Good Old Boat wants Reviews of Mac 26D's

[Rumdirty]

From my email...

We are looking for input from current and former owners of 1987-90 MacGregor 26Ds and Ontario 32s for our upcoming boat reviews. Do you know someone who owns or has owned one? If yes, please forward this message to that sailor.

Please send your comments to Dan Spurr at: [email protected] by August 5.

Specifically, Dan wants to know about:
· sailing characteristics (good and bad)
· level of quality in the build
· what you like most about the boat
· what you like least about the boat
· specific problems you and others have had with this boat, like a leaky hull/deck joint
· advice you would give to someone considering buying this boat

If these aren't boats you've sailed in the past, please stay tuned for future messages. We're bound to come upon one that is or has been in your collection over the years. Right now, if you have had experience with a 1987-90 MacGregor 26D or Ontario 32, we're anxious to hear from you. Thanks for sharing your experience with "the rest of us"!

The crew at Good Old Boat

[Catigale]

Reviewing 25 year old boats that have been all heavily modified and probably now on four owners of use and abuse.

It's difficult to see to whom this would be valuable.

[sailboatmike]

I think its of great value, I read so many boat reviews of new boats and they tend to dismiss or skim over points of the boat that may not be particularly good, but then again if they can the boat they may not get the next one to test and of course we all know that normally next to a boat review is advertisements for the boats for sale, as magazines are run by profit conscious editors of course they dont want to miss out on the advertising revenue.

Now the boats are 25 years old its nice to know how they live up to the review, also there are many people looking to buy a starter boat or upgrade from a smaller boat so peoples perceptions as to how the boat really is now is far more valuable than a 25 year old review that was a revenue raiser.

[budgates]

I agree with Mike. Reviews of old boats are quite valuable, especially to readers of "GOOD OLD BOAT." Some of us have little interest in buying a new boat and find reviews 20+ year old boats quite useful. I, for one, get a lot of enjoyment out of restoring an old neglected boat and making her beautiful and seaworthy once again. Over the past few years my wife and I have restored 4 old boats and sold the first 3 for more than we had into them. The 4th one, our Mac 26d I'm not ready to part with yet. I find reviews like this quite helpful in deciding which boats I would be willing to invest the time and money into restoring. As for the comment of "heavily modified", although some are, I've found the vast majority of old boats to have very few modifications if any.

My suggestion to anyone who thinks that such a review is of no value is simply don't buy the magazine. There is a reason it's called "GOOD OLD BOAT."

[Catigale]

Anyone buying a 25,year old boat guided by an Internet gathered review rather than a marine survey is not very prudent.

Most old boats aren't modified?

[budgates]

Anyone buying a 25,year old boat guided by an Internet gathered review rather than a marine survey is not very prudent.

A boat review doesn't replace a survey. A review will help narrow the field. Once you've narrowed it down to at most two or three models you can select specific boats from that group to have surveyed.

[mastreb]

The magazine is titled "Good Old Boat". I might title it "Caveat Nauta".

[sailboatmike]

A marine survey also wont tell you if they are sea kindly, how the cabin layout works.

Lets face it many old boats the cost of the survey would be more than the cost of the boat, so if the survey comes back as bad then you have done your money anyway and the survey has no resale value, but at worst you may be able to get at least half your money back reselling he boat

[dlandersson]

And if anyone drives by a "D" or an "S" on someone's lot that needs a new owner, just let me know. I hear "D's" are "wicked fast".

Anyone buying a 25,year old boat guided by an Internet gathered review rather than a marine survey is not very prudent.

Most old boats aren't modified?

[Rumdirty]

Unless I win the lottery I will never buy a new boat. Good old Boat is a fantastic magazine giving some honest reviews on boats and boating equipment. While you may find great articles on the newest anchors, you won't find any reviews on the next mega yacht that 99% of us will never own. Therefore, they don't cater to any brand names and don't write useless reviews. They write reviews on old boats. I have read some brutally honest reviews that would shame some boat builders. Good luck finding an honest review in some other Sailing magazines. If you have never picked up a copy, try one. Heck, just go to their website and they will send you one free I believe.

A survey is something you do prior to purchasing a particular boat.

Reviews are useful to find out all the different styles (general), qualities, capabilities, and more that lead you to the particular boat that you eventually want the survey done on. Reviews of old boats, along with interviews of old boat owners, allow you to get a general depth of knowledge concerning those boats that you would never learn with just a survey. Many boats have serious issues down the line because of a particular glue used or some other production issue. It's good knowledge.

[Catigale]

Absolutely useful for characteristics of boats but I would sail one rather than read about it.

My objection was trying to be a resource regarding how they " hold up" I just dont think you will get the requisite unbiased sample of 50 boats to be meaningful.

But, given I am the most negative person on this thread, it's time for me to STFU

[sailboatmike]

Just for the record, when I bought my 1995 Mac X I didnt even see the boat in person or have a survey done as it was 1000Km away and with all the commitments of being a busy dad and commodore of a yacht club that was about to run its big yacht race for the year there was no way I was going to be able to have time to drive or even fly up to see it,

I got a mate who was a sailor and lived near it (got to love the friends you make on sailing forums ) but knew nothing about Macs to go and have a look and take some pics, while I read up on the issues that the boat could have on forums like this.

Then I did a simple calculation, if the boat had the same issues and the motor was nackered would it still be value for money eg with the time and cost of repairs and replacing the motor would it still be a good margin cheaper than buying one that was in A1 condition, and the answer was a resounding yes, I would still be at least $10K better off.

So after looking at the pics and talking to my mate who looked it over, I just bought it sight unseen, and to be honest I was more than happy when I saw her in the fiberglass for the first time a couple of weeks later.

Not the recommended way to buy a boat, but it worked for me.

ON the Trailer Sailor Place forum in Australia, people often look over boats for others and make offers to help people out, but thats one of the wonderful things I love about sailing, its sort of a kinsmanship that we share, it would be a rare thing that I come into dock and not have a passer by or someone see us coming in and make a dash for the dock to take our line. (maybe thats because they have seen my dock before )

[Bobbie20101]

I found my Mac 26D in a neglected state with Kudzu growing everywhere. Hatches had been left open for years and mold was in every nook and cranny. It took months of labor to remove the tarnish, but underneath was a perfect hull. At a local lake on her maiden voyage, she performed nobly. We guessed that she was easily and gracefully moving at seven knots heeling at ten degrees. A friend restored her rudder and tiller and slowly the scrubbings revealed the boat that Roger MacGregor designed. I believe it was his moment of glory when the first 26D rolled off the assembly line. Being of the feminine gender and advanced in years, (ahem), the mast was a real obstacle...I read articles about rigs to lift the mast using the gen pole. Again, my friend installed one for me and I was on my way. MacFlash has now had several sails and she performs nobly. Her mast and rigging need a tad of tuning, but all these things are doable. She was bought by the original owner and sailed five times when the owner died. The boat was left in storage until sale five or more years ago, so the hull is like new, no paint...just lovingly waxed before launch this summer. There are some minor leaks around the stanchions. Otherwise I have not seen any major water leaks Recently we sailed with three other 26X's outside the Intercoastal Canal at the NC coast. The 26D flew by the other boats once on the ocean. I had originally named her" Summersalt" but the last 26X we passed, called me on the newly installed radio and said I needed to re name her "Flash"...and so, around the campfire on a barrier island that night, I announced that after due consideration, my keelboat was renamed MacFlash......a lightning bolt on the "F"...I had no idea that this boat could fly with such ease, but once in the groove, she can beat any other boat in her class! Of this, I am certain.". I plan to restore her finery when I can find the money to do so. Meanwhile, she sails, bare boat. No roller furling or autopilot or wheel. There is a Suzuki 4 stroke 6HP auxiliary motor, but I will upgrade that to a ten HP ASAP. On the ocean, I found she struggled with her little engine that couldn't make it through the Cut back to the Intercoastal Canal without a tow. Even with sails up, we couldn't make headway. This is my first year with my new/old boat, so I have not found much fault with her. I like her appointments below and I plan to keep things as they were originally designed. I wish I could report more about my boat, but she is too new....I cannot even get a hand on the tiller without a struggle. Everyone wants to sail her and have a hand on the tiller! When she gets in the groove, there is not a better feeling than being at the helm. My 26D is a 1988 model. Yessir, me and my Mac are two old classic designs.

[sailboatmike]

Awesome to hear your story Bobbie, you sound so in love with your boat.

Dont forget most of the X's are carrying around an extra 750 to 1000Lbs of cruising kit, motor, fuel and "creature comforts"

Keep you boat lean and light and she will continue to be MacFlash, weight her down and she will soon become MacSlug.

Have a look at the Tohatsu 6Hp 4 stroke, good value for money and has a high thrust prop and a extra long leg so should push you along without to much drama.

Whatever motor you go for check the weight, some of the 10Hp motors are derated 15Hp, so they weigh the same as a 15 but you dont get the power, some are 10Hp that they derate to make the 8Hp and the 6Hp .

I fell for that trap without thinking, I have a 75Hp Mercury that is a derated 90Hp, so I carry and extra 50 Pounds of motor over the purpose built 75Hp they derate to make the 50 and 60Hp.

Whatever you choose Im sure you will enjoy.

PS X's and M's do make handy tow boats

[Catigale]

I found my Mac 26D in a neglected state with Kudzu growing everywhere. Hatches had been left open for years and mold was in every nook and cranny. It took months of labor to remove the tarnish, but underneath was a perfect hull. At a local lake on her maiden voyage, she performed nobly. We guessed that she was easily and gracefully moving at seven knots heeling at ten degrees. A friend restored her rudder and tiller and slowly the scrubbings revealed the boat that Roger MacGregor designed. I believe it was his moment of glory when the first 26D rolled off the assembly line. Being of the feminine gender and advanced in years, (ahem), the mast was a real obstacle...I read articles about rigs to lift the mast using the gen pole. Again, my friend installed one for me and I was on my way. MacFlash has now had several sails and she performs nobly. Her mast and rigging need a tad of tuning, but all these things are doable. She was bought by the original owner and sailed five times when the owner died. The boat was left in storage until sale five or more years ago, so the hull is like new, no paint...just lovingly waxed before launch this summer. There are some minor leaks around the stanchions. Otherwise I have not seen any major water leaks Recently we sailed with three other 26X's outside the Intercoastal Canal at the NC coast. The 26D flew by the other boats once on the ocean. I had originally named her" Summersalt" but the last 26X we passed, called me on the newly installed radio and said I needed to re name her "Flash"...and so, around the campfire on a barrier island that night, I announced that after due consideration, my keelboat was renamed MacFlash......a lightning bolt on the "F"...I had no idea that this boat could fly with such ease, but once in the groove, she can beat any other boat in her class! Of this, I am certain.". I plan to restore her finery when I can find the money to do so. Meanwhile, she sails, bare boat. No roller furling or autopilot or wheel. There is a Suzuki 4 stroke 6HP auxiliary motor, but I will upgrade that to a ten HP ASAP. On the ocean, I found she struggled with her little engine that couldn't make it through the Cut back to the Intercoastal Canal without a tow. Even with sails up, we couldn't make headway. This is my first year with my new/old boat, so I have not found much fault with her. I like her appointments below and I plan to keep things as they were originally designed. I wish I could report more about my boat, but she is too new....I cannot even get a hand on the tiller without a struggle. Everyone wants to sail her and have a hand on the tiller! When she gets in the groove, there is not a better feeling than being at the helm. My 26D is a 1988 model. Yessir, me and my Mac are two old classic designs.

Nice first post Bobbie. We have some great NC sailors in our group you should network with she you solo out the ICW

A 9.9 is probably the best value for you.

The D and S boats are smoking fast but you don't get the powering hull so while you win on the race course, we get back yo the bar first,