> RH> I have been looking at the new Macgregor 26's, and am really
> Just how new is "new"?
> RH> boring fairly quickly, and have to trailer to get anywhere
> interesting.
> That, for sure, the models I've seen are.
 
> RH> Second, it is appointed for the type of sailing that I will be doing
> RH> (weekends at most, the occasional 3-4 vacation), and God knows the
 
> I haven't checked them out lately, but here's some things I've
> picked up over the last 3-4 yrs:
 
> Unless they have changed, their rigging is rather undersized.  If
> you intend to sail in heavier air or seas, expect to spend a bunch
> of money getting it in shape.
 
MacGregor rigging is scotsman-cheapo. It is worthwhile replacing about $100 
worth of the stainless fittings with quick-release and turnbuckle types.
 
> Furthr, their deck hardware seems to consist of througheyes, rather
> than turning blocks.  It makes for a lot of difficulty in getting
> them to sail up to their potential.  The few leads that they have
> never seem to be in the right spot.
 
> In lighter air, they are very fast.  In heavier air, they take
> a beating.
 
Haven't weathered a gale yet, but 4-foot high waves did nothing but get one 
of my crew seasick.
 
> Hope this helps, and I hope they have made a few of the changes
> at least to the problems I discribed above, as it could be one
> great boat...
 
One of my reasons for choosing the Mac26 as my first boat of that size 
(learned on Tech Dinghys at MIT circa 1960), was simplicity, very low 
trailering profile, very shallow draft (sails in 15 inches of water with the 
centerboard up!!!) water ballast making a dry weight including trailer of 
only 2200 pounds, fine for my little 5 liter Mustang to pull, and a 
swing-centerboard which pivots back and up into the hull if it strikes an 
underwater obstacle. The last of these is important in Rocky Point (Puerto 
Penasco), Sonora Mexico, where I mostly sail. The northern Sea of Cortez has 
the ninth largest tide variation in the world. (23 feet from high to low at 
full moon), making launching and recovery onto the trailer an adventure, in 
the dredged out shrimp-boat harbor. They' re just now building the first 
commercial boat slips, which have to ride up and down guided by huge pilings. 
Until the Puerto Penasco Marina becomes functional, trailer-launched monohull 
boats and beach-launched Catamarans are the only ones that are practical 
there. The local Mexicans provide launch and pickup service using huge 
elevated tractors, charging $10 total for out-in.
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