Irwin 37 CC, $12K, got my family sailing.After some sweat equity she's kept us safe all around the Pacific Northwest. Tim's right, She's leaky so 5200 is required, but the decks are hard. Stations solid - maintain.. A great boat to make all of your mistakes on (solid, stubby mast, can bolt things to her without fussing). 2nd head = storage!!! Tim knows his craft, spot on. PS, thanks for the honesty and courage in your booze video. We NEED to hear that.
I owned a MacGregor 65 pilot house, it was my second sailboat and I purchased the boat for $25,000 and the first thing I did was haul it out and do a bottom job. My boat came with the Volvo TAMD41B which I rebuilt myself for around $4,000 in parts and I tuned it for 250hp. I did completely rewired the boat with all the newer used electronics. The boat was all fiberglass construction and it was fast, it was definitely a cross between a race boat and a yacht.
Hi Tim, agree with all your comments. There’s a place for almost any kind of boat for the right person. I do have to add two important cautions for the new to sailing buyer looking for their entry boat and that 1) is it insurable and 2) will a marina or club allow you in? The first point is yes, with the right upgrades and good research prior to sail. The second point is maybe and is becoming more and more difficult as yards are becoming more and more restricted as older boats are being abandoned by owners who can’t afford to upgrade them or bite the bullet to dispose of them. If you’re going to go south and stay on a hook, then no issues, but first you’ll need a harbour/yard to start in to make her ready for your adventure and hone your skills. Thanks as always for share! Fair winds.
Your point 2 is really interesting. Being out of sailing for many years but watching the abandoned boats story with interest, I wonder if any / many marinas require a "disposal" deposit or bond to cover the cost of removing abandoned boats.
I will likely never buy a sailboat (62 yrs old and 2 kids still in college) BUT I am entranced by the whole idea of cruising and find your videos invaluable, If I ever did buy a sailboat, I'd hire you first.
Tim I have owned a MacGregor for 29 years and have sailed it in the waters of Vancouver Island and now the great lakes. In fact I was just across from you in the Clinton River Michigan this summer. The best sailboat is the one that you will use the most. I have spent thousands of hours on my MacGregor 26S and have loved every minute of it.
Absolutely! Also note that Tim talks about MacGregor powersailers, he probably not aware of classic S and D models. Those things are proper sailboats. Yeas, they are light and tender, but they also trailerable and fast.
@@alexshyshkov8585 The idea of a trailerable boat with shallow draft (when needed) and a droppable mast is very attractive, especially in lake country. When I began sailing in Poland, I came across a much more solid solution. Mazurian lake boats are generally as solidly built as the best keelboats, but have internal balast, swinging centreboards and rudders giving a 1 foot draught for negotiating creeks between lakes and move into shallows, while a strong A-frame up front with a line to a winch aft makes lowering and raising the mast a breeze to pass under bridges over the same shallow creeks. Unlike the original MacGregors, everything on these boats is solid; with a fixed keel or even a keel-centreboard, these boats sail oceans. They are available in North America, (e.g. TES ), and can open up all sorts of cruising grounds not easily accessible with conventional sailboats (e.g. in Ontario, Canada).
yes of all the boats I own my MacGregor was the most fum , Sail in south Florida Gulf coast - Great fun to go anywhere-. Even sailed across sandbars and could always out run bad weather
I spent a couple years cruising with my family on a 65 foot ketch, and came across a number of Irwin's, my favourite was the 52. We saw several, and the owners loved them. They are not yachts, they are motor sailers, but for many people coastal cruising, that works perfectly well. I think you are being a tad hard on Irwin. Build quality may be an issue on some of their boats, not something i know, but they aren't the lone ranger there. Many usa boat builders cut multiple corners.
@@dougm5895 I totally agree. Any boat that doesn't get used is the one that needs the most repair. A buddy of mine is looking to get a McGregor after having many sailboats including the 37' Lagoon Catamaran he just sold.
I easily passed one sailing down a channel in my old SJ24, but they got the last spot at the dock because they could switch on the motor which beat my 6hp Evinrude and displacement hull. I think they have a place and there are four on my dock in the marina. Here in Puget Sound in summer, the winds can be light and variable, so you can spend a lot of time rolling the sails in and out before deciding to motor to get somewhere. Not to mention sometimes you can be sailing full burl and going backwards over the ground because of currents. If you have a family and you only have the weekend it can be a good way to get to the islands and sail around and get to the dock in the evening. I looked at them but never bought one, but after a number of sailboats, I bought a trawler and suddenly realized all the destinations were much closer than I thought in the previous 30 years because I wasn’t putting the sails up and down and tacking with the current against me. In places with stronger or more consistent winds, or less passages with strong currents they might be a terrible idea, but in some places they might be useful Anyways, McGregor retired and one of his daughters took over and moved the production across the country and renamed the boat Tattoo 26 and I don’t know if they sold any, or are still around. All McGregor’s are used at this point.
I'm the guy in the hammock on the macgregor 26. We had a blast on that boat. It led us to buy a Catalina 36 which we appreciated so much more after the Mac 26. And recently we sailed Mexico to Tahiti. If you want to see our modifications and trip on the MacGregor we put some videos up at a time no one else was doing any in the PNW. (Selfless plug as our Pic was used without permission, no hard feelings). Great video Lady K we've watched lots of your vids and always find them informative. We're now on the hunt for a boat for a circumnavigation and tho we have a couple selected we still like watching your videos looking for another to add to the list.
I had a mac 26 for 10 years and loved it. It wasn't a particularly good sailboat and we had it weighed down so much it was hardly a motorboat. We mostly enjoyed it on the lake but allowed us to take it down to the FL keys a few times. We've since moved aboard a Moody 47, which was also featured in Lady K's Moody video. Though it was a pic from an earlier date.
We traveled extensively on our 1985 Catalina 36 for 6 years. We loved that boat! Bought it for 24k and put 25k into it and after 6 years sold it for 36k. Cheap home of 6 years!
I used to laugh at people in the eighties who mocked my old wooden boat telling me how their boat would be around forever and mine would rot to pieces next year… Mines still around.
Much like a lot of people think piloting a motor vessel is like driving a car, a lot of people think a fiberglass boat is maintenance free... except for sponging off and polishing. That, they think is important stuff to do.
As a recovering Macgregor owner, you are correct. The quality of the build has much to be desired and they just don't sail well. All that said, it did meet a need of mine. I had a 6 mile motor to open water through shallow canals and backwater passes. Macgregor was perfect for me but I cannot think of another use for the vessel.
I wouldn't hate on MacGregors... you have to consider a boat for what the need it was designed to fill. A Mac has a very light weight swig keel and will draw less than a foot of draft with it and the motor up. I've sailed mine to Isle Royal in Lake Superior and to the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys, all because it could easily be pulled by a low end SUV. You shouldn't compare it to an ocean going boat, that would be like comparing a Cooper Mini to an RV. They're just in different boat categories. If you want to get people into sailing, then a Mac is a great boat to start with!
If you haven't done so, how about an episode on the old boats made in and around Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong etc. Particularly boats like the Choy Lee Clippers, Sea Wolf, Island Traders etc. How are they holding up, who would want one, and so forth. Thank You.
Well, I bought a Challenger 35 USA for $500. Its hand laid up and the decks a 1/2" thick glass all backed up with 1/2" marine plywood. But nobody ever looks at these boats....
Hi Tim, been loving all the videos. I think for all the people who yelled Hunter you should show them what they get for under $100k. There are some great post 1995 36 foot + boats out there. The only people who don't like Hunters are the ones who haven't owned one. My little 29.5 had more room than some other 36 footers. Keep up the good work.
I believe the Mac 26 may actually be the safest boat for cruising the Bahamas. Consider that they can be beached or go into water less than 3' deep to get into calm water while her deeper draft cousins are stuck out in the nasty. If the weather starts to turn bad during a crossing, she can be motored at speed much greater than any other sailboat into calm waters. It doesnt matter that she is a poor sailer and poor powerboat. The Morgan OI was a poor sailer but they sure were popular. People dont cruise to windward, they wait for better conditions. Purists hate them but who cares. Go cheap and go now.
I think you missed that Mac 26's are trailerable behind a minivan. This is there real benefit. When Ontario goes into a deep freeze in November you can load your Mac onto it's trailer and be in the keys in 2 days and spend the winter there. There are really few boats with stand up accomodations that can realistically be trailered across the continent behind the daily driver.
I have been eyeballing 26S And 26D's. I like the rear sleeping and dedicated motor well (do you like it?). I also appreciate the features you mention. How do you feel about build quality? What upgrades to the basic boat would you say are worthwhile?
We are in our 50 'S and had a 28 foot pwr 2005 for years. Time for a hybrid , the costs of fuel is now too much. Love the sailing idea, no gas or diesel , solar for power, no smoke for running , use of wind energy to get us slowly moving . Nice
Hey Tim, past owner of an 1988 44' cc Irwin sv San-D. Biggest problem was the rotten chain plate supports. Most of the salon needs to be removed and is very difficult to blend the new back into how it meets the cabin top. There were only 10 of our made before Irwin went under and she did sail and point fairly high with the solant stay albeit with more heal most would be comfortable with. I stopped loving the boat and now own a C400 that I always look back at from the dinghy with a smile. Derek
Agreed we need to keep the older boats of the fleet sailing, $100k is some serious gate-keeping. Glad we moved on from MacGregor - I like those things & reckon we need more variety. Kids who grow up with a family MacGregor ARE sailing kids & that's the main thing. Not a lot of Irwins here, they're way too susceptible to sinking after stingray attacks... ;-)
The really scarey part of this line of boats is the mast root support. Lateral support is via plywood that is mostly rotted. This is also the support for the forward salon deck. Take a look at the flimsy mast root.
You are right about that. We had step slip down 4 inches while offshore between Cuba and Dry Tortugas. We had to quickly tighten the rig and limp back to key west. Known issue.
We owned a Morgan 43 and sold it for a Hylas 46. The Morgan was built like a tank but sailed very well. Interior appointments were significantly better than the 41 and a lot sleeker looking on the exterior. I miss that boat.
Hylas 46 is a dream boat…we have been on one once. Look at the specs for the Irwin 46 and the Hylas 46 shoal draft….almost spot on. I wish we had the Hylas sail plan on our Irwin, we need more sail cloth up there….
I was a bit nervous clicking on this video knowing that my boat, a Tanzer 26, looks like a bleach bottle floating on its side, so I was relieved when it wasn't picked on. I don't think I've ever seen a MacGregor before. There are a lot of sailboats around here (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada) but I don't know of anyone with one of those. I had no idea that they were sort of a hybrid. Excellent video, as always!
But the Tanzer 26 is a real sailboat, I believe it has crossed oceans, though it's fairly light. And it really does not look bad, it's a nice boat! However, unlike the MacGregors and the Polish Mazurian Lakes boats, it does not get away with a one foot draught and pass under 3 or 4 metre high bridges as well as scooting around on a car-towed trailer. Of course, the "real" sailboat which the MacGregor could be is the Shark 24. Fixed shallow keel (3' 2"), it's trailerable (2100 lb / 950 kg) with a compact SUV and its mast can be raised by hand by two or three people. It can be devilishly fast, and has crossed oceans. Still very popular racing class.
I was helping a new-to-sailing owner of a McGregor learn the ropes on a Texas lake, when I saw a big thunderhead developing upwind. I told him we should start sailing for the dock, that it was going to get rough, but he demurred. Ten minutes later, and it was double the size and half the distance away, and I told him that if he didn't turn around, I was bailing out and swimming to the very-close shore, and he'd be on his own. That got his attention. We dropped sail, he cranked his 50 hp motor, and away we went. Just as we got the last dockline around the last cleat, it hit. Lightning, high-impact rain, and winds 40+. McGregor has a place in sailing. The worst I've ever encountered is Buccaneer. Total waste of fiberglass! I'll never forget a review I saw of them in the 70s, which said that they would do their very best sailing when firmly tied to the dock. I totally agree!!
When my dad and mom switched from motor boat to sailboats (I was 6), Our 1st sailboat was a Morgan 24 (I was hooked on sailing). It was perfect for learning how to sail. Then several years later, they sold it and bought a Morgan 27 (1st one in Sarasota area). That was a racing boat with a radical new keel design. The decks would cracked and raspberry glue came out.We won a lot of races. After we got tired of racing, they sold her and bought a Morgan 38. That was our 1st cruising boat. Sold her. Then we got real serious. Bought a Bristol 41.1 my dream boat. I love, love, love this boat. Sometimes we would race and won 1st place in our group. In high winds, she sometimes would go faster than haul speed, keeping the rail in the water. I miss her. So, I am on the journey to get off land by 1st repairing/updating up my house to sale it, down size, and then go boat shopping (that is where you Tim will come in) Bristol? Oyster? Island Packet?. P.S. so sorry for the long....... response...Happy Sailing ⛵
I grew up on the water racing NS14s and a 16ft skiff. Left home at 18 and have been a landlubber ever since pining for the salt water. I gotta get back out there.
Ive bee sailing 25 yrs and have owned a sail boat 25 years. I like the idea of a McGregor because Id like to save time. The idea of towing it to, Bra Dor Lakes, or Newfoundland and being there in a day appeals to me. I've done it but takes a week to get the on a non trailer boat. For that reason I just would like one in a barn. ;)
Dudes hating on macgregor sailboats are just jealous. It's just a more capable platform and without all the issues you'd find on other similarly sized boats.
Truth is different boats for varried needs and budgets. The ABSOLUTE WORST way to buy a boat is based on someone elses likes and needs and not figuring out your own likes and needs
gday from austrailia,now i do agree with u about the Macgregor in some aspects,but i have owned one for 5 years now the X,and i love it,it has a Cult following,iI dont water ski but while fellow sailors can take all day to get home we can leave on a late sundat arvo and have her back on the trailor and home before most boats are even half way,i would surgest watching some of my videos,i completed a 600 klm round trip in her at some ponts being 30k out to sea,i would totally recommend for the firsy sail boat owner to give it a go,we went in a race with her surf to city and we got the biggest applause out of everyone and had a great time doing so
I live on the Hudson River. Need I say more? The McGregor makes a shitload of sense. Honestly, I think the rotten deck boats and poorly manufactured 80s boats need to be scavenged and scrapped. Let the wholesalers buy them for salvage, and look for something older that was made from solid fiberglass or something newer with a solid survey.
I'm no expert by far but looking around, I think I'd go with a Tayana 37 or 42. Another choice would be a Gulfstar 39 Sailmaster. Any of those three for the right money would be good, IF you can do some work on your own. I think there's work to be done in all older boats; it just depends on what work needs to be done and the extent and how much you could do yourself.
I baught a Citation 30 last spring for $2500. It will be some work, of course, but it sails well and is good enough for a single guy. And yes all the deck hardware needs rebeding, new ports installed (they came with the boat) as well as reupholstering, fabric and foam also included. But, it keeps me off the street and on the water.
Hey...on the question what to buy under a 100k, the preference would be a 90-ties Hallberg-Rassy. I fell in love with them since your episode 121 (Jan. 2021) - Integrity and quality is what I remembered the most. Will surely come across a HR with my name written on it as I'm not too far away from Sweden 😀 Cheers, HD
There are still 1980s Irwin’s crossing oceans…I wouldn’t take a Beneteau or Hunter with a bolt on keel across in any condition. I’ve been on them they feel weak in their build quality. I’ll take our Irwin 46 any day. Not the best build like a hylas, oyster, hinckley but better than any hunter or beneteau I’ve been on. Our previous boat was a beautiful Bristol 32. Yes the build quality was better but there was no way we could live in the cramped narrow space. Any 46+foot Irwin is built relatively well. They are all over the world and they weren’t shipped there….they aren’t the best boats out there but they are far from the worst. The old saying friends don’t let friends buy Irwin’s stems from the deck salon design that the racing community hated, because Ted Irwin bucked the system, and wanted to get everyone into sailing when it was a rich man’s sport. Not sure it had anything to do with build. Check the history and check the naval architecture design ratios, they are in line with the boats of the day…..
Tim, please don't repeat the mistake everyone else makes. MacGregor is NOT a sailboat, it's a sailboat manufacturer. Meaning he has made many models, but when you say "MacGregor" you mean specifically "MacGregor 26M", ignoring all other models.
I really love the Center Cockpit layout, mainly due to the extra large aft cabins you get, but I noticed all the major production manufacturers (beneteau, bavaria, etc) stopped making CCs in the mid 2000s. Feels like it fell out of fashion and that 20 years from now we’re only gonna have overly expensive Hallberg-Rassys and Najads.
I lived with my wife and our very young daughter on a Morgan OI36 for 5 years. We sailed it all over So Cal from Point Conception, to every one of the Channel Islands (including special permission to anchor at both San Nicholas and San Clemente Islands) to Coronado Island in Mexico. It was comfortable in all kinds of weather. Didn't really sail all that well, couldn't point, and didn't sail well in So Ca's light winds, but it was always comfortable and we felt safe with our little kid in the huge (for a 36 foot) center cockpit. Don't see them for sale much, but when you do they are really cheap. I don't think they held up all that well over time. We paid $40K for it when we bought it in 1983, and sold it for $45K in 1989.
I passed a guy sailing... I mean boating in a McGregor with his family in fair weather in NY harbor. He and his young family were having fun, and you can't criticize that.
Got my first sailboat as an Irwin 37 ketch for $14k and couldnt be happier. There are some good points made in this video but overall id say ask a true owner of a live aboard Irwin and see why they LOVE it
We and our kids and we absolutely LOVE our Macgregor 26X. Going on 4 years, our first sailboat and will NEVER sell it. You have to keep in mind it's intended purpose.... Otherwise its like comparing a VW bus to a big class A motorhome, which obviously would be an unfair comparison.... VW bus owners love thiers for what they do, if you notice.... Of course, many upgrade to bigger RVs after a while but no one can deny thier place in the traveling world. Nothing else can do what a Mac26X or M can do. Its the perfect boat for VERY easy trailering from lake to lake or coastal cruising/island hopping (weighs 2,200 lbs empty water ballast) Like a VW bus, its small, but well laid out. Yes, you dont get performance sailing, but it is really perfectly fine at sailing. And at any time you can kick on the motor and cruise on a plane at 20 plus mph. Motor can also easily overpower the sails for emergencies or when learning to sail. One person can easy step the mast and get it set up/unset for trailering in only 45 minutes. EASILY slip under any bridge.....No slip fees, park your boat at home, go to any nearby lake/ocean depending on which has the best weather forecast.... 😊 Its the best for shallow water- under 16 inches and we always beach our boat on islands and just tie off. We have a collapsable bow ladder for simple boarding- no need for a tender.... Oh, they can be had for sub 10K up to around 18K..... Perfect learner sailboat.... Even when we graduate to buying a true live aboard, blue water crusier someday, our Mac26X will be a part of our fleet in reserve....😊 I dont really understand all the Macgregor hate.... Its really perfect at what it does and we love ours. If those qualities and niches dont interest or apply to you, thats perfectly fine- no problem. Whatever floats yer boat. But why all the snobby remarks towards Macgregors which so well fulfill some peoples needs??? I dont get it...but then I guess my family are just brainwashed Macgregor "CULT" members....😂❤✌🙏✌❤
You have asked for comments on old battle axes. We own a Stevens Custom 47 which is an S&S design (ours launched in 1983). For us she is the perfect boat. I am 68 years old and my wife weighs 46kg so we are short handed. We sail the New Zealand coast - often in 30 knots plus. She keeps us safe and has great performance for her age and weight. She is definitely my "forever" yacht.
From episode 130 of Lady K Sailing: ‘You should definitely look at one… if you can find an owner willing to part with theirs… because they love them.’ Quite a positive review of the brand all in all. Certainly no mention of poor construction methods or quality. In this episode, on the other hand, you fairly rip them a new one. See-thru fiberglass, poorly mounted safety stanchions, etc. So now, I am quite confused. Are Irwin’s good boats, or not? Please enlighten me, Tim!
I agree. The message is confusing and does not take into account the difference in years and makes of Irwins. To make a broad statement like that is not accurate and is only one man's opinion. Find me anywhere else on the internet that states, "Friend's don't let friends by Irwins." If this statement is to be believed as a fact, then you would think it would be all over the internet.
I love my 1989 Irwin 43 mkt 3 deep draft 6’8”. First and foremost they are American Built I had a Swan 441 before this one far more issues than the Irwin . Mexican and Hawaii veteran. Very dry 100 leak free and fast sailor I have passed many of your Tim s favorite boats on the ocean. I have a Kohlar generator and 1030 amps of batteries and inverter that keeps everything going perfectly. For crusing the first thing everyone’s shocked by the width and length of the saloon ,great for dancing,huge vertical fridge with cold machine compressor, first class stove/oven with two bottles of gas, we’ll laid out galley ,above the engine compartment I installed a combination microwave,air fryer,convection oven that works on the inverter. Food storage gone wild! Aftcabin center line queen is very comfortable,both heads have designated big shower so the head stays dry, lots of storage locker if you plan to live aboard. No wasted space above or below decks.Fantastic ground tackle/windless . I have own her for 23 years and have not seen a blister or stress crack anywhere . I must have a freak! Large navigation station I installed a large leather office chair the most comfortable seat onboard .When cruising it’s important to have a comfortable place to sit for hours and read I use the very spacious aft deck with two large captains chairs attached to swivel bases . Another cruising Must , Davits ,the Irwin transom’s near vertical one makes for easy launch and retrieve ,stairs down the transom to board the tender safely . All lines lead to the cockpit make it safe in any seas . Rudder attached to top and bottom of the skegg . When I purchased 23 years ago it was considered light displacement today’s standards it’s medium to heavy . I go by the yachts phrf rating check it out. In short I have not had any of the issues you speak of , 23 years of ocean use. Haul out every 3 years , I enjoy keeping up the bright work . I get many compliments from passerby’s.Easy to get parts at West Marine not like my Swan 441 with metric size. When you are out cruising you see more Irwin’s than any other boat . There are very few 43 mkt 3 for sale mine is well loved and not for sale . If you want to spend 3 times the price on a Pacific Seacraft or Taswell more power to you …… In the mean time see you in PV or Cabo,LaPaz
Hmmm... I lived/sailed on a 42 Irwin ketch (the coach-roof variant, not the poop-deck) for many years and most of what you describe must have been an entirely different boat, I surely couldn't see through the fiberglass, indeed one of the strong suits of our 42 was its heavy glass and large cabin -- when other boats of that era were plagued with blisters, we'd have one or two pseudo-blisters ever year or so and with nearly 14' width inside, she could entertain a larger group... But, you are absolutely correct o lack of hand-holds, but the biggest weakness of the boats were a very inadequate electrical system... over the years we had ours I think I replaced all the 12-volt of any consequence as well as the 110... For a 16-ton center-board boat, our Irwin's sailing qualities on a broad-reach were thrilling for the time (assuming you weren't think in terms of a fly-weight Cal 40 or the like), although compared to a quarter-ton fin-keeler (which she could almost carry as deck-cargo), her upwind properties were less than impressive. She was steady on the helm so even newly minted sailors could be coaxed into taking a turn at "steering..." Her longish keel made docking easy and predictable - what you describe isn't what frustrated me with ours - and much of what you describe sounds like a different boat (excepting the electro-gremlins, which had me pulling my hair out at times ).
I think any boat you buy is both the worst (and the best) option. I had a Columbia 8.7 that had soooo many problems that I fixed most of then virtually gave it away-only to be berated by the next owner for its shortcomings 😮
I don't like vessels that have large areas aft above the waterline. The same living space aboard can be accomplished while extending the waterline aft and increasing hull speed.
As my better half decided she wanted hot water and a shower after my having a Pearson 26 for 52 years, I almost accidentally found a 1967 Bristol 35.5 in excellent condition as it had been indoor stored and well taken care of up in Maine. I did have to replace the engine, with a 30 hp Yammer, but otherwise it was a good deal at $26k. It was overbuilt at the time, as they did not know how thick the hull should be, and the keel weighs more than an entire Pearson 26. She goes faster than expected (98knots under only the jib on a breeze0. I have not had a chance to actually sail the craft due to cardiac issues that were identified the winter after I bought it. The interior is beautiful, not terribly big but it does everything.
I was on a Morgan Out Island 41 in a rain storm once. We went down below to get out of the weather. Unfortunately we had more rain pouring down our necks inside than outside. We had nearly all the pots and pans from the galley set out collecting rainwater. The skipper and owner apologized while he was putting on his foul weather gear. I'd put that boat on the "not to buy list."
MacGregor makes another sail. I have a 25ft MacGregor not the Power/sail, Lived on it for 4 months bumming around FL and sail it in New England waters. Upgraded to a 37ft Catamaran but still have the Mac. Love that boat. Never liked the power/sail MacGregor
I have sailed and lived on my Irwin 46 for 3 years. Love the boat. Sure, it doesn't point but my 40 years of sailboat racing days are over. The layout is far superior to the equivalent Morgan, which my friend who chartered one said was a pig that you hand run the engine to tack. Irwin was way ahead of his time with the deck salon windows. I didn't want to crawl back into the submarines that most designs are and modern designers agree with me. Sure the previous owner fixed some soggy decks, repowered with a Yanmar and yes, we redid the electrical system. But the result is a comfortable deck salon boat with a 750 watt lithium bank, 800 watts of solar, a comfortable aft cabin with a separate shower, and guest quarters with their own head for less than $150k all in. Yes, there are small nits we continue to improve, but we also didn't spend the money involved with the modern, lightly built deck salon boats. BTW, the stanchion deck screws are not an integral part of the stiffness of the stanchions. They are anchored inside the hull, extending down a foot or so, glassed in for stability. My wife loves her galley step down, which separates the space from the salon, but she can still be in the conversation. All in all, I think your opinion needs more research, like try one.
I have heard that early MacGregors (designed to be entey level starter boats) are not bad once you make a few upgrades. I note that few 26 footers offer a rear sleeping area as generous as that found on Macgregor 26D's or 26S's. And while water balast is not ideal it does have the advantage of making a boat reasonable to trailer and tow. I would like to hear other's thoughts on the matter.
Worst boats: - Plywood epooxy hull (plywood rotts and = totall loss..) - foam-polyester-foam. hull like etap 26 boats.. As new it's light, stiff, insulated and unsinkable. Once you have a leak or some osmosis in the thin outer hull, the foam sucks up water and i think it's a totall loss then.. - Decks with balsa wood... (this always starts to rot, it can be repaired but is a load of work) - Boats with keels, rudders or other parts mounted in wood that starts to rot in a place that can't be reached. (like the small open boat centaur) The keel is boltet into a piece of wood under the floor. To fix the keel you need to saw the entire floor out.. And by the way: ALWAYS!!! do a safety chain/rope on an outboard! The mounting screws or moutning plate vibrates loose.. Then you make a corner and it flips off.. To the bottom of the sea...
0:10 - "probably Macgregor ..." - um, a Macgregor 26 S/X/M is not a liveboard, it's for day sailing. Just sayn' 1:00 - it's a swiss army knife lind of boat - does a lot of things ok, none really well. My kids love it. And it won't sink - so the admiral's happier :)
Why are Mcgregor considered one of the worst? I’m looking to buy a lake boat here in Colorado and majority of boats for sell are mcgregor (not the sail power version). Are they fine lake boats? This will be my first boat and would like to stay away from a dingy and have something I can spend a long weekend on in an alpine lake in the mountains.
I love my super versatile and light trailer towed Macgregor 26. Sailing it for best sailing performance involves some important considerations. It can do hordes of cool stuff ocean cruisers can’t. Nobody supposed they are going to cross an ocean in one. You should actually research this boat before broadcasting. I’m Prolly not too interested in your channel now.
Man, I really wish you hadn't shown that Morgan at the end, I am trying to buy it, I don't need tons of competition, haha. still, I love this channel, I use it to get my friends into sailing!
If I had to pick in the 80k - 100k range of what is currently available on Yacht World: 1. CT 54 (CR 50.92) @ $99k, 2. Swan 44 (CR 40.21) @ $99.9k, 3. Bristol 45.5 (CR 43.66) @ $85k, 4. Morgan 462 (CR 38.46) @ $90k. I'm partial to Perry designs, so i would probably go after the CT 54 if it wasn't on the west coast!
I’ve heard all the bad about Irwin so they were never on my radar. I ended up with a Bob Perry design double Ender, a Baba 30 but when/if I upgrade I really like the Gulfstar boats. I know someone with a 37 and it’s a sweet boat. I know they make bigger ones as well.
I crewed on a C & C40 and a 41. Those boats take a pounding. Seemed great for a racer/cruiser. But, it was pathetic when it came to speed. You knew you were not going to be competing for the trophy. I wonder what you think of those old boats. Currently looking at a C & C 35. Sticking to the great lakes for now. Plans for a trip from Chicago to Puerto Rico, will require a proper vessel. And, I enjoy sailing in rough weather. Don't understand that, other than the boat was finally moving at speeds I was seeking!
For something inexpensive to live on I'm considering something like an old late 70's early 80's Moody 36 / 38 seems they come in around hte $30,000 mark. Unless of course they have a fundamental flaw which makes them a death trap that I don't know about.
We are retired, disabled, and have an adult son with special needs. I have severe arthritis and spinal stenosis. My wife is insulin-dependent. We are in our 60s with no boating experience. My idea (my bride needs convincing) is to live out our remaining years cruising the Caribbean or, perhaps, other tropical climes. With a budget of 200K, is it possible to find a boat that three adults can live on comfortably and that won’t require us to contort our bodies into impossible positions everyday other day? I am not a tinkerer and have no desire to rebuild a boat from the inside out. So, am I a dreamer or am I insane?
I’ve been in and out of yachts my whole life and unfortunately tinkering comes with the territory. Salt water, wind, rain and sun are your constant companions. That means, no matter how good your boat, things wear, get jammed, corrode and motors need maintenance. All that said, sailing is about learning patience and peace and enjoying the journey not just the destination. I had to learn to tinker one RU-vid video at a time and it’s edifying to fumble around and see something fixed by your own hands. I know it’s tough if you have some physical restrictions but if you break things down into bite sized problems you can work almost anything out. (Read Gipsy Moth Circles the world by Francis Chichester). As a rule of thumb, allow between 5 to ten percent of the purchase price each year for maintenance. Stuff just has to be done (antifouling, engine servicing, insurances, registration etc). That all said, every sailer is a dreamer and insane (we just hide it better than most) so don’t let practicalities hold you back. Yachties are a generous bunch as we’re all in the grand delusion together and that means lots of advice, helping hands and experience shares when you need it. Talk to Tim about finding an optimum boat that matches budget with liveability and longevity. Got for it I say. (But be prepared to change your thinking as you do your research into the ideal boat).
Great info. Even the old ugly ones are overpriced. I agree to its a proposition to someone with more time than money. I like this vein in general. It would be nice to get close to 100k but it is way easier to get closer to 50k or 30.
Hay just I need to say I love your videos, BED'S-BIRTHS. I am doing my research into my future home on the water I can not find much on sleeping on a sailboat. Aft berth looks great but what is the trade off. Big V berth island bed, again looks grate but can you sleep in them at anchor? is this a good idea for a new episode? I have a budget of $120us. Cheers
Aa yes the McGregor 26. I have the 24' no engine but dont wana cruise it. Id call em day sailors. That being said at south beach harbor in SF their is a cal 19 called black feathers that did Hawaii and back to SF.
Ha ha. The worst boat to own and buy in my opinion, is the one you build. The 45 footer on my lawn right now is a testament to that. I should have learned my lesson on my first boat, a Chrysler 26 not dissimilar to your first boat, which I gutted and rebuilt from a bare hull. The work is free you say, but your time is money and you will waste a lot of time building a boat if you are an amature and want it done right.
No such thing. Everything depends on the sailor. If you are a real cruising sailor then you've seen it. We've seen 2 people on 60 foot boats give up because it's to much. We've also witnessed a guy on a 17 foot sailboat having the time of his life. But the ones we love are the 20 year olds on a 27 foot Catalina with a huge rack of surfboards sewing their oats and making memories of a lifetime. Every boat is more capable than the operator.
It's small by most standards, but we own a Sam L Morse built Bristol Channel Cutter 28. Lyle Hess design. They go for about $70,000.00 and are nice. Somewhat overpriced, but a lovely boat for cruising Maine and beyond. Ours is a 1991.
.....Can I just put in a bad word for a little one-person sailboat called a "Sidewinder"? I bought this as my first sailboat maybe thirty-five years ago, and it had a quirk during tacking where it would sometimes suddenly knife out of control. Other than that it was okay. I was proud of it because it was a bit fancier than a sunfish. It stunk, though.
