Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

I sailed three days this weekend on a Beneteau 39, approximately 1988
model, in winds of around 20-25kts, and I was somewhat surprised that
the boat seemed to wander about from port to starboard on anything
approaching a close reach. It doesn't have a full keel but does have a
spade rudder, etc. Has anyone else had experience with the Beneteau's
of this era, and were you satisfied with it's handling and sailing
characteristics? We were offshore in some pretty high, breaking waves,
but I would have thought that the boat would handle them better than it
did. Since it is a french boat, we did enjoy some french bread and
wine with our steaks (after returning to port).

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

And, I was hoping for a MacM report....

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...

I sailed three days this weekend on a Beneteau 39, approximately 1988
model, in winds of around 20-25kts, and I was somewhat surprised that the
boat seemed to wander about from port to starboard on anything approaching
a close reach. It doesn't have a full keel but does have a spade rudder,
etc. Has anyone else had experience with the Beneteau's of this era, and
were you satisfied with it's handling and sailing characteristics? We were
offshore in some pretty high, breaking waves, but I would have thought
that the boat would handle them better than it did. Since it is a french
boat, we did enjoy some french bread and wine with our steaks (after
returning to port).

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Capt. JG wrote:

And, I was hoping for a MacM report....



I only take the Mac out in winds under 40 knots, waves less than 20 feet.

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

And, I was hoping for a MacM report...

Me too... Jonathan!

But... since I will be taking possession of a MacGregor26M
next week... I guess I will become the "sacrificial lamb"
for the heavy weather/confused seas testing.

My playground will be the Channel Islands area... your neck
of the woods would scare me and my little Mac off real quick
I suspect. :-)

Also... maybe Jim is contemplating an upgrade? I know the
previous owner of my Mac went to a Pearson 365.

Best regards

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the waves over 20 ft?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...


Capt. JG wrote:

And, I was hoping for a MacM report....


I only take the Mac out in winds under 40 knots, waves less than 20 feet.

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

There's a nice 365 for sale up here right now... I'm thinking about it, but
I just don't know if I want to spend $40K right now.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
ups.com...

And, I was hoping for a MacM report...

Me too... Jonathan!

But... since I will be taking possession of a MacGregor26M
next week... I guess I will become the "sacrificial lamb"
for the heavy weather/confused seas testing.

My playground will be the Channel Islands area... your neck
of the woods would scare me and my little Mac off real quick
I suspect. :-)

Also... maybe Jim is contemplating an upgrade? I know the
previous owner of my Mac went to a Pearson 365.

Best regards

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other boats too. Obvously,
the larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore in 25-knot
winds and 35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the waves, but
they were breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.

Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Anyone sailed a Beneteau of this class? How did it handle?

Jim



Jim Cate wrote:


I sailed three days this weekend on a Beneteau 39, approximately 1988
model, in winds of around 20-25kts, and I was somewhat surprised that
the boat seemed to wander about from port to starboard on anything
approaching a close reach. It doesn't have a full keel but does have
a spade rudder, etc. Has anyone else had experience with the
Beneteau's of this era, and were you satisfied with it's handling and
sailing characteristics? We were offshore in some pretty high,
breaking waves, but I would have thought that the boat would handle
them better than it did. Since it is a french boat, we did enjoy
some french bread and wine with our steaks (after returning to port).

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

There's a nice 365 for sale up here right now...

Hey Jon... Tis a small world indeed!

My friend whose Mac I purchased... made a special trip (from
Bakersfield) to see that boat. However... he ended up buying
one that was based in Santa Cruz. I forget what the pros and
cons were... that influenced his final decision to purchase
the Santa Cruz vessel versus the one at Sausalito.

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

I'd love to hear what he thought. They don't come on the market that often,
so it is tempting. I don't much like the radar arch, but other than that it
looks like they did a nice retrofit.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
oups.com...
There's a nice 365 for sale up here right now...

Hey Jon... Tis a small world indeed!

My friend whose Mac I purchased... made a special trip (from
Bakersfield) to see that boat. However... he ended up buying
one that was based in Santa Cruz. I forget what the pros and
cons were... that influenced his final decision to purchase
the Santa Cruz vessel versus the one at Sausalito.

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Smart move. :-) Despite all the crap people give you, I think it would be
interesting to hear a real sailing story from a Mac.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other boats too. Obvously, the
larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore in 25-knot winds and
35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the waves, but they were
breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.
Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

I have, but not offshore. It was quite nice in 25kts and 4 -5 foot chop. Of
course, these were just day sails for less than 10 hours.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Anyone sailed a Beneteau of this class? How did it handle?

Jim



Jim Cate wrote:


I sailed three days this weekend on a Beneteau 39, approximately 1988
model, in winds of around 20-25kts, and I was somewhat surprised that the
boat seemed to wander about from port to starboard on anything
approaching a close reach. It doesn't have a full keel but does have a
spade rudder, etc. Has anyone else had experience with the Beneteau's of
this era, and were you satisfied with it's handling and sailing
characteristics? We were offshore in some pretty high, breaking waves,
but I would have thought that the boat would handle them better than it
did. Since it is a french boat, we did enjoy some french bread and wine
with our steaks (after returning to port).

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

I'd love to hear what he thought.

Jon... Next week he and I will be spending a couple of days
together at Oxnard doing the final "transfer".

At that time... I will find out what his assessment was of
the Sausalito vessel. Like yourself... he is young and a
sharp dude... when it comes to analyzing things... though
not a seasoned "salt"... but he is fast getting there. :-)

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

I wish I were young. :-) Please do let me know. I'm still tossing the
decision to make an offer around.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

wrote in message
oups.com...
I'd love to hear what he thought.

Jon... Next week he and I will be spending a couple of days
together at Oxnard doing the final "transfer".

At that time... I will find out what his assessment was of
the Sausalito vessel. Like yourself... he is young and a
sharp dude... when it comes to analyzing things... though
not a seasoned "salt"... but he is fast getting there. :-)

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Bill, how is your Mac equiped, and what model year is it?

Jim



wrote:

There's a nice 365 for sale up here right now...



Hey Jon... Tis a small world indeed!

My friend whose Mac I purchased... made a special trip (from
Bakersfield) to see that boat. However... he ended up buying
one that was based in Santa Cruz. I forget what the pros and
cons were... that influenced his final decision to purchase
the Santa Cruz vessel versus the one at Sausalito.

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

CNN, reporting on the US port / Arab security screw-up,
showed a pic of a ship dockside as a MAC 26x ''sailed'' by.

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Smart move. :-) Despite all the crap people give you, I
think it would be
interesting to hear a real sailing story from a Mac.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other boats
too. Obvously, the
larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore in
25-knot winds and
35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the waves,
but they were
breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.
Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the
waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Is that the one that finally sank on its own?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scotty" wrote in message
...
CNN, reporting on the US port / Arab security screw-up,
showed a pic of a ship dockside as a MAC 26x ''sailed'' by.

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Smart move. :-) Despite all the crap people give you, I
think it would be
interesting to hear a real sailing story from a Mac.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other boats
too. Obvously, the
larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore in
25-knot winds and
35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the waves,
but they were
breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.
Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the
waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Hey Jim, the weather was nasty that weekend, did you wait on purpose
for the worst weather of the year to get offshore?

Joe

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

If it sank, it wasn't a Mac.

Jim



Capt. JG wrote:

Is that the one that finally sank on its own?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Where did you go?

There is a Oceanis (sp?) 44 bentatoe in the yard now getting a
bowthruster installed.

Ugly boat!

Joe

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:
If it sank, it wasn't a Mac.

Jim

Are you saying that the Mac is unsinkable? They said the same thing
about the Titanic.

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article .com,
wrote:
I'd love to hear what he thought.

Jon... Next week he and I will be spending a couple of days
together at Oxnard doing the final "transfer".

Ah Oxnard... saw an ad for a resort there... it said, "Not just
another pretty name."

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Bill, how is your Mac equiped, and what model year is it?

Jim... It is a 2004 26M. It was Rich Boren's Mac... you will
probably remember him. He has been an active poster on the
"macgregorsailors.com" web site.

I still have your personal "E" address... and will send you some
details via that medium for your perusal.

Best regards

Bill

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Is that the one that finally sank on its own?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scotty" wrote in message
...
CNN, reporting on the US port / Arab security screw-up,
showed a pic of a ship dockside as a MAC 26x ''sailed''
by.

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Smart move. :-) Despite all the crap people give you, I
think it would be
interesting to hear a real sailing story from a Mac.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other
boats
too. Obvously, the
larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore
in
25-knot winds and
35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the
waves,
but they were
breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.
Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the
waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

"Jim Cate" wrote
If it sailed, it wasn't a Mac.

Oh?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Sure Scotty. - Under some circumstances, it's actually possible that a
Mac might sink. - Like, if the skipper decided to remove the foam
floatation and stuff canned goods, anchors, gear, etc., into the
resulting cavities. Or, if a great white shark bashed in the side of
the boat and took a liking to the floatation material, muching it for
snacks. Or, if the boat were hit and cut apart by a boat without proper
watch, the motor and transom area might sink. But so far, I haven't
heard of that happening with a Mac. - Have you Scotty?

But speaking of sinking, how long will YOUR boat stay afloat if the
hull is compromised, or if one of the through-hulls comes loose, or if
one of the inlet tubes gets stiff and springs a leak while you are
asleep or in the cockpit? Is the hull/keel connection good and solid?
(Might have some internal rusting or other problems?) Have you checked
the through-hull valves recently to see whether they are, or might
become, frozen open? Got your emergency signals ready Scotty? Life raft
in good shape? Rudder shaft bearings packed well? Cooling system for the
motor in good shape? PFD's in good shape and working order? Can't be
too careful, Scotty. Better safe than sorry.

Jim




Scotty wrote:

Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...


Is that the one that finally sank on its own?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..


CNN, reporting on the US port / Arab security screw-up,
showed a pic of a ship dockside as a MAC 26x ''sailed''


by.


Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...


Smart move. :-) Despite all the crap people give you, I


think it would be


interesting to hear a real sailing story from a Mac.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...


Jon, the Mac is great, but I enjoy sailing other


boats


too. Obvously, the


larger boat is going to be more comfortable offshore


in


25-knot winds and


35-degree temperatures. I'm not sure about the


waves,


but they were


breaking and bouncing us around fairly well.
Jim


Capt. JG wrote:



But you said that the wind was only 20-25.. were the


waves over 20 ft?

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article ,
Scotty wrote:
Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Is that the one that finally sank on its own?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scotty" wrote in message
...
CNN, reporting on the US port / Arab security screw-up,
showed a pic of a ship dockside as a MAC 26x ''sailed''
by.

I'm betting that if you backed over it several times with your
tractor/trailer, the Mac would no longer float.

Hey, why don't we give it a try.. Jim, how about it. A test.

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Jonathan Ganz wrote:

In article ,
Scotty wrote:


Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty


I'm betting that if you backed over it several times with your
tractor/trailer, the Mac would no longer float.

Hey, why don't we give it a try.. Jim, how about it. A test.




Sure thing Jonathan. - Just be sure to pay me the price of a replacement
first. - I'll use the money to buy a 2006 model.

Jim
(Attorney)

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:


Jonathan Ganz wrote:

In article ,
Scotty wrote:


Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty


I'm betting that if you backed over it several times with your
tractor/trailer, the Mac would no longer float.

Hey, why don't we give it a try.. Jim, how about it. A test.




Sure thing Jonathan. - Just be sure to pay me the price of a replacement
first. - I'll use the money to buy a 2006 model.

How about this... if it sinks, you can have my boat in exchange. I
think that's fair! It would be about the same value don't you think.


--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
Sure Scotty. - Under some circumstances, it's actually
possible that a
Mac might sink. - Like, if the skipper decided to remove
the foam
floatation and stuff canned goods, anchors, gear, etc.,
into the
resulting cavities. Or, if a great white shark bashed in
the side of
the boat and took a liking to the floatation material,
muching it for
snacks. Or, if the boat were hit and cut apart by a boat
without proper
watch, the motor and transom area might sink. But so far,
I haven't
heard of that happening with a Mac. - Have you Scotty?

No, but I haven't smoked any weed for some time. That must
be some good **** you got there.



But speaking of sinking, how long will YOUR boat stay
afloat if the
hull is compromised, or if one of the through-hulls comes
loose, or if
one of the inlet tubes gets stiff and springs a leak while
you are
asleep or in the cockpit?

Well, she won't sink, my boat is on the hard.


Is the hull/keel connection good and solid?

Yup.


(Might have some internal rusting or other problems?)

Nope.

Have you checked
the through-hull valves recently to see whether they are,
or might
become, frozen open? Got your emergency signals ready
Scotty? Life raft
in good shape? Rudder shaft bearings packed well? Cooling
system for the
motor in good shape? PFD's in good shape and working
order? Can't be
too careful, Scotty. Better safe than sorry.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Scotty

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Jonathan Ganz wrote:

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:


Jonathan Ganz wrote:



In article ,
Scotty wrote:




Now Jon, you know darn well they *can't* sink. Positive
floatation, ya know?

Scotty




I'm betting that if you backed over it several times with your
tractor/trailer, the Mac would no longer float.

Hey, why don't we give it a try.. Jim, how about it. A test.




Sure thing Jonathan. - Just be sure to pay me the price of a replacement
first. - I'll use the money to buy a 2006 model.



How about this... if it sinks, you can have my boat in exchange. I
think that's fair! It would be about the same value don't you think.




Not sure about that Jon. - What boat do you have? Mine is in good,
almost new condition. - When's the last time you had yours surveyed?

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:
Jonathan Ganz wrote:
How about this... if it sinks, you can have my boat in exchange. I
think that's fair! It would be about the same value don't you think.




Not sure about that Jon. - What boat do you have? Mine is in good,
almost new condition. - When's the last time you had yours surveyed?

Jim

I think I'm going to let someone else answer these questions. :-)

Here's a good, true story. I was sailing out of South Beach Harbor (SF
city front) a few years ago. As we were cruising past the boats, we
came to Larry Elison's Sayonara (http://tinyurl.com/rcqvx) on a
side-tie. Low and behold, he and some of his crew were up on deck,
getting ready to take her out for some practice. As we went by, I
asked him if he wanted to race, and he replied "How much money do you
have?" My reply was "How about we race for boat ownership.. a straight
bet, yours for this one." He new he couldn't win and wisely said no.

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

The bottom line is that unless someone deliberately removed its
floatation, the Mac isn't going to sink. Even if it's broken apart in
some highly improbable accident, at least one of the resulting
"sections" will float.

Scotty, haven't you ridden this rabbit trail long enough? Isn't there
anything else on the ng that might interest you other than bashing the
Macs and Mac owners? - Unless you have something substantive to add to
the discussion, which you apparently don't, let me suggest that you get
the hell off my back. - What you're actually doing is drawing
everyone's attention to your own problems.

Jim




Scotty wrote:

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...


Sure Scotty. - Under some circumstances, it's actually


possible that a


Mac might sink. - Like, if the skipper decided to remove


the foam


floatation and stuff canned goods, anchors, gear, etc.,


into the


resulting cavities. Or, if a great white shark bashed in


the side of


the boat and took a liking to the floatation material,


muching it for


snacks. Or, if the boat were hit and cut apart by a boat


without proper


watch, the motor and transom area might sink. But so far,


I haven't


heard of that happening with a Mac. - Have you Scotty?



No, but I haven't smoked any weed for some time. That must
be some good **** you got there.




Scotty

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

Jonathan Ganz wrote:

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:


Jonathan Ganz wrote:


How about this... if it sinks, you can have my boat in exchange. I
think that's fair! It would be about the same value don't you think.





Not sure about that Jon. - What boat do you have? Mine is in good,
almost new condition. - When's the last time you had yours surveyed?

Jim



I think I'm going to let someone else answer these questions. :-)

Here's a good, true story. I was sailing out of South Beach Harbor (SF
city front) a few years ago. As we were cruising past the boats, we
came to Larry Elison's Sayonara (http://tinyurl.com/rcqvx) on a
side-tie. Low and behold, he and some of his crew were up on deck,
getting ready to take her out for some practice. As we went by, I
asked him if he wanted to race, and he replied "How much money do you
have?" My reply was "How about we race for boat ownership.. a straight
bet, yours for this one." He new he couldn't win and wisely said no.


I don't understand why you don't want to talk about your own boat, Jon.
- Why would you want someone else to answer questions about it? Or did
I understand that you don't own one currently?

Jim

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...
The bottom line is that unless someone deliberately
removed its
floatation, the Mac isn't going to sink.

Isn't that what I wrote to begin with?

Scotty

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

In article ,
Jim Cate wrote:
I don't understand why you don't want to talk about your own boat, Jon.
- Why would you want someone else to answer questions about it? Or did
I understand that you don't own one currently?

That's it, darn it. And, just for a moment, I thought I would get to
watch the unsinkable happen...

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...

I don't understand why you don't want to talk about your
own boat, Jon.


tee hee he

Beneteau 39', Wandering?
 

How about this... if it sinks, you can have my boat in exchange. I
think that's fair! It would be about the same value don't you think.


Now that was a cruel remark.

Jim Cate wrote:
Not sure about that Jon. - What boat do you have? Mine is in good,
almost new condition.

Sure, that's what they all say.

... When's the last time you had yours surveyed?


Jim, this is one of those remarks that reveals the
cluelessness of the speaker. Ever consider following Ben
Franklin's advice?

Most boats are surveyed only when they are sold, or when the
insurance company demands it for some reason such as a major
change in location or repair. Furthermore a survey is not a
statement of market value (although some surveys are
occasionally presented as such).

When was the last time you had your boat surveyed?

DSK