Most sail boats are massively overbuilt, because weight is, if anything, an asset to them. However, the MacGregor is built for trailering and for speed. The hull is very well designed for strength, the cast-in ballast tubes and tanks and the permanent ballast serving much the same purpose as monocoque body design in race cars. Sailboats with relatively flat bottoms and dagger keels are not unusual -- take a look at the design of any ocean racer. The chief difference with the MacGregor is that the keel and rudders are retractable, and the stern of the boat is designed with a transom to mount an outboard. The result is a sailboat that is also a planing motor boat. The water ballast is the trick -- it allows you to take on the additional weight required for a good righting moment for sailing.
The New England handicap for the MacGregor is identical to the Tanzer 26 at 222, comparable to the C&C at 219 or the Mirage at 216, and superior to the O Day at 246 or the Contessa at 252.
Lots of good ideas in the MacGregor interior! Check out the moveable galley.
