The MacGregor 26X and 26M: The Boat That Could Do Everything?

If you hung around a boat ramp in the late 1990s or 2000s, you probably saw one — a shiny white sailboat sliding off a trailer, a big 50-horsepower outboard on the back, and an owner grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. In the background you likely saw some traditional sailors looking wondering if it could actually sail. That was the MacGregor 26X — a boat that promised the best of both worlds: sail when you want, motor when you must.

This little cruiser became one of the most popular trailerable sailboats ever built in the U.S. and Canada, with thousands launched between 1995 and 2013. And while traditionalists rolled their eyes, MacGregor owners couldn’t care less. They were too busy laughing their way across the lake at 20 knots.

🚤 The 26X: A True PowerSailor

Roger MacGregor’s idea was brilliantly odd: a 26-foot sailboat that could also plane like a powerboat.
At only about 2,250 pounds dry weight, the 26X used water ballast — fill the tanks at launch for stability, drain them for towing. Add a 50-hp outboard, and this “powersailer” could zip along at speeds no real sailboat should attempt.

Inside, it offered a surprisingly roomy cabin that could sleep four adults, a small galley, and even a head. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of boats — part cruiser, part camper, part water rocket.

Owners love it for exactly that reason. One wrote, “You just can’t beat the interior space in the MacGregor. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, use it as a powerboat!” Another said, “I can launch, sail, and trailer it home by myself — and still have time for dinner.”

Of course, it’s not perfect. With that light hull, the 26X heels quickly if you forget to fill the ballast. But owners who know their boat say she’s solid once you get the hang of her. One sailor from San Francisco Bay bragged, “She sails like a dream up to about 25 knots and handled 18-foot swells like a champ.”

That’s a lot of confidence for a boat you can tow with a pickup.

⛵ The 26M: A New Generation of Fun

By 2003, the MacGregor factory rolled out the 26M, a sleeker, refined successor.
It kept the same 26-foot footprint but added a rotating mast for better sail performance and swapped the swing centerboard for a daggerboard, improving stability. The hull got a deeper V-shape for smoother motoring and a bit more ballast for a sturdier ride.

Owners immediately noticed the difference. “The 26M sails great using the main alone,” said one Chesapeake Bay sailor. “It handles rough weather like a champ.” Another longtime owner gushed, “After using 22-footers for 25 years, this thing feels like a 28-footer inside.”

The 26M could still haul with a big outboard — often 50 hp — reaching around 22 mph under power. But it also felt slightly stiffer and more sailboat-like than the older X model. Production ran until 2013, when MacGregor Yachts shut down after building roughly 5,000 of each model — a remarkable run for any small boat builder.

When the factory closed, Roger’s daughter Laura started Tattoo Yachts in Florida, producing an updated version of the 26M. It was proof that the MacGregor idea still had wind in its sails.

✨ The Tattoo 26: A New Chapter in the MacGregor Legacy

When MacGregor Yachts closed its doors in 2013, many assumed the iconic trailerable sailboat story had ended — but Roger MacGregor’s daughter, Laura MacGregor Sharp, had other plans. She launched the Tattoo 26, a modernized evolution of the beloved MacGregor 26M.

Built from 2012 to 2015, the Tattoo 26 kept the same hybrid “powersailer” spirit — water ballast, a daggerboard, and room for a 50-hp outboard — but added sleeker styling, brighter interiors, and refined construction. Though production numbers were small, (estimated at between 50 and 100 boats) the Tattoo 26 carried on the MacGregor tradition of affordable adventure, appealing to those who wanted a sailboat they could tow, cruise, and camp aboard without breaking the bank.

❤️ A Cult Following on Every Ramp

MacGregor owners form one of the friendliest, funniest, and most fiercely loyal groups in boating.
They meet at rallies, swap upgrade tips online, and share stories that range from hair-raising to hilarious.

One owner laughed, “When I’m alone, I can rig the boat in 30 minutes. When other MacGregor owners are around, it takes two hours — because we’re all talking!”

Another added, “I love all the other cool MacGregor owners I meet while setting up and tearing down.”

It’s not hard to see why. These boats are like floating campers — they invite road trips, potluck dinners, and impromptu sunsets at anchor. Thousands of them roam North America’s lakes, bays, and coastal inlets, especially around the Great Lakes, Chesapeake, and Pacific Northwest.

To many owners, it’s not just a boat — it’s a lifestyle. Affordable, adventurous, and always just a trailer hitch away from the next destination.

⚠️ Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Like any design that pushes boundaries, the MacGregor has seen a few unfortunate incidents — usually when people ignore the rules. The most common mistake? Forgetting to fill the water ballast.

A few tragic accidents over the years involved overloaded boats without ballast, which makes them dangerously top-heavy. As one safety inspector put it bluntly: “If you’re going to sail a MacGregor, treat it like a sailboat — ballast full, lifejackets on.”

Owners who follow the book have little to fear. The boats are stable, forgiving, and remarkably capable for their size. Most MacGregor mishaps come from treating them like pure powerboats. As seasoned owners like to joke: “You can’t cheat physics — even if you have a 50-horse motor.”

🧭 The Great Trailer-Sailor Showdown

How does the MacGregor stack up against the competition? Let’s have some fun:

Catalina 22:
It is sturdier and more traditional, with a heavy keel that give it better sailing qualities. But it’s also heavier to tow, slower under power, and far less versatile. The MacGregor can hit 20 knots; the Catalina tops out at “hope the wind picks up.” They don’t have standing headroom or anywhere near the interior space. The Catalina 22 still has an active racing class and a modernized version is still in production.

Hunter 260:
Also a water-ballast cruiser, but the Hunter is built for sailing only. It can’t handle big motors, and its interior feels more formal. The Mac is the more mischievous cousin — less refined, but way more fun. The Hunter 260 has all the drawbacks of a water ballast boat meaning it is tender in heavier wind conditions.

Lancer 27:
A similar “powersailer” concept from the 1980s. Bigger, older, and no longer made — kind of like a MacGregor in dad jeans.

Hunter 27 Edge:

After seeing the success MacGregor was having, Hunter decided to produce their own take on the concept. The Hunter 27 Edge. It was produced from 2008 to 2012. It was heavier, requiring a bigger tow vehicle and more expensive than the Mac26M. When Hunter went into bankruptcy in 2012 it didn’t survive.

In truth, the MacGregor is in a class of its own. No other sailboat lets you cruise under power, sleep four comfortably, tow it with your family SUV, and still launch it off a public ramp in 18 inches of water.

You might not win any yacht-club races, but you’ll win hearts at every gas dock.

💬 What Owners Really Say

It’s one thing to read specs — it’s another to hear it from the people who live it. Here’s a taste of the MacGregor love in the wild:

“I would absolutely buy this boat again.”
“We’ve had four adults on deck motoring, six sleeping below. It’s like a floating RV.”
“The best part is when the powerboats run out of fuel — I just raise the sails and keep going.”
“I missed my Mac when I sold it, so I sold the new boat and bought another Mac.”

You can’t buy loyalty like that. You can only build it — and Roger MacGregor did.

🏁 Why the MacGregor Endures

At its heart, the MacGregor 26 series captured something special: freedom.
It made sailing approachable for everyday families. It let people explore the Great Lakes, Puget Sound, and the Florida Keys without a yacht club membership or marina slip. It invited weekend adventurers to hit the highway Friday night and launch into new waters Saturday morning.

Sure, it’s not perfect. The purists still sneer at it, calling it a “floating compromise.” But the thousands of owners who’ve shared sunsets, laughter, and cheap rum aboard their Macs would argue otherwise.

The MacGregor may not be a blue-water legend — but it’s one of the few boats that brought new sailors into the sport, not just shuffled them around.

And that’s a legacy worth toasting.

⚓ Final Thoughts

The MacGregor 26X and 26M were boats for dreamers — sailors who wanted to go anywhere, on their own terms, without breaking the bank or their backs. They were quirky, clever, and endlessly customizable, and their spirit lives on in every old Mac still splashing around today.

If you ever see one at the ramp — that odd sailboat with a big outboard and a proud owner smiling ear to ear — give them a wave. You’re looking at a piece of sailing history, and probably one of the happiest boaters on the water.

👉 Have you owned or sailed a MacGregor? Share your stories (and maybe your speed records) in the comments below.