Naive Aussie seeking US wisdom

[RandyMoon]

UH, Moe, Randy....Darn nice sterns you boys got!! Randy

Just so you realize that Moe's stern is bigger than my stern. Wait a second, is a bigger stern better??? Size matters.

[crackles]

I have no experience with an M. Only what I've seen in pictures, so can't comment on anything except my X.

As far as those little stingers. Only certain waters in the tropics during certain times of the year. At other times it the sharks or salt water crocs we look out for.

[Moe]

Click for a MacGregor 26X and 26M Comparison

What amazes me is how MacGregor gave up the X's great "back porch" on the wide transom by moving the M's helm seat back, and still wound up with a smaller cockpit, and no more room in the cabin that I see. Look at their own cabin layout drawings on the web page above.

Since the conversation got a little OT about outboards...

I own both a Suzuki DF50 and a Merc BigFoot 60. The Suzuki is a little 815cc 3-cylinder double overhead cam four-valve per cylinder 40 HP outboard overreved to 6,500 rpm to get 50HP with its lower torque. The Merc is a larger 996cc 4-cylinder single overhead cam, two valve per cylinder 60HP outboard, you can get in a 50HP version.

It's like the difference between a small high-tech hopped up V6 and a bigger V8 engine. While the little motor's fine in a small go-fast vehicle, I'd rather have the V8 in a big truck... and that's what the Mac is like. The Merc can also turn a larger diameter prop, which helps when pushing a barge like the Mac.

The Merc may be taller, but it's not really any wider than the Suzuki and that's what counts in the M's narrow transom opening. For narrowness, you can't beat a two-stroke like the Tohatsu TLDI and Evinrude E-TEC.

While the Suzuki's timing chain may outlast the Merc's cam belt, Step 1 of replacing the timing chain is to strip everything off the powerhead and completely remove it from the outboard. All you have to pull to replace the Merc's timing belt is the flywheel.

Finally, I can get parts for the Merc at several shops in town. The two nearest Suzuki dealers are 60 and 300 miles away and I wind up using mail-order.

[aya16]

Ok I think I know why Mac made the M smaller in the back...
The M is so much faster then the X they made it smaller to keep from falling out at those speeds....Safty issue

[Moe]

Most of the M owners who are experienced sailors here, including one who's also owned an X, will say the X and M are so close in speed, the better sailor will win. I'll trust their judgement.

[Catigale]

I think aya16 was pulling your leg Moe, unless s/he was trying to imply that speedy blue hull was the difference....Dems fighting words....

[aya16]

THUNDERDOME, THUNDERDOME, THUNDERDOME,THUNDERDOME
Two boats in one boat out. X V M what boat is better.

If the only choice I had was the X over the other boats on the market I would buy one. But sadly I think some here think the M is not up to snuff.
That beautiful white-hulled thing I receive so much pleasure on is second rate, a mistake some here would not even give it a passable glance as
It has so much wrong with it. Ahh but I dont care, I bought one anyway
and put second rate autopilot and second rate lowrance products on it.
Mickey Mouse lines led aft and propane stove in the cabin. And anyone dare mention they like the M over the X would be made to go sit at the childrens table of life. I shudder, I only launch at night so no one will see my mistake, I painted the top black stripe white so I could pass as an X. I dont let anyone in the cabin for fear they will know its an M. When I sail near an X I avoid the skippers eyes in shame. I put seawater in my ballast tank instead of sparkletts, I use black docking lines instead of gold.
When I post about my mate shes a mate and not good enough to be an admiral. If I only bought a used X I could avoid all this shame. Sorry I like the M better so shoot me. Thunderdome,
She is faster then an X

[aya16]

I use plastic forks and spoons too

[baldbaby2000]

My wife and I bought an 2005 M last fall and have used it a lot and love it. I've been on an X but never sailed on one so I can't comment on performance. I like both boat's interiors for different reasons. I think the M needs some ballast low on the dagger board to reduce healing and I assume the X could use also some weight on it's swing keel. Given that assumption, I would go with the M because I think there are more options for adding ballast to the board. There's been a lot of discussion on this if you care to do a search.

BB

[kmclemore]

Hmm... that's another thing I like about the X... that swing keel may not be perfect, but at least you can't 'trip' over it like you can with a daggerboard... the swing keel folds up nice as you please if you hit something. But the daggerboard.. well...

[Catigale]

To repeat an old thread, if you are looking for performance differences between these boats, you are sailing the wrong boat.