First post from us.
We have a Southern Cross 23 on the Gippsland Lakes and have really enjoyed our well found little yacht. Now we are moving to Bowen, Qld, we are considering the cost of transport up there and the possibility of moving up to a boat with headroom. We've been quietly having an ear open over the years regarding the pros and cons of Macs and are now thinking that a Mac might suit us better in our dotage.
Two questions:
Can anyone here share their experiences of sailing a Mac 26 in the Whitsundays?
What is the most sensible outboard? I do not wish to power aound at 20kn. Recommend a smaller but adequate outboard?
Thanks,
Pete and Kaye
I like your idea of getting rid of that dirty big motor.
Pros: The flat planing hull sits nice and level when the tide goes out, and they are light to tow.
Cons: Just about everything else.
There's lots of them out there so they can't be all bad but I'd be looking at Nolex or Farr.
Try trailersailerplace.com
You mean something a little bit smaller like a 30hp which should bring you down to around 12-15kn using a 4 blade 9-10" pitch prop and still give you plenty of bite going forward as well as stopping power ?
Or all the way down to something like a 5-6hp fitted with the elephant ear prop and 6-7kn top speed ?
Select to expand quoteAUS126 said..
I like your idea of getting rid of that dirty big motor.
Pros: The flat planing hull sits nice and level when the tide goes out, and they are light to tow.
Cons: Just about everything else.
There's lots of them out there so they can't be all bad but I'd be looking at Nolex or Farr.
Try trailersailerplace.com
Thought about a Nolex but if we are going to change we'd rather another pop top. AFAIK the later Noelex 25 had a poptop. Agreed that the Noelex is a great yacht and the Mac isn't, but we are cruisers, not in it for thrills, just love being afloat and sailing.
Select to expand quoteHarb said..
You mean something a little bit smaller like a 30hp which should bring you down to around 12-15kn using a 4 blade 9-10" pitch prop and still give you plenty of bite going forward as well as stopping power ?
Or all the way down to something like a 5-6hp fitted with the elephant ear prop and 6-7kn top speed ?
Both those suggestions are worth thinking about. Possibly the former to be able get into shelter quicker.
The Mac is a very different kind of boat to what you are used to. Also very expensive. I would try to get a sail on one before you commit.
On the plus side you can trail it away from the coast if a cyclone was heading your way. On the negative, it is large and light, so you better have some strong ropes to tie it down. Don't think it is fully self-righting. Really a boat for inshore waters.
If you're looking for a big volume trailer sailer with standing headroom, an alternative would be an RL28.
As mentioned above, there is a wealth of information at trailersailerplace.com.au
Make contact with people on this site.
www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/index.php
or even an overseas association.
Although I would not go down that path I can see where your coming from re the Mac26.but I don't think your going to get much love from traditionalists on this site or trailersailer forum.
Yes a very polarising boat that one. See a good article here which is balanced in it's content.
asa.com/news/2017/07/24/cruising-boat-spotlight-macgregor-26m/
Not my cup of tea but as per BB can understand the attraction. What is your size range and $ limit? As above the Noelex 30 is a great all rounder and not too bulky, then the MASRM 920 comes to mind but it may be too long and too racing orientated.
If a macgregor fills your needs and you are happy mainly sailing downwind get one.
I would stick with a decent motor to take advantage of those attributes of the design.
Sounds like a decent lifestyle
Thank you all for the comments. I put this question on trailersailerplace.com as well but got not one response. While I wasn't expecting much love I have been a bit surprised to not have a comment from anyone who will admit to sailing a Mac in the Whitsundays. Are they really such awful sailboats? Sounds like with a pissy motor it won't do anything properly!
G'day Tinggu,
i don't think they're that bad as we all generally make out if you are sensible and experienced enough to understand their limitations.
A lot of the times they suffer from a lack of awareness, maybe due to the type of purchaser, in the fact it is still a yacht with a mast and sails, and hence the water ballast system needs to be managed as you don't have any keel.
You see some horror stories about overloading with too much ballast, overloading without ballast, sailing with not enough water ballast, etc etc, but this is more the fault of the human, not the boat.
Im not a fan due to the lack of a keel mandating an average sailing performance, but if you don't need to beat off a lee shore in fresh winds and you're capable of understanding the limitations why wouldn't you?
Carrying that much water would mean I'd be really anal looking for soft spots and any lack of maintenance tells, get a survey if you don't have the skills.
best of luck with your hunting!
SB
Sailing Whitsundays from Bowen, Mac would be a ideal T / S, providing
you have decent motor. It's still long way and weekend sailing, would be out of question. I do sail sometimes from Bowen, I find weather forecast
is often miles out.
As a sailboat does perform, from friend experience, the only weak point
was his original trailer, after a few years, towing a lot, start cracking,
needs a bit extra welding support.
Select to expand quoteTinggu said..
Thank you all for the comments. I put this question on trailersailerplace.com as well but got not one response. While I wasn't expecting much love I have been a bit surprised to not have a comment from anyone who will admit to sailing a Mac in the Whitsundays. Are they really such awful sailboats? Sounds like with a pissy motor it won't do anything properly!
When i was inthe Whitsundays last year, i saw a big group of10 or 12 Macs, and/or the other design that is similarto the macs. They were sailing around, pulling onto beaches and drying out overnight, they looked like they were having heat fun.
This poor quality photo of them is on Goldsmith Island.
They are ok boats that neither sail no motor fast well, but that's because the two design concepts will never work well together.
The square immersed transom is needed for planning but means they drag that arse everywhere while sailing.
I'm not a fan of the build quality (push on the side!) and the rigging is done VERY cheaply but for nice weather cruising with the ability to get somewhere quickly, I guess they might be ok, but not for me!!
As mentioned above, Farr (7500) or RL28. Both can dry out. Farr has a poptop and will hold a decent outboard. RL has (full, i think) headroom, and most have an inboard diesel. Both will sail rings around a Mac, and can be bought for a fraction of the price. 2cents.
Select to expand quoteTinggu said..
Thank you all for the comments. I put this question on trailersailerplace.com as well but got not one response. While I wasn't expecting much love I have been a bit surprised to not have a comment from anyone who will admit to sailing a Mac in the Whitsundays. Are they really such awful sailboats? Sounds like with a pissy motor it won't do anything properly!
It took a while but the conversation has picked up on trailerasilerplace. All good suggestions, but I have only ever had a look on board a Max 26M. The X looks as though it might suit us better.
Points taken about retaining the big motor.
Such a polarising boat and I appreciate all the comments and advice.
RL 28? had not considered, possibly as too much of a flier for us old folks (harrumph) but I'll do a bit of research there.
I had hoped to subscribe to this topic but have had no notifications, so had assumed nothing was happening. My apologies for this late response.
Select to expand quoteCharriot said..
Sailing Whitsundays from Bowen, Mac would be a ideal T / S, providing
you have decent motor. It's still long way and weekend sailing, would be out of question. I do sail sometimes from Bowen, I find weather forecast
is often miles out.
As a sailboat does perform, from friend experience, the only weak point
was his original trailer, after a few years, towing a lot, start cracking,
needs a bit extra welding support.
Thank you. We have to decide whether to upgrade to extra headroom or keep the SC 23 which we are very fond of. I think she would be fine in the Whitsundays. Then again the Mac has the big motor ability to get you home fast, bugger the expense.
I thought this article was very fair and the comments below were also encouraging.
asa.com/news/2017/07/24/cruising-boat-spotlight-macgregor-26m/
Mention of the RL 28 by All@Sea got my interest. Does anyone know the on road weight? We are stuck with a top legal pull of 2000kg.
Select to expand quoteTinggu said..
Mention of the RL 28 by All@Sea got my interest. Does anyone know the on road weight? We are stuck with a top legal pull of 2000kg.
I believe boat and trailer around 3500/4000 loaded
Select to expand quoteTinggu said..
Mention of the RL 28 by All@Sea got my interest. Does anyone know the on road weight? We are stuck with a top legal pull of 2000kg.
At the RL web site, it has the specs for the boat. Just under 1400kg without trailer. Trailer would be about another 450kg for a tandem with override brakes.
www.rlyachts.net/specs28.asp
Those numbers seem very optimistic. On-line specs are usually based on sales literature, which typically underestimates tow-weights. I'd expect an RL28 tow-weight to be nearer 2500 to 3000kg.
I suggest you ask a "real" RL28 owner, or post a new post on www.trailersailerplace.com.au/
For comparison, I had an Austral 20 on a single axle trailer, and its tow-weights were about 1100 kg for the boat and 400kg for the trailer. Its a much smaller boat, of course, but it gives you a bench-mark to start with. The trailer for the RL28 will be much heavier because of the dual-axle with breakaway brakes etc. See my numbers here
theboattinkerer.blogspot.com/2018/01/weights-and-measures-austral-20-mark-2.html
This is a pure guess but 2 ton limit implies a medium SUV. Nothing wrong with that but..
Are you expecting to tow on the hwy or just up and down the ramp?
Rl28 is quite big!
Regards
Oh well, the RL 28 is out the window for now as our new car can tow 2000kg.
Thanks for the replies and I think that was pretty much what I was expecting.
Thoughts right now we are thinking that we will keep Isabella Jane and find how she suits us up there. If she does then new rigging and sails are in order.
Macs just cost too much. Always a mystery as they were a cheap boat in the US.
Cheers to all for your interest,
Pete
Select to expand quoteMadmouse said..
This is a pure guess but 2 ton limit implies a medium SUV. Nothing wrong with that but..
Are you expecting to tow on the hwy or just up and down the ramp?
Rl28 is quite big!
Regards
We have an aging Discovery 2 TD5 that pulls like a loco but expecting her to die soon. Just bought a Mitsi Outlander diesel as something that would tow a reasonable boat and our caravan and be a good economical runabout when we are living in a town for the first time in 18 years and not in the Bush.
We were expecting to let the D2 and the SC go before leaving for Bowen but now think the D2 is willing enough to make the trip with the boat.
The Outlander will be fine for launching and getting the boat home. We are not expecting to "hit the road" with the SC. Livng at the top of the Whitsundays why would we sail anywhere else? Had been a plan years ago to tour with the SC but it never happened.
I you launch from Bowen, it's only a reasonably short trip from the ramp to Gloucester Island and the eastern side of the bay which is a great protected cruising area in itself and a place to spend the weekend (and Monty's and the Eco Resort are good to visit too). For longer breaks you can get out of the passage and head towards the Whitsundays "proper", but one way or another you'll usually be pushing into the wind on the trip there or back. You can also be a bit exposed to fetch between the passage and, say, Hayman in brisk weather. Once among the islands though, it's a piece of cake and I've seen people heading out in things like kayaks and sailing dinghy's regularly enough (though some do get stuck on the wrong side of the Whitsunday Passage on occasion when it blows up and they need to book the barge to come rescue them)
An alternative is to tow the boat south to launch from Cannonvale or Shute Harbour. Of course a Mac 26X @ 20 knots probably makes the trip straight out of Bowen quite doable for a weekend away :)
You never know. I love anchoring in bona Bay it's a really nice spot. P.s make sure to check out the fish and chip shop at the harbour when you settle in. It's quasi famous for its fish and chips!
We made good use of the fish shop when were house-hunting in august. Great scallops! Look out for you in Bona Bay!
