Newest owner of a 26X

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TheLandlady
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Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:07 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: SOMD

Newest owner of a 26X

Post by TheLandlady »

hello group
picked up a 2001 model 26X yesterday :macx:

well, made the deposit but picking up on wednesday south of boston on my way to Cape Cod from near woodstock VT.
very excited! boat looked great, owner definitely took care of her. a ding or two, but the hull is solid and the interior is mint. could use some fresh paint below waterline but the motor fired right up and all the systems checked out. boat is pretty stock except for a stereo system and a VHF.
blank canvas, i say.
currently says "Seaweed" on the hull but wife and i have decided "The Landlady" is more fitting, since she will spend a considerable of time on the in the yard or traveling overland at 65mph. also the name of a song i like.

i sailed a bit growing up, and also during my senior year at CU Boulder on the sailing team, traveling to other landlocked states to compete on 420's.
the only other sailboat i ever owned is a WindRider 16, picked that up when living in the lower keys for a few months and it was great.
wanted a shallow draft trailer sailor so my wife could learn, and we could go to champlain, lake winnie, or the northeast coast with our baby (on the way.) and maybe eventually to visit my parents in teton park, her parents in NYC, or family and friends in Florida.

mac seemed like the best option by far, couldnt be happier.

cheers!
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NiceAft
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by NiceAft »

First off, welcome.

Your reasoning is spot on.

Indeed, your boat seems to be an open canvas, and you came to the right place.

You are going to fit right in.
Ray ~~_/)~~
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Herschel
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by Herschel »

Welcome, I am a 18 year owner of a '98 X. Obviously, I think you made a good choice. Having gone from small boats like you (Hobie's) to my X, I have to admit I did have a learning curve on the additional systems---batteries and interior wiring, water tanks and plumbing, outboard engines, chart plotters, and for me, holding tanks, macerators, marine toilets, and shore power systems. The mooring and getting underway from a dock and general boat handling with the engine on the 26X's is initially challenging as it has such a high freeboard and minimum draft. For example, most of us use our blades in the down position coming and going from a dock. This forum is an invaluable place to get advice on those systems as you encounter them. Good luck. 8)
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dlandersson
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by dlandersson »

FYI, the newest owner has to buy everyone pizza. My kids like thin crust cheese. :P
TheLandlady wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:22 pm hello group
picked up a 2001 model 26X yesterday :macx:
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dlandersson
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by dlandersson »

dlandersson wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 4:14 am FYI, the newest owner has to buy everyone pizza. My kids like thin crust cheese. :P

Will you attend the seller ceremony? Looks like this...


TheLandlady wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:22 pm hello group
picked up a 2001 model 26X yesterday :macx:
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Russ
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by Russ »

Welcome!!

Sounds like you made a good choice. The one warning I will give you is the Mac as a water ballasted boat is very tender at first for healing. If you've been on other sailboats, this can be disconcerting until you get used to it. Be assured once the water ballast kicks in, it stiffens up and is a very stable and extremely safe boat.
--Russ
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pitchpolehobie
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by pitchpolehobie »

Welcome to the forum! Tons of knowledge and support here.
2002 MacGregor 26X: Remedium
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie
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Be Free
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by Be Free »

Welcome to the forum! This is a friendly crew with lots of knowledge and experience. Congratulations on your excellent choice of boat and even more congratulations on the new baby.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
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ris
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by ris »

We are not sailors for a number of reasons but we love our 26X as a trawler. The historical mod section here is amazing and the folks are very helpful. Do not hesitate to ask questions. Enjoy your boat. The only people who say bad things about MacGregors are people who have never owned one. Enjoy
Richard
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Herschel
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by Herschel »

dlandersson wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 4:14 am FYI, the newest owner has to buy everyone pizza. My kids like thin crust cheese. :P
TheLandlady wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:22 pm hello group
picked up a 2001 model 26X yesterday :macx:
We allow substitutions for pizza with Krispy Kreme donuts. I like the jelly ones. :D
TheLandlady
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by TheLandlady »

Hey thank you all for the replies!
i'll bring pizza for everyone, but it'll be DIY assembly... i've got a RoccBox and a wicked dough recipe.

so i've spent the past few weeks tearing across the internet checking videos and forums for stories and reviews and tips and tricks.
the community around this boat and the wealth of information i found, along with parts availability and multiple mission capability and overall fun are all big deciding factors on why we went with the Mac

and also this post i saw by a guy named Captain Vince Rakstis, Retired, of St. Pete FL, on CruisersForum:
https://tinyurl.com/8wsjpxs5
the thread is full of haters, but check out post #80, none of them had a good comeback for that one haha.

im wondering if i should replace the antifouling paint on the hull and rudders right off the bat. im not sure if i should give it a sea trial first to check for leaks to fix; or maybe wait a season and have some fun now getting to know the boat, and then fix the problems i find over the winter?

it'll be a pretty serious job for me to sand it all off and repaint it, especially if i dont really need it yet.
ill post some pics of the hull before i do anything, but is there a rule of thumb to follow as to when you should sand and replace?
its the copper type paint, and its been out of the water now for the past two seasons in coastal MA, this current season is the third.

the owner had it shrinkwrapped and the engine winterized every year, and he kept it on a slip at his yacht club all season when he was using it.
the deck and interior, motor, rigging etc is all in very good shape, but the winches definitely could use some love. ive serviced quite a few fishing reels in my day, wired a few boat trailers and HAM radios, stitched a few patches, and tied a few knots. the work above water should be no issue.
also i didnt realize until now that the shore power and the water pressure pump system aren't stock, but they are there and functioning.
while winterized, the hull below waterline was obviously was exposed. theres a slight greenish tint on the paint but it seems intact. ive seen some worse conditioned paint on youtube getting launched and sailed around florida.
also because of the light use, the trailer is looking pretty good too. not a huge fan of black trailers in new england but we'll see how it holds up.
again, ill post some pics of everything soon.

not sure if i really want to sand the paint off in my driveway, because its a gravel driveway next to my little cabin in the mountains and i feel like it will seep right into my well over time. not sure if copper is terrible for you but it just seems sketchy.

however, before i even go home with it i'm trailering the boat to cape cod after i pick it up, and sleeping in it for a at least a week on the trailer while working in Truro where it will stay for the summer. ill chock and block it dont worry, but i found this service called Cape Cod Dustless Blasting in Brewster that i'd like to call tomorrow for a rundown. they say their system works great taking antifouling paint off clearcoated fiberglass and a boat my size can probably be done in a half a day, but i'd like to get a wider consensus from the forums instead of a sales pitch.
i swear to god im not being paid by them, just curious if anyone knows about the process.
might have them hit my trailer and maybe the underside of my truck first.
also curious if anyone knows a good boatyard on the Cape that would let me do work on my boat this summer, maybe let me use the hoist to throw her up on blocks so i can paint? or even a yard who would do a great paintjob for me?? im pretty busy on days working, but will likely be 4on/4off until the baby comes in october, and then its 12 weeks paid paternity leave. perks of being a teamster. 8)

thanks again for all the positivity, ill keep my progress as updated as possible.
might just keep posting in this thread as i make progress and keep my mess contained from the rest of the board.
ive seen a few similar successful threads like that.
thanks for dealing with my stream of consciousness

cheers!
2001 :macx:
2008 Mercury 50 2 stroke
2016 West Marine 9’ Dinghy
2019 Honda 2.3 4 Stroke
South Royalton, VT
Saint Louis, MO
Huntingtown, MD
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kmclemore
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by kmclemore »

Herschel wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:35 pm We allow substitutions for pizza with Krispy Kreme donuts. I like the jelly ones. :D
Wait... when the heck did we allow substitutions?!
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Hamin' X
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by Hamin' X »

kmclemore wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:30 pm Wait... when the heck did we allow substitutions?!
Goes directly against forum rule #127! :D
~Rich---Hamin' X---N7ZH~
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pitchpolehobie
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by pitchpolehobie »

https://shop.hallberg-rassy.com/content ... p2160.html

I have that kit for mine they started out a bit rough but actually smoothed up after a handful of sails. I still haven't used the kit yet but keep meaning to...18mos after I bought it. For reference the Mac winches are lewmar #6 if they're the original.
2002 MacGregor 26X: Remedium
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie
TheLandlady
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Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:07 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Re: Newest owner of a 26X

Post by TheLandlady »

pitchpolehobie wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:18 am https://shop.hallberg-rassy.com/content ... p2160.html

I have that kit for mine they started out a bit rough but actually smoothed up after a handful of sails. I still haven't used the kit yet but keep meaning to...18mos after I bought it. For reference the Mac winches are lewmar #6 if they're the original.
fantastic, thank you
2001 :macx:
2008 Mercury 50 2 stroke
2016 West Marine 9’ Dinghy
2019 Honda 2.3 4 Stroke
South Royalton, VT
Saint Louis, MO
Huntingtown, MD
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