Design and Construction
The 26 S is a 25-foot-10-inch monohull with a 7-foot-10-inch beam and a displacement of 2,850 pounds. Instead of lead ballast, it carries 1,200 pounds of water in a sealed, baffled centerline compartment beneath the sole, with a self-righting claim made by the builder.
The hull is solid fiberglass, while the deck is plywood-cored—a choice Practical Sailor noted was more likely to absorb water than balsa. The hull-deck joint is through-bolted but sealed with foam weather-stripping, which owners reported has a tendency to leak.
Inside, a fiberglass liner pressed into wet mat limits access to the hull. Vertical mold surfaces are tabbed with 8-inch woven roving, but without fillets to provide a supporting radius. There are no structural bulkheads to carry rigging loads in heavy conditions, and no deep bilge in which to install a pump.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The boat has a light rig with articulated spreaders, Nico-pressed eyes, and plate adjusters rather than turnbuckles. A simple mast-raising system allows one person to set up the boat in about 45 minutes, with only five minutes to launch and five more to raise the mast.
Fixed bullseye jib fairleads and wide sheeting angles imposed by the gunwale-mounted shrouds rule out a genoa close-hauled. Owners found the boat very tender because the ballast tank sits too close to the waterline. In moderate winds, it heels uncomfortably and develops strong weather helm. Comfortable stability returns only when the tank is full and the board is fully down.
Reefing the mainsail is advisable above 12 knots, while headsail area must be reduced at 6 to 8 knots. The centerboard control line leads to the galley counter rather than the cockpit, requiring single-handers to leave the tiller to make an adjustment.
Under power, turning the rudder and outboard together allows the boat to pivot in nearly its own length. Maneuvering is much crisper with the centerboard down.
Accommodations
The cabin extends to the rail, and the 7-foot-11-inch beam and high freeboard create a large interior, though stowage is limited. Beneath the cockpit is a comfortable queen-size berth measuring 6 by 7 feet. The all-fiberglass interior is also easy to keep clean.
The standard boat had neither a table nor an icebox. In a later refit, a demountable table was provided and the space beneath the V-berth was opened up. The cockpit has cramped legroom and low seatbacks.
Known Issues
The centerboard hangs from a 3/8-inch cross pin and bears laterally against the trunk. The resulting inherent slop causes continual thumping at anchor, which can be silenced only by retracting the board fully. The ballast tank is slow to fill and far too slow to drain.
The hull-deck joint leaks, and gelcoat cracks appear at virtually every deck fitting. Some owners also report blisters in the nonskid gelcoat. The forward cockpit wall liner is thin enough to be punctured by an elbow.
As delivered, the electrical system used untinned wire with the appearance of lamp cord, along with wire-nut connections. Most original connections turned to dust within a year. The group 24 battery had neither a containment box nor terminal covers.
Refits, Trailering, and Auxiliary Power
Later improvements addressed the sloppy tiller-to-rudder assembly and opened the space beneath the V-berth. Provision was also made for an optional boom vang and a demountable table.
MacGregor built its own painted-steel trailers, and the trailer later gained a jack stand. The 26 S sits very low on its trailer and needs only 15 inches of water to float, helping to simplify launching.
A typical 8-hp long-shaft outboard mounts on the transom. It is adequate for most conditions and can be operated comfortably from the motor well.
The Verdict
The MacGregor 26 S is a pragmatic trailer sailer that trades traditional ballast and structural redundancy for low weight, easy launching, and a roomy cabin. It sails acceptably when the crew pays close attention to reefing and centerboard position, but its tenderness and leak-prone joints call for an owner willing to accept its compromises.
Pros
- Water ballast supports the builder’s self-righting claim while keeping the boat light enough to trailer
- Quick mast setup and the ability to launch in shallow water
- Roomy cabin with a large berth and an easy-to-clean interior
Cons
- Tender helm and slow ballast drainage
- Leak-prone hull-deck joint and cracking gelcoat
- Minimal rig structure and early wiring that degraded quickly
