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Macgregor 21
Designer: Roger Macgregor  ·  Builder: Macgregor Yacht Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Macgregor 21

Designed for budget-conscious sailors seeking an accessible entry into the sport, this compact MacGregor represents the manufacturer's philosophy of making sailing affordable and approachable for newcomers. Roger MacGregor's company built a reputation for producing boats that prioritized ease of use and trailerable convenience over traditional sailing performance metrics. With its lightweight construction and simplified rigging, the MacGregor 21 caters primarily to casual day sailing and protected water cruising rather than serious offshore passages. The design emphasizes stability and forgiveness, making it well-suited for learning basic sailing skills or introducing family members to the sport. Its modest size allows for easy single-handed operation while still providing enough cockpit space for small crews. The boat's construction reflects MacGregor's cost-conscious approach, utilizing materials and methods that keep the purchase price accessible to first-time boat owners. While this may result in some compromises in build quality compared to premium manufacturers, it successfully opens sailing to those who might otherwise be priced out of the market. This model fits best with sailors planning weekend adventures on lakes, bays, and other sheltered waters where its gentle handling characteristics and straightforward systems can be fully appreciated.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 6.83 ft / 2.08 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 1,175.00 lb / 533 kg
Ballast 400.00 lb / 181 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Roger Macgregor
Builder Macgregor Yacht Corp. (USA)
First Built 1980
Last Built 1985
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
263
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
34.04
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
82.85
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 2.71 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 7.50 ft / 2.29 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 206.00 ft² / 19.14 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 82.85
How It Compares

vs. Hunter 212, Impulse 21, Sea Pearl 21

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Macgregor 21 ★
21.0 ft
Hunter 212
21.0 ft
Impulse 21
21.0 ft
Sea Pearl 21
21.0 ft
LWL
Macgregor 21 ★
18.5 ft
Hunter 212
18.0 ft
Impulse 21
18.5 ft
Sea Pearl 21
19.0 ft
Beam
Macgregor 21 ★
6.8 ft
Hunter 212
9.2 ft
Impulse 21
8.0 ft
Sea Pearl 21
5.5 ft
Displacement
Macgregor 21 ★
1 lbs
Hunter 212
1 lbs
Impulse 21
1 lbs
Sea Pearl 21
600 lbs
Ballast
Macgregor 21 ★
400 lbs
Hunter 212
140 lbs
Impulse 21
600 lbs
Sea Pearl 21
Sail Area
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
202 sq ft
Impulse 21
208 sq ft
Sea Pearl 21
136 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Macgregor 21 ★
263 s/nm
Hunter 212
216 s/nm
Impulse 21
183 s/nm
Sea Pearl 21
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
21.9
Impulse 21
28.0
Sea Pearl 21
30.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Macgregor 21 ★
34.0 %
Hunter 212
7.8 %
Impulse 21
46.2 %
Sea Pearl 21
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
7.7
Impulse 21
6.5
Sea Pearl 21
4.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
3.02
Impulse 21
2.93
Sea Pearl 21
2.61
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Macgregor 21 ★
82
Hunter 212
137
Impulse 21
91
Sea Pearl 21
39
Hull Speed
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
5.7 kts
Impulse 21
5.8 kts
Sea Pearl 21
5.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Macgregor 21 ★
Hunter 212
4.3
Impulse 21
6.1
Sea Pearl 21
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