Incredible "Secrets of Yacht Design" website located...

So when kindred IT administrators block access to Frank's page of nonsense he still has a chance of getting through...

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=scaramouche

 

I can see him now. Mighetto explaining why they are losing the war. Slowly Hitler takes his pistol out, takes carefull aim, fires one bullet. Another suicide.

 

Now that this thread is reaching it's final gasp's, there has actually been some use for me, I was traveling up the Pacific Highway near Taree (for those in Australia) and followed briefly a trailer sailor that fitted into the "what the F.... is that" category, then it dawned on me thanks to Frank, I had a chance to examine all of the "unique" design elements before roaring passed a Macgregor 26, if it wasn't for the last 32 pages of entertainment I would have just dismissed it as the ugliest boat I'd ever seem, thanks all.

 

Crowie, I tend to agree with you. Last weekend I was on Lopez Island here in the NW USA and saw a Mac 26. It was the first time I had seen one with it's sails up and not motering! Although I was not able to check out the details. It was interesting in a sort of freakish way. I kinda felt sorry for the owners that they were not able to really appreciate the wind that day.

This thread has been . . . as in those famous words from the Dead . . . "What a long strange trip it's been". I guess out of some weird interest I want to know - Where did Frank go?

 

Melges couldn't possibly be as fast as the M26X... it can't dump ballast.

 

I was planning to post a shorter version of this, and could
not possibly hope to say it as well as this:

 

bunch of crap!

 

Puget Sound Dory...

No self respecting boater would get caught dead in one of these things up here.
No offense to the manufacturers or any owners, but these things simply try to do to many functions and therefore compromise on all of them.

 

So you will take a dink to shore, maybe sail a sunfish around, go fishing in a Jon boat but won't be caught dead in a Mac26?
I would rather have a Mac26 then sitting on the dock wishing I had a boat.

 

The Mac 26 is a good boat for some people.
As long as they understand what it is before they buy one,
it can bring them a lot of pleasure.
It's when they are told wild exaggerations about its capabilities
that there are going to be problems... customer satisfaction and
safety being a couple of them.

The Mac 26 tends to attract people who don't want to commit
to a dedicated sailboat. The typical M26 owner likes many
features of powerboats, but would also like to be able to
shut off the motor and sail at times.

This also tends to be a profile for inexperienced boaters,
whioch means a higher proportion of them will inadvertantly
be rude by ignorance of rules of the road and also the group
will have a higher ratio of owner/skippers who get into trouble
beyond what they know how to deal with, and will need help
of one kind or another.

It probably makes a good first boat in some respects (actually,
there are reasons it doesn't), which means it will get bashed.

That could contribute to making any boat look bad.

It would be like if people driving some certain car type tended
to be teenagers with their first car... there might be a lot of
collisions with those cars, and injuries... which might lead to
the conclusion that the car is less safe than others.
It may or may not be, but the demographic of the driver
should be considered in the analysis of accident data.

 

From another message thread...

The Mac 26 is the right boat for some people.
It's good for a power boater who isn't ready to commit to
owning a sailboat yet, but likes the idea od turning off
the motor when he's not in any particular hurry...
Or someone who isn't sure if he'd prefer sailing
or powerboating. Of course, you could buy an older
sailboat and powerboat for the same amount.
They do tend to hold value pretty good though.

It's not a race boat, but with handicap, can be a start
and give some exposure to what racing is (though it
could prove discouraging).

I think MacGregor's marketing is a bit more than
"Optimistic", and may end up leading to their downfall
by ruining their reputation. Previously, they didn't make
a lot of wild claims about their inexpensive trailer sailors
(at least as I remember it). If people buy Mac 26's with
certain expectations based on dealer & mfr. claims, and
are disappointed by their purchases, it will probably
come back to haunt MacGregor.

But if a person has one, and has no delusions about
beating Cup Yachts or Global Circumnavigation with
it, he might find it a good way to dabble in the power
and sail boat worlds.

But as with anything, irrationally rabid fans of a product
can make the product look dumb. Just look how many
guys wear a suit five days a week and strap on leather chaps
and apply temporary tattos and espouse the virtues of old
technology motorcycles every weekend. They look ridiculous
when they work so hard at maintaining a scowl on their faces
and lapse into the personna every time someone is watching.

And they make their product of choice look silly to those
who look at it from other perspectives.

 

Why not? Trying a new type of boat is always fun! Any boat I can sail I will give it a go. I have sailed from Hinckleys to a peloponese fishing boat with a local "marconi rig" but no keel (Try sailing that upwind). Enjoyed every single one and hope to try many more.

As to the Mac 26x, try one they will surprise you on reaches with very good speed. Easy to get 8-9 kts with good control. Simple but fair boat for the money.

Sailing is and elitist sport for many (my boat is bigger than yours, etc) and perhaps the MAC's low cost is what makes some say " would not be caught dead in one" and others just follow suit. Don't join that crowd, test one and make up your own mind.

 

The most intelligent post on this subject so far.

Thank you.

Bob

 

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