Capt. JG wrote:

"JimC" wrote in message
...

What do I see? Among other things, I see the following:


Step 1) Open eyes.

Open yours.



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???

Read my note Ganz. What I said was that the Mac can be quickly and
easily transported by the owner with a pickup or SUV in one weekend to
waters hundreds of miles away. (Making the Mac more versatile and giving
the owner more choices.) Your boat obviously can be sailed in areas
other than where it's berthed, but it can't be easily transported by the
owner with a pickup or SUV in one weekend to waters hundreds of miles
away. (Which is what I posted in the first place, in case you didn't
take the time to read my note.)


I prefer to actually sail to places not put my boat on truck.

Can you sail 1500 miles in one weekend Ganz? I would sure like to see
that. - Let me know when you are about to move out.



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.

Storage and maintenance fees can be substantially less, Ganz, because
you don't have to keep the boat in a slip. Regarding slip fees, I get a
reduced rate because, with the Mac's shallow draft, I can leave the
boat in a shallow slip that wouldn't be suitable for a conventional boat
with deep keel.



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.

Don't know where "out here" is Ganz.- Maybe you could be a little more
specific. But in any event, the Mac is maneuverable and can be motored
or sailed around rocks and in shallow waters most fixed-keel boats
couldn't manage.



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.


What's your point Ganz? That the boat SHOULDN'T have such safety
measures?- How long would YOUR boat stay afloat if it's hull were
substantially compromised? With a 6-inch puncture, for example?



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.

Again, your point is:.......?


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.

Mine has three reefing points on the main, and a roller furling jib. I
seldom have problems keeping the boat 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.

Not necessarily "cheap," but a good value when compared with some
larger, conventional boats. Also, If buying a new boat, you may loose
multiple $$$$ in depreciation the first few years. Macs keep their value
relatively well, but even more importantly, you haven't sunk as much
money into it in the first place. (To make this perfectly clear, I'm not
saying that the Macs don't depreciate. What I'm saying is that the total
depreciation, in dollars, is substantially less than would experienced
if buying a new Tartan, Sabre, Benateux, Catalina, or the like.)

Jim


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.

Could I tow your Sabre with my Mercury Marquis Ganz? How about a Ford
pickup?


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...


Ganz, where do you get an emphasis on trailoring from the above
paragraph? I mentioned the following:

a) sailing, with dagger-board down
b} conversion to 1.5 ft draft for shallow waters, or
c) adapatable for use in waters of variable depth
d) capable of being anchored in shallow waters
e) ease of bringing up a ramp for trailoring
f) ability to beach the boat for a picnic or the like
g) ability to partially retract the dagger boatd for increased speed ona
reach or run
h) capability of being retracted for increased speed when motoring on a
plane

In other words, of the eight advantages or functions listed above, only
one relates to trailoring. - Yet you interpret the entire list as
indicating I think "trailering is the end all and be all of sailing."
Sorry Ganz, but you aren't making any sense whatsoever. In fact, you're
making an ass of yourself. As to sailing the Mac, check out the other
sections below this one, and in particular, paragraph 12.


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.


Actually, I do watch the wake and watch to see that I don't interfere
with other boats. Obviously, the speed and, when under sail, the set of
the sails have to be appropriate for the conditions.

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

Important deleted material replaced:


.. In contrast to some of the heavier, conventional boats that I have
sailed, the Mac is sufficiently light that it gives you a 'kick in the
pants' as it accelerates under sail. Although larger boats are steadier,
and more comfortable in choppy waters (sort of like a large, heavy
Lincoln Town Car or equivalent) the Macs are responsive enough to give
you more of a feel of the changing conditions (sort of like the feel of
a sports car, such as a Porsche (a car that is fun to drive but not
quite as smooth or comfortable on long trips as the Lincoln). Also, in
moderate conditions, I sometimes like to set the boat on autopilot and
sit on the deck watching the boat gliding silently through the water. -
Again, it's an ethereal, almost magical experience.



- - - Does that answer your question Ganz? - Or do you
want a few more?


Sure does!!

Have a nice evening Ganz. - Next time try to read and respond to what
what I am actually posting instead of responding to your own distortions
of my notes and to the "Mac owner caracatures" you love to sneak into
the discussion.

I hesitate to bring this up, Ganz, but you seem to be getting further
and further afield, wandering about as if you don't know where you are.
You can't even understand what's being posted, much less come up with
a rational response. - You're loosing it Ganz!

Jim