Marc wrote:
No Jim, you DON"T get it. You are confusing quality with utility. The
fact that the Mac is the perfect boat for you just means it is the
perfect boat for you. It does not embue it with nautical qualities
that would even begin to compare wit a Valient. Quality is not in the
eye of the beholder. Utility is.




No, Marc, YOU are the one who doesn't get it. The quality built into the
design of the Mac26M is of a different nature than that built into the
valiant 40, but it's quality nonetheless. For example, the fact that
the Valiant would quickly sink to the bottom if the hull were
compromised, or in the event of a collision or freak wave, whereas the
Mac would stay afloat is a QUALITY and safety factor for any sailor
going offshore. You and your buddies continue to ignore this, yet just
last year a young man on a displacement boat was dragged to the bottom
as the boat sank during severe weather conditions. The ability to stay
afloat in any weather IS a quality issue.

Similarly, the design features that permit the boat to traverse very
shallow water is also a QUALITY design feature. - I happen to have
served on the crew of the tall ship Elissa (built in Aberdeen in 1873)
for several years. (My job was serving as a docent giving guided tours
of the ship and explaining its history, sails, lines, etc.) It's a
magnificent experience, the view from yardarms at the top of the masts
is spectacular, and sailing the ship is like stepping back in time some
130 years. But although I love the history and lore of sailing, I'm
realistic enough to recognize that sailboat design has advanced since
the Elissa was launched. In my opinion, you and your buddies have your
heads stuck in the sand with respect to some of the improvements and
advantages incorporated in the Mac 26M. All boats are a compromise,
including the Mac, which doesn't have the ride comfort or pointing
abilities of heavier boats. But the heavier boats have disadvanteges
also, and don't provide many of the features and capabilities of the Mac.

Jim









On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 21:50:51 -0500, Jim Cate wrote:



katysails wrote:

Jax asked:
Are mac 26 sales in the toilet?

I would think not. They stick their money into the marketing campaigns at
boat shows and lure in all the newbie wannabe's, especially those with
familiarity with small motorcraft. This was the newbie to sailing doesn't
suffer "shock" when he loses all his power but still gets the ethereal joy
of "sailing". Quite frankly, if I wanted to motor and sail, I'd go the
pilothouse motorsailor anyday before buying a *******ized ski boat. The
price tag appeals to the young set with a couple of little kids. It's
affordable on a middle class income whereas a 30K used good sailboat is
going to need maintenance, time, and knowledge to keep it up. And you can't
tow the kids in a tube very fast, so the kids might get bored without all
the over=stimulation of a "fast" boat. What these people don't get is that
people like us (ng regulars) sail for entirely different reasons than
wanting to "get there", entertain the kids, or what they may think is
versatility. Jim Cate just does not "get it".

Actually, Jim DOES get it, and you don't. He has sailed on a number of
displacement boats in the 30-40 ft range, including the aforsaid
Valiant, O'Days, Cals, Endeavors, Catalinas, etc., and he knows the
advantages and the disadvantages of such boats. What he is saying is
that the "quality" of a boat can only be determined in relation to
criteria that are essential to the particular owner, in view of the
conditions and usage anticipated. Some on this ng simply can't get over
the fact that they have been unable to intimidate him, or drive him
away, and that despite all their sneering and Mac-bashing, Jim's still
here. - Obviously, this isn't what's supposed to happen. (Of course, if
they REALLY didn't care about Jim's opinions, and REALLY felt that that
the Mac discussions were irrelevant and a waste of time, they would
simply move on to another subject. - But they don't. The discussion is
obviously so disconcerting that they simply can't leave it alone!

Jim