MacGregor 36 – Help to find out if it is the right boat for

[lobo]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for my first sailboat (to buy it) and found one that could fit my needs and my budget; a MacGregor 36. But since I'm new to sailing I am looking for some advice.

I already posted a similar thread in another forum asking for some advices but, besides getting a lot of help from couple of people, so far only one Mac Owner shared his opinion.

All other help is great but nothing better than "actual knowledge" compared with "I think" knowledge. So that is why I am happy to find this forum now.

I have a very specific need/want that I expect to find in a boat so I know that it will not be a easy task to find the “right one”. Because of that I am sure that trying to gather as much information and suggestions as possible from more "experienced" boat owners/sailors before making a decision. I believe it will be the best way to go.

I found a MacGregor 36 with an outboard 25hp engine for sale near where I am and it seems to fit my “profile”, but I would appreciate all opinions, especially from MacGregor owners.


Here is what I am looking for:

1) An “easy to handle” cat, that I can go “island hopping” and freediving (diving without tanks) for 3 or 4 days each time.

2) The combination of sailing/motoring is not a problem, actually it is a “plus”;

3) An average “cruising” speed of around 8 – 10 knots;

4) Need a boat to go over shallow reef (Carefully not to damage it, of course);

5) During the day, moving from one dive site to another motoring will be the case;

6) “Deck space” is the most important as I will spend most of the time there; large trampoline area is a big “plus”;


Now the most “challenging” part:

7) I need to be able to fit 3 or4 people for overnight staying – 2 or 3 nights at a time (not looking for any luxury, but minimal comfort to be able to have a good sleep at night), have a place to prepare meals and a head.

What do you think? It is possible to “convert” a MacGregor 36 to be more a small “cruising” cat and not some much a fast-racing boat?

Apparently some of you own MacGregors and seem interested in sharing your knowledge/experience here in the forum, so I would like to ask if you could help me with links, general information, opinion, experience or any other advise you can give me. All help is appreciated for sure.

Thanks so much for all your help and hope to hear back from you soon.

Breno

 

[centerline]

as a diver myself who has owned 2 dive boats, I can say without a doubt that you would not be pleased with the mac 36 as a dive boat....
the ONLY advantage it has is it's shallow draft. the hulls are narrow and even though it has a large trampoline area, what are you gonna do with it? you cant gear up on it and you wouldnt want to stow gear on it... or let me revise,... I wouldnt want to stow gear on it. and you wont be sleeping on it at night i wouldnt think...

the hard deck space for donning and doffing gear is small and will be crowded, and the below deck accomodations are very sparse and can be a bit claustrophobic....

a porta-pottie or a bucket of your choice for a head, and for a galley you can add whatever type of cooking stove you want.... for ice chests, food, drinks and water, personal gear, sleeping bags, safety gear and PFD's, anchors, and dive gear with tanks.... for 4 to 6 people. thats a lot!
a monohull 36 has more storage and living room than the the mac 36 catamaran.

the 36 was designed as a racer.... thats what it was built for and it served its purpose well, but as a comfortable weekend cruiser or live-aboard it has some serious shortcomings... and it wasnt built with enough room to convert it to make it so.... and if it isnt comfortable, it wont be much fun for very long. just my opinion

 

[THECUSCUS]

I'd agree 100% with Centerline.

 

[Kestle]

If you're a math person, you can calculate how much lower the boat would sit in the water with 800lbs of people and 200lbs of gear...and then see if you want to be on it in 3-5 foot waves.

Weight kills cat sailing performance.

Jeff

 

[centerline]

If you're a math person, you can calculate how much lower the boat would sit in the water with 800lbs of people and 200lbs of gear...and then see if you want to be on it in 3-5 foot waves.

Weight kills cat sailing performance.

Jeff

warm water dive gear alone for 4 people for 4 days will weigh a minimum of 700lbs if they are only diving one tank a day... 2 tanks a day add another 560lbs... for cold water gear, add another 200lbs.... and this is only the dive gear.
why would someone make such an effort to only dive one tank a day. so figure the boat is loaded with 2 tanks per day per person, warm water gear...

1260lbs dive gear
800lbs of people
150lbs of food and drink
300lbs for safety equipment, galley, head, and anchor
200lbs motor and fuel
200lbs for personal gear, clothes and sleep bags....

im not a math guru, but i know my estimations are fairly accurate.
getting close to 3000lbs.....

 

[lobo]

Centerline, First of all, thank you so much for the help and input..

Just to clarify one important "detail" I am a Scuba Diver Instructor but my main idea for the boat it to use for FREEDIVING (Apnea), meaning no tanks..no heavy gear... only the air on your lungs... so the weight problem (for equipment and gear) will not be an issue.

Now couple of questions from what you said Centerline:

the hulls are narrow and you wont be sleeping on it at night i wouldnt think....and the below deck accomodations are very sparse and can be a bit claustrophobic.....

That is my main concern since I could not get inside to see how much space exist inside the Hulls... have you slept on one before? Is is really bad?

even though it has a large trampoline area, what are you gonna do with it? you cant gear up on it and you wouldnt want to stow gear on it...

The trampoline are would be nice just to enjoy it and for the ones that are not freediving to lay on the sun... as freedivers, we can enter the water from any point, since we only have our masks and fins.. most of the time not even wetsuit (since it is very warm over here).

...the hard deck space for donning and doffing gear is small and will be crowded, .....

The one I am looking at has a "hard deck" area, something like a 12 X 10, (I guess)... it makes a big difference and it also has a "hard top" Bimini...

a porta-pottie or a bucket of your choice for a head,

I read couple posts about people that added a "real marine head" on Macs 36, but could not find more info ror pictures... have you seen it? Do you think it is possible? Any ideas/suggestions?


Last question: I see that you have a Macgregor 25, is it much different from the Mac 26? do you go diving from your boat?

Thanks a lot for your help... I really appreciate it!

 

[lobo]

warm water dive gear alone for 4 people for 4 days will weigh a minimum of 700lbs if they are only diving one tank a day... 2 tanks a day add another 560lbs... for cold water gear, add another 200lbs.... and this is only the dive gear.
why would someone make such an effort to only dive one tank a day. so figure the boat is loaded with 2 tanks per day per person, warm water gear...

1260lbs dive gear

In my case you can reduce it to about 20lbs TOTAL (mask and fins weight an averadge of 5 lbs for each diver)... that is why I love freediving... the closest to "freedom" as possible...

Now that I clarified this part, do you guys still have the same opinion? The Mac 36 still a bad choice for me?

Please let me know because I am trying to gather as much info/opinion/suggestions as possible before making a decision...

Thanks a lot for all the help..

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Re: MacGregor 36 – Help to find out if it is the right boat

personally, I think its a good daysailor. not a weekender, or live aboard. tramps are too low, and space below has to be tight... but I've only seen them in Key west, used for day snorkel trips... - that said, if you find calm anchorages, make a boom tent, it could work. -where are you and where do you plan to use this boat? in Fla, do-able. Maine not really...

 

[centerline]

lobo,

I have not slept aboard a 36.... I have owned boats all my life and worked and lived aboard boats perodically all my life . ive made do with small ones and have gotten by with the bare minimum for space for a few days at a time.... that has been almost more than a lifetime away it seems...

but can you imagine sleeping in a 30 inch diameter tube about 10ft long.... only one opening on one end?.. thats a mac 36.

I have also owned larger trailerable power boats and know the difference in comfort between the small boat "uncomfortable, but we are still alive and living our dream" accomodations and the large trailerable, "everyone get up out of your nice warm sleeping spots and go out on the back deck while I use the head"..... type of cruising.
I can be comfortable on my boat almost anywhere at anytime, cuz its MY boat and I have it set up how I want it... I would not expect someone else to be comfortable on my boat in the little space that I feel comfortable in. mainly because the space is so small its hard for a visitor to feel like they are entitled to any of it.... and mostly they arent cuz im in the way (the 25 that I own now has better accomodations for 2 or 3 people and it fits the two of us very well)

as for the trampoline area, it may be nice for laying on for awhile, but i speak from experience that i could not lay down all the time.... i need a chair or bench seat, i need to lean back and relax with my legs below me.... i think other people are like me.

also to keep in mind.... on a small boat that is purchased as a weekend cruiser, if it is found to be too small or uncomfortable, it can be easily sold and a larger model purchased. any loss or gain in price will be small.
but when you are in the market for a bigger boat, the purchase price will be higher and it will take more money to outfit the boat to make it ready... a higher initial cost before the first trip ever gets underway.... then if the boat is found to be too small or uncomfortable, it will almost always result in a larger loss when you go to sell it...

the boat being what it is, the resale value is low because it will be hard to get rid of... because people arent looking for boats with small or non existent accomodations. you may get lucky and find someone who has a desire to own a mac 36 for some reason, but it will be a rare occurance and probably at a give-away price....

so with this in mind, I wrote what i did in the previous posts.
I dont absolutely know what you want, but i have a pretty good idea that its the same thing i wanted when I bought a larger boat for diving and cruising.
you gotta have something your guests will be comfortable on or word of mouth will get around that its cramped and uncomfortable... thats a business killer. nobody want to cruise on a cattle boat

I have not dove off of my 25. i'm a cold water diver and although it would be comfortable enough for two divers for a long weekend, for a dive trip lasting more than a couple days it would get very cramped. and all the donning and doffing of gear would be in the water except for suits and weightbelts....
but as a cruiser only without dive gear involved, we are easily comfortable for a week.... i think a longer term would be no less comfortable for us, but then, it does make a difference how you have your boat set up...

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Re: MacGregor 36 – Help to find out if it is the right boat

fwiw, OP is in Thailand... found his post on sailnet... M36 owner in KW responded about hulls / sleepping. if you can find a Stiletto, I would look at one. little taller hulls, about same space below. fast. a corsair would be the logical choice, but lots more $$$.

 

[lobo]

fwiw, OP is in Thailand... found his post on sailnet... M36 owner in KW responded about hulls / sleepping. if you can find a Stiletto, I would look at one. little taller hulls, about same space below. fast. a corsair would be the logical choice, but lots more $$$.

That is right MrBill... I also posted over there but only got 1 opinion from Mac owner so far, that is why I was hoping to get more over here.

I am in Thailand and the plan is to "freedive" around the islands.. most of the time calm and warm waters, very easy to anchor and no need for "berths" in the marinas. Also, the majority of the time I will be anchored in front of small, but populated islands.

I am looking for something simple, because it is my lifestyle anyways. I do have to understand that the guests may not think that way, but if that is the case I can always use the boat for day-trip (diving) and sail it back to a island to sleep there.

I am well aware that this is not the "perfect" boat, but I also have to be real and accept the fact that here, Thailand, the number of boats available (small size) are much smaller and my budget is not big either...

It is a difficult quest the one I am now...

Another big question:

Do you guys think this boat is suitable to do some long crossing (coastal cruising along Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia)? In a island-hopping way, not long non-stop stretches of course.

What is the furthest you have sailed, or heard of, a Mac 36 before? Any inputs?

Thanks a lot for your help and info!

 

[lobo]

First of all, thanks a lot for taking the time to share your knowledge with me (and everyone else that is reading this thread)... it is a big help and I really appreciate it!

lobo,

I have also owned larger trailerable power boats and know the difference in comfort between the small boat "uncomfortable, but we are still alive and living our dream" accomodations and the large trailerable, "everyone get up out of your nice warm sleeping spots and go out on the back deck while I use the head"..... type of cruising.
I can be comfortable on my boat almost anywhere at anytime, cuz its MY boat and I have it set up how I want it... I would not expect someone else to be comfortable on my boat in the little space that I feel comfortable in.

That is a very important point that you are making.. Most of the people that will be freediving are more "outgoing, adventure and younger (sometimes not in age but in their minds) so maybe a possibility of sleeping on the deck could be a choice for the ones that dont feel comfortable on the hulls...

What you think? It would only be 2 nights, 3 days cruises...around the islands close by... but most of the times it would be day-cruise (diving) and sleeping on land (small islands)

also to keep in mind.... on a small boat that is purchased as a weekend cruiser, if it is found to be too small or uncomfortable, it can be easily sold and a larger model purchased. any loss or gain in price will be small.
but when you are in the market for a bigger boat, the purchase price will be higher and it will take more money to outfit the boat to make it ready... a higher initial cost before the first trip ever gets underway.... then if the boat is found to be too small or uncomfortable, it will almost always result in a larger loss when you go to sell it...

That is a main concern for sure... my problems are that there is not so many options available over here and my budget is very limited... and since my needs/wants are very "specific" it makes even more difficult to find the "right" one...

Do you have any other suggestions as which other boats could be best of for me?

I dont absolutely know what you want, but i have a pretty good idea that its the same thing i wanted when I bought a larger boat for diving and cruising.
you gotta have something your guests will be comfortable on or word of mouth will get around that its cramped and uncomfortable... thats a business killer. nobody want to cruise on a cattle boat

My main idea is to have 2 or 3 people with, most of the time will be day-cruising and returning to sleep in land... that for 3 days...

But I need to have a set up to be able to do the same but sleeping onboard for 2 nights...

Also my other concern is to have a boat that I can cover some distance sailing when I need to move from one island to another.. nothing very far away because there is many islands in between, but I would need to move some distance in longer period of time...

What is your opinion about that?

Last thing: what boat did you get for the diving purpose (the one you mentioned before in your post above?

Thanks again for you time and help!

 

[Kestle]

Long crossings? Never, especially if you have never sailed a light cat in tall, steep waves. Long crossings require protection to avoid pilot fatigue. Plus, it is a coastal racer, not a blue water boat.

Lastly, take it out in heavy seas, and see if you can get below safely using only one hand. That's a test I do.

Jeff

 

[centerline]

Re: MacGregor 36 – Help to find out if it is the right boat

my last boat i had setup for cold water diving was an older 26' bayliner express hardtop.... i dove 6 people off of it regularly with shore based accomodations. at other times 4 of us would stay on it for up to 3 days at a time. the boat was modified with a large, raised, rear gear deck... and we also stowed stuff on the hardtop.... the interior was modified with large bench seating on both sides and the cuddy cabin was a multi purpose area that was used for gear storage in the daytime and sleeping at night. it also contained the head.
the maximum I ever dove from it was 8, but i did that many times also... it was very comfortable diving 4, and a bit crowded for a 3 day cruise but do-able....
it dove 6 just as well, but as it was always a day trip we didnt carry as many tanks.
to dive 8, that had to be coordinated and all crew members had to be courteous and understanding of others space and gear (all friends) and it was a boat full.

as for what you want to do, i can only say it wont be as comfortable as you think it should. there are many people that dive from kayaks here in the northwest and they have it worse than you would, but its a personal thing and they arent trying to make a guest feel comfortable.... if you have guests and they arent comfortable, you will feel it also and the trip wont be as fun for anyone....

no matter how hard you try to convince yourself or others that the 36 will work fine for what you really would like it to do, it will never work as well as you think it should...

but, with that said, if you are only freediving from the boat and are returning to shore based accomodations every evening, it really wont be much different than a day of sailing.... with a stop over at a couple spots for a dip in the water.
the boat is fast and moves well in light air, so if you learn how to sail it you can keep the fuel costs down. why not.... 1 or 2 people can camp on the boat with "relative" comfort for a couple of days, but more than that and it will become unfun real quick....