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Hi, I own 1989 Macgregor 26D which I'm really happy with. However it's getting old and I have a good opportunity to buy 2004 26M with a 90HP Evinrude motor in good condition from my friend's friend, i.e. someone I can trust not to sell me a lemon. The price is good, however after selling my 26D it's still at least $17K CAD ($13K USD) difference.

I'm trying to figure out if it's a good upgrade. Would it make sense? Did anyone here go the same route? What's your experience? We are using our boat only occasionally, sometimes only 2-3 times a season for short 3-4 day family trips. So here's what I'd like to know:

- How is the sailing performance? I know 26D is the best sailor out of all 26 series. I tried 26X and wasn't impressed, but I heard 26M is much better. Is it comparable to 26D? I don't intent to race at all, but I would like to have decent sailing performance and a similar speed to my 26D. If it's seriously slower, for example, it may be a problem.

- Is it really that bad in docking because of the high profile? I really hate 26D docking because it's hardly steerable at low speed so even a little crosswind can lead to failed docking, embarrassing me in front of the whole dock That's even with upgraded IDA rudder. But my daggerboard doesn't extend the full way.

- How many people are you comfortable with in the cockpit? It looks smaller than 26D but has 2 corner high seats. I took 6 adults in 26D cockpit (3+3), but it seems despite the smaller cockpit 26M could take 7? me in the back + 2 corner seats, and 2 + 2 on the sides.

- How long does it take you to rig it? For my 26D I can't get it any faster than 90 minutes, sometimes 2 hours with loading and launching... 26M mast raising pole with a winch seems to be a faster arrangement, but what does it come to in real life?

- Can you really pull a skier etc.? Fast motoring seems to be nice. How much gas would it burn going reasonably fast at the optimal speed? What would be a good motor cruising speed? 90HP Evinrude is a 2-stroke 3-cylinder motor that injects oil automatically from a separate tank...

- What are the most common 26M problems that I should check or ask about?

Any other tips and opinions are welcome!

I chose my 26C because it was the superior sailor of the C/M/X lineup and I have not been disappointed. She's no keelboat, but a very good sailing boat. That also means I either have to go sailing it solo or I bring non sailors with me and motor almost exclusively, thus the appeal of the M/X. I have a custom mast raising system and even if i show up to the dock solo, I can have the rig up and launched in an hour by myself off the trailer. If yours is taking 2hrs to rig, there may be significant changes in your setup workflow that could save you time and thus more enjoyment. Plus with the short boating season here in NE, I did not want to invest much money in boats and the C was the best fit for this purpose (NEVER any marina fees!).

Oh, and I think all Mac boats are rated for six ppl max. So seven is doable, but adds to additional risk. There was an infamous Mac incident here on Champlain years ago due to (MANY reasons), but overloading was one of them.

These are my impressions:

As you pointed out, the 26D is considered the fastest of the Mac 26 line. The rated hull speed is essentially the same, but with a displacement of 4000 lbs as opposed to the D's 2850, the M is bound to be less nimble than the D and, I would expect, noticeably slower overall. The D is a popular boat for racing, the M is not.

The relatively light weight, high freeboard, and lack of a fin keel will make the M challenging to dock in windy conditions. I would imagine it would be roughly similar to the D, maybe more problematic because of it's higher profile. Hard to say since your daggerboard does not extend fully.

When choosing a boat I opted for tiller steering rather than wheel as it seemed that the wheel and pedestal take up so much of the cockpit space, but in fact the tiller more greatly limits cockpit seating since it has to swing back and forth when tacking (forcing passengers to move out of the way) and the helmsman must sit on the port or starboard bench. If the M you are looking at steers with a wheel (thinking they all do?), then your passengers are going to be able to sit on either side of the helm without being in the way. That dynamic will change some when the boat is heeling.

I suppose you can pull a skier, but they will have to be strong and experienced enough to manage the slow transition to planing speed as compared to a power boat. The easiest I ever experienced was behind a jet ski (seated variety) since it did not have to get on plane. It will do perfectly fine for towing the kids on a bun buster, but not wild and wooly like behind a power boat. Max speed is rated at 22 mph.

The X and M varieties involve more compromises than the S and D, and compromises usually affect performance in one way or another. If you are OK with a less agile sailing experience, are OK with wheel steering, and will appreciate the ability to get to your destination more quickly, the M is a good choice.

Personally, paying $13K for something I would use two or three times a year isn't worth it.

If you have sailed the X, then you already have a fairly good idea of how the M will perform. The hull shape of the M is a little different and it has a slightly taller mast.

The cockpit is smaller and it will not be comfortable packing seven folks in it. The transom-mounted "highchairs" are okay if there isn't a lot of wind. Otherwise, the kids will love the carnival ride, but adults will have white knuckles.

If you are using your current boat primarily for sailing, keep what you have. It is by far the better-performing boat of the three.

Being the original owner of my 2005 I believe I can answer some of the questions.

1st. Because of the high freeboard the 2004 M will be just as difficult as your D when approaching a dock in breezy conditions.

2nd. With the M, in order to have good control at very low speed, you will need to lower the daggerboard slightly and lower at least one rudder ( I drop two)

3rd. I have the additional stern rail seats, and they are great, but no one on my M has ever spent time there for long.

4th. You can fit seven in the cockpit with the captain’s seat and the stern seats, but it is tight for sailing. My opinion is you should have all lines run aft if you want to have a crowded cockpit while sailing..

5th. I have a 50HP Honda 4 stroke. I am not pulling any skier. I have gone on a 12 day cruise and was quite happy with its performance. At hull speed (6MPH) it sipped fuel. For long parts of the trip, 30-40 miles, I increased speed to 12mph. I do have two 12 gallon tanks and carry two 5 gallon Jerry Cans.

6th). There is no question about it; are not racing sailboats. Since I don’t race, I am completely happy with sailing my M. The only time I am frustrated is when coming about in low winds.

7. The M mast is significantly heavier than the X mast. With the Mast Raising System, it still take me well over an hour to rig my M with the 150 Genoa roller furler.

8. We love our . It is wrapped for the winter, but we are discussing another 12 day Chesapeake cruise in June, along with our standard two week stay on Lake George in the NY Adirondacks.
Outside of our annual stay in Lake gorge, the boat sit in our driveway. It’s a toy to use when we wish.


9.

I owned a 98 26X and sold it in 2007. I have owned a 92 26s for 3 years. I just purchased a 2014 Tattoo 26 but have not sailed it yet. If your main concern is sailing performance, I would keep the 26d, it will sail better than an X or M. However, the X and M are much more comfortable for living in. Setting up the pop top and enclosure than taking it down to sail is a pain, however, sailing with the flatter cabin top is nice. I think docking the 26x was easier than my 26c, mainly due to the steering wheel and shift, and being able to look forward while maneuvering. I could easily spin the 26x on its axis in a marina. Having to sit at the rear of the 26c to steer and look back to shift makes it more difficult to handle in tight slow-moving maneuvers. I have been happy with both boats, but we currently seem to spend more time in the Marinas than sailing and a great deal came up for the Tattoo, so we decided to switch. I haven't decided if I will sell the 26s right away or wait until I use the Tattoo for a season before I decide.