MacGregor 26 not good? Water-ballast in general??

Discussion in 'Motorsailers' started by Tres Cool, Jul 1, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    When I first saw a Mac ( the 26X ) I thought it was very attractive too. As a concept, I have a lot of time for the boat, but it has some limitations that drove me nuts in time.

    After owning it for 2 years, I was really over its style. Its like Toyota cars, very bland and blobby. The new 26M has two layers of portholes, looking a bit like a wedding cake.

    The ugliest part of the boat is its stern. As it is pulled from a mould, it cant be very stylish, and as it has to fit in a container, its very old maid narrow and flabby.

    The new 26M isnt any better. And access to the water thru the stern is even worse, even though they have gotten rid of the tiller bar. You have to put the wheel over to turn the motor to squeeze past to get off the boat for bigger people.

    That helm seat is hopeless as well. When sailing, you tend to slide off to one side, and there is no deck shape to get a purchase with your feet on.

    Thanks to analysis by a very clever engineer ( :) ) I can confirm that the nasty tendency for the Mac to round up in a gust is serious design flaw, not a 'safety feature' as propounded by some Mac owners.

    It can be done better !!! ;)
     

    Attached Files:

  2. powerabout
    Joined: Nov 2007
    Posts: 2,944
    Likes: 67, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 719
    Location: Melbourne/Singapore/Italy

    powerabout Senior Member

    off shore in a Mac means no more than a boat length from the dock in a lake in the US thats 3 feet deep and doesnt have a fetch more then 50 yards in any direction and a max wind speed of 5 knots
    Then its quite up to the job that it was designed for
    Anywhere else its goes it seems to kill people unless they can swim
     
  3. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    MacGregor

    Hunter is a good one. Sailboats are like other products. Everybody has the ones they like and don`t. Ford has owners that hate Chevy. Chevy has owners that hate Dodge. Blah Blah Blah. Boat owners will even bad mouth ones they`ve never been on. I like MacGregor and so do a lot of others that have had all kinds of vessels.
     
  4. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Thats rubbish.

    Name one fatality in winds over 10 knots !!!!!
     
  5. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    Stop spreading lies powerabout. Take your <insult removed> elsewheres. These posts are for mature comments.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2013
  6. Perm Stress
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 554
    Likes: 24, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 323
    Location: Lithuania

    Perm Stress Senior Member

    On what other type of boat have you been at sea? ;)

    Edit:

    I mean, it is exciting to be at sea in almost any boat.
    However, when someone say, that boat X is especially exciting, it is quite normal to ask, in comparison with what boats Z, Y, ABC, ... such a conclusion is made.
     
  7. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    The new 26M is geared more to a a motorlaunch as the engines are getting larger. More horsepower. But the cost is the lowest it seems for such a well made boat. Hunter,Oyster and Beneteau are nice.
     
  8. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    going from 50hp to 60 hp is not much of an increase.

    They are still babies compared to real motorlaunch sizes of 200+ hp
     
  9. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    That`s very true. And you pay more also. Real men don`t boast about size. They just have fun and enjoy what they can afford.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2013
  10. skipwave
    Joined: Apr 2013
    Posts: 1
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Licking,MO

    skipwave New Member

    Stay with

    I believe you answered yourself in the question...I want to stay with?..The Macgregor is a great boat for what it is...A Chevrolet is not a Rolls Royce a Biplane is not a Learjet so why do you expect a Sail/Power watercraft to be pure Sail or Powerboat...You know Italy made a car in the 1960's that was a Car/Boat and was not a great Car or Boat...But try to go fishing in your Lincoln...
     
  11. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    If you beg to differ then move on. Go buy a "traditional sailboat"
     
  12. nota
    Joined: Sep 2012
    Posts: 33
    Likes: 2, Points: 8, Legacy Rep: 24
    Location: miami

    nota Junior Member

    it is what it is a swiss army knife

    IT trys to be all things to some people
    and nothing to many

    but it has attracted a fair number of new buyers to sailing
    the execution was up to venture standards minimal

    I am a 63 year old long time liveaboard at dinner key at anchor

    I like the idea of a fast sail/power boat

    I owned a lot of day-sailors as dinks up to
    fun boats like a raven a 24 ft open hull with ballasted cb
    sort of similar to a venture/mac but better built and no cabin
    and a lot more sail od racer

    love to see a carbon stick foam core hull ulb about 30ft
    with the water ballasted
    that could be ramp launched/trailered
    and stick a decent motor down inside
    maybe a mazda wankel turbo
    or a bmw diesel like the new 4 banger at 200hp
     
  13. skepticsam
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 22
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: San Diego,Ca.

    skepticsam Junior Member

    I like notas thoughts
     
  14. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Notas concept would destroy the whole concept of a Mac.

    First - economy. The price of a wankel turbo inboard would be crazily expensive.

    Second - mismatch of performance. It would be ridiculous if put in a hull shape that isnt designed for much over 25 knots.

    Third- interior space. The mac 26 has the most room of ANY yacht or motorboat of its size. The room to store gear, people, supplies makes it a most useful living tool, and an internal motor takes up valuable space.

    You can make any type of specialist yacht to excel at either speed or sail or economy - but it is really hard to combine multiple functions in an economical and useful combination.
     

  15. pdwiley
    Joined: Jun 2008
    Posts: 1,004
    Likes: 86, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 933
    Location: Hobart

    pdwiley Senior Member

    So, what you're saying is, it's closer to a shipping container than a yacht.

    PDW
     
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. tonto
    Replies:
    35
    Views:
    20,782
  2. Brenny H
    Replies:
    11
    Views:
    1,782
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.