Capt. JG wrote:
Sorry, but a 26' sailboat has no business owning a 70 hp engine. Sure, you
can get home or get to your destination in a hurry, but it has nothing to do
with sailing.

Nothing to do with sailing? Sure it does, Capt. - If you can't get out
to the sailing area with time for sailing, and return in time to get
guests home in time to get to the opera or theater (or wherever), you
can't go sailing as often.


The whole boat is a compromise that anyone with any sense of
what sailing is all about would only accept in a very, very narrow set of
circumstances.



Yes, the boat entails compromises, but it's still a lot of fun to sail.

Actually, if we are honest, all boats are compromises Capt. - For
example, the 40-ft Valiant I liked so much entailed a number of
"compromises." For example, it couldn't motor faster than 7-9 knots, if
that, so getting it out from the marina to where we sail, and getting it
back, took quite a long time. - You would have to consider carefully
whether you had the time to get it out and back and cleaned up before
deciding to go out on an afternoon. Also, the draft was so deep that,
at low tide, I couldn't make it through the channel leading to a
preferred anchorage in the Galveston area. Further, because of its
weight and size, it usually required at least one additional crewman
when maneuvering into and away from a dock. Additionally, the costs of
upkeep, bottom treatment, slip rental, etc., were substantial. - In
contrast, I don't suffer from those "compromises" with my Mac. -

I can get out to sailing areas at speeds of 13-14 knots, and similarly
return to the dock after sailing, even in rather breezy weather, so I'm
able to get out and sail even when I can only spare a few hours.
Regarding the "compromise" of not being able to navigate channels at low
tide, on the Mac I can easily raise the dagger board somewhat and motor
through waters of two - three feet. (A big advantage when the local
marina has no more transient slips available.) Moreover, the boat is
small enough for easy single-handed sailing and docking, in contrast
with the larger and heavier boat, which is "compromised" in that it
usually requires putting together a crew before going out. (In my case,
I can go out with or without a crew.) The Valiant was a great sailing
vessel and could reach nine knots in a good wind, but it took a rather
long time to get there. - In contrast, I feel the acceleration and the
effects of the wind more quickly and more directly in the Mac (making it
more like a sports car rather than a Lincoln Town Car or Suburban,
etc.). - Sort of a personal preference thing, of course.

As to the "compromise" of high expenses for maintenance, slip fees,
etc., I pay $70 per month to keep my boat in a lot. Launching involves
merely hooking up to the trailer and towing it 100 yards to the ramp. No
bottom treatments are necessary, no wear and tear in a slip, no
continued salt water exposure, and I don't have to run down to the boat
to move it or chain it down when we get storm warnings. Again, the
"compromises" experienced with a larger conventional vessel are largely
avoided.

Capt., I had my 26M out Saturday, sailing in 15-kt winds. Some of the
heavier, conventional boats (with twice the water line) were faster and
probably pointed higher, but I still had a great day of sailing. - Which
is what I bought the boat for in the first place.

Jim

Jim, you can rant all you want, but yours is the a very restrictive
application for a compromised vessel. It's not a great sailing vessel; it's
not a great power boat. In fact, it kinda sucks at both.

All your efforts at supporting your boat must take away from your sail time.

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

"JimC" wrote in message
om...


Capt. JG wrote:
Sorry, but a 26' sailboat has no business owning a 70 hp engine. Sure,
you can get home or get to your destination in a hurry, but it has
nothing to do with sailing.

Nothing to do with sailing? Sure it does, Capt. - If you can't get out to
the sailing area with time for sailing, and return in time to get guests
home in time to get to the opera or theater (or wherever), you can't go
sailing as often.


rant removed

JG, in my previous note I forgot to mention the safety factors entailed
with having a fairly powerful motor on the Mac. - For example, when I
had the boat out Saturday, we had a rather substantial incoming tide and
headwind, the waves were breaking against us all the way out to the
sailing area, and there was a lot of traffic, with wakes. The Mac is
lightweight and has a fairly large sideboard area. - If I had had a 10 -
15 hp motor as is usual for boats of this size, I don't think I could
have kept it on track within the channel all the way out. Also, I would
not have been able to keep up with the other traffic going out, which
causes further problems. The reserve power is also a safety factor in
the event of inclement weather, tides, etc., out in the Bay or beyond.

As to "ranting all I want," I'm afraid you will have to get use to my
providing a little balance to these discussions from time to time. Get
over it Capt. - If you don't like my notes, you don't have to respond
to them or even read them. Better than going hyper as you seem to be
doing. Incidentally, Capt., as I recall, you have never sailed a 26M. -
Is that right? That figures.

As I have mentioned before, I had over 30 years sailing experience
before getting the Mac, having sailed on a number of medium sized and
smaller boats, including a Beneateux 39, O'Day 38/9, Valiant 40, and
various Endeavors, Cals, Catalinas, and others in the 30-34-ft range. My
point is not that I'm a great sailor, but rather, that I have enough
experience on a variety of boats to recognize the limitations of the Mac
26M. I also have enough experience on the Mac 26M to understand its
limitations, but also, to understand that sailing it is a lot of fun. -
Actually, I thought that was why most of us like to sail in the first
place.

Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

Jim, you can rant all you want, but yours is the a very restrictive
application for a compromised vessel. It's not a great sailing vessel; it's
not a great power boat. In fact, it kinda sucks at both.

All your efforts at supporting your boat must take away from your sail time.

Oh come on... safety with a 70hp vs. a 30 or a 20? My 13hp diesel powering
my 30' sailboat is more than adequate to work against the currents and winds
found in one of the most challenging sailing areas in the US. If you had a
decent sailboat, you wouldn't have to be concerned as much with needing a
huge engine for a small job.

You're not providing balance with your rants. You're demonstrating the
lengths you need to go to to justify a severely compromised boat.

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

"JimC" wrote in message
m...
JG, in my previous note I forgot to mention the safety factors entailed
with having a fairly powerful motor on the Mac. - For example, when I had
the boat out Saturday, we had a rather substantial incoming tide and
headwind, the waves were breaking against us all the way out to the
sailing area, and there was a lot of traffic, with wakes. The Mac is
lightweight and has a fairly large sideboard area. - If I had had a 10 -
15 hp motor as is usual for boats of this size, I don't think I could have
kept it on track within the channel all the way out. Also, I would not
have been able to keep up with the other traffic going out, which causes
further problems. The reserve power is also a safety factor in the event
of inclement weather, tides, etc., out in the Bay or beyond.

As to "ranting all I want," I'm afraid you will have to get use to my
providing a little balance to these discussions from time to time. Get
over it Capt. - If you don't like my notes, you don't have to respond to
them or even read them. Better than going hyper as you seem to be doing.
Incidentally, Capt., as I recall, you have never sailed a 26M. - Is that
right? That figures.

As I have mentioned before, I had over 30 years sailing experience before
getting the Mac, having sailed on a number of medium sized and smaller
boats, including a Beneateux 39, O'Day 38/9, Valiant 40, and various
Endeavors, Cals, Catalinas, and others in the 30-34-ft range. My point is
not that I'm a great sailor, but rather, that I have enough experience on
a variety of boats to recognize the limitations of the Mac 26M. I also
have enough experience on the Mac 26M to understand its limitations, but
also, to understand that sailing it is a lot of fun. - Actually, I thought
that was why most of us like to sail in the first place.

Jim


Capt. JG wrote:

Jim, you can rant all you want, but yours is the a very restrictive
application for a compromised vessel. It's not a great sailing vessel;
it's not a great power boat. In fact, it kinda sucks at both.

All your efforts at supporting your boat must take away from your sail
time.

Capt. JG wrote:
Oh come on... safety with a 70hp vs. a 30 or a 20?

On my boat, it's safety with a 50hp as opposed to a 10 or 15 hp
outboard. Those with 70hp or above are using their larger motors to get
across open water quickly with heavy loads, e.g., to Catalina Island,
or for water sports, etc.


My 13hp diesel powering
my 30' sailboat is more than adequate to work against the currents and winds
found in one of the most challenging sailing areas in the US. If you had a
decent sailboat, you wouldn't have to be concerned as much with needing a
huge engine for a small job.


You've got a heavier, conventional boat with weighted keel, and you
don't need as much power to get through chop, etc. By contrast, I have a
lightweight (4,000 lb) boat with high freeboard that needs the power to
get through currents, tides, and/or unfavorable winds. I'm also able to
cruise to a desired sailing area or back to the marina at 14 knots if
desired.


You're not providing balance with your rants. You're demonstrating the
lengths you need to go to to justify a severely compromised boat.


Well, once again, if you don't like my notes, you don't have to read or
respond to them at all, Ganz. - There are lots of other discussions in
progress on the ng that might be of interest to you.

Jim

Exactly my point... due to bad compromises you're forced to use a huge
engine when on a sailboat that actually has the potential to sail well, a
smaller engine would do.

Why would anyone want to "get back at 14 knots" unless they have a powerboat
mentality?

It's Captain Ganz to you Jimbo.

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

"JimC" wrote in message
et...


Capt. JG wrote:
Oh come on... safety with a 70hp vs. a 30 or a 20?

On my boat, it's safety with a 50hp as opposed to a 10 or 15 hp outboard.
Those with 70hp or above are using their larger motors to get across open
water quickly with heavy loads, e.g., to Catalina Island, or for water
sports, etc.


My 13hp diesel powering
my 30' sailboat is more than adequate to work against the currents and
winds found in one of the most challenging sailing areas in the US. If
you had a decent sailboat, you wouldn't have to be concerned as much with
needing a huge engine for a small job.


You've got a heavier, conventional boat with weighted keel, and you don't
need as much power to get through chop, etc. By contrast, I have a
lightweight (4,000 lb) boat with high freeboard that needs the power to
get through currents, tides, and/or unfavorable winds. I'm also able to
cruise to a desired sailing area or back to the marina at 14 knots if
desired.


You're not providing balance with your rants. You're demonstrating the
lengths you need to go to to justify a severely compromised boat.


Well, once again, if you don't like my notes, you don't have to read or
respond to them at all, Ganz. - There are lots of other discussions in
progress on the ng that might be of interest to you.

Jim

Capt. JG wrote:

Exactly my point... due to bad compromises you're forced to use a huge
engine when on a sailboat that actually has the potential to sail well, a
smaller engine would do.

Should I just hang down my head and die Ganz? I wouldn't call a 220 lb.
motor "huge." - Incidentally, how much does the motor in Your boat (or
do you have one?) weigh, Ganz? With generator, fuel pump, fuel filters,
shaft to prop, and other accessories?


Why would anyone want to "get back at 14 knots" unless they have a powerboat
mentality?

In certain circumstances, such as when you're 5 - 10 miles from the
marina, the wind is in your face, it's hot as hell, and you have guests
who want to get back home ASAP, its rather convenient and even pleasant
to be able to motor back at a moderately high rate of speed.


It's Captain Ganz to you Jimbo.

I'll call you captain when I feel like it, or when you grow up,
whichever comes first.

Jim