On Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:23:05 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:


Vic,
I'd just suggest that you try the boats on your list and a few other types
before handing over the big boat bucks.
For instance, try a flats boat after a ride in a CS. Go fast in both boats
and get into some choppy water. Â*A flat bottom boat is a flat bottom boat no
matter what material and they will beat the crap out of a person.
Sail a keel boat and the go fast trimarans and consider your use and the
cost. A wise man said with powerboating you have a destination and with
sailing you're already there.
I enjoy puttering along at 3-4 knots and "hauling ass" at 6. I've got this
42 year old solid 24' boat that I paid a boat buck ($1K) for and I wouldn't
cry myself to sleep if I ran her into a dock. She is the right boat for me.
Look at trawlers and keel boats and if she is to be your crew take the Mrs
along. If she does like the new investment, she'll let you know and better
before than after. Funny how they don't rag us about things they like.

Thanks for that advice, mmc. That $1k boat could be the way to go.
I'm real accustomed to driving used Chevys.

Being both a sailor and a powerboater, I can appreciate both views.
Although I kinda like the Corsair tris, I do not think I would want
one for livability.

Hey, I thought you liked camping. (-:

I was just at the St.Pete boat show and was very surprised there mer
no Mac sailboats there. Conditions were ideal to test sail one
(blustery 20 kt wind) to see how well it does in higher wind ranges
and how it would handle some chop.
The Mac 26 has the advantages of sail withe the ability to power at
higher speeds too. However, I'd really have to evaluate the build
quality before buying. I have heard of people upgrading the Mac but
do not know what they did .

From my reading of the Mac forum, some upgrade to beefier stays than
the factory equipped, and some have aftermarket rudders and sails.
At least one of the big retailers in the Midwest automatically rigs
heavier stuff, and some "improved" running gear.
Other sailing gear changes seem to be more personal preference, as
with any sailboat.
It'll never be a "good" sailboat per the conventional measurements of
pointing upwind and speed according to LWL. But it sails. Not the
only "less than average speed" sailboat.
That outboard on the transom pushing it 20 knots on plane is the
selling point for some. I like the fact that due to its light weight
it's real economical under power at hull speed.

I did test sail a Presto 30, a trailerable sailboat with free standing
masts with wishboom booms. It was a nice boat and sailed very well.
However, the builder told me it took 2 hours to set up once he had it
in the water, not the sort of thing you'd want to do every weekend.
I looked at a trailerable Catalina 25 with water ballast and it was
"ok" but already showed lesser construction problems with some gelcoat
cracking (it was a brand new boat).
I'd consider looking at used Mac 26 because that would tell you how
one would fare over a few years.

I think the typical set up time for the Mac is about half an hour.
Seen one cases of gel coat spidering, but the boat doesn't get many
quality complaints. Everybody seems to know what they're getting.
Light boat, but put together well. Consistent quality.
They probably don't do shows because they've been selling all they can
produce for years.

--Vic