MacGregor Yacht Corporation
Encyclopedia
The MacGregor Yacht Corporation is a manufacturer of sailing
yacht
s, located in southern California
.
MBA class project in the early 1960s. The company has been in business since, producing primarily small, trailerable
sailing yachts, from a 15 feet (4.6 m) catamaran
to 17 feet (5.2 m) pocket cruiser
s, up to 26 feet (7.9 m) water ballasted
trailerable sizes. MacGregor has also built a 36 feet (11 m) catamaran
, and a 65 feet (19.8 m) yacht. Currently the only model in production is the MacGregor 26M, a 26 feet (7.9 m) trailerable sailboat, with the ability to mount up to a 60 hp outboard motor. Customer demand of the 26M has caused MacGregor to cease production of all other models, though there are plans to introduce an improved, slightly larger version of the MacGregor 65, the MacGregor 70.
MacGregor is known for using innovative features to provide stability while maintaining light weight and easy trailerability. The swing keel
was one of the innovations used on MacGregor's smaller boats, and water ballast
is another. For example, the current model 26M weighs only 2550 lb (1,156.7 kg) dry, 300 lb (136.1 kg) of which is permanent ballast. When in the water it can take on an additional 1150 lb (521.6 kg) of water ballast, stored in tanks below the waterline. This allows the 26M to be self-righting; if rolled 90 degrees, the weight of the ballast will quickly flip the boat back upright.
MacGregor has manufactured over 36,000 yachts since it was started. While most of these were the smaller pocket cruisers and larger trailerable models, it also made about 100 of the M-65 model during its 8 year production run, making it the most successful luxury yacht ever made.
s and pocket cruiser
s, while the MacGregors started with the larger pocket cruisers and went up to large luxury yachts. The first model MacGregor made was the V-21, a pocket cruiser with a swing keel.
The M-19 and some M-26 models are listed as powersailers, because they have provisions for mounting more powerful engines, and are capable of motorboat like performance. For example, the M-19 can mount a 40 hp outboard, the M-26-X can mount a 50 hp outboard and the M-26-M can mount a 60 hp outboard. With these large engines, the boats are capable of speeds of over 20 knots (39.2 km/h), and the M-26-M brochure shows a picture of the boat pulling a waterskier.
The M-25 was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame
in 2000. The M-25 was in production from 1973 to 1987, with over 7000 manufactured.
The current M-26-M model is a daggerboard
design, a departure from the swing keel/centerboard used in most previous models. The retracting centerboard frees up floor space in the cabin, and the centerboard trunk is used as the galley wall to save space.
While the M-26-M remains a water ballasted design, it also incorporates 300 pounds of fixed ballast which improves stability when the water ballast tanks are empty.
At 2550 pounds empty (1160 kg) it can be towed by most light truck
s, SUVs, and minivan
s equipped with towing packages. The MSRP
for the base model M-26-M, with aluminum trailer (new for 2007, replacing the previous steel trailers), is US$21,500.
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, located in southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
History
MacGregor Yacht Co. was founded by Roger MacGregor as part of a Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
MBA class project in the early 1960s. The company has been in business since, producing primarily small, trailerable
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
sailing yachts, from a 15 feet (4.6 m) catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
to 17 feet (5.2 m) pocket cruiser
Pocket cruiser
A pocket cruiser, microcruiser, trailer sailer or pocket yacht is a small lightweight sailboat with a cabin, designed for recreational cruising. Pocket cruisers can be readily loaded on a trailer and towed by most passenger automobiles. Both commercially made and designs for home built pocket...
s, up to 26 feet (7.9 m) water ballasted
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
trailerable sizes. MacGregor has also built a 36 feet (11 m) catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
, and a 65 feet (19.8 m) yacht. Currently the only model in production is the MacGregor 26M, a 26 feet (7.9 m) trailerable sailboat, with the ability to mount up to a 60 hp outboard motor. Customer demand of the 26M has caused MacGregor to cease production of all other models, though there are plans to introduce an improved, slightly larger version of the MacGregor 65, the MacGregor 70.
MacGregor is known for using innovative features to provide stability while maintaining light weight and easy trailerability. The swing keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
was one of the innovations used on MacGregor's smaller boats, and water ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
is another. For example, the current model 26M weighs only 2550 lb (1,156.7 kg) dry, 300 lb (136.1 kg) of which is permanent ballast. When in the water it can take on an additional 1150 lb (521.6 kg) of water ballast, stored in tanks below the waterline. This allows the 26M to be self-righting; if rolled 90 degrees, the weight of the ballast will quickly flip the boat back upright.
MacGregor has manufactured over 36,000 yachts since it was started. While most of these were the smaller pocket cruisers and larger trailerable models, it also made about 100 of the M-65 model during its 8 year production run, making it the most successful luxury yacht ever made.
Models
MacGregor has produced models under two brand names, Venture, used until 1977, and MacGregor. These are usually abbreviated to M- and V- in model names, with a number following indicating the approximate hull length in feet. Many models, whose production spanned the 1977 brand name change, were sold under both names. The Venture models were all day sailerDay sailer
A daysailer, day sailer, or dayboat is a small sailboat with or without sleeping accommodations but which is larger than a dinghy. Dayboats can be monohull or multihull, and are typically trailer-able. Many dayboats have a small cabin or "cuddy" for storage and to provide a shelter, or for...
s and pocket cruiser
Pocket cruiser
A pocket cruiser, microcruiser, trailer sailer or pocket yacht is a small lightweight sailboat with a cabin, designed for recreational cruising. Pocket cruisers can be readily loaded on a trailer and towed by most passenger automobiles. Both commercially made and designs for home built pocket...
s, while the MacGregors started with the larger pocket cruisers and went up to large luxury yachts. The first model MacGregor made was the V-21, a pocket cruiser with a swing keel.
The M-19 and some M-26 models are listed as powersailers, because they have provisions for mounting more powerful engines, and are capable of motorboat like performance. For example, the M-19 can mount a 40 hp outboard, the M-26-X can mount a 50 hp outboard and the M-26-M can mount a 60 hp outboard. With these large engines, the boats are capable of speeds of over 20 knots (39.2 km/h), and the M-26-M brochure shows a picture of the boat pulling a waterskier.
| Model designation | LOA (feet) | LOA (meters) | Portsmouth DPN Portsmouth yardstick The Portsmouth Yardstick or Portsmouth handicap scheme is a system of handicapping used primarily in small-boat yacht racing.The handicap is applied to the time taken to sail any course, and the corrected time can be used to compare widely different sailboats on even terms. Portsmouth Numbers are... (2005) |
Type |
| V-15 | 15 | 4.5 | 90.6 | Catamaran |
| V-17 | 17 | 5.1 | 112.8 | Cabin sloop |
| M-19 | 19 | 5.7 | N/A | Cabin sloop/powersailer |
| V-21 | 21 | 6.3 | 102.1(F) 99.7(MH) | Cabin sloop |
| V-21 Mk II | 21 | 6.3 | 101.2 | Cabin sloop |
| M-21 | 21 | 6.3 | 100.0 | Cabin sloop |
| M-22 | 22 | 6.6 | 98.6 | Cabin sloop |
| V-2-22 | 22 | 6.6 | 102.7 | Cabin sloop |
| V-23 Newport | 23 | 6.9 | 105.8 | Cabin cutter |
| M-23 Newport | 23 | 6.9 | N/A | Cabin cutter |
| V-2-24 | 24 | 7.2 | 97.9 | Cabin sloop |
| V-25 | 25 | 7.5 | 99.1(F) 95.5(MH) | Cabin sloop |
| M-25 | 25 | 7.5 | 96.0 | Cabin sloop |
| M-26-D | 26 | 7.8 | 92.6 | Cabin sloop, "D" indicating use of a daggerboard |
| M-26-C | 26 | 7.8 | 92.6 | Cabin sloop, uses a swing keel |
| M-26-S | 26 | 7.8 | 94.0 | Cabin sloop, "S" indicating use of a swing keel |
| M-26-X | 26 | 7.8 | 99.4 | Cabin sloop/powersailer, employed a swing keel |
| M-26-M | 26 | 7.8 | 96.0 | Cabin sloop/powersailer, employs a daggerboard |
| M-36 | 36 | 10.8 | 69.1 | Cabin catamaran |
| M-65 | 65 | 19.5 | N/A | Luxury sailing yacht |
- F indicates fractional rig, MH indicates masthead rig
The M-25 was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame
American Sailboat Hall of Fame
The American Sailboat Hall of Fame was established in 1994 by Sail America to recognize ingenuity in designs by American boat builders. The physical display is housed in The Museum of Yachting located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, and includes examples of many of the selected...
in 2000. The M-25 was in production from 1973 to 1987, with over 7000 manufactured.
The current M-26-M model is a daggerboard
Daggerboard
A daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the...
design, a departure from the swing keel/centerboard used in most previous models. The retracting centerboard frees up floor space in the cabin, and the centerboard trunk is used as the galley wall to save space.
While the M-26-M remains a water ballasted design, it also incorporates 300 pounds of fixed ballast which improves stability when the water ballast tanks are empty.
At 2550 pounds empty (1160 kg) it can be towed by most light truck
Light truck
Light truck or light duty truck is a U.S. classification for trucks or truck-based vehicles with a payload capacity of less than 4,000 pounds...
s, SUVs, and minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
s equipped with towing packages. The MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
for the base model M-26-M, with aluminum trailer (new for 2007, replacing the previous steel trailers), is US$21,500.
External links
- MacGregor factory website, with information on the current M-26M
- Practical Sailor review of the MacGregor 26X powersailer
- MacGregor Sailors, an online community with information, manuals, and forums.
- Venture Yacht Club of San Diego, a yacht club catering to trailerable boats. The MacGregor/Venture sailboat was the basis of the club which is now open to all trailerable monohull sailboats.