Just that the hulls are the same shape, no "deeper V",



Jim Cate wrote:
Wrong. The "V" configuration of the 26M, in the forward portion of the
hull, is 15 degrees, compared with 8 degrees on the 26X. (I have
personally examined both boats and seen the difference. - Check it out
yourself with a level and protractor if you don't believe me. )

That must explain why the trailer bunks for the two
different models are exactly the same.


... This is to accommodate the
rotatable mast, which also includes bearing upper and lower bearing
structures. - Another substantive difference.


"Upper bearing"?? What does the mast bear on at the upper end?

BTW what benefit does a rotating mast give the boat?


(why does the "longer mast" not stick up any higher?),


It does.

Hmm, when you park the two models side by side, the masts
appear to be exactly the same height. If they're side by
side on trailers, the masts stick out the same length front
& back.


Yep. And sailed them myself a few times. A couple of friends have
owned them and were determined to prove what great boats they were,
until the realization slowly crept over them that they were not.



And which Mac models were they?


Actually I've sailed a lot of MacGregors over the years,
starting with the venerable Venture 21 and up thru the
Mac25 swing keel, the Mac26 water ballast (both dagger &
centerboard) which was the same hull stretched about 4", the
Mac 19 PowRSailR, the 26X and the M.

The ones I was referring to that my friends eventually gave
up on were the X & M PowRSailR boats, the X's kept breaking
their steering any time the wind blew more than twelve
knots. The M's don't seem to have this problem but they're
not much fun to sail IMHO compared to even a medium
performance monohull.

One friend has kept his Mac 26X although he's modified it
(beefed up steering among other things)... he mostly uses it
for fishing and towing a Hobie Cat out to where he can have
fun sailing that.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King