I know you will think I am crazy

[DocParty]

I just did some research and it seems the X is discontinued and the M has taken it's place. This was from the MacGregor website.
Now I now at least one thing about the MacGregor motor sailors.
I forgot, no more swings everything is a dagger board now.

Doc

 

[bffatcat]

Why buy a sail boat? my 2c

I agree with Kenn If your not going to sail dont buy a sail boat. Buy a small power boat instead Im older than you Ill be 75 in July Just had back surgery in Jan Still recovering
Ive got a bad left knee besides. Im not overweight though 5' 8" 165 lbs. My disabilities wont
be stopping me Im getting my boat ready now for the New England sailing season. On the other hand if you think you might be sailing in the future go ahead and buy the sailboat but
leave the sailing gear intact

 

[Rod10027]

Doc,

I'm 74 diabetic with gout and single hand a Cherubini Hunter 33... there is a new diet for weight removal called push... Your idea is great if it works for you... My heart doctor told me to stay away from doctors...

Go for it and don't even think about looking back!

Rodh

 

[Bruce J]

Keep boating

If you enjoy boating stick with it. If you have to buy a bath tub and epoxy the stopper in to get out on the water do so. Do what ever it takes to enjoy life to the fullest.

Diane

 

[Clark]

Your reasoning sounds OK to me . . .

There's no need to remove everything sailing related on the boat - just the mast, rigging and sails. Leave all the deck hardware alone. That's assuming of course that you have a relatively convenient and/or cheap place to keep the spares sails and stays.
As for suggestions to just go out and buy a power boat; I contend that the number of power boats with the cabin amenities of a decent cruising sailboat is very small. I like the suggestions to get one with a centerboard; that will help your directional stability and can be 'safer' if you find the bottom unexpectededly.
Best of luck!

 

[kloudie1]

I think it is a pretty good plan.. I don't think that there are small, stable, comfortable, outboard powered cruisers available .. especially at the price of a used 26.. With the ballast on and the board down or partially down, the motion in waves will be much better than similar sized powerboats .. I say "Go for it, Doc"

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Used to share a building with a Mac dealership, then took over that dealership.

We had several customers buy new X's with exactly this in mind. Hard to find a regular power cruiser, with that room, at that price.

The X interior, in my opinion, is far better than the M.

On running with the board part down on an X model- If you are using a large engine, and running on a plane DO NOT PUT THE BOARD down- at all. At planing speeds, it can cause a really squirrely boat action you don't want to have happen!! The factory had notices on the helm about that. It isn't safe.

Otherwise, I see nothing wrong with the idea of using a X strictly as a power cruiser

 

[tkaser3210]

Crazy ???

First, a given you should be aware of; All sailors are crazy. It's just a matter of degree. You will be joining a large group of like-minded folks.

I'm 70, a lot of the same issues as you, and I single-hand a Hunter 26 (another boat you might consider - not a motor-sailor though). I sail every weekend, and will until I physically can't do it any longer.

GO FOR IT! Sail rigged or not, get out there and enjoy!

 

[timebandit]

You need a pacemaker! lol

Got one
http://s361.photobucket.com/albums/oo57/Tmebandt/?action=view&current=UP18.mp4

 

[dennisp]

Doc -
Also look at the Hunter Edge - sail, and a somewhat newer, refreshed take on the Macgregor, as I see it. Get a healthy motor...sail if you want. Easy to handle all from the cockpit. Good luck. At my last yacht club all the old boaters were your age or so (I'm rapidly catching up), but most said they "used to be sailors" until "they couldn't get around on a sailboat any longer." They all had older 40-footers (+/-) and couldn't afford the fuel, so they just camped out on weekends and picnicked with friends on their boats in the marina, going out a day or two at a time every few months. Sailboats - way less fuel costs! More power to you! As someone already said, "a boat's a boat." [FONT=&quot]

A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] - Grace Hopper

[/FONT]

 

[Gypsea Kids]

WTF?

I'm selling my Chris Craft 250 and getting a MacGregor 26x (I assume at this time) However, and here is the twist that will get me kicked off this site for certain. I'm old. 60. 3 herniated discs, bone to bone on my right knee and 30 percent left on my left before it becomes bone to bone. I have boated for 25 years and love the slow cruise, fishing, staying out all night, and so on. I'm certain lots of boaters enjoy the same. My CC, 7000 pounds plus trailer, is a PWR Boat and being such it takes up a lot of interior space with being a PWR Boat. I have seen some MacGregor's and they really have some spacious room below deck. I'm not a sailor and not physically up to it by my self I am certain. I'd have a tendency to just fall down. My bad.
I want to buy a really nice M26x or other if someone suggests I look at them and strip all sailing components off of it and store them for when/if I ever sell it. I just want the X and a small outboard motor and that spacious interior to use in lieu of my CC that I'm selling.
Now has anyone ever heard of someone doing this? Do you get shot at or rammed by other MacGregor boat owners if they see what you have done? Or is this something that has been done before by other disabled persons that just love the water but the big inboard cruisers being un-towable limit your lake selection?
What can any of you tell me?
Thanks
Doc

Surely there is a cruiser out there that will give you the space you need and is not too heavy. I find the Mac, both X and M, a little cramped for space. I would think even more so if you have mobility issues.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Your thinking is reasonably sound....but I'm not sure that the Macgregor "motorsailers" are really ideal. First, any motorsailer is at best a compromise, not really a sailboat, but then not really a powerboat. the Mac 26 X or M is a pretty good compromise, and if you can believe the advertising claims, works halfway decently in both modes.
However, the design is not really setup to be a great displacement powerboat, it will work with the ballast tank filled, but the long, Narrow centerboard will bang around at slow speeds under power (needs some sideways force as when sailing to "lock" in place), but without the CB down partway the boat will have no real directional control. The daggerboard model (M), may need to have the DB down deeper than you really want for control when in shallow water. What would work better would be to remove the CB and slip a removeable skeg into the CB trunk creating a more traditional "keel" like would be found on a trawler. But then you may complicate traliering (one nice feature of the Mac is how low the 26X or M sit on the trailer!) As long as the skeg is removeable, it shouldn't hurt resale later. I would think that with a skeg added like that, and using a small (9.9 to 20 HP) 4-stroke outboard with the correct prop, would give you the cruising comfort that you seek. However, my concern is that the deck design of the Mac is not really going to work for you.

Now, that is the one fact that no one has mentioned above. If you may be boating alone, I have found hte deck layout of the MAC 26X to be cluttered and almost an obstical course when going forward to tend to lines at the bow ,or to anchor. The decks are not really what I would want to try to walk around on alot and I'm a bit younger than you (47). You really need to watch your step going forward, not a lot of handholds combined with a deck that has very little clear, flat areas. This may be due to that wonderfully spacious interior being designed first, then a boat wrapped around it (typical in today's boat designs!).

You might want to look into the Ted Brewer-designed NIMBLE boats, they built a few trailerable trawler designs in the 24-26' range that were basically sailboat hulls with a "trawler-style" deck, outboard powered if I recall, and designed to be "walk-thru" from bow to stern. Instead of a foredeck, they had a deep forward cockpit with direct access from the cabin/deck house/pilothouse. I don't think they are built anymore, but used ones should be available (not sure about price.....?). But another option, and these boats were designed as powerboats, not converted sailboats.

So, the Mac 26X or M is not a "bad" choice, and may work OK. You might even decide to try sailing and find it enjoyable as an occaisional option! But I don't think it is really "ideal" as a "pure" powercruiser.

 

[seaStan]

I've spent whole weekends on the boat (26m) and never raised the sail. Read on another sight that someone took off the mast and spent a week on canals up north. For the knees since we are all getting older, try a cream called celadrin. It rehydrates the joints and relieves pain at the same time. I could not walk without it. It got me going again in about 2 weeks, Great stuff. I've also used by boat as a trailer for camping. People do stare but usually are friendly and often want to come aboard. It's a great conversation starter.

 

[SamLust]

No more crazy than any of the other stuff we see. There's a guy on Forked River running around on a Catalina 27 with no mast. We see him all over the place and he seems perfectly happy.

Before you commit to any scheme you might want to check out some of the small trawlers. A used Nimble Nomad might just tickle your fancy.

 

[DocParty]

Great advice, lots to consider.

I've spent whole weekends on the boat (26m) and never raised the sail. Read on another sight that someone took off the mast and spent a week on canals up north. For the knees since we are all getting older, try a cream called celadrin. It rehydrates the joints and relieves pain at the same time. I could not walk without it. It got me going again in about 2 weeks, Great stuff. I've also used by boat as a trailer for camping. People do stare but usually are friendly and often want to come aboard. It's a great conversation starter.

My 3 herniated discs are from 1981. Only good thing about them is my knees keep me from doing anything that would damage my back further. Right knee is already bone to bone in the right medial compartment (meniscus is gone), left knee has 30 percent of it left in the left medial compartment. When I take my CC out I only run 1500 rpms on a big 460 Ford, it's basically idling. Wear a Breg leg brace on my right knee. I'll check out the Hunter as well. It just seemed the easy load/unload, towing, low profile of the Mac was ideal for someone that was kinda crippled up somewhat. Would only take mast and sails and cabling down, I'd leave the hardware for certain, or I may really just leave it all on for the first few trips and see if it's in the way. I'm just assuming any extra weight is better removed for towing and boating and just getting around? I'm too weak for the "push" diet, I've tried it, my body and mind fights me!lol I may find someone in the Dallas are to hire out to take me out on a Mac or Hunter and get a real feel as to what it's like and try to make a better decision after some water time? Who knows it may make the decision for me.
Great advice, I'm really looking forward to finding the right boat and enjoying what time I have left in my retirement.
Thanks
Doc

 

[phackett22]

Aside fro the MacGregor being a questionable sail boat, this is a move in the right direction. Perhaps, fair weather permitting, DocParty will eventually get the sails up, and discover the most exciting, yet peaceful 5MPH vessle ever devised- wind powered boating.

I too have a used up body- bad knees, scoleosis, degenerated discs, but still manage to sail my ComPac23 and Valiant 40 single handed. It's all about preparation and execution.

Good luck- from another worn out boater!

I'm selling my Chris Craft 250 and getting a MacGregor 26x (I assume at this time) However, and here is the twist that will get me kicked off this site for certain. I'm old. 60. 3 herniated discs, bone to bone on my right knee and 30 percent left on my left before it becomes bone to bone. I have boated for 25 years and love the slow cruise, fishing, staying out all night, and so on. I'm certain lots of boaters enjoy the same. My CC, 7000 pounds plus trailer, is a PWR Boat and being such it takes up a lot of interior space with being a PWR Boat. I have seen some MacGregor's and they really have some spacious room below deck. I'm not a sailor and not physically up to it by my self I am certain. I'd have a tendency to just fall down. My bad.
I want to buy a really nice M26x or other if someone suggests I look at them and strip all sailing components off of it and store them for when/if I ever sell it. I just want the X and a small outboard motor and that spacious interior to use in lieu of my CC that I'm selling.
Now has anyone ever heard of someone doing this? Do you get shot at or rammed by other MacGregor boat owners if they see what you have done? Or is this something that has been done before by other disabled persons that just love the water but the big inboard cruisers being un-towable limit your lake selection?
What can any of you tell me?
Thanks
Doc

 

[DocParty]

Haven't seen one yet.

Surely there is a cruiser out there that will give you the space you need and is not too heavy. I find the Mac, both X and M, a little cramped for space. I would think even more so if you have mobility issues.

When you consider the tow-ability alone, cruisers kill the deal. My short 25 foot CC is 7000 pounds dry, plus the weight of a trailer and it has the same space as a Mac, but fuel costs, not being able to tow it on the highway easily, and it being @ 9 or more feet tall on a trailer just makes it a non-choice. I drive a small SUV and hopefully won't have to buy a new ride to pull a Mac.
I've looked everywhere I could think of and a sailboat is the best use of space I've found.
Doc

 

[JVB]

Preserve the value

I sailed a MacGregor 26-D before I moved on to a keel boat. Using a Mac as a power boat isn't a bad idea but there are some points to consider.

You can use it without putting the dagger board or swing keel down even if operating with sails. It won't sail where you point it unless that's downwind. But board up is the preferred mode if motoring.

There has been at least one capsize with fatalities of a Mac with the mast up, the ballast tank empty, and if I recall correctly about eight people on deck. In short Macs can get top heavy if the ballast tank is not filled completely and closed.

The older Macs can only take about 10 hp motors and will cruise only about 6 mph. More horsepower will not make them go any faster because the bottom is not flat enough to allow planning. It would just push up a bigger bow wave and probably become unstable.

The later model Macs, i.e. the ones rated for 50 hp motors, have a flatter bottom so that the boat can plane. Don't expect them to go much more than 20 mph even with an empty ballast tank and no mast.

Boats depreciate the most during the first ten years. After that prices stay pretty flat with condition being the most important factor.

Don't dispose of any sailing hardware or the resale value will plummet. Sailboat hardware is expensive and problematic to replace. Check the price of a winch here:
http://search.defender.com/?expression=sailboat winch
If you buy a boat missing any topside hardware the boat should be very cheap. I would not pay more than $2,500 for a stripped Mac even a late model. You mileage may vary.

 

[DocParty]

Smaller motor for me.

I sailed a MacGregor 26-D before I moved on to a keel boat. Using a Mac as a power boat isn't a bad idea but there are some points to consider.

You can use it without putting the dagger board or swing keel down even if operating with sails. It won't sail where you point it unless that's downwind. But board up is the preferred mode if motoring.

There has been at least one capsize with fatalities of a Mac with the mast up, the ballast tank empty, and if I recall correctly about eight people on deck. In short Macs can get top heavy if the ballast tank is not filled completely and closed.

The older Macs can only take about 10 hp motors and will cruise only about 6 mph. More horsepower will not make them go any faster because the bottom is not flat enough to allow planning. It would just push up a bigger bow wave and probably become unstable.

The later model Macs, i.e. the ones rated for 50 hp motors, have a flatter bottom so that the boat can plane. Don't expect them to go much more than 20 mph even with an empty ballast tank and no mast.

Boats depreciate the most during the first ten years. After that prices stay pretty flat with condition being the most important factor.

Don't dispose of any sailing hardware or the resale value will plummet. Sailboat hardware is expensive and problematic to replace. Check the price of a winch here:
http://search.defender.com/?expression=sailboat winch
If you buy a boat missing any topside hardware the boat should be very cheap. I would not pay more than $2,500 for a stripped Mac even a late model. You mileage may vary.

I only plan on a 25 to 30 hp motor. Just enough to get to sailing speed is good enough for me. Besides, if I ever did try to sail it, that's the speed I'd be at anyway. So a smaller outboard will me my choice.
Doc

 

[Benny17441]

Not at all, where else could you find a cabin cruiser that offers the interior room, is light to trailer and with a small outboard uses very little gas. I would look for a shallow draft vessel possibly with a water ballast tank and a kick-up rudder if possible.