Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

Well, thanks for the clarification!! Now I'm all set. Let me know when you get a real sailboat, and you'll be all set!

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

"Jim Cate" wrote in message ...


Jim Cate wrote:


Sounds like you don't appreciate my writing style, captain. - Here's a suggestion that might resolve your problem. - You actually don't have to waste your time reading my notes. - Simply mash the button on your keyboard marked "enter," and you can skip right by them.

Jim

If you press the "down" button you can skip an entire string. - No need to read any of them.

Jim

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

Anyone who takes a Mac offshore should be committed (and I don't mean
devoted).

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

"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...

Agreed. I would certainly hope that anyone taking a Mac,

Come on. Don't be so hard on yourself!

As stated in my note, I personally would never attempt a crossing in a
Mac.

It's a joke. Pretend means you know better. You are just too funny!

On the other hand, I disagree with the statement that the Mac is a
"pretend" sailboat. I'm not suggesting that the Mac has all the qualities
of a large blue water boat. - I'm just suggesting that there should be a
little more balance in the discussion, and a little less dogmatism and
rancor. As I also stated, I don't claim that the Mac is as fast under
sail as a conventional keel boat with longer waterline. Still, they are a
lot of fun to sail, and they entail advantages not found in conventional
boats.

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

wrote:

Hey Jim... I found your 11-14-05 (1:55PM) post very interesting and
appreciated the over view of the MacGregor.

I have been seriously thinking about buying a small craft and for the
past year or so have been looking for something that would be com-
patible with my needs and limitations. At this point in time a *new*
MacGregor has definitely tweaked my interest!

Your input... and others that I may come accross on the internet is
and will be most helpfull.

Best regards

Bill

M/V Polynesia



Bill,

As others on the newsgroups have pointed out, the MacGregors have
advantages and disadvantages relative to larger keel boats.

If you have the money to keep a conventional keel boat in a marina and
to maintain it, and if you have the time to get to the marina and take
the boat out to a good sailing area, then that may be your better
choice. I felt that the MacGregor 26M, with water ballast. provided the
best combination of features for sailing in our area. Mine is kept on
its trailer in a secured sailing center for a nominal monthly fee, where
it can be kept rigged and ready to sail. The (50hp) motor permits us to
get out to a preferred sailing area at planing speeds, providing more
time to sail, anchor, swim, fish, or whatever. Ours has roller furling,
and all lines led aft, for safety and convenience. I find that it's
really nice after a day's sailing to be able to motor back to the marina
at 15 knots or so.

As previously mentioned, the Mac is not as fast under sail as a larger
boat, so if racing is one of your primary interests, you may want to
consider something else. Nevertheless, under sail the Mac can provide
the same excitement and challenges to your sailing skills as do the
heavier boats. The water ballast provides further options and
versatility. With the ballast filled, the boat is stable under sail.
Without it, the boat becomes relatively light, for convenience when
trailering. With the dagger board retracted and the rudders lifted the
boat floats in about a foot of water, so it can be beached, if desired,
or anchored in shallow water safe for kids to swim in, etc. It has a
surprising amount of room and can sleep four adults, but not a lot of
space in the cockpit.

If you want further information, there are several Mac discussion groups
that might be of interest. See:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/

for discussions of the new and older models.

Jim Cate

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

I once met an Englishman in Tonga, who had crossed from Hawaii in a
24' boat. I believe the boat he used from England to Hawaii was not
that much larger. He sailed singlehanded, and never seemed to think
the size of the boat was a problem.

(To Nick, if you read this: did you ever get away from Neiafu?)

"G" == Gary writes:

G wrote:
Jeff wrote:


...
Actually, its fairly easy to add flotation to a small boat.
...
Do you know of any larger sailboat (over 40') with built-in solid

floatation ? Doesn't it make even more sense to have this in larger
boats (costing hundreds of thousands of dollars) than in a $20,000
boat which doesn't carry much of our belongings ?
Even if we're careful and only sail in good weather, there's always

a possibility of a collision such as when somebody else doesn't have
their lights on.
G Larger boats have watertight compartments and collision bulkheads
G which really do the same thing as foam.


G Crossing the Atlantic in a MacGregor 26 is not impossible or
G improbable. Somebody will do it someday. It is just gonna take a lot
G of skill and luck. Some amazing journeys have been done in very small
G seemingly uncapable boats but the element of luck is unpredictable.


G How lucky are you?

--
C++: The power, elegance and simplicity of a hand grenade.

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

Sure why not!! with those sturdy plastic cleats and 1/8 inch thick
fiberglass hull your good to go babe!!!!!!

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:01:58 +0000, popeye wrote:


Since the MacGregor doesn't capside and doesn't sink
(even when filled with water) would it be safer for
crossing the Atlantic than a 30' Bayliner ?

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/safety.html

I don't know where you got the idea that a McGregor doesn't capsize. Water
ballast is essentially useless in keeping a boat from capsizing. If it had
a proper ballasted keel, it might be doable, assuming you're willing to
get VERY wet, have no sleep and get knocked down and turned over
repeatedly.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:01:58 +0000, popeye wrote:


Since the MacGregor doesn't capside and doesn't sink
(even when filled with water) would it be safer for
crossing the Atlantic than a 30' Bayliner ?

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/safety.html


I don't know where you got the idea that a McGregor doesn't capsize. Water
ballast is essentially useless in keeping a boat from capsizing. If it had
a proper ballasted keel, it might be doable, assuming you're willing to
get VERY wet, have no sleep and get knocked down and turned over
repeatedly.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


How do you figure that water ballast is "essential useless in keeping a
boat from capsizing"? It seems to work well in everything from open 60s
to submarines.

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

Have at 'er. Just have to say you won't have me volunteering as crew. Love
to read about the crossing. Take lots of photos and video. Be interesting
to read about in Lats & Atts (while sitting on the dry cockpit of my 25,000
pound vessel).

Glenn.

s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net

-
"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:01:58 +0000, popeye wrote:


Since the MacGregor doesn't capside and doesn't sink
(even when filled with water) would it be safer for
crossing the Atlantic than a 30' Bayliner ?

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/safety.html

I don't know where you got the idea that a McGregor doesn't capsize. Water
ballast is essentially useless in keeping a boat from capsizing. If it had
a proper ballasted keel, it might be doable, assuming you're willing to
get VERY wet, have no sleep and get knocked down and turned over
repeatedly.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

Atlantic Crossing on a 26' MacGregor ?
 

In other words, water ballast IS useful in keeping a boat from
capsizing. And you aren't willing to admit you were called, and didn't
have a hand.

Jim

Glenn A. Heslop wrote:

Have at 'er. Just have to say you won't have me volunteering as crew. Love
to read about the crossing. Take lots of photos and video. Be interesting
to read about in Lats & Atts (while sitting on the dry cockpit of my 25,000
pound vessel).

Glenn.

s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net

-
"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
. ..


On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 13:01:58 +0000, popeye wrote:



Since the MacGregor doesn't capside and doesn't sink
(even when filled with water) would it be safer for
crossing the Atlantic than a 30' Bayliner ?

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/safety.html


I don't know where you got the idea that a McGregor doesn't capsize. Water
ballast is essentially useless in keeping a boat from capsizing. If it had
a proper ballasted keel, it might be doable, assuming you're willing to
get VERY wet, have no sleep and get knocked down and turned over
repeatedly.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36