Boats of Interest

[greenminnow]

Hi All, I am looking for a boat in the 20 foot size that is easy to trailer, sets up quickly, will launch in shallow water, has room for a head! Any suggestions as diff. brands you think would work for me? I know, my expectations are many. Thanks in advance. Brian

 

[Dennis]

Great little boat

I have a V222 that is Great. While it had a head in it,when I got her, it was difficult to get to, so I turned it around where a person can enter from the front. There are pics of her on the owner pic page,both in and out, under windy day at the lake. When I roll her in the water, she pops off the trailer very easily. There are a number of them out there for sale. Low maint. and fun. The V222 is 22 feet long. If you are going new, then I really could not tell you what is the best on the market today!

 

[Louis Holub]

MY 2 Cents WORTH.......

I would suggest avoiding a "WEIGHTED" keel, and suggest a water ballast system. Easier to trailer, to sail, to maintain, etc., etc. "AND" as an example, the MACGregor 26 will float when flooded << nice safe boat, big enough for overnighers, private head, and very INEXPENSIVE too. I sold my Mac 26C recently, and moved up to a Mac 26X (You outta take a look at these boats before making a decision). Having enough room for family, and/or friends, camping, picnics, etc. is a NICE THING for SAILBOATING...Happy Sailing TO YOU !

 

[Gary]

Great Boat

While there are many boats to look at, I would suggest the Mac 26D. I have had one since 1988 and I love it. Easy to maintain, easy to launcheasy to trailer and best of all....easy on the pocket book.

 

[Chris]

Oday Mariner

Check out an Oday Mariner. Spec exactly what you specified... room for a head, trailerable, centerboard or keel, over 4,000 built and existing parts suppliers!www.usmariner.orgChris#90

 

[OldCat]

For Performance . . .

Ultimate 20.

 

[Herb Parsons]

20 ft and a Head?

The 20 foot and a head are going to make a hard bill to fill. When you consider the size of a cabin for a 20 foot boat, and then how much of that is eaten up with a head, you have a pretty tight fit.If you move up a bit, a Rhodes 22 might fit your needs perfectly. Warning, they are NOT cheap, but I've been very impressed with my brother's Rhodes 22, and they can come with a fully enclosed head. It has taken some pretty slick engineering from the builder to fit everything he has into such a small boat. Check them out at www.rhodes22.com. They also do a "recycled" boat, where they take an older hull, strip it, and build a new boat around it, then sell for a discount.

 

[greenminnow]

Response for boat

Thanks to all who responded! I saw your pics Dennis on your 222 that looks very workable and probally is better than sidways. Did you change your table seating too? Iv'e seen the 21 with the booth arangement which turns to a bed. I am kind of thinking Mac 21 but the 22 would be fine also. I noticed in specs. that the 22 is alittle heavier than the 21. Thanks to all for advice. The Rhodes is verrrry nice but weighs in alittle heavy for me. Also I haven't decided if I want to go to a 26 Mac. Thought it might be a little more than I want or need. Thanks again Brian

 

[Dennis]

Inner setup

I changed the interior to what I consider a better setup. I originally had a booth too, but pulled it when I turned the head around. Beefed up the hull where the table would hang, with two by two ribbing, and one of the seats I put along the keel trunk. The other is still in its original place, which cant be seen inthe pic. This setup still allowed me to lower the unit into a double bunk, also a shower area for a below deck shower facility. I know one other person said they thought a water ballast boat was better, but I dont know about that. I have heard many bad things concerning water ballast. Never have sailed one, so I cant really say. also the V222 is supposed to be unsinkable. When I modified the head, I also had room to lengthen the forward,v bunks which allowed for more storage underneath. In front of that is giant foam blocks that keep the boat afloat should it take on water. Actually when I purchased the boat, there was a few weak spots in the hull which I fiberglassed in two by two ribs. Now the hull is as strong as any new boat. I consider her a GREAT little boat, especially for a beginner, which I am myself, i guess!

 

[Dennis]

PS

Ive seen V222s for sale in ranges from like 500 to several thousand dollars, depending on condition and age. Look around, you will be surprised what you can find! 21s, usually are a little less.

 

[Louis Holub]

I FORGOT to mention ...

Greenminnow...I forgot to mention in my suggestion that you look at a MAC 26C,S,or D (all basically the same boat), this boat can handle up to 10 H.P. (mine had an 8 HP Merc.) They move well, and get you out of trouble. I noticed another post suggested a MAC 26 also, so take a look at this great boat and its accomodations !!! Real Comfortable.

 

[greenminnow]

A little too much

Thanks for all your replies, Louis I would like a 26S very much but where I am at there are alot of small lakes too that I dont want to count my self out of. The larger lakes are about 2 hrs. away. If I dont have the time I may want to slash it in a lake a little closer to home so I can get in more sail time. A Big Thanks Too All!! Brian

 

[Dennis]

Several places to look

There are several places to look for low end boats. Here on this site, also the Macgregor Sailing Page, has Macs, for sale some pretty reasonable. If I remember someone was even giving one away at one time! Of course you might have to travel to go get it, but if the price is right. I had to travel 600 miles one way to pick mine up, but it wasnt a bad trip and was well worth it to me for the price. I paid 1,ooo for my 74 V222 in a sail away condition, but of course I wanted to make mods, so it would feel more like my own. I am sure you will want to make changes as well. Good hunting!

 

[S299 Dave]

there is a big difference...

between a Mac 22 and the 21. Both in weight and in cabin size... the 21 does not have a poptop, and has a smalled cabin but a larger cockpit... the 22 has a poptop so you have headroom of about 5'6". It weighs about 500 pounds more as well. Enough to require towing capacity of about 3500 pounds. Someone made the comment above about water ballast... I really like the M26's with water ballast... easier to tow, fast, tender as first but they stiffen up as they heel. I have had an M22 for 20 years and see no problem with the 600 pound lead keel. if you hit something with it, it is almost indestructible... and you do not have to worry about damaging the centerboard trunk. all of the M22's had foam as well, so they are unsinkable.

 

[Dennis]

Head room

The head room in my V222 with pop top up is 6 ft.. My wife is 6'10" and still has head clearance. I measured it and it was at the 6 foot mark. I am only 5 8 and have plenty of head room. Yes that is one thing I also like about the V222 is that it has a larger cabin and smaller cockpit. Everyone to their own however. My V222 can sleep 5 minus a little headroom in the forward v bunks, but since enlarging the forward bunks, there is now full sit up room, and more storage room too. I admit I dont know much about the 21, but as I said before,if I purchased a boat without a pop top it would not be impossible to install one!

 

[greenminnow]

Dennis

Thankyou,thankyou, thankyou --- I just found out today that A while back I was shown a 22 and told it was a 21 so I was kind of in search of a 21!!! The one I had seen was a pop top with space for a porti so I have been since trying to find one around here. I am really glad you two had this conversation. Most pics on line don't seem to show much on interiors for the 21. Also I think the keel winch for 21 is outside and keel winch for 22 is inside. Know I can focus maybe on the 22 or should I just go 26S? Do you think there is much diff. between getting the mast up and putting it in the lake and getting it out? (between the 22 or 26) This has sure helped by reading your guys input! Thanks BIG TIME Brian