Since the early 1960s, the MacGregor shipyard in Florida has mainly built small, trailerable sailing boats with variable draughts. However, the Americans achieved their international breakthrough with the MacGregor 26 unsinkable motor sailer, of which several thousand units have been sold all over the world over the years. The innovative and successful concept: sailing in windy conditions; motorboating and waterskiing in calm conditions. The MacGregor 26 has a planing hull with water ballast and a swivelling centreboard. When the wind blows, a simple rig with mainsail, genoa and spinnaker provides propulsion. Otherwise, an engine with an output of up to 60 hp pushes aft.
In the meantime, company founder Roger MacGregor has retired. His daughter and her husband have now taken over the business and are producing under the shipyard name Tattoo Yachts. At the same time, the tried-and-tested 26 has received a comprehensive update and is now offered as the Tattoo 26. Only the hull and deck have remained the same, everything else is new. A revised rig with more sail area ensures better sailing characteristics. The Tattoo 26 now also has a traveller for the mainsheet and a boom vang. And the retractable centreboard and the two rudder blades at the stern have been re-profiled.
The Americans have also done a lot of work and modifications below deck. Thanks to new colours and different woods (light bamboo instead of dark mahogany), the interior has become lighter and visually more open. In addition, the pantry block on the port side can now be moved, making it possible to vary the layout of the saloon. And the toilet room in the foredeck is more spacious. However, the previous basic layout with double berths forward and aft remains the same. However, the two sleeping areas can still not be separated. The Tattoo 26 remains open inside throughout.
At the same time as the revised 26, Tattoo Yachts has unveiled initial plans for a Tattoo 22. This is intended to transfer the concept of the 7.90 metre long 26 to a smaller hull with a hull length of just 6.90 metres. The 22 will also have a water ballast system for sailing and a retractable centreboard. And with a weight of just 800 kilograms, it should be ideally suited for road transport, just like its larger sister Tattoo 26, and can also be easily slipped.
The company International Boats Kroll (IBK) based in Wilhelmshaven, is responsible for the sale of Tattoo Yachts in Germany and is presenting the Tattoo 26 as a new product at boot in Düsseldorf. Its price is currently quoted at 27,500 euros, including VAT, road trailer and sails, but without engine. The price for the smaller Tattoo 22 with the same equipment is 21,000 euros.
