M
MacGregor 26X
Reference
5,000 Built · 1995–2003
Fractional Sloop · Water Ballast · 1995–2003

A trailer sailer
that rewrote
the rulebook.

Half sailboat, half powerboat. Roger MacGregor's water-ballasted, planing-hulled 26X became one of the best-selling trailer sailers ever built. This is a reference for the people who actually own one.

Capable of 25 mph under power, 6.4 kn under sail.
Trailerable behind a minivan. Floats in 15 inches of water.
Length Overall
25.82ft
Beam
7.83ft
Displacement
3,750lb
Sail Area
281ft²
01 / Vitals

Specifications

All factory specifications, calculated ratios, and reported performance values.
Hull Speed Calc
6.43
Knots, under sail
≈ 7.4 mph√LWL × 1.34
Top Speed Power
~22
MPH, 50hp outboard
Planing hullBallast empty
Ballast Water
1,400
Pounds, on-demand
37.3% of disp.Drainable
Draft Range CB
.75–5.5
Feet, CB up to down
9 in board up66 in down
Factory Specifications
Production History
5,000
Units Built
8
Years Produced
First
1995
Last
2003
Designer
R. MacGregor
Replaced by the 26M in 2003. Production was continued in spirit by Roger's daughter Laura as the Tattoo 26 from 2013 to 2015.
02 / Character

Defining ratios

Calculated ratios reveal how a boat will actually behave. Here is where the 26X falls.
03 / Sail Plan

Rig & sail areas

Fractional sloop with 281 ft² total reported sail area.
Sail Plan, to scale
WATERLINE MAIN ~165 ft² JIB ~116 ft² HOUNDS MAST · ~28 FT ABOVE DECK LOA · 25.82 FT
Rig typeFractional Sloop
S.A. (reported)281.00 ft²
Mast height (deck)~28 ft
Mast folded~11 ft above WL
S.A. metric26.11 m²
Mast + antenna~36 ft above WL
Sail Area Breakdown
Sail area split is approximate. The fractional rig keeps the headsail manageable. Many owners fly a 150% genoa or asymmetric spinnaker for off-wind work.
04 / Underwater

Hull, ballast & centerboard

Toggle the centerboard up and down. Watch the draft change.
Hull Profile · Interactive
WATERLINE WATER BALLAST · 1,400 LB DRAFT · 5.5 FT CENTERBOARD RUDDER
Hull typeCenterboard (trunk)
Ballast typeWater (drainable)
Max draft (CB down)5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Ballast weight1,400 lb
Min draft (CB up)0.75 ft / 0.23 m
ConstructionFiberglass
Draft vs. The Fleet

Few keelboats can float in nine inches of water. The 26X can. That changes where you can sail.

05 / Dual Personality

Sail vs. power

The signature 26X chart. Two boats in one hull.
Top Speed · Sail vs. Power
Hull speed is the theoretical maximum for a displacement hull at LWL=23 ft. The planing hull breaks that limit when ballast is dumped and the 50hp outboard pushes it onto plane.
Fuel & Water Capacity
Tank capacities are factory original. Many owners add auxiliary fuel cans for longer cruising. Eighteen gallons goes fast at planing throttle.
Displacement Breakdown · Where the Weight Lives
06 / Family Tree

Where the 26X sits

Roger MacGregor designed water-ballasted 26-footers across three decades.
1986–1988
26D
Earlier model. Lifting keel paired with water ballast.
1989–1994
26S
Centerboard refinement. Light, simple, traditional.
1986–1995
26 Classic
Pure water-ballast trailer sailer. ~7,000 built.
1995–2003 · Current
26X
Power-sailer hybrid. Planing hull, 50hp capable. 5,000 built.
2003–2013
26M
Daggerboard, twin rudders, deeper V, rotating spar.
2013–2015
Tattoo 26
Continued by Laura MacGregor Sharp. Same DNA.