"JimC" wrote in message
...
What do I see? Among other things, I see the following:
Step 1) Open eyes.
1) A boat that is not essentially limited to being sailed in the immediate
area. - The Mac26M can be quickly and easily transported by the owner
(with a pickup or SUV) in one weekend to waters hundreds of miles from
it's berth or storage area, thereby making available hundreds of sailing
areas that wouldn't be conveniently available with a larger, keeled
vessel. (Without having it hauled out of the water and hiring a truck to
transport the boat to a distant sailing area.) - Practically speaking,
most large, conventional keeled boats are limited to sailing within a day
or so of their marinas unless the owners are retired or want to spend
several weeks of vacation. (Of course, you can always point to
exceptions, but they ARE the exceptions, not the usual practice for most
owners, most of the time.)
Are you claiming that my boat can't be sailing in areas other than where
she's berthed???
I prefer to actually sail to places not put my boat on truck.
2) A boat that doesn't have to be berthed in a marina. Thus, the storage
fees are substantially less than most marina fees, and ongoing lease and
maintenance fees can be substantially reduced. Or, if desired, I can (and
do) choose to keep it in a Marina, at a relatively modest fee because of
its size and limited draft.
Ongoing lease? Wow...stunning news. A 26' boat is less expensive to berth
than a 30.
3) A coastal cruiser that can be sailed in a variety of waters, including
offshore, with the understanding that it isn't recommended for extended
ocean crossings and isn't as comfortable in heavy weather. The boat has
plenty of ballast and plenty of righting forces. Also, it's suitable for
sailing and/or motoring in shallow or restricted waters that aren't
available to large, fixed keel vessels.
It might be a coastal cruiser a couple of months a year, but I assure you
it's not a coastal cruiser out here 95% of the time, unless you count
foundering on rocks as coastal cruising.
4} A boat that incorporates a number of safety features, including
positive floatation that will keep the boat afloat even if the hull is
compromised. The boat is also designed to accommodate a large outboard
which gives the skipper more options in the event of heavy weather, e.g.,
for returning to port quickly.
I bet you have PFDs too! Yeah, a large outboard to get you out of trouble
when either the skipper fails or the boat is about to fail.
5) A boat that, despite its relatively modest size, has substantial cabin
space and berths for five people, including a queen-size aft berth.
Stuff em in... I bet you can.
6) A boat that is small and light enough to permit easy handling and
docking by one person.
Compared to what? My Sabre is 30' and 8000 lbs. I have no problem sailing
and docking in fairly rigorous conditions. I've seen Mac sailors trying to
dock, and they did so quite nicely... coming in like freight and jamming it
in reverse at the last second. I've also seen them "sailing" on the bay in
20+ kts... sails a flappin, boat heeled, people looking very scared, and
finally, the skipper gets the engine going just to get it under control.
7) A boat that is priced substantially lower than conventional larger
boats (comparing new prices with new prices and used prices with used
prices, of course). This permits getting a fully equipped vessel (with
accessories such as autopilot, chart reader, roller reefing, 50-hp motor,
lines led aft, radio, stereo, etc., etc.), still within an affordable
total cost.
Well, you got me there... cheap compared to used boats of higher quality.
8) A boat that can be sailed or motored with or without the ballast, and
that can be trailord without the ballast, making it a substantially
lighter load when trailoring.
Get a bigger fricken car.
9) A boat that can have a 5.5 feet draft for sailing (with dagger-board
down) but that can be converted to one with only 1.5-ft draft in shallow
waters or waters with variable depth, or for anchoring in shallow waters,
or for bringing it up a ramp for trailoring, or for simply bringing the
boat ashore on a beach for a picnic or the like. Or, the dagger board can
be only partially retracted for increased speed on a reach or a run, or
completely retracted for motoring on a plane.
You sure think trailering is the end all and be all of sailing. Got news for
you...
10) A sailboat that, unlike 90 percent of the boats discussed on this ng,
isn't limited to hull speed. With the (typical) 50-hp to 60-hp outboard,
the Mac 26M can be motored on a plane at two or three times hull speed.
bs removed This capability is also a safety factor, as mentioned
above, in the event the skipper wants to bring the boat in quickly to
avoid heavy weather, or move down the coast to avoid a squall, etc.
Yeah, and you're responsible for your wake. Whoooo... heavy weather. Scary!
When they announce a small craft advisory (just about every day in the
Summer), we head out not in.
11) A boat that has clean lines and a modern, streamlined design. -
Admittedly, this is a matter of taste.
Admittedly, bad taste in my opinion.
12) Finally, I see a boat that is FUN TO SAIL! On my Mac 26M, when I get
to the sailing area, raise the sails, turn off the motor, and sense the
boat moving under sail, it's an amazing, almost magical experience. In
Say it isn't so! You turn off the engine?? That's mightly brave of you!
bs removed - - - Does that answer your question Ganz? - Or do you
want a few more?
Sure does!!
--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com