Advice for Beginner
- Thread starter wk3636
- Start date
Much to learn; to highlight my comment I will say the Captain and not the boat determines whether six people can be safely brought aboard. The Mac 26X is a water ballasted boat, my sole advice at this time is: always make sure the ballast tank is full before you get underway, the alternative is a likely capsize. People have died for failing to do so. There is much to learn but at the beginning concentrate on boat handling and navigation, take gradual steps to get confidence before you head out 15 nm into the Gulf. Once again is primarily the Captain and not the boat that can handle foul weather.
About 10 years ago a non-sailing friend asked me the same question; i.e. buying a MacGregor as his introduction to sailing. Like the others in this forum, I strongly urge you to take lessons before investing in a boat. I also advised my friend to decide whether he wanted to be a power boater or a sailor. The MacGregor is a compromise between the two sports and, as is true for most compromises, doesn't do either one particularly well. (I've since sailed a MacGregor several times which confirmed my previous advice.) My friend wound up taking lessons and eventually bought a Cal 39. He hasn't stopped thanking me for my advice.
wk3636, I seem to be the only guy that actually has a 26X. Notice these guys before me all sailing big nicer boats than a MacGregor. True, it has a lot of disadvantages, but a few big advantages. It's a crappy 3-4 day boat, real small inside, cold, and you need to expand the v-berth just to sleep. You need to add a lot of stuff to make it sea worthy ( like about $6000).
So why did I buy it, because I have a house in the upper part of the Sea of Cortez, MX. 24-28' tides every day, it's a bad place for most sailboats, but this boat works. Plus the summers are brutal, so I just trailer it to Washington State for summers, live in it during the transit.
Lastly, this boat takes some time learning, make sure the ballast is full to the brim. Secondly, it heals more than most. I can keep up with a Catalina 30, he is at a 15 list, I am at 20-25. If you have the mast up, and water in the ballast its good for 10 mph, max I get out of it is 16 mph with the mast down and no water ballast. It's not a speed boat, with a 50 hp outboard. Lastly, steering is real touchy under power at slow speeds. Loading up on the trailer is always fun. By the way, all the old timers, tell me my boat is for shit. They are stuck in a lake, I can go everywhere.
Yes, I would like a Bennatueu, or a 30' Catalina--- these are a pain to move. This little MacGregor will work.
So why did I buy it, because I have a house in the upper part of the Sea of Cortez, MX. 24-28' tides every day, it's a bad place for most sailboats, but this boat works. Plus the summers are brutal, so I just trailer it to Washington State for summers, live in it during the transit.
Lastly, this boat takes some time learning, make sure the ballast is full to the brim. Secondly, it heals more than most. I can keep up with a Catalina 30, he is at a 15 list, I am at 20-25. If you have the mast up, and water in the ballast its good for 10 mph, max I get out of it is 16 mph with the mast down and no water ballast. It's not a speed boat, with a 50 hp outboard. Lastly, steering is real touchy under power at slow speeds. Loading up on the trailer is always fun. By the way, all the old timers, tell me my boat is for shit. They are stuck in a lake, I can go everywhere.
Yes, I would like a Bennatueu, or a 30' Catalina--- these are a pain to move. This little MacGregor will work.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,504
This is a classic case of: “you don’t know what you don’t know”.
While some folk love one boat design others can not see them in such a boat if it was given to them.
If your flush with cash and need a distraction buy a boat and get on the water. You’ll quickly learn if it was a good idea.
Or take the lessons and join a club with boats and test the boats and the waters. You may find you like sailing and you need more cash,
but you’ll at the least have an idea what and how you want to spend it. And you won’t need us to tell you what we would do.
Perhaps you’ll humor us and come back to tell us what you did.
While some folk love one boat design others can not see them in such a boat if it was given to them.
If your flush with cash and need a distraction buy a boat and get on the water. You’ll quickly learn if it was a good idea.
Or take the lessons and join a club with boats and test the boats and the waters. You may find you like sailing and you need more cash,
but you’ll at the least have an idea what and how you want to spend it. And you won’t need us to tell you what we would do.Perhaps you’ll humor us and come back to tell us what you did.
As a former and probably one of the largest trailerable sailboat dealers now retired, many came in not knowing what they want.
So often many advise boats to consider but my approach was different. First I asked questions as to lifestyle, working/retirement, like/dislikes, hobbies, desires regarding sailing and so on. I was trying to get the consumer to answer their own questions by asking questions to see if sailing was in the cards. I also found if they wanted a fast pace of life, then I suggested other activity. If yes to sailing, then the next question what did they want to do with a sailboat making suggestions as to used or new geared to a new lifestyle. If they have never sailed a trip on a sailboat was suggested at no charge. The key here was asking questions listening to what was said trying to get them to answer their own questions trying to fit a boat to their needs.
Sometimes I said sailing was not the route to go making other questions. Lessons as to trailering, setup, sailing and systems awareness were part of the sale no matter how long it took. This approach worked for me.
Good advice but asking questions to include sailing first will strongly help in your decision as to Sailing and a better idea what you want to do. Forget the boat recommendations in the beginning as you need to know if you will like sailing and what you want to do with a sailboat
So often many advise boats to consider but my approach was different. First I asked questions as to lifestyle, working/retirement, like/dislikes, hobbies, desires regarding sailing and so on. I was trying to get the consumer to answer their own questions by asking questions to see if sailing was in the cards. I also found if they wanted a fast pace of life, then I suggested other activity. If yes to sailing, then the next question what did they want to do with a sailboat making suggestions as to used or new geared to a new lifestyle. If they have never sailed a trip on a sailboat was suggested at no charge. The key here was asking questions listening to what was said trying to get them to answer their own questions trying to fit a boat to their needs.
Sometimes I said sailing was not the route to go making other questions. Lessons as to trailering, setup, sailing and systems awareness were part of the sale no matter how long it took. This approach worked for me.
Good advice but asking questions to include sailing first will strongly help in your decision as to Sailing and a better idea what you want to do. Forget the boat recommendations in the beginning as you need to know if you will like sailing and what you want to do with a sailboat
Most sailing schools rent their boats out to anyone with $$$$ for the rental. They mostly have different boats, so take a lesson, rent their boats til comfortable and then rent around with different boats to see what you like and can handle. I started with a Soling for lessons at City Island, a Rhodes 19 at Oyster Bay, a flying Scott in the Potomac. You get the idea. Bought my first boat, Hunter 23.5, for its ease in trailering, found I really didn't cruise with it and now have what I really need, a performance day sailer (Capri 22 SRWK race set up). All the controls I learned of over the years in a comfortable easy to sail boat. If ever I want to cruise, I'll rent it where it is pretty, away from my usual haunts.
It took me 20 years of trial before finding just how I use my boat with a lot of comparison sailing to back my choice. BTW, I really like the Rhodes boats for both sailing performance and comfort. Phillip Rhodes was alive and living in Oyster Bay when I first started renting from Oyster Bay Sailing School. Never met him but was told he came down to the school on occasion and taught a class or two. How cool!
It took me 20 years of trial before finding just how I use my boat with a lot of comparison sailing to back my choice. BTW, I really like the Rhodes boats for both sailing performance and comfort. Phillip Rhodes was alive and living in Oyster Bay when I first started renting from Oyster Bay Sailing School. Never met him but was told he came down to the school on occasion and taught a class or two. How cool!
[ I've seen others say the Sound can get pretty nasty. If I'm stuck in the middle, can the Macs easily escape to safety under power?
Even if the Macs are appropriate for my situation, I'm still not completely sold on them. I'd like suggestions for other boats that are suitable for me. I'm looking in the 18-26 foot range and my budget is 5k-10k. I'd also prefer something with a roomy cockpit. On rare occasions, I'd like to be able to fit six somewhat comfortably but mostly it will be myself and my four legged pal.
Thanks in advance.
[/QUOTE]
There is nothing made that does more then one thing well. In this case, it does not motor well, nor do they sail well...IMHO
Even if the Macs are appropriate for my situation, I'm still not completely sold on them. I'd like suggestions for other boats that are suitable for me. I'm looking in the 18-26 foot range and my budget is 5k-10k. I'd also prefer something with a roomy cockpit. On rare occasions, I'd like to be able to fit six somewhat comfortably but mostly it will be myself and my four legged pal.
Thanks in advance.
[/QUOTE]
There is nothing made that does more then one thing well. In this case, it does not motor well, nor do they sail well...IMHO
I started sailing with a macgregor 25 with a weighted swing board. it sailed ok. a very forgiving boat in light to medium winds, like most boats you have to choose the days you sail depending on your skill and your boats capabilities. I only had a 10hp motor on it, but it did what was required. I even raced it, had a spinnaker and all, great handicap. it did not do well in chop. the flat bottom beat you up as it slapped the water. but it got me out on the water and I learned a lot with it. sometimes you start at the beginning when sailing and work your way up. there easy to take care of, low maintenance and trailer well. it's not a weekender, but a good over nighter. wouldn't go with the water ballast and a big motor takes its sailing capability away. if you dont mind the take down and setup then it's a good deal. you could try a Catalina 22 to 24. they come in trailerable too. there more stable and give you more of a big boat feel.
Take a look at the Rhodes 22
Very roomy cockpit. You can buy a tent enclosure that will turn the entire cockpit into a cabin. The cabin is well laid out for two... even four if two are small and I did a 5 day cruise with my wife and four little ones. It was cramped but we had a good time. The Rhodes 22 is unique in that it has a flared bow. It was designed for the choppy Albemarle Sound. It also has a partial fixed shoal ballasted keel with a swing board inside. With the board down, the boat points rather well but if you skip over a sand bar the board just swings up out of the way. Another nice thing about the Rhodes is that it is made to be easy to handle from the cockpit. The main and jib are roller furled. The O.B. is on an electric lifting mount. The one I charted even had a fully enclosed head with mercerator etc.
If you can find one, see if you can take a test sail.
Very roomy cockpit. You can buy a tent enclosure that will turn the entire cockpit into a cabin. The cabin is well laid out for two... even four if two are small and I did a 5 day cruise with my wife and four little ones. It was cramped but we had a good time. The Rhodes 22 is unique in that it has a flared bow. It was designed for the choppy Albemarle Sound. It also has a partial fixed shoal ballasted keel with a swing board inside. With the board down, the boat points rather well but if you skip over a sand bar the board just swings up out of the way. Another nice thing about the Rhodes is that it is made to be easy to handle from the cockpit. The main and jib are roller furled. The O.B. is on an electric lifting mount. The one I charted even had a fully enclosed head with mercerator etc.
If you can find one, see if you can take a test sail.
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I've 6 people on my boat and we were all fine, however most of the time several people sit on the rails or up front. Its rare for everyone to be in the cockpit in any boat. Normally the only time everyone is in the cockpit, is during launch. (When the boat is beached, all the weight needs to be in the back of the boat to get it off the beach)
That’s not true for every location Or boat.
Here on San Francisco Bay, cruisers don’t sit on the rail or up on the bow. Unless they are racing, everybody stays in the cockpit here. Conditions just aren’t calm enough most of the time.The sea condition is too lumpy and winds are too gusty. Climbing around a bucking deck would be dangerous for non-sailing guests in our prevailing conditions.
And I would think that unless they know how to scramble around a heeling boat, guests have to stay in the cockpit to avoid getting hit by flogging sails, flogging jib sheets, and booms during maneuvers, especially on small boats.
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