BoatsMacgregor 65

Macgregor 65

Cutter · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · 1984–1987

A high-performance cutter with a slender hull and impressive sail area, designed for rapid passage-making

Designed by Roger Macgregor.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

See her sail

The Macgregor 65, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from keeldragger

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

At 1.67 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.67
LightHeavy

39 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 39
EasygoingPowered-up

34.3 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 34.3
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~97% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~98% of boats her size on file

Compared with 453 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Macgregor 65, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Macgregor 65 is a 19.8-meter cutter-rigged sailboat designed by Roger Macgregor and built by Macgregor Yacht Corp. from 1984 to 1987. It features a fin keel with a bulb and a spade rudder, displacing 9979 kg. The initial version was performance-oriented, and a later pilothouse variant sold over 70 units. Aboard *keeldragger*, the boat sailed a 13.8-nautical-mile coastal passage from Dana Point to Newport Beach, motor-sailing when winds were light or on the nose.watch The boat achieved speeds of approximately 3.5 knots close-hauled on a return trip to Dana Point.10:07

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
34.3
Displacement / length
39.3
Comfort ratio
20.3
Capsize screening
1.67
Hull speed
10.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2627
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1984–1987
Units built
24
Designer
Roger Macgregor
Builder
Macgregor Yacht Corp

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Santa Cruz 7020.73 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA custom-built 20-metre racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio that allows for significant individual variation
We Go Racing To Defend Our Team's CYC Mackinac Overall Title [Ep. 37]0:59from Sailing Sweet Ruca
Amel 5417.20 mSame hull family2.6 m shorterA robust staysail ketch designed for serious blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable skeg-hung rudder
270 | Season finale! We sold our boat Shogun - Sailing Around the World16:20from SAWLORS - Sailing Around the World
Jeanneau Yachts 6018.28 mSame hull family1.5 m shorterA 2021 Andrew Winch-styled cruiser featuring a bulb keel and dual rudders for balanced handling at speed
Blonde Bombshell for crew!4:07from Sailing Doodles
Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 6018.95 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA 19-metre performance cruiser by Roberto Biscontini featuring dual rudders and a versatile fractional rig
$2 Million FLAGSHIP Beneteau Oceanis Yachts 60from Practical Sailor
Hanse Yachts 57517.15 mSame hull family2.7 m shorterA 17-meter performance cruiser with a 2.85-meter draft and a powerful 19.84 SA/D ratio for fast, modern passage making
The British Virgin Islands on a Yacht | Sailing Sunday | Ep.2105:39from Sailing Sunday
X-Yachts X-56217.23 mSame hull family2.6 m shorterA Niels Jeppesen-designed performance cruiser balancing a powerful masthead rig with a stiff, deep-draft hull
The boats of the 61st Genoa International Boat Show 2021 - SVN13:07from SVN solovelanet

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Macgregor 65 Pilot HouseA performance-oriented cutter with a raised deckhouse and inside steering, evolved from a racing-focused hull design

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Macgregor 65, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Macgregor 65

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue