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JimC

lid wrote:

Funny, I've been looking at the MacGregor for a while now as a potential
purchase. I would really like a sail boat but the family wants a power
boat. I occasionally sail on a friends 1929(?) wood hull sailboat and
that is the life for me. My family likes our other friends 21 ft
Chris-Craft.

It seems to me that sailors don't like it because it's not a "real"
sailboat. Powerboaters don't like it because it isn't a "real" power
boat and then there are those with them who more or less seem to like
them. I have heard some say it bobs like a cork under sail and that the
hull is weak.

Certainly there are compromises made just like an enduro will never be a
great dirt bike or a great road bike but, it has it's place. The
question is, how is the MacGregor? I'd like to do coastal sailing in
Southern California. I probably would never venture farther than
Catalina or the channel islands. I'd also like to sail some of the
lakes like havasu, Powell, etc. so the trailerability of the MacGregor
is appealing. Family of 4 up to 1 week trips once or twice a year. I
wouldn't consider myself the fair weather type; as skills progress I'd
sail year around in as much weather as the ship and her captain are
capable of.

Opinions?
Carl

Before getting our 26M, I had experience over some 30 years sailing a
number of larger, conventional boats, including an Endeavor 32, a
Beneteau 39, O'Day 38-39, several Catalinas, a Cal 32, and a 40-ft
Valiant staysail-rigged sloop (my favorite). So, I am well-aware that
the Mac 26M has limitations when compared to such larger, conventional
boats. It it's hull speed isn't as great, and it normally doesn't point
as high, as heavy conventional-keel boats with longer waterlines, such
as the Valiant 40. On the other hand, the 26M is a lot of fun to sail,
and it offers a number of capabilies not available on most conventional
vessels.

As with any small, light boat, it's not as comfortable in heavy weather
conditions as a heavier, conventional weighted keel vessel. So, if your
plans entail taking the boat offshore on extended cruises, I would
suggest you look at larger, heavier boats. Because of its size, I
wouldn't plan on sleeping five or six people onboard for several weeks.
Regarding the "feel" of the Mac's steering, many of us have installed a
linkage system permitting convenient "quick disconnect" of the steering
linkage from the motor, which greatly reduces the load on the steering
and enhances the "feel" and control under sail. I would also recommend
roller furling and convenient mainsail furling, with lines led aft.

As you have noticed, there are lots of opinions, pro and con, concerning
the Macs. In evaluating them, I would suggest that you give greater
attention to comments from folks who have actually sailed the current
Mac 26 model (the Mac 26M, sold since 2003). Changes in the current
model include a new hull with heavier construction, a vertically
adjustable dagger board (rather than a pivotal keel), ballast consisting
of permanent and water ballast (rather than just water ballast),
rotatable mast, taller mast and narrower mainsail profile, new chain
plate construction, etc. The vertically adjustable dagger board, for
example, provides better control and higher pointing than the pivotal
keel of older Mac boats. Although the Mac26M still isn't as good upwind
as a larger boat with conventional, weighted keel, and (horrors), some
larger boats may pass you, the boat is still lots of fun to sail. It's
also fun to motor back to the marina at 15 knots at the end of a long
hot day when the wind has gone or is in your face.

Obviously, you can't trailer a heavy boat such as the 40-foot Valiant
easily to another sailing location, and there are places the Mac can go
that the Valiant couldn't. Regarding it's speed under power, if you want
to do 20mph easily with full load and water ballast, some Mac owners are
opting for a 70hp 2-cycle (lightweight) or larger motor.

Ultimately, it boils down to what you want to do with the boat and
what's important to you. If you have unlimited funds, then getting a
power boat and a large, conventional sailboat, and paying for slips for
each, makes sense.

The bottom line to me is that it's simply fun (and convenient) to sail.

Jim