I have been reading the comments re Glenn Dean's question about doing the Loop in a MacGregor 26 and am frankly amazed that Glenn bothered to ASK the question since his mind seems to have been made up already. I have not read one positive thing re the boat to be used on the Loop. This attitude of Glenn's seems to be the old 'Don't confuse me with facts, my mind's already made up!' Our first sailboat was a MacGregor 25. It was a 'cheap test' for us to decide if we could really SAIL on the Ohio R! Our new house overlooked the Ohio and we did see sailboats out there now and then. Of course we were 'proud' of our first boat (we'd sailed in Marblehead MA)...or at least my husband was, I thought it was a piece of shit from the beginning. It didn't sail worth a darn, it was impossible to trim either the main or the jib well and very frustrating to even try. I think the fittings were bought at a K-MART Blue Light special! The electric-start outboard was great though! After a year of such frustration, we ordered an Erickson 25+ which introduced us to a 'real boat'. Now I know the 26 is a whole different concept, however, it is still a very LOW-end boat and as such cannot possibly have sufficient 'glass' to be as strong as you need. I especially liked one comment about not being able to LOAD it sufficiently for such a voyage, it is not strong enough! I don't know what kind of 'research' could possibly convince anyone that such a boat would be sufficient for the Loop. I'd guess from Glenn's comments, he is just being stubborn, not receptive. May I tell Glenn that Bob Austin's comments MUST be MORE than just 'considered'! I know Bob personally and he is possibly THE most proficient and experienced boater, sail and power, on this entire list, with years of boating including more than one crossing. A canoe would be far more safe because it'd be better built, the boater(s) would take very little other than camping equippment along, and would really avoid making mistakes/bad decisions! It'd be far wiser to look for a used boat or if price is such a consideration, wait til you can afford better. Doing the Loop is not a contest to see how little/cheap a boat you can do it in. Why a sailboat? What are you trying to prove? Your mast'll be down a good part of the way! You'll irritate the H--- out of other boaters as you try to 'save fuel' by sailing in the narrow channels you'll find many places! I really don't understand your 'research'! Marge Griffith Cinderella Linssen GS 410 (I've come a long way since my MacG 25!)