26M Vintages

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:59 am

Hello all,

For those in the market for a used 26M...are there any particular years, serial number ranges, etc. to watch out for - in terms of quality? I remember reading a post, fairly recently, saying that some (2003? 2004?) boats had a problem with layers of glass separating - or something like that. I can't find the post now, but I'd like any/all info, so I can be on the lookout when shopping. Thanks!

~Bob

(search terms: pros & cons, vintage, comparo, comparison)

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:23 am

Not That I am aware of . The difference is cabin lay out mostly.
I have the 05 M sliding galley smaller dinette table head forward narrow transom opening Rotating Mast and the list of similarities and differences goes on for ever. The M sails well (all in the eye of the beholder) with just the Main Sail Up. But the X as I read does this or about with just a jib sail. There appears to be No Hands Down better boat. It is a fact however that the 05M will out sail any bass boat ever made.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:13 pm

Bob - I posted a joke post about the hulls delaminating in a crude attempt to kill the resale value of the 2003 M, which has a really nice open cabin design I like...I hope this wasnt the one you recalled...it was identified as a gag in the original post IIRC.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:21 pm

Compared to the '05 and newer models the '03-'04 M models are voluminous inside. The seats, floor and galley are lower and the galley sits between the daggerboard trunk and starboard hull - lower CoG, also the head is easier to modify for a larger porta pottie tank, no framed windows though. I personally prefer the original layout but would like to have those framed windows with it. That moving galley seems like an accident waiting to happen.

jda · Post by **jda** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:59 pm

Are there any pics of the different M's layout? (especially the 03, 04) If so, where?

The main thing I like about the X is the open interior. If the 2003 M has a more open layout I'd like to see it.

jda

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:03 pm

Catigale wrote:Bob - I posted a joke post about the hulls delaminating in a crude attempt to kill the resale value of the 2003 M, which has a really nice open cabin design I like...I hope this wasnt the one you recalled...it was identified as a gag in the original post IIRC.

Jeez, that sounds like it. It's vaguely in my mind - I might have read it out of context on a search or something, or just didn't get the joke. Can't find it now, searching. Anyway, thanks for clearing that up, Catigale!

~Bob

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:06 pm

jda wrote:Are there any pics of the different M's layout? (especially the 03, 04) If so, where?

The main thing I like about the X is the open interior. If the 2003 M has a more open layout I'd like to see it.

Hi jda,

I think I'm liking the 03/04 layout better too. Didn't start out that way, though. I just put a scan of that brochure in my photobucket...

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u200 ... m2004a.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u200 ... 6m2004.jpg

~Bob

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:09 pm

Anyone have any feedback on that dinette table? Looks like it could be very wobbly when in use...and kind of a pain in general.

~ Bob

Paul S · Post by **Paul S** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:35 pm

previously posted...

I made this table..works better than the stock table. It can be made as big as u like..i prefer it a bit smaller. I made it with a leaf

http://www.geocities.com/yellow_mgb/mac ... 26M_table/

shot of the table in action

ALX357 · Post by **ALX357** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:49 pm

If I may chime in, based on my own sailing-cruising style the early M interior would be better. Someone long ago called it a party-boat set-up, and I can see it would not be as convenient to do cooking with the stove partially behind a seat, but the sheer interior volume appears huge and friendly. If you are truly going to use the galley much, I think the late M style, or the X would be better. Just my opinion.

Post by **NiceAft** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:23 pm

Well, here is my two shekels worth of a reply.

We liked the X. When the admiral and I finally went to look at the boat, it was now the M. We did not like the interior. It looked to us [please, nobody should take offense. This is not personal] more like a daysailers interior. We wanted the interior of the X. We held off on buying it. Medical problems with my wife then put it on hold for awhile. When we looked again, it was now the fall of 2004, and the boat we looked at was the 2005. We liked it much better. We liked it a lot. We ordered one

We are completely happy with it. The compliments just keep on coming. It is beautiful, and stylish beyond its pricing. The dining table gets plenty of use. I like sitting at the table and just looking out of the port (I had two operating ports installed). I really can't say enough. We are happy Mac owners.

By the way, I really like it when power boaters at the marina where we have a slip walk by and peek in. They are amazed at how roomy it is in there AND they can't believe the headroom

Ray

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:28 pm

The table for the '03 model is in two peices if you only want to use half, they are quite heavy and sturdy but I have on occasion contemplated legs. Funny thing is we rarely eat down there, most eating is in the cockpit, ditto for cooking with the Sport B-B-Q and Coleman stove. We use the Orgio galley stove for boiling water or other simple tasks, never a problem with the seat there. With the table stowed there is plenty more room for moving about. I didn't get the radar arch mast support either, instead it is a crutch in the binnacle. The interior layout is more reminisent of the old classics.

PS Hey Currie, did you get those Perla Noir Pics?

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:06 pm

Thanks for the good info on the interiors everyone.

Terry - got the pics and replied in email. Great pics! - very cool self-tacker on the Perla. If you want me to upload them to my photobucket and post the links, I'd be glad to. Let me know.

~ Bob

jda · Post by **jda** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:26 pm

Thanks Bob. Do you have access to the 2003 interior pics?

jda

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:04 am

You could search for some of PaulS (see his interior shot above for example) posts - when we did Cuttyhunk together last summer we came over onto his boat for lunch and admired that interior.

Curry - I think I made the gag post in the Pub so that it would prune and disappear - (the Pub posts arent archived and drop into the great bit garbage can after a while) so you probably cant find it.

The other place you might find rumors is over in other keelboat sailing forums where Macgregors are splitting keels, hull failing, demasting, and ripping out shrouds with regularity...apparently these failures are somehow linked to only those sailors who happen to know someone on places like sailing anarchy and the like..

The more sane reviews say things like..."THe hull is reinforced in areas where the chainplates are mounted, but really thin elsewhere. If you ask Roger about hull failures, he can point to 5000 boats made and say "That doesnt happen"

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

26M Vintages

26M Vintages

'03-'04

'03