Powering

The MacGregor 26 offers high speed powering without compromising sailing performance. Its high speed under power opens up a variety of activities and destinations that are not available to conventional sailboats.

The MacGregor 26M is a really good powerboat. With a 60 hp outboard the 26 can attain speeds of up to 23 mph - enough to pull a water-skier! Even at these high speeds it has a remarkably comfortable and stable ride.

The boat is designed to power along at this speed with the mast and rigging in place. The vast experience of the MacGregor Yacht Corporation, and the popularity of the MacGregor 26, prove that their concepts and engineering processes are extremely sound.

The specially designed hull has a very sharp entry which efficiently slices through the waves. It is highly manoeuverable, requiring only a light touch on the wheel to hold a perfect course or to make sharp turns (when planing, the boat handles very similarly to a RIB). With a full ballast tank the 26M can achieve speeds of up to 16 mph. However, top speed is obtained with an empty ballast tank and a small crew.

The engine size is limited to 60 hp for a number of reasons:

An electric start 60 hp motor can provide a lot of speed without compromising sailing performance.It is about the largest engine that can be started by hand - offering a valuable backup option when faced with a dead battery.The 60 hp is more economical on fuel than the heavier, higher horsepower engines, and is also about the largest engine that can realistically be picked up and moved around.

Ample fuel storage is provided on the boat. There are storage hatches in the cockpit that will hold 2 x 45 l fuel tanks. For safety, these compartments are completely isolated from the interior of the boat.

If you are not interested in high speed powering, the boat performs well with a 10 hp engine.