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

"Ed Gordon" wrote in message
8...
"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:


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

Okay, give us a report when you've completed the first "delivery." :-)

"Ed Gordon" wrote in message
8...
"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:

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

FWIW, "World Cruising Routes" puts it at 3563 miles from San Diego to
Tahiti, non-stop. This alone is in excess of a month of sailing, without
landfall, in your Mac. A month's worth of food, water, fuel, etc. This is
assuming you make good time and have no delays crossing the ITCZ. Forget
about using the ballast tanks for storing drinking water, as you are going
to NEED that ballast. And since the vessel is not equipped with light air
sails, it would be best to allow at least 45 days for this passage alone,
with the distinct possibility that it could take longer.

Tahiti to New Zealand is another 2500 miles or so -- in reverse. But you
can't go that way. You'll go first to Tonga, then head south. Make it
3000 -- another month. New Zealand to Australia is another 1200 or so,
perhaps two weeks.

Still think it's doable? We're not even talking about the wear and tear on
the "brand new" Mac, or taking time for repairs along the way. Or rest for
the crew, or stopping for supplies...

"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:


"Ed Gordon" wrote in message
8...
"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:

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

FWIW, "World Cruising Routes" puts it at 3563 miles from San Diego to
Tahiti, non-stop. This alone is in excess of a month of sailing,
without landfall, in your Mac. A month's worth of food, water, fuel,
etc. This is assuming you make good time and have no delays crossing
the ITCZ. Forget about using the ballast tanks for storing drinking
water, as you are going to NEED that ballast. And since the vessel is
not equipped with light air sails, it would be best to allow at least
45 days for this passage alone, with the distinct possibility that it
could take longer.

Tahiti to New Zealand is another 2500 miles or so -- in reverse. But
you can't go that way. You'll go first to Tonga, then head south. Make
it 3000 -- another month. New Zealand to Australia is another 1200 or
so, perhaps two weeks.

Still think it's doable? We're not even talking about the wear and
tear on the "brand new" Mac, or taking time for repairs along the way.
Or rest for the crew, or stopping for supplies...




It's longer than I thought. How about this? Buy the Macs on the US east
coast and then go to Australia via Cape Horn. That way it would be
westerly winds the whole way. Just stay on the edge of the roaring 40s
so it wouldn't be too rough and it would be a milk run the whole way.
One could re-provision in South Africa. Going across the Equator south
of the Windwards would be the only light wind area.

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