CJH wrote:

DSK wrote:


But he won't do more sailing than any other trailerable sailboat,
he'll just go slower and have a harder time steering. Why do people
have to act like the Mac26 is the *only* trailerable sailboat?


Sorry, just catching up. I couldn't find my thread. No I haven't
joined the cult just yet. There are too many things to consider and
will have analysis paralysis for a while. So what are the
recommendations for other trailerable sailboats suitable for a family of
four as described in my initial post. If I carry a dingey with motor my
kids would be satiated. Don't worry about tow weight too much, F-350 SD
Diesel can pull quite a bit. I don't want to break the bank on my first
boat. I have some experience but would like to cut my teeth for 2-3
years and then break the bank.

Carl

As you can see, the Mac discussions can get pretty wild. As pointed
out, most of those who are the most adamant (even bitter) in their
criticism of the Mac have never sailed one of the current models (the
26M), which includes a number of changes. Many have never even sailed
one of the older model Macs!! But if you simply prefer not to subject
yourself to ridicule and sarcasm (as seen on this ng) by going with a
Mac, it would certainly be understandable.

I suggest you check into all the boats mentioned. There are lots of
options and lots of used boats (including Macs) for sale. Keep in mind
that many of the heavier, larger boats are going to be more difficult to
launch and pull out on a trailer because they require substantially more
water depth to float off the trailer. I chose a trailerable boat
because it eliminates the upkeep, slip fees, and maintenance entailed in
keeping the boat in the water. Ours is kept in a lot "mast up" and towed
about 100 yards to the launch area. Some of the smaller ones don't have
the interior room you were looking for. And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there, or when you want to get back to
the marina before heavy weather hits, or when you want to et back to the
marina after a hot day's sail, coming back against the wind. And, of
course, cost is a factor.

If you weren't limited to trailerable boats, your choices on the used
market would be much wider. - But your plan to buy a smaller, cheaper
boat and keep it for three years or so before moving to a larger one
makes sense.

Jim

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole point of sailing is the
journey, not the destination so much. On the other hand, there are places
where the getting there part is not worth much, as the destination is the
place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat requires about 30 minutes of
motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the deep bay, which is
where things are happening. We use the motoring time (if that's what we
decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind, crew preparation,
planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so it's not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina, and
I'm sailing!

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole point
of sailing is the
journey, not the destination so much. On the other hand,
there are places
where the getting there part is not worth much, as the
destination is the
place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat requires
about 30 minutes of
motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the
deep bay, which is
where things are happening. We use the motoring time (if
that's what we
decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind, crew
preparation,
planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so it's
not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

So you need to have onboard a battery charger operated off shore power?

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina, and
I'm sailing!

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole point
of sailing is the
journey, not the destination so much. On the other hand,
there are places
where the getting there part is not worth much, as the
destination is the
place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat requires
about 30 minutes of
motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the
deep bay, which is
where things are happening. We use the motoring time (if
that's what we
decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind, crew
preparation,
planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so it's
not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

I have a pair of solar , trickle chargers, that keep the
batteries up while I'm away. While cruising, I don't use
much power. I like to use the oil lamps and/or candles at
night.

Scotty


"Edgar" wrote in message
...

So you need to have onboard a battery charger operated off
shore power?

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina,
and
I'm sailing!

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole
point
of sailing is the
journey, not the destination so much. On the other
hand,
there are places
where the getting there part is not worth much, as the
destination is the
place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat
requires
about 30 minutes of
motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the
deep bay, which is
where things are happening. We use the motoring time
(if
that's what we
decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind,
crew
preparation,
planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so
it's
not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor
most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat,
you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

I have a shore power connection with bat charger. Haven't started cruising
long distances, so I don't need anything more.

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

"Edgar" wrote in message
...

So you need to have onboard a battery charger operated off shore power?

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina, and
I'm sailing!

Scotty


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole point
of sailing is the
journey, not the destination so much. On the other hand,
there are places
where the getting there part is not worth much, as the
destination is the
place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat requires
about 30 minutes of
motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the
deep bay, which is
where things are happening. We use the motoring time (if
that's what we
decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind, crew
preparation,
planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so it's
not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most
M26s have can be
quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired
sailing area without
spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty

Scotty wrote:

I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina, and
I'm sailing!

Scotty



That's a rather unusual situation. - But don't you ever want to sail
somewhere else?





"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...

I think this is a valid point... for me, the whole point

of sailing is the

journey, not the destination so much. On the other hand,

there are places

where the getting there part is not worth much, as the

destination is the

place to sail. Right now, where I keep my boat requires

about 30 minutes of

motoring or more than an hour of sailing to get to the

deep bay, which is

where things are happening. We use the motoring time (if

that's what we

decide to do) to get the boat ready for 20kts wind, crew

preparation,

planning and discussion about the lesson, etc., so it's

not wasted.

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

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"JimC" chanted the Mac mantra......

And although you may not think
you need or want it, the large (50 - 70 hp) motor most

M26s have can be

quite handy when you want to motor out to a desired

sailing area without

spending the whole day getting there,

but then again, if you have a decent sailing boat, you'
rather sail back.

Scotty


Well, when you have been saling all day, and it's hot and humid, and the
sun's in your eyes, and your crew wants to get home ASAP, and the wind's
against you, it's rather nice to turn on the motor and plane home at 15
- 17 mph. Etc., etc.

Jim

"JimC" wrote in message
m...


Scotty wrote:

I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina,
and
I'm sailing!

Scotty



That's a rather unusual situation.

Well, there's 499 other boats in my marina.


- But don't you ever want to sail
somewhere else?


Sometimes. That's when I take off for one or two weeks and
SAIL to somewhere else.

that's two weeks of sailing, not motorboating.

Scotty

"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..

I guess I'm spoiled. 2 minute motor out of the marina,
and
I'm sailing!

I'm so sorry. Such a long motor is the price some have to pay for being so
far from open water.

Since we've moved to the leeward side of the dock, on low-traffic days we
shove the boat manually out of the slip, sails raised, and sail out of the
marina. Sail back into the slip, too. Let the powerboaters brag all they
want about how 'green' they are using biodiesel.

Max