the MadMariner review lists the fuel capacity as 12 gallons [leading to a calculated cruising range of 94 miles @ 2000 RPM]. So which is it? If the true capacity is only 6 gallons, then the EDGE's range @ WOT [per the Evinrude report] would be only 14.5 miles. At that rate, your water-skiing fun will be over in 45 minutes.

[SailDog]

I case anybody's free and interested... I just got a call from JW at Advantage. I had let him know I was curious about theEdge. He said the tour boat will be pulling into his lot this afternoon. If anyone wants to drive over and take a look. I can't as I'm otherwise committed through the weekend.

[bo stout]

i've always liked hunters, almost bought a 26 instead of my but i wanted the motor ability. this boat seems to bring some GREAT features (like the rudder and therefore the transom). but SHEESH! it's UGLEEEE! swing and a miss.

[Oskar 26M]

SHEESH! it's UGLEEEE!... says it all.
IMHO it looks stubby... completely lacks the grace of a Mac, especially those 26M's with a faster blue hull

[hart]

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are several people I showed pictures of the X to before I bought one who said it was ugly. I think they're beautiful. But yes, I agree the new Hunter is ugly.

[SailDog]

Well, we picked up our X today up at Russell's. The Hunter theEdge tour boat made it up there, and is there for a couple days. The Admiral and I got on board. After spending 10 minutes or so looking around, we both had the same overall impression. "meh"

[Hamin' X]

Kinda like sending a package by FedEx Ground when you could have used UPS, eh?

Who me biased.

Rich~

[SailDog]

Kinda like sending a package by FedEx Ground when you could have used UPS, eh?

Who me biased.

Rich~

Or vice versa.

More, like...; Last November, we were looking to replace the 2000 Expedition, that we were letting our son take back to college. We looked at the RAV4, but we bought the Grand Cherokee. theEdge is the RAV4. Admittedly, some people love their RAV4. No accounting for taste.

[Hamin' X]

My FedEx deliveries don't show up for days after the delivery date and then the driver doesn't place it in the well labeled "Dog Proof Box". Usually find it in pieces a quarter mile down the road in the neighbors hay field.

Sorry to hear that your UPS parcels are mistreated.

Anyway, back to the Hunter 26. Sorry about the Right turn.

Rich~