Becuase of the weight issue, I'm getting a 50 hp two-stroke engine that
is relatively lightweight (about 200 pounds). I don't think this will
be that significant a factor in its sailing characteristics. (Of course,
some on this ng think that the Mac doesn't sail under any conditions.
-If that's the case, I might as well put on the larger motor and enjoy
motoring around.)

Jim

That's what we had (the Merc 50 hp two stroke). But the boat is balanced with
or without it, and you're right 200 lbs on a 3000 pound boat just doesn't
matter. I think you'll find the Mac sails pretty good. It's got a more narrow
beam than some boats and this makes it faster, in my opinion.

People on here don't like the Mac because they have to defend their own choice
of boat. They like to talk about storms and heavy seas. Yesterday the wind was
blowing about 30 mph and the sea was all white caps and dust and debrie was
blowing everywhere. I didn't like driving in my car, much less would I have
liked sailing. I don't sail when there are small craft advisories. It's not
that I'm afraid to (well, maybe I am); it's more that I don't want to rig my
boat in that wind and try to get it away from the dock. My boat could have
handled it. A Mac can handle it. It's not like they're going to sink. But no
boats go out when the wind is like that. That's just the reality of the
situation.

If you're in your Mac sailing the FL keys and 40 knot winds start to kick up;
You're going to do what everyone else does: reef, and head for a bay or cove
until it passes. Or you're going to ride it out; either way, you're boat's
going to be just fine.

Do they really think that in wind and waves, the Mac is going to splinter into
fiberglass pieces?

If you wanted to sail the boat around the world, you could do it. The boat
would be just fine. But it's 26 feet. You can't sail from the Galapagose
Islands to Tahiti, because you can't carry enough food or water for that trip.
The Mac is a costal cruiser not because of it's "strength" but because if it's
size. I don't care what kind of boat a person has--if it's 26 feet long, it can
only cary so much food an water.



The Veridican