Bad mac?

[cavi]

which is the model that had the bad reputation that was setup for a large motor and everyone says it does not sail well nor does it motor well? Also what are the differences between a 26S and a 26M?

[kmclemore]

Cavi, no disrespect meant, but the questions you ask here and the fact that this is only your second posting (and both of your posts are negative towards Macs), make it seem like you are trolling us, or that you just popped over from "Sailing Anarchy" to wind everyone up here. It ain't gonna work.

There is no 'bad Mac' with a bad reputation.

The differences between the all of the Mac boats have been listed numerous times in numerous threads. Please use the search function to find them.

I would encourage others not to be drawn into this discussion.

[cavi]

look, I am not trying to offend anyone, nd no this is not just my 2nd post, true not too many but deffinitly not my second. I currently own a 22 and i like it enough that I am considering a 26 in a semi-near future, however I had heard negative reviews of one 26 model, I thought it was the 26X but not sure. I saw a 26 with a swing keal and liked it, but again, I want more info on them and figured this was the place to ask. no need to get your pantties in a knot over a simple question. I am glad you love everything macgregor. the guy I bought mine from loved the one he sold me enough to buy a 26, but his was not the swing keal, and it was not the one with the large motor. anyway, sorry if you were offended, that was not the way it was intended.

[cavi]

I just went back through my old emails, and the boat the guy bought was a 26D. I realize that the D does not have a swing Keel, which is faster a 26D or a 26S?

[Hamin' X]

Of the two Mac sailboats, the 26D is slightly faster than the 26S under sail. Both take up to 10 hp motors. The 26X and 26M are Powersailors and take the larger motors. Powersailors are not as good under sail alone as are the pure sailboats, but have more headroom and interior space in general, as well as the ability to get up on plane and move along in the 15 - 20 knot range. Your choice depends on what you are after.

There are no bad Macs, really.

~Rich

[vizwhiz]

Yes, as our wise moderator has pointed out, this discussion is held pretty regularly on these forums as new people join and ask, so there are many many threads dedicated to the differences between the various models.
But, since you're new, here's the Reader's Digest version of the model/year/type

Pre 1987 - weighted swing keels like your 22, up through 25' length, the 25 having a similar layout to the next generation
87-90 - the 26 or "classic", which in this first generation was the first large trailerable water-ballasted Mac, daggerboard style (not swing keel) so usually designated the 26D (unofficial). True sailboat (displacement hull) design...cannot plane, thus small motor only. The fastest 26 of the Macs under sail.
90-95 - the 26 "classic" second generation which changed from daggerboard to swing keel design, still water ballasted, slightly higher cockpit sides, rudder post moved inboard. Just barely not-as-fast as the D model predecessor under sail, but safer in shallower waters due to swing keel design. True sailboat (displacement hull) design...cannot plane, thus small motor only.
(Hidden model in here is the 19' powersailer, only 1000 built, used a powerboat type hull design, proved the powersailer concept, still very popular)
95-02 - the 26X, first 26' powersailer, large motor, water ballast, swing keel, re-oriented interior layout. Semi-planing v-hull design for motoring.
03-13 - the 26M, second generation 26' powersailer, large motor, water ballast, switched back to daggerboard design and original 26 layout. Semi-planing v-hull design for motoring.

There you have it. Basic models and info. Hope this helps you decipher the rest of the threads. And yes, please use the search function, it is very helpful!

[SKIPPER2C]

Interesting comment by a broker about a

http://www.boatbrokers.co.za/index.php? ... ON026-0012

A customer of mine in Namibia regularly sails his long distance in open ocean conditions and tells me she is more seaworthy than most give her credit for.

If the Mac can sail in the Southen Africa ocean, where I sail, there can not be a problem with ability . Except if u'r a couch-sailor. Couches do not sail that well.

[cavi]

that is what i was needing. One last dumb question, when docked do you leave the water ballasts full or do you dump them and refill every time you go out?

[kmclemore]

You can only empty the ballast either while under way (power) or when hauling the boat out. It will not empty while the boat is at rest.

Many folks prefer to leave the ballast full when they come into the dock, since it helps dampen the rocking (if you're staying), plus it's easier to maneuver the Mac when there's less freeboard and more mass (weight).

[vizwhiz]

You can only empty the ballast either while under way (power) or when hauling the boat out. It will not empty while the boat is at rest.

Many folks prefer to leave the ballast full when they come into the dock, since it helps dampen the rocking (if you're staying), plus it's easier to maneuver the Mac when there's less freeboard and more mass (weight).

And one further point to go along with this...in the 26D/S models, if you don't fill the ballast, the boat is very unstable and can actually roll on you. The PO of my boat was telling me that he didn't even know the boat had water ballast and the first time he launched the boat with no "stuff" on board, he stepped on the side and was promptly dumped into the water as the boat rolled beneath him. It may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but I wouldn't be too surprised, since the D/S models have no permanent ballast as the M does.

[Ormonddude]

Dang Right My Mac is Bad as I race speed boats lol

[Russ]

I'd stay away from all Macgregors and get a Henway.

[kmclemore]

I'd stay away from all Macgregors and get a Henway.

Really Russ? What's a Henway?

(he said)

[Hamin' X]

[Russ]

LOL