It Must Be My Lying Eyes!
Moe wrote:
There's no reason to step on the rudder linkage, especially considering there's more room for footing in front of the motor
The motorwell has the "back porch" on either side of it, and all are behind the helm seat. My personal preference is to have the linkage visible and accessible.
(From The Manufacturer)
The transom, with its smaller opening and rounded corners,
makes a big improvement in the view from the rear.
Much of the rudder system is inside the boat, offering less clutter on the transom.
The good looks came at a fairly small price. The transom opening is smaller and not quite as easy to pass through.
A DEEPER V SHAPE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL
The new hull has a deeper V bottom (15 degrees), rather than the flatter bottom of the older boat (8 degrees).
The purpose of the deep V shape is to give the boat a softer ride under power, with less slamming against choppy seas.
It also
provides a moderate reduction in wetted surface, which benefits the boats sailing ability.
The V bottom has softer corners at the transom, and, at typical angles of heel,
the corners dig in less and create a less turbulent wake.
The deeper V bottom keeps the boat from sliding around on the trailer, and gives better tracking under power.
The more pronounced centerline ridge provides a stiffer hull bottom.
IMPROVED RUDDERS
The rudders fore and aft adjustment allows precise tuning. It is possible to set the rudder rake to completely eliminate rudder load on the wheel. (However, a slight weather helm is better for upwind control.)
The rudders are larger than those on the X, and have a more efficient elliptical tip.
With the deeper V hull, the upwind rudder is less likely to be raised out of the water when the boat heels.
With the deeper V on the new boat, the transom corners dont dig in as much when the boat is healed over, and
the wake is a lot cleaner.
This means less drag.
With the new hull and rudder shapes, the boat has less tendency to round up into the wind when heeled far over.
STRENGTH
Moe wrote:
The liner gives the hull the same strength. I've found no record of an X hull failing in this area in the archives.
We have added an extra layer of fiberglass mat and roving to the underwater area of the hull. This adds about 120 pounds, and adds to both stiffness and stability. The deck has more beams, between the liner and the deck, and feels stiffer under foot.
COCKPIT
The cockpit seats are about the same length as those of the 26X, and slightly wider.
The seat area across the front of the cockpit (where the mainsheet traveler is located), gives more seating area,
but reduces the footwell floor area. To make up for the loss of foot room, we have mounted the pedestal on a stainless steel column (4" in diameter).
This replaces the large fiberglass box that went all the way to the floor, taking up a lot of foot space.
The footwell is narrower,
to allow more room in the big berth underneath, and gives a better spacing to brace your feet against when the boat is heeled over.
The steering seat is similar to the one in the older boat, but is about 6" higher. This allows room for the outboard motor to be under the seat, rather than behind it, and puts the captain up higher with a better view over the cabin top. The cockpit cushions are improved and more comfortable. The inside sofa seat back cushions can be used, when sailing, as cockpit seat back cushions.
A MORE USABLE REAR BERTH
Improving the rear berth was a major design goal.
By moving the head forward, we were able to gain access to the rear berth from the starboard side.
The head occupied the most usable part of the old boats interior, and is now a lot less obtrusive forward of the mast.
(The down side of this is a slightly smaller head with 2" less headroom.)
By shortening the footwell in the cockpit, by running the seats across behind the cabin entry,
we were able to provide much more room in the rear berth, and make it a lot easier to get into.
By narrowing the footwell, we were able to make the rear berth look enormous.
When you are standing in cabin, you are looking clear back to the transom
MORE HEADROOM
Headroom is a full 6 feet under the closed sliding hatch, and 5 10" under the cabin near the galley. Headroom is also increased over the rear berth.
SMALLER CABIN ENTRY
Moe wrote:
The 26X is just as narrow and restrictive to a following sea, but that part, as well as the helm seat, is ahead of the motor well.
Raising the bottom edge of the cabin entry not only made the rear berth more accessible, but lessened the chance of flooding the cabin in the event the cockpit was filled with a severe following sea.
Note:
(1) The cabin entry on the "M" is at the knees of crew
(2) The cabin entry on the "X" is at the feet of the crew.
Also notice the much better hull design providing a better sailboat shape.
We also made the side decks wider, making it easier to get to the foredeck.
The height of the toe rails on the cabin top have been increased.
ENGINES
There is no change in the engine mounting system, or the type of engines that can be used.
We have, however, widened the engine well area to allow easier bolting of the engine to the transom.
The transom is now flush, and a pad wont be needed between the motor and the transom.
Moe wrote:
Since we'd like to cruise with another couple, or our grown kids, I was glad to find out that later models eliminate the step and use a fold-up ladder for better aft berth access in the center
As soon as we got home, we headed to the MacGregor website to see about buying one. What a disappointment! A new boat, with some really neat stuff, like a deeper-V, taller mast/sails, no backstay, 33% more fuel capacity, dual batteries, sliding galley, and a higher companionway door with a step outside for better headroom accessing the aft bunks from the center. My wife even liked the tan interior gelcoat and some of the wood (I still prefer the white and black Star Trek shuttlecraft look of the X).
With the additional headroom of the higher companionway and step of the M, having the galley able to slide forward to the original X location might not be required to access the aft berth. But it might be nice.
The bottom of the companionway is pretty high, as is the step up to it. In fact, the step is as high as the seats, a BIG step up to a longer distance down to the cabin sole. That's the price of the potential added headroom in the forward center of the aft berth. The depth of the step does eat up some cockpit sole.
Finally, we get to the aft berth. It appears huge from the salon. We measured the cushions at about 75" long, except in the center where they lose 2" to the battery box lid. They're about 70" wide, just 2" shy of king bed width. It's a full rectangle with no intrusion from hull supports. In the center, below the cockpit sole, and in the aft area, there's 20" of room above the uncompressed pad. On either side of the cockpit sole, and below the companionway, there's 34" of headroom above the uncompressed pad or battery box lid. The forward sections have a narrow section fully outboard, with even more headroom. The aft berth is definitely the adult sized accomodation in the M.
Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote:
The rear berth access is still far better than any 'X'. The Exterior and the cockpit are the same, but if you take a tape and measure you will find the difference be the cockpit sizes are mainly perceptions, not true measurements. Take one more look at the '05 before you give up on it.
Paul S wrote:
We were in the same boat (literally) as you. Looked at the M (03/04 layout) with the limousine interior. Then we looked at some X models. We were sold on the open feel of the M. Did not like the location of the head on the X - takes up too much valuable real estate. The head on the M is fine. I agree..the 05 design with the fiberglass shelf is a buzz kill - makes the xcapacity head too tall. Guess you could cut a hole in it. I am pretty sure it is not structural.
Can not comment on the new Transformer-style interior of the 05 M, but the 03/04 fits our needs great. No way would I ever put more than 4 people on any X or M for any extended time.
From what I understand the M has more layers of fiberglass than the X, so it should feel sturdier.
Tony D-26X_SusieQ wrote:
As Duane so well described, the 2005 model is more like the "X" interior than the 2003 and 2004 model "M"'s were. If you still prefer the "X" model there will probably be some X owners deciding to move up to the '05 M for the improved sailing characterists and the new more cruiser friendly interior. That will make more X modles available on the previously owned market. Don't be afraid to consider a used X. They age very well.
Mark Prouty wrote:
New 26M interior A substantial improvement IMHO.
guy and unfamiliar with all the complex workings of the new fangled 
I figure it would take me longer than any 