What do owners of MAC 26Xs do about a dinghy? I'm looking at purchasing an inflatable (about 8-10 ft) but wonder if there's enough room on deck to store it? What about across the transom in the back? Anyone try storing a kayak on deck? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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Tim Bastian
Dinghy
I have an 8 foot Sea Eagle inflatable with a Yamaha 2.5 hp 4 stroke. Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
I have an 8 foot Sea Eagle inflatable with a Yamaha 2.5 hp 4 stroke. Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
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Jeff Drumm
Does it stow well?
Did you get the slat-floor model, and is it easy to deflate, bag-up and stow? I've been considering this dinghy myself, but have also been looking at a Zodiac with the inflatable floor that's supposed to be quite stiff. Haven't heard anything from owners of the Zodiac, but you're the second I've heard from with the Sea Eagle. -- - Jeff
Did you get the slat-floor model, and is it easy to deflate, bag-up and stow? I've been considering this dinghy myself, but have also been looking at a Zodiac with the inflatable floor that's supposed to be quite stiff. Haven't heard anything from owners of the Zodiac, but you're the second I've heard from with the Sea Eagle. -- - Jeff
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Rick Dieffenbach
Have Seaeagle 9.6 RU
I recently received the Seaeagle 9.6 Roll Up version - has a roll up slat floor. Haven't had it in the water yet, but did inflate it in the basement! NOTE: The RU 9.6 is still not on the seaeagle site www.seaeagle.com - but they have it in their printed catalog. Its essentially a 9.6 sportsfisher with a 8.6 version of a slatted floor. As for compactness, it is nothing that I'll probably be stowing in the cabin. First, it has a chemical smell. (Perhaps this will go away after a while, but the wife had me take down the boat quickly after setting it up because the smell - was giving her a headach, and me. And this is in a large basement.) It's also bulkier folded up than the seaeagle website would have you believe. Perhaps *they* can compact it down to the size they say, but I doubt I ever will. On the plus side, I can easily see the folded dingy stowed ahead of the mast, lashed down, which is where I plan to put it. This keeps the chemical smell outside, and does not take any interior space. One other important aspect - weight. The 9.6 with the floor installed is 99 lbs. Maybe it's my age, but 99 lbs feels heavier than I remember. This is not a boat that I will be walking around with carrying like a suitcase. I would have gone with the 20 lb lighter 8.6, but I needed a 2nd seat. But again on the plus side, it has a total weight capacity of 1000 lbs... very impressive by any measure. Most of the time it will be used just for island hops, etc, but it is comforting to know that it can serve as an emergency dingy for 4 people - maybe more in a pinch.
I recently received the Seaeagle 9.6 Roll Up version - has a roll up slat floor. Haven't had it in the water yet, but did inflate it in the basement! NOTE: The RU 9.6 is still not on the seaeagle site www.seaeagle.com - but they have it in their printed catalog. Its essentially a 9.6 sportsfisher with a 8.6 version of a slatted floor. As for compactness, it is nothing that I'll probably be stowing in the cabin. First, it has a chemical smell. (Perhaps this will go away after a while, but the wife had me take down the boat quickly after setting it up because the smell - was giving her a headach, and me. And this is in a large basement.) It's also bulkier folded up than the seaeagle website would have you believe. Perhaps *they* can compact it down to the size they say, but I doubt I ever will. On the plus side, I can easily see the folded dingy stowed ahead of the mast, lashed down, which is where I plan to put it. This keeps the chemical smell outside, and does not take any interior space. One other important aspect - weight. The 9.6 with the floor installed is 99 lbs. Maybe it's my age, but 99 lbs feels heavier than I remember. This is not a boat that I will be walking around with carrying like a suitcase. I would have gone with the 20 lb lighter 8.6, but I needed a 2nd seat. But again on the plus side, it has a total weight capacity of 1000 lbs... very impressive by any measure. Most of the time it will be used just for island hops, etc, but it is comforting to know that it can serve as an emergency dingy for 4 people - maybe more in a pinch.
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Tim Bastian
Storage
I have the SE-8. It has a wooden floor with metal supports. The inflatable part fits into a 36 inch by 20 inch duffel bag and I store the floor under the mattress in the rear bunk. The ores and the motor mount fits in the storage area under the aft bunk. I store the duffel all the way in the back of the aft bunk when I'm not using it. If I intend to use it I inflate it at the dock and store it on the foredeck until I get to where I'm going. Hope this helps, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
I have the SE-8. It has a wooden floor with metal supports. The inflatable part fits into a 36 inch by 20 inch duffel bag and I store the floor under the mattress in the rear bunk. The ores and the motor mount fits in the storage area under the aft bunk. I store the duffel all the way in the back of the aft bunk when I'm not using it. If I intend to use it I inflate it at the dock and store it on the foredeck until I get to where I'm going. Hope this helps, Tim Bastian Zephyr's Aura Hixson, TN
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Will Hunt
9.6 Kayak
I am thinking about taking my Old Town Otter with saddles attached inside the port stanchions. Any thoughts?
I am thinking about taking my Old Town Otter with saddles attached inside the port stanchions. Any thoughts?
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Jack O'Brien
Porta-Bote & Coleman
I have a Coleman 4-person inflatable boat, about nine feet long, 4 chambers, 2 seats, capacity 650 pounds, 2 sets of oarlocks. Cost about $50 at Walmart. Oars and pump extra. Not designed for power but I made pvc pipe and 2x4 motor mount/seat which just slips in the aft oarlocks and disassembles with wingnuts. Have used a MinnKota 28 lb. thrust electric motor & goes well. Will try my 2.5 HP evenrude soon. Rolls up small. Everything fits in port locker forward of galley, except motor(s) and floorboard I made from plastic lattice fence. Rows well for an inflatable. No smell. Also have 10.5 ft Porta-Bote. 65 pounds without the 3 seats and at 64 years I can carry and cartop it myself when folded. Previous M26X owner put it in cabin when trailering, or lashed to stantions on foredeck. I have not tried that but it tows well. With one person it planes with 2.5 HP. Excellent hull shape for the waves. Three seats, non-sinkable, puncture-proof, (think dog toenails and coral) 10 year warrantee, cheaper than Zodiac-type, no smell. Not rated for much power but Internet Dealer in Iowa is selling a Nissan 5 HP / boat package. I plan to try my 6 hp Tohatsu (same engine except carburator) on it. Really pleased with Porta-Bote performance for several days anchored out in Key West. Jack
I have a Coleman 4-person inflatable boat, about nine feet long, 4 chambers, 2 seats, capacity 650 pounds, 2 sets of oarlocks. Cost about $50 at Walmart. Oars and pump extra. Not designed for power but I made pvc pipe and 2x4 motor mount/seat which just slips in the aft oarlocks and disassembles with wingnuts. Have used a MinnKota 28 lb. thrust electric motor & goes well. Will try my 2.5 HP evenrude soon. Rolls up small. Everything fits in port locker forward of galley, except motor(s) and floorboard I made from plastic lattice fence. Rows well for an inflatable. No smell. Also have 10.5 ft Porta-Bote. 65 pounds without the 3 seats and at 64 years I can carry and cartop it myself when folded. Previous M26X owner put it in cabin when trailering, or lashed to stantions on foredeck. I have not tried that but it tows well. With one person it planes with 2.5 HP. Excellent hull shape for the waves. Three seats, non-sinkable, puncture-proof, (think dog toenails and coral) 10 year warrantee, cheaper than Zodiac-type, no smell. Not rated for much power but Internet Dealer in Iowa is selling a Nissan 5 HP / boat package. I plan to try my 6 hp Tohatsu (same engine except carburator) on it. Really pleased with Porta-Bote performance for several days anchored out in Key West. Jack
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