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In article ,
(Parallax) wrote:

Like many ppl who own "Real" sailboats, I have long considered the Mac
26 to be a toy sold to gullible first time buyers but may be changing
my mind. Currently I own a 28' S2 and all of my sailing is coastal
cruising. When I really analyse my sailing needs, the Mac 26 comes
close to filling them.

Our previous boat was a Mac 21, which is quite similar to the 26, given
enough power. It drew 12" and floated in 6" if the bottom was mud. VERY
nice for getting in towards the shore, and it cranked along pretty well.

We also cruise an area where the water can be a bit skinny quite a
distance out.

I think you'll eventually find that the S2 is more what you want long
term -- or you should have gotten a powerboat in the first place.

The Mac 26 doesn't do either job well and it really is designed for
light duty. They can be kept going, but the stays will need replacing
fairly regularly. Not much of a problem as they're built with Nicro
press swages, but an annoyance. Other stress points will need rebuilding
or beefing up every decade or so.

Trailing a boat *does* open up the cruising range, and I wouldn't
hesitate to take a 26 to the Bahamas (after a thorough check-out and
replacement of weak items), but its performance will suffer if you carry
very much.

These days, almost every case where we'd have enjoyed getting in closer
to shore with the shoal draft, we get just about the same enjoyment by
taking the dink in. Being on the Chesapeake and dedicated gunkholers,
we've run both boats aground. The Mac "broke" a couple of times, the
rudder downhaul block ripping out. The Tanzer has been less bothered,
not yet requiring a repair, and we've bounced quite a bit harder than we
did with the Mac.

Once, the Mac was 'brushed' by a bigger boat while on a mooring. Took
out most of our port side -- pulpits and stanchions and two stays --
(didn't notice the backstay was damaged for a month). The real sailboat
was essentially undamaged other than cosmetics.

The Macs are good boats for what they are, but the S2 will carry more,
last longer, and be more comfortable.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

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