Spotted a MacGregor in the wild sending it to Put-In-Bay

Posted by fuckin_atodaso@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 52 comments

I had only heard stories about them, but we spotted this guy tied up to the public dock on the way out of the river and I casually mentioned how I would love to see it on the water. Sure enough, about an hour later, it comes roaring past us. I know they get memed on by the sailing community, but that looks fun as hell and was definitely a head turner.

Motor on, you magnificent bastard.

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77MagicMan77@reddit

Love seeing another Mac on the water... I run mine on south shore of Lake Ontario... now I don't have a mast on it... so it doesn't look as cool... but when you open it up... she goes pretty good!

Will be in the Trent with it all next week!

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EllieVader@reddit

Ye olde iron jib

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Andreas1120@reddit

Whats going on there? Is it skimming on an engine?

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

MacGregor's are a trailer-able hybrid sailboat/powerboat. It seems like boaters in either camp maintain that it is neither a good powerboat nor a good sailboat (which is probably true), but the MacGregor owners seem to love them.

This one seemed to be really well maintained and seemed to have some upgrades to make the sailing experience better.

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ComradeBob0200@reddit

I like the older MacGregors that are just trailer sailors. The hybrids look so goofy, but I guess I wouldn't turn down a really good deal on one.

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

We are not sailing purists, we just enjoy cruising. On this day, we had left late and were heading directly upwind, so we were also motoring. There was a part of me that saw it zip by and was envious. I think they top out at 26 feet though which is probably too small for us (though I hear they're relatively spacious).

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Just_Another_Pilot@reddit

They make amazing pocket cruisers. Easy to tow and set up, unbelievable interior space for a 26 footer, and under motor you can get out of the way of approaching weather much easier.

The couple I know who owns one took it to the Florida Key for a month and spent lots of nights at anchor. They sailed most of the time, but the speed under motor let them really expand the travel radius. They could also get into places that were too shallow for most keelboats. Plus, an enclosed head helped ensure they were still on speaking terms by the end of the trip.

I've sailed it with them, and it's definitely not the best. The sail plan is way too far forward, the helm is completely numb, and the water ballast system is a lot heavier than a weighted keel for the same amount of righting moment. That said, we hit hull speed pretty easily on a reach, although it was a total pig at anything near close hauled.

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TxTransplant72@reddit

Would a longer boom help?

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

I'm a firm believer in whatever people enjoy that gets them out on the water safely. Unless you're a jet ski.

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VerStannen@reddit

Or wake boats haha.

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ComradeBob0200@reddit

It would feel downright cavernous compared to my Victoria 18. lol. They look like a very comfortable way for a couple to spend a long weekend on the water for basically any activity, and passible for 4 people. People that own them love them, so they're clearly doing something correct.

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chisailor@reddit

The spork of boats.

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NotACmptr@reddit

The runcible boat

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Pomme-M@reddit

\^ \^ \^ \^ \^ \^ \^ \^ \^ \^

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blueberrybannock@reddit

Only 2 models of the macgregor 26 are hybrids. Every other macgregor is a standard fixed keel or swing keel sailboat.

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alex1033@reddit

it is neither a good powerboat nor a good sailboat

But is it good on a trailer?

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Little_Half_5556@reddit

It handles best on a trailer.

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strictnaturereserve@reddit

a speed yacht

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Pomme-M@reddit

a quick blow

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drillbit16@reddit

Forestay looking incredibly loose. Did you see the skipper actually sailing the boat or just motoring it?

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lelekeaap@reddit

But how does it sail?

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pottytall@reddit

My family had one of these growing up. It was pretty entertaining watching g other sailors yell at us that we were about to run aground as we pulled up the keel and drifted into 3ft of water go swimming lol

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newiphon@reddit

Lake Erie gang rise up

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--Vagabond--@reddit

I'm here!

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

Heck yeah, it was a perfect weekend. Best time of the year now that everyone has cleared out, too.

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Exoslavic34@reddit

I think I saw you! I was the guy flying around the island in a Cessna admiring all the blow boats. I had no idea Erie had islands!! I’ve wanted to sail the Lakes for years.

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

This would have been Mlnday afternoon, around 3ish I would say. Southwest side of the island between PIB and Green island.

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mebad247@reddit

LFG!

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Archibald_80@reddit

ha, I think that was the one that was for sale a few months ago. NGL, thought about it...

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wrongwayup@reddit

You know what - he's out there, and I'm not, so that's cool. Any and all Macgregor hate is just pointless petty gatekeeping and elitism.

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

I am with you, friend. We are contemplating moving to a trawler soon just because it allows us more opportunities to do what we want to do out on the water. I just like being out there no matter what I am on!

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stumbledalong@reddit

I see he is utilizing the newest model of invisible sail

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Stock_Lobster2699@reddit

I have a 26x. It’s a fun boat. We have a toddler and dog and there’s enough room for all of us to enjoy a comfortable weekend cruising. It sails good enough, hull speed can be reached given a decent blow and it points just fine. And it motors good enough, better than any other sailboat! I wouldn’t trade it for another trailerable mono, in my opinion there’s not another boat that can do what it’ll do as easily as it does it. It’s incredibly easy to set up and launch which means we actually use it. Sure it’s not the best but I don’t think it’s as bad as people make them out to be. Haters just gonna hate. Only other trailer boat I’d want would be a Corsair. I have a need for speed and learned to sail on a f31. But my wife likes the ease of use and the room the macgregor provides.

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burner12219@reddit

I saw one of these once, they were pulling up anchor and needed to turn around to head out of the bay, so instead of letting the wind push the front around since they were already at a 45 degree angle to the wind, they decided to turn into the wind and turn like 240 degrees right around and then go

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hellowiththepudding@reddit

El camino of sailboats. Not a great motor boat, not a great sailor.

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Glenbard@reddit

I don’t know much/anything about MacGregor but how can it have a weighted keel and achieve plane?

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blueberrybannock@reddit

This is only certain models of the Macgregor 26, but they made plenty of swing keel and fixed keel boats as well.

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fuckin_atodaso@reddit (OP)

They're all trailer sailers as far as I know, so I think they all have swing keels.

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kosieroj@reddit

The first model 26X has a swing keel. The newer 26M like the one in the video has a dagger board. I like my swing keel better.

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theusualsteve@reddit

Water ballast and centerboard. Empty the water and plane

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ciaocibai@reddit

I have one, but don’t empty the water ballast when motoring and have still hit 20kts (though usually cruise around 15). Can be quite handy as the marina we usually stay at is tidal so sometimes need to get back at certain times. Uses quite a lot of fuel when going top speed though.

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