Five Macs on eBay right now.

Sumner · Nov 18, 2012

finding41 said:
There's one big difference I see that people don't usually comment on. That is the high sides of the cockpit on the S vs the lower sides with the SS railing on the D.
Actually one of the deciding reasons I got the D. And this from a guy that was thinking the S with the swing keel would be best in case I bottom out.
Nope, style and ergonomics won out. I just like the look and feel of the D.

I'll bet they added the higher cockpit coaming to help keep water out in case of a knock down. The looks don't bother me. Some people hate the looks of the D and the S and then again some don't. I like it because it is so functional,

Sum

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Kestle · Nov 25, 2012

I have been looking to put the tank on the deck, possibly with a modified jerry can that would sit in a low box. I bbq off the stern and hate having to move the tank, and don't want an internal one.

Before you tell me that blows fumes towards the bbq, I rig my boat to point 10-15 degrees off the wind...I find it is more stable that way, as it doesn't swing for the most part.

topcat0399 · Nov 25, 2012

Not to hijack a thread or anything but:

I hated having a 6 gallon gas tank sitting in in the cockpit; either on the floor or sitting on one of the seats. Where does it go in a knock down? Not to mention its just in the way of PEOPLE. I certainly didn't like how the PO had it down in the laz. We sleep in this thing a lot and the laz is still open to the cabin.

I put a small swim platform on the transom opposite the engine and the tank straps in there just fine out of the way but easy to access. We sail in some rough water and I haven't had any problems even if the tank gets wet (very rare). When the vent is closed its air tight so - we keep the vent closed when engine not in use.

It was the best compromise I could live with on a limited budget and fumes are outside the boat.

MrBill_FLL · Nov 26, 2012

finding41 said:
There's one big difference I see that people don't usually comment on. That is the high sides of the cockpit on the S vs the lower sides with the SS railing on the D.
Actually one of the deciding reasons I got the D. And this from a guy that was thinking the S with the swing keel would be best in case I bottom out.
Nope, style and ergonomics won out. I just like the look and feel of the D.

fwiw, the 1989 'D' had high coamings, and the foam above the V berth. (like the rest of the S models). it was a transition year.

MrBill_FLL · Nov 26, 2012

topcat0399 said:
Not to hijack a thread or anything but:

I hated having a 6 gallon gas tank sitting in in the cockpit; either on the floor or sitting on one of the seats. Where does it go in a knock down? Not to mention its just in the way of PEOPLE. I certainly didn't like how the PO had it down in the laz. We sleep in this thing a lot and the laz is still open to the cabin.

I put a small swim platform on the transom opposite the engine and the tank straps in there just fine out of the way but easy to access. We sail in some rough water and I haven't had any problems even if the tank gets wet (very rare). When the vent is closed its air tight so - we keep the vent closed when engine not in use.

It was the best compromise I could live with on a limited budget and fumes are outside the boat.

I (mostly) closed off the laz from the cabin with 'great stuff' foam at the top sides of the laz. -smart folks shoot the foam off inside a garbage bag....

a permanent tank vented to the outside is the best solution... imho.

vizwhiz · Dec 3, 2012

MrBill_FLL said:
a permanent tank vented to the outside is the best solution... imho.

True, the best solution, and can give you much more capacity if you use your boat a lot...just like Sumner did with KJ...but it's also expensive and changes the regs that apply to your boat.

The simplest solution to me still seems to be the idea noted above of a shelf or small platform off the back of the boat that you strap the can to...especially if you can also make the shelf/platform removable or fold up.

It will be interesting to see how many Mac boats come up for sale compared to other brands...especially in the next couple years.

Sumner · Dec 3, 2012

vizwhiz said:
True, the best solution, and can give you much more capacity if you use your boat a lot...just like Sumner did with KJ...but it's also expensive and changes the regs that apply to your boat...

Not sure what you mean by "changes the regs"?

Sum

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doehunter · Dec 5, 2012

topcat0399 said:
Not to hijack a thread or anything but:

I hated having a 6 gallon gas tank sitting in in the cockpit; either on the floor or sitting on one of the seats. Where does it go in a knock down? Not to mention its just in the way of PEOPLE. I certainly didn't like how the PO had it down in the laz. We sleep in this thing a lot and the laz is still open to the cabin.

I put a small swim platform on the transom opposite the engine and the tank straps in there just fine out of the way but easy to access. We sail in some rough water and I haven't had any problems even if the tank gets wet (very rare). When the vent is closed its air tight so - we keep the vent closed when engine not in use.

It was the best compromise I could live with on a limited budget and fumes are outside the boat.

My 26S has a Honda 8hp motor and a 3gal tank.
The tank just fits in the motor well. I just leave it there all the time.
It's out of the way and doesn't get fumes in the cabin.
Of course I can't tilt the motor up with it there but I'm OK with that.
I don't notice a difference in the way the boat sails with it up or down.
On long trips I carry a spare gas can and store it on the deck near the bow.

MrBill_FLL · Dec 6, 2012

Doe,

take a look at some of the Mac25 fuel boxes. typically in between the cocpit seats. a simple solution was cut the bottom out of a small cooler and put over the fuel tank (3 gal). (timeBandit has a nice wooden one).

not raising the motor is a half a knot slower for me..... more if I get some seaweed.

on the regs. IIRC, you need to have a powered blower for below deck permenant tanks. plus the fill, vents, and actually securing the tank.

Sail123 · Dec 6, 2012

Two of those sold as good deals for the buyers. The blue hull M for 19,??? And the last listing, for $750, a great bargain. That would be a great price for the trailer alone.

I try not to look at sailboat listings, gets me in trouble. Lol. Purchased 5 sailboats, 1 powerboat, 1 paddleboat and 1 canoe, all in the last year. Sold 1. Ballance sheet, and trouble and strife says no more.

topcat0399 · Dec 6, 2012

MrBill_FLL said:
I (mostly) closed off the laz from the cabin with 'great stuff' foam at the top sides of the laz. -smart folks shoot the foam off inside a garbage bag....

a permanent tank vented to the outside is the best solution... imho.

I agree with that...but:

Have you ever been in a V224? They are pretty plain jane boats in all respects. The only hatch in the cockpit is the Laz hatch. Below that everything is open to the sides and under the cockpit all the way to the bow. Sealing off with "Great Stuff" isn't viable I don't think.

I considered long and hard about building a fuel locker right away below where the PO had the 6 gallon vented portable sitting. But, after reading the "Reg requirements" and other considerations I don't want to do all that right now. Other fiberglass building needs are more pressing (every core on the boat saturated for only one instance). My main immediate goal was to get the tank safely out of the laz AND the cockpit. The small swim platform was the best quick solution. It has actually worked out quite nicely - when we swim I then put the tank in the cockpit so we can use the platform for swimming.

Long term plans call for:

Bulkheads separating laz area from rest of boat
Permanent fuel tank
Cockpit seat hatches (soooon please!)

Kestle · Dec 7, 2012

Putting weight all the way astern and in the bow makes for quite the hobby-horse ride in waves. I'd prefer a tank tied to the life lines and stanchions about midships.

Also, a gas tank on the stern eliminates the BBQ as an option there.

My solution is to anchor ten degrees or so off the wind, with a bow and stern anchor, then put the gas tank on the bow, as all fumes go across the boat.

Jeff