Water Ballast - Macgregor 26M

MacGregor developed this concept. It has been widely copied, and is now the standard throughout the trailerable sailboat industry. It makes it possible to have very light weight for powering and trailering, and the heavy stability necessary for safe sailing.

After launching, the transom valve is opened and a tank in the bottom of the hull is gravity filled with sea water. It takes about 5 minutes. The valve is then closed, trapping the water. Under power or sail, the ballast makes the boat stable and self righting.

When the boat is floated back onto its trailer, the valve is opened. The car and trailer start up the ramp and the water drains out of the boat, leaving a trailering package that is lighter than most small powerboats. You can also empty the tank while the boat is in the water. Under power, at about 7 mph, open the valve on the transom and the tank will drain in about 5 minutes.

Notice: The 26M is in production by MacGregor. The information contained on this page is subject to change, and may not fully represent the boat as it is manufactured. We will endeavor to update these pages as more information is released by MacGregor. If you would like to be notified when new materials are added to the site, send us an e-mail by click here.