In article , egordon873
@aol.com says...
http://www.eskimo.com/~mighetto/p11.htm

Myth#11 Mac26 is not for ocean sailing. Go ahead, click the link and see
just how good and seaworthy a professional captain thinks the Mac really
is. Dare you. Jeff expecially.

Wow gee whiz.

I didn't read all the guff - what a god awful website.

I did find this though...

http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html


My own comments on a Mac 26X - which I tried out (a new one) two years
ago.

Is it a sailing boat or a speedboat? My biggest gripe, for a brand new
boat, is that it is beaten on the water (sailing) by boats that are 25
years old (eg Farr 7.5, Noelex 25). (I bought a Farr 7.5 in the end,
BTW). I was pleasantly surprised by it's pointing ability, but again
much older boats out point it (as probably expected given it's 'cross
nature' design).

And is it a speedboat? No, no way. It's good to have the motor to get
out of trouble (before the weather hits) quickly. But *in* the heavier
stuff, presumably you have the ballast in place, so a reduced speed, and
would be going much slower than that anyway given it's hull design in
rough sea.

The price is good, and the cabin is spacious in feel. I like that.

The rigging looks and feels *way* too light for my liking - however I
note of few reports of breakages - so I supose that's good. The whole
rudder assembly likewise seems too light in construction.

Overall I think the Mac retains it's - it's neither this, and it's
neither that - label, sorry.

--
Duncan

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:31:54 +1200, Duncan McC (NZ)
wrote:

My own comments on a Mac 26X - which I tried out (a new one) two years
ago.

Is it a sailing boat or a speedboat? My biggest gripe, for a brand new
boat, is that it is beaten on the water (sailing) by boats that are 25
years old (eg Farr 7.5, Noelex 25). (I bought a Farr 7.5 in the end,
BTW). I was pleasantly surprised by it's pointing ability, but again
much older boats out point it (as probably expected given it's 'cross
nature' design).

I couldn't find any Farr 7.5's for sale in the U.S., but maybe they
come on market sometimes. Do they still make them? Looks like
a nice boat. Probably not many made the trip to the U.S.
There was a long thread in the Mac forum where an Aussie
went through contortions having a Mac 26X shipped there.
Shipping container prices, fumigation, trailer rules/modifications,
etc. Ended costing him quite a bit. I couldn't quite figure why he
would do it.
Then another Aussie mentioned the outrageous price asked for the Mac
there (60k AUS for the X, 70k AUS for the M) and said that despite his
costs he will come out ahead should he decide to sell it off. He is
himself arranging an import.
The X and M are almost identical, with the M being the newer version.
A new M in the U.S. will cost maybe 30-34K U.S. tricked out with a
4-stroke 50HP and other common add-ons. I think the bare boat itself
with trailer and just a mainsail is 20-24K U.S.
Apparently trade between the U.S. and Oz/NZ is well restricted between
distance and regs. One of my sons recently sold his Chicago based
Bayliner powerboat for an attractive price (he wanted a quick sale) to
an Aussie working in Indiana. The fellow told my son he would be
sending the boat off for sale in Australia and pocket 10k U.S. on the
deal.
All very strange. Another of my sons now resides in Sydney and tells
me there are similar price anomalies with some U.S. cars, where older
models not given a second look here (Ford Taurus, eg) sell for
seemingly large sums in Australia. If I had more energy I might look
into U.S./Oz import/export business.

The price is good, and the cabin is spacious in feel. I like that.

Pretty scary you would say the price is good for a Mac 26 in Oz/NZ,
given what I've heard. Were you looking there or in the U.S.?
Agree on the Mac 26 cabin. The spartan nature gives it a less
claustrophobic feel than similar sized boats. But some will see that
lack of cabinetry as inadequate stowage.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote in
:

I couldn't find any Farr 7.5's for sale in the U.S., but maybe they
come on market sometimes. Do they still make them? Looks like
a nice boat. Probably not many made the trip to the U.S.
There was a long thread in the Mac forum where an Aussie
went through contortions having a Mac 26X shipped there.
Shipping container prices, fumigation, trailer rules/modifications,
etc. Ended costing him quite a bit. I couldn't quite figure why he
would do it.
Then another Aussie mentioned the outrageous price asked for the Mac
there (60k AUS for the X, 70k AUS for the M) and said that despite his
costs he will come out ahead should he decide to sell it off. He is
himself arranging an import.
The X and M are almost identical, with the M being the newer version.
A new M in the U.S. will cost maybe 30-34K U.S. tricked out with a
4-stroke 50HP and other common add-ons. I think the bare boat itself
with trailer and just a mainsail is 20-24K U.S.
Apparently trade between the U.S. and Oz/NZ is well restricted between
distance and regs. One of my sons recently sold his Chicago based
Bayliner powerboat for an attractive price (he wanted a quick sale) to
an Aussie working in Indiana. The fellow told my son he would be
sending the boat off for sale in Australia and pocket 10k U.S. on the
deal.
All very strange. Another of my sons now resides in Sydney and tells
me there are similar price anomalies with some U.S. cars, where older
models not given a second look here (Ford Taurus, eg) sell for
seemingly large sums in Australia. If I had more energy I might look
into U.S./Oz import/export business.

The price is good, and the cabin is spacious in feel. I like that.

Pretty scary you would say the price is good for a Mac 26 in Oz/NZ,
given what I've heard. Were you looking there or in the U.S.?
Agree on the Mac 26 cabin. The spartan nature gives it a less
claustrophobic feel than similar sized boats. But some will see that
lack of cabinetry as inadequate stowage.

--Vic



Think of the opportunity for some young Australian adventurer who wants
to make some good money. Hitch a ride on a yacht as crew en route to
California. Buy a Mac26M in California and sail it to Australia. Then
sell it there. Good sailing for the adventurer and good bargain for the
buyer and everybody's happy. I bet some young man or woman could do
three or four trips a year and make a decent enough living.Might even
write a book about it and make even more money.



--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

"Ed Gordon" wrote in message
8...


Think of the opportunity for some young Australian adventurer who wants
to make some good money. Hitch a ride on a yacht as crew en route to
California. Buy a Mac26M in California and sail it to Australia. Then
sell it there. Good sailing for the adventurer and good bargain for the
buyer and everybody's happy. I bet some young man or woman could do
three or four trips a year and make a decent enough living.Might even
write a book about it and make even more money.



--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

You don't really think that's a feasible plan, do you Ed?

"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:

You don't really think that's a feasible plan, do you Ed?




Why not? Some kid just crossed from England to the BVI islands in a
sailboat that's a Mac copy. A real Mac should be capable of an easy
downwind Pacific run. You'd have to stock up on groceries carefully and
maybe use the water ballast tank for your fresh water but you could make
it. The engine would do you little good for such a long trip so maybe be
a purist and go engineless?? They probably have cheap engines in
Australia anyway, think?


--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

"Ed Gordon" wrote in message
. ..
"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:

You don't really think that's a feasible plan, do you Ed?




Why not? Some kid just crossed from England to the BVI islands in a
sailboat that's a Mac copy. A real Mac should be capable of an easy
downwind Pacific run. You'd have to stock up on groceries carefully and
maybe use the water ballast tank for your fresh water but you could make
it. The engine would do you little good for such a long trip so maybe be
a purist and go engineless?? They probably have cheap engines in
Australia anyway, think?


--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

Well, let's look at it rationally. Three to four trips in one year? That
means sailing year-round, in all weather conditions, including winter storms
and summer cyclone season, not to mention three or four trips across the
doldrums. Let's say three round trips, to make it easier on our lucky
sailor. Six crossings of the Pacific round trip in one year. And not a
simple rhumb-line passage from, say San Diego to Sydney, because that is
simply impossible. No, our sailor will need to follow the prevailing winds
and currents, meaning a southerly course down and a northerly course up.
Essentially, the return trip will mean sailing at least as far north as
Washington, then coming back down the west coast.

Of course, they could always just fly back, but that would eat into their
profits. They'd be lucky to do two trips in a year, and would be beaten up
pretty well by the time it's over.

"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:

Well, let's look at it rationally. Three to four trips in one year?
That means sailing year-round, in all weather conditions, including
winter storms and summer cyclone season, not to mention three or four
trips across the doldrums. Let's say three round trips, to make it
easier on our lucky sailor. Six crossings of the Pacific round trip in
one year. And not a simple rhumb-line passage from, say San Diego to
Sydney, because that is simply impossible. No, our sailor will need to
follow the prevailing winds and currents, meaning a southerly course
down and a northerly course up. Essentially, the return trip will mean
sailing at least as far north as Washington, then coming back down the
west coast.

Of course, they could always just fly back, but that would eat into
their profits. They'd be lucky to do two trips in a year, and would be
beaten up pretty well by the time it's over.



It would be dumb to sail back. What they'd be doing is more like a
delivery captain trip. Have two adverturesome young men sail down each
taking a Mac26M and sailing in company for safety. Deliver the boats and
make about 20 grand profit or more each. Then fly back to California and
do it again. What's an airline ticket cost from Australia to California?
Two grand? That's a eighteen grand profit for about a month's work. You
could do as many trips as you could during the off season to not run
into typhoons. I think you could do six trips a year by flying back.
According to sailing instructions it's a downwind milk run from
California to Australia. You'd have to cross a bit of doldrums around
Hawaii but then you're in the trades and going like all getout right for
Australia. Remember how Capt. Bligh went from Tahiti all the way past
Australia in an open row boat? It would be a piece of cake in a Mac.

--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

In article ,
says...
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:31:54 +1200, Duncan McC (NZ)
wrote:

My own comments on a Mac 26X - which I tried out (a new one) two years
ago.

Is it a sailing boat or a speedboat? My biggest gripe, for a brand new
boat, is that it is beaten on the water (sailing) by boats that are 25
years old (eg Farr 7.5, Noelex 25). (I bought a Farr 7.5 in the end,
BTW). I was pleasantly surprised by it's pointing ability, but again
much older boats out point it (as probably expected given it's 'cross
nature' design).

I couldn't find any Farr 7.5's for sale in the U.S., but maybe they
come on market sometimes. Do they still make them? Looks like
a nice boat. Probably not many made the trip to the U.S.

Naa, haven't made 'em for years.

That said there are several trailer sailors still made in Australia.


There was a long thread in the Mac forum where an Aussie
went through contortions having a Mac 26X shipped there.
Shipping container prices, fumigation, trailer rules/modifications,
etc. Ended costing him quite a bit. I couldn't quite figure why he
would do it.
Then another Aussie mentioned the outrageous price asked for the Mac
there (60k AUS for the X, 70k AUS for the M) and said that despite his
costs he will come out ahead should he decide to sell it off. He is
himself arranging an import.

Sorry, it was the latest model I went out in - the M model it must be.
They are about $75K (NZD) here - which is good value for a brand new
boat I think. (Actually with the high exchange rate, I'd expect to see
a much lower price, but I don't have it at hand).

The X and M are almost identical, with the M being the newer version.
A new M in the U.S. will cost maybe 30-34K U.S. tricked out with a
4-stroke 50HP and other common add-ons. I think the bare boat itself
with trailer and just a mainsail is 20-24K U.S.
Apparently trade between the U.S. and Oz/NZ is well restricted between
distance and regs. One of my sons recently sold his Chicago based
Bayliner powerboat for an attractive price (he wanted a quick sale) to
an Aussie working in Indiana. The fellow told my son he would be
sending the boat off for sale in Australia and pocket 10k U.S. on the
deal.
All very strange. Another of my sons now resides in Sydney and tells
me there are similar price anomalies with some U.S. cars, where older
models not given a second look here (Ford Taurus, eg) sell for
seemingly large sums in Australia. If I had more energy I might look
into U.S./Oz import/export business.

The price is good, and the cabin is spacious in feel. I like that.

Pretty scary you would say the price is good for a Mac 26 in Oz/NZ,
given what I've heard. Were you looking there or in the U.S.?
Agree on the Mac 26 cabin. The spartan nature gives it a less
claustrophobic feel than similar sized boats. But some will see that
lack of cabinetry as inadequate stowage.

Indeed the word 'spartan' came to mind - and indeed there is not a lot
of locker space as a result - probably not *that* bad for a weekend or
even a week away - at least everything is at hand (don't have to rumage
around lockers - as I do on my boat).

--
Duncan

Duncan McC (NZ) wrote in
. nz:

In article ,
says...
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:31:54 +1200, Duncan McC (NZ)
wrote:

My own comments on a Mac 26X - which I tried out (a new one) two
years ago.

Is it a sailing boat or a speedboat? My biggest gripe, for a brand
new boat, is that it is beaten on the water (sailing) by boats that
are 25 years old (eg Farr 7.5, Noelex 25). (I bought a Farr 7.5 in
the end, BTW). I was pleasantly surprised by it's pointing ability,
but again much older boats out point it (as probably expected given
it's 'cross nature' design).

I couldn't find any Farr 7.5's for sale in the U.S., but maybe they
come on market sometimes. Do they still make them? Looks like
a nice boat. Probably not many made the trip to the U.S.

Naa, haven't made 'em for years.

That said there are several trailer sailors still made in Australia.


There was a long thread in the Mac forum where an Aussie
went through contortions having a Mac 26X shipped there.
Shipping container prices, fumigation, trailer rules/modifications,
etc. Ended costing him quite a bit. I couldn't quite figure why he
would do it.
Then another Aussie mentioned the outrageous price asked for the Mac
there (60k AUS for the X, 70k AUS for the M) and said that despite
his costs he will come out ahead should he decide to sell it off. He
is himself arranging an import.

Sorry, it was the latest model I went out in - the M model it must be.
They are about $75K (NZD) here - which is good value for a brand new
boat I think. (Actually with the high exchange rate, I'd expect to
see a much lower price, but I don't have it at hand).

The X and M are almost identical, with the M being the newer version.
A new M in the U.S. will cost maybe 30-34K U.S. tricked out with a
4-stroke 50HP and other common add-ons. I think the bare boat itself
with trailer and just a mainsail is 20-24K U.S.
Apparently trade between the U.S. and Oz/NZ is well restricted
between distance and regs. One of my sons recently sold his Chicago
based Bayliner powerboat for an attractive price (he wanted a quick
sale) to an Aussie working in Indiana. The fellow told my son he
would be sending the boat off for sale in Australia and pocket 10k
U.S. on the deal.
All very strange. Another of my sons now resides in Sydney and tells
me there are similar price anomalies with some U.S. cars, where older
models not given a second look here (Ford Taurus, eg) sell for
seemingly large sums in Australia. If I had more energy I might look
into U.S./Oz import/export business.

The price is good, and the cabin is spacious in feel. I like that.

Pretty scary you would say the price is good for a Mac 26 in Oz/NZ,
given what I've heard. Were you looking there or in the U.S.?
Agree on the Mac 26 cabin. The spartan nature gives it a less
claustrophobic feel than similar sized boats. But some will see that
lack of cabinetry as inadequate stowage.

Indeed the word 'spartan' came to mind - and indeed there is not a lot
of locker space as a result - probably not *that* bad for a weekend or
even a week away - at least everything is at hand (don't have to
rumage around lockers - as I do on my boat).



Spartan is another word for sensible when it comes to a small cruiser.
You don't want a bunch of carpets and upholtery to get moldy or dank.
You want surfaces that clean up easily with a sponge and some fresh
water. On one of the Mac sites I was reading the other day there are
pages and pages of modifications owners have made to customize their
Macs. One guy showed where he did extra storage shelves. Here's the link
to the main page. http://macgregorsailors.com/index.php

--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm

Duncan McC (NZ) wrote in
. nz:



Pretty scary you would say the price is good for a Mac 26 in Oz/NZ,
given what I've heard. Were you looking there or in the U.S.?
Agree on the Mac 26 cabin. The spartan nature gives it a less
claustrophobic feel than similar sized boats. But some will see that
lack of cabinetry as inadequate stowage.

Indeed the word 'spartan' came to mind - and indeed there is not a lot
of locker space as a result - probably not *that* bad for a weekend or
even a week away - at least everything is at hand (don't have to
rumage around lockers - as I do on my boat).


There's more storage space than you might think. Check out this video
and watch the part where the dude shows all the storage. Pretty
impressive sales pitch.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...19&q=macgregor

--
Cheerio,
Ed Gordon
http://www.freewebs.com/egordon873/index.htm