On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:30:12 -0400, A Real Boater
wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:17:59 -0400, A Real Boater
wrote:


For your area a Mac 26 seems ideal. Doesn't sail very well, but has a
lot of advantages otherwise, including a 12"-18" draft.
Good accommodations for the family for its size too.

--Vic


Oi!

"Doesn't sail very well..."

Then why the hell would you want one?

It sails. Just not as well as dedicated sailboats, some of which can
be said of, "doesn't sail very well compared to another."
As I said, it has a lot of advantages.
It sails.
Shallow draft for Florida's gulf coast.
Economical when under power.
Low price.
Lots of space for a 26'
More important to some, if you get caught in heavy weather, it won't
suffer swamping over a low transom cutout.
Anything else you want to know about the Mac 26?

--Vic


I suppose that just as it is with powerboats, some manufacturer has to
be at the bottom of the sailboat pile in terms of boat looks, strength,
and sailing abilities. If I were shopping for a pocket cruiser sailboat,
though, I wouldn't be looking at a MacGregor 26. To me, it's neither
fish nor fowl. Is it still water-ballasted?

The Mac 26 isn't a dedicated sailboat, it's what "they" (MacGregor)
call a "powersailor." So neither fish nor fowl is right.

Some of my favorite cruising sailboats in the under-30' class were made
by Pacific Seacraft. The 24-footer Dana was a beauty, and also shallow
draft.

Nice boat, but most accounts have it with a 3'10' draft.
The Mac is said be 12" to 15" with board up.
Depends on the load.
Big difference for gunkholers on Florida's west coast


Sailboats good for cruising that actually look like sailboats are
supposed to look.

Ohara isn't a cruiser. Seems to be a gunkholer.
Besides, some people don't care about what others think their boat
should look like or cost.
Just because I think Caddys and Toyotas are ugly and overpriced won't
keep one person from buying one. And their opinions didn't pause me a
whit in buying my Chevy Lumina.
Different strokes.

--Vic