From Hillside Field to Truck: Collecting a MacGregor 26 in Dorset

Collecting a Long-Forgotten MacGregor 26 in Dorset

Boat rescue missions rarely go entirely according to plan. And our latest collection in Dorset proved that a bit of ingenuity goes a long way when you are out in the field.

MacGregor Stuck in a Field

Our mission was to recover an old MacGregor 26 trailer sailer that had been sitting idle in a hillside field for a number of years. With the land now up for sale, the owner needed the boat gone quickly. The original game plan was simple: dispatch our specialist Hiab truck straight into the field, hoist the yacht up, and drive away.

However, rural recovery often comes with unexpected hurdles. On the day of collection, we hit our first major snag. Because the field sat high on a steep hill, the farm gate access was far too severe. Our heavy truck simply could not make the sharp, inclined transition from the narrow country road. Not without risking bottoming out or losing traction.

Coax the Boat Towards the Gate

Time for some quick thinking. Rather than giving up and rescheduling, our team devised a plan to bring the MacGregor to the gate. We grabbed a long, heavy-duty tow rope, secured it to the MacGregor. Then used our vehicle from the safety of the flat road to gently coax and pull the boat down the slope towards the gate.

Once the yacht was successfully navigated down the hill to the entrance, our Hiab could finally get to work. With the boat positioned within reach, the crane hoisted her up smoothly onto the truck bed. Fortunately, it was a quiet country lane with just enough room for passing traffic to creep around us while we wrapped up the tricky loading process.

Boatbreakers Finds a way

Another successful rescue in the books! Whether it’s stuck on a hill or buried in a yard, the Boatbreakers team always finds a way.