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