BoatsMacgregor 26D

Macgregor 26D

Fractional Sloop · Daggerboard · First built 1986

A lightweight, high-production fractional sloop featuring a daggerboard and a design legacy that defined a generation

Designed by Roger Macgregor.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Daggerboard

See her sail

The Macgregor 26D, on the water

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

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 2.41 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,293 kg of hull, so roughly 1,900 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draughtDraws 0.38 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 12 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 12
CoastalBluewater

2.24 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.24
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 98
EasygoingPowered-up

18.8 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.8
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 42%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Macgregor 26D, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Macgregor 26D is a 7.9-meter trailerable fractional sloop designed by Roger Macgregor, built from 1986, and notable for its water ballast system. This design allows the 1292 kg boat to be light enough for ramp launching and towing behind standard vehicles. When its 544 kg water ballast is drained, the boat can accommodate an outboard motor up to 50 horsepower, enabling planing speeds of 15 to 20 knots.7:31 The hull uses thin fiberglass with minimal structural members but includes positive flotation. The interior features a v-berth, a small galley, and a head, prioritizing lightweight camping over offshore capability. In 1990, the 26D was modified with a centerboard, becoming the Macgregor 26S; combined production of the D and S models made the 26 one of the most widely produced sailboats of its size. Aboard Adventureman Dan, Daniel sold his Beneteau First 38 to buy a Macgregor 26X, seeking its trailering capability and ability to beach.0:40 He later planned to return to the Bahamas aboard his Macgregor 26D.18:27

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 4 times across 3 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Macgregor 26D on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.8
Displacement / length
98.0
Comfort ratio
11.6
Capsize screening
2.24
Hull speed
6.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
665
Hull
Hull type
Daggerboard
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Water
Production
Years built
First built 1986
Units built
6000
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.

Macgregor 26M7.87 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile trailer-sailer featuring a rotating spar, daggerboard, and twin rudders for performance in a light displacement

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Macgregor 26D, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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