Guys you obviously don't like the MacGregor workmanship. Instead of bashing the company with every second breath just sell the boat and buy one you actually like. I can assure than I have had thousands of very enjoyable hours on my MacGregor and true they are not perfect, but they sure are a lot of fun.

Macgregor was proud of its hand laid fiberglass and used the same labor as others in Costa Mesa California. This is where many famous ocean sail boats were produced. The company even warned boat purchasers of competitors that painted the bilge because that is how you hide poor quality. The light showing through is called birth marks. In the X model Macgregor reinforced the stress spots rather than the entire boat with up to 17 layers of matting. The video doesn’t do well showing this. This was the advanced form for fiberglass building at the time, after it was recognized that fiberglass is stronger pound for pound than aluminum. That is why fiberglass is preferable to aluminum in bass boats (and much more expensive.) I tend to compare the x model to bass boats because you can visualize a bass boat hull with thin sides added to make the boat an ocean cruiser. Clearly the X model is run like a bass boat with 50 and 90 hp outboards. The leaky ballast tank is a puzzle as you would think more x boats would have that problem. However two items are noteworthy. Macgregor changed the ballast system by 1999, and recommended that owners not allow water in the tank to freeze. So if you take the latter, did the owner let water freeze in the tank. My final comment is that Macgregor built the X model to be compared with a power boat retailing at 40,000 new. So by all means restore her. If you put 10,000 to replace the solid flotation with bilge pumps (which would be needed without the floatation) and added refrigeration and air conditioning then mounted a 90 hp outboard, you would really have something! But then you already do. I would consider restoration to factory specs and new sails.

Thank you so much for posting this detailed video of all the nooks and crannies! I just got a M26X and it has three years of mice turds in it! Sat in a quonset on a farm. I am just in the process of deep cleaning it. Took everything out, hosed it down, now I have an enzyme working to eliminate the stench. This video is very helpful!

Build aluminum tanks

Its a boat not an F35. The glass looks fine.

Remove that Positive Foam Floatation, you "Might" have an Issue when she goes to the Bottom, and the Insurance Company Investigation reveals it was removed.....something to consider, if you were to require a Claim in the Future! Frank Mighetto, may just be the Most Prolific Mac Aficionado......I'd come in a Close Second! Just Kidding Frank! I lived close to that Mac Factory in Costa Mesa and met with Roger MacGregor, several times, and was an Officer with the San Diego Venture (MAC) Yacht Club , and Owned 3 of his Craft since the 1980's. I have owned my 2001 Mac 26X, since New, and would Not Own any other Brand So far, what "deficiencies" you have found will be offset quickly when you use this craft! She sails differently than Most Sailboats, and Powers differently than most Powered Craft, as well! It's a learning curve, but if you really end up hating it, many are ready to take her off your hands, too! LOL

If the leaks are not real bad you can seal up all openings on the ballast tank and tape up a shop vac to the drain. Get some epoxy paint or even better a low viscosity epoxy resin and paint it on where the leaks are. The vacuum will draw the resin into the leak and cure sealing it. That way you don't have to try to find where the leak is coming from. Just leave the vacuum on it long enough for it to start curing.

Kinda funny that these two find a few fiberglass and gelcoat issues on an old boat and can't stop complaining but at the same time they remove all the safety foam that makes this almost unsinkable and think they are jeniuses (and I don't throw the 'j' word around lightly).

Great job creating a video record of the bones of the boat. When I bought my 26X, I did the same thing, removed everything, then fixed some issues related the ballast tank. But I neglected to make a video at that time, so well done! I'm not sure MacGregor deserves all the criticism you've rained onto them, but I understand how frustration can build when problems pile onto problems and you begin to lose faith in the boat itself. Fix the issue with the ballast, and you'll have a fine boat. People have made some impressive voyages in these boats. Oh, and do NOT mount a battery over the aft berth as you seemed to suggest. You want them low and central; this is a tender boat.

Don’t store stuff below decks. To many opportunities to open up a leak in through hull hoses. Safety foam delete is a dumb idea. People who do things like that eventually become victims.

Frigate Chasers:

Great video. I have the same boat, so will be watching intently for your future videos. My boat came with pool noodles in that narrow rear berth compartment. It provides support for that flimsy deck and some flotation. I replaced all those wood covers and head door with white PVC sheet. More project underway.

Thanks again! That was the most thorough tour of the belowdeck nooks and crannies of a MacGregor 26X I've seen. Count me subscribed, and carry on, gentleman. I'll be following with great interest!

Don't recall the year when these came out but I called the manufacture and spoke to one of the engineers. I asked if the 26X was capable for a voyage to Hawaii and he said no! It told me "it depends on conditions and you're skill level but it's not really an offshore or bad weather boat". Further, I was told it wasn't really built to travel cross country roads a lot (when my other plan was to use it as a camper and travel the country lake to lake and larger river systems, like the Great Loop. Another comment was it could do the Great Loop, just stay closer to shore in the Gulf with weather permitting.

one of the best tutorial video ı had ever watched.thank you guys...

Really good stuff. Thanks for putting this up.

Glad I watched this video, I was seriously considering a MacGregor, not now!

Yes the ballast tank is the first thing we're going to check once we get ours home. Have you thought about pouring some epoxy in there and moving the boat this way and that? Might be the only way to patch that. It would probably take a couple of gallons easy, but might be worth a shot...

Can’t wait to see the finished product!

SO WELL DONE GUYS !!!!