1989 MacGregor 26D with MANY upgrades

Description

What a great sailboat for weekends on the water! We've owned this MacGregor 26D for 17 years and are the 3rd owners. The first owners did have her in salt water and it was during their ownership there was some dock inspired hull damage that was repaired before the second owner bought it. You can still see the tear on the port side below decks (see picture 11) and some repairs on the outside (pictures 18 and 19) that have held up well over the years. It takes us (two adults) about 40 minutes to rig the boat from pulling into the dock and probably another 10 to 15 to get it off the trailer, loaded with a weekend worth of gear and rations, and sail away.
We had a custom rudder and aluminum rudder bracket designed and mounted on the boat. With the sale you get the ORIGINAL rudder and tiller and the original mounting equipment is on the boat. But with the custom rudder also comes the Edson wheel steering system. We found the original rudder really under powered and impossible to use in shallow water launches. But with the new system, there is control, even with the rudder floating while steering. The cockpit is nice and clean and easy to accommodate 5 or 6 adults with the wheel steering as well. The steering line does protrude down into the rear berth, but we've still slept 3 back there without trouble.
Rigging was drastically improved with the mainsheet traveler mounted forward in the cockpit as well as the additions of a boom kicker (which not only keeps the main trimmed better, but when you're not underway, it holds the boom up) and a vang.
There are a lot of little upgrades in rigging with cam cleats and jib sheet travelers as well.
The 26D was only made for 3 years and in our opinion is the best model of the traditional, affordable sailers made by MacGregor. This is NOT one of the MacGregors that people put a big engine on the back. You sail this boat! And the dagger board is pulled up by a rope. There is a deck mounted pulley to operate this from the cockpit, but there are no hinges or underwater rigging you need to worry about with this dagger board.
If you're not familiar with MacGregors, you should know this is a water ballast boat. Out of the water and drained, this boat weighs less than 2000lbs. Once launched, you allow water to fill in the water ballast until it can be seen in the port under the steps then you put the plug in there and you've added 1200lbs of ballast which you drain out as soon as you pull the boat out of the water. This makes towing and storing the boat easy and more fuel efficient than a lead keel. It also makes the draft of the boat (with the dagger board up) only 15" (yes, just more than a foot). With the water ballast and the dagger and rudder down, the draft is a little over 5'.
Boat sleeps 6 with a nearly king-sized berth in the back, a front v-berth, and two bench berths. There are cushions for all berth areas and back cushions for the benches.
Sails included are the original main and the 140% roller furling genoa. Makes sailing this boat super easy.
In the galley is the original sink but also a propane stove fueled by a 4 pound propane tank stored in the rear storage compartment in a USCG approved propane locker.
Marine radio included. Also included but not shown in pictures: rigging, vinyl covered cockpit cushions for seats and backs, dual batteries (may need charging), removable head, inboard gasoline tank for 2-cycle mix, tools, anchor, anchor line, and other odds and ends. The electronics you can see in the one picture that would show speed and water temp are not working, but the input hardware is still on the boat.
Outboard engine is an 8hp long shaft Mariner engine that has been regularly serviced and starts right up every year.
The trailer under this boat is solid and is equipped with dual axles, brakes, and is well lit.
We do have a title for the boat. Trailer will be sold with a bill of sale.
This is a GREAT boat for the beginning sailor or sailing family. Easy to rig and sail. Easy to maintain. Starting with a low minimum bid and no reserve, we're hoping Thistle Dew goes to a new home of people who love to sail her.
Happy to answer any questions you might have about the boat. Located in Pownal, Vermont - less than 1 hour east of Albany, New York and just over the border from Williamstown, Massachusetts.