Increasing Hull speed with OB...

Ross · Oct 12, 2009

Displacement boats make a wave or series of waves that limit their speed. You simply can't make that boat go much faster and still have it looking like that boat. Cows can't run as fast as horses and horses can run as fast as greyhounds and greyhound can't keep up with falcons. A corvette can't complete with a pickup truck for carrying a load of concrete blocks. In short you dance with the girl you came with.

MoonSailer · Oct 12, 2009

Yep I think anyone who takes up sailing a displacement type sailboat as a way to go fast is going to be disappointed. I must admit that a windsurfer on a good day is enough excitement for me on the water. But it is all relative. Having flown airplanes and riden motorcycles I know the excitment of speed. I get excited when the pearson is burying her rail and going at hull speed. But fast on a pearson 323 is slow even compared to a bicycle or a horse. Of course a bicycle doesn't weigh 6 tons. Sunday I was keeping my eye on two barges each of which made my six ton sailboat look pretty small. Of course my windsurfer only weighs about 50#s and on a windy day can outrun a barge or my sailboat. I guess it is like Ross said you dance with the guy who brung you.

Guest · Oct 12, 2009

There is a place for all.

Don't knock the Mac, if you like sitting on a boat at anchor it is not a bad rig for the money. The fact that it can easily be the first to get to that crowded anchorage does not hurt either.

Mario G · Oct 13, 2009

RogerHM said:
What modifications can be made to my hull to increase Hull Speed when motoring? (I have a 9.9 Merc Big Foot with a Thruster.) Boat is a Grampian 23, with a keel-centre-board.
I'm thinking extending the stern bottom??? Maybe replacing boat with a Chrysler 26 with a swing keel that could be easier modified... And with a larger motor???
I know the hull-speed formulae et al. But when I see a Macgregor going by at 15 - 20 MPH, and I'm doing 5 - 6, I gotta admit to envy Roger

I would just like to know where the Chrysler 26 is? the Mac isn't my kind of sailer but they seem to be cool boats if you also want speed. The wife still wants me to put a motor on my C-22..lol

MoonSailer · Oct 13, 2009

I had a 1988 old style Mac26 and it was a good boat for it's designed purpose. A cheap easily trailerable boat. I really dislike the new Macs but again they are designed for a purpose. MONEY that is what is important. How much money do you want to spend to have time on the water??? Looking at all of the $750,000 dollar boats it seems that there is no limit to what people will pay for a boat. My budget won't allow for such an expensive boat or even a house at that price.

Paul Brinkley · Oct 13, 2009

RogerHM- My 1990 Mac 26S reaches hull speed at about 2/3 throttle with my Merc 9.9. Opening the throttle wide makes more noise, makes the bow ride a little higher, and burns more gas, but does not add any more speed. If you can get hull speed with what you have, more horsepower is not going to add anything but profits for the oil companies!

You could, of couse, look into some JATO units

, but then you might qualify for a Darwin award!

-Paul

walt · Oct 13, 2009

In about 1995, Mac corp. did a major business model change and completely dropped traditional sailboats and only made the hybrid power/sailboats. Between about 1992 and 1995, they made a 19 foot power sail boat but I believe this was also dropped in about 1995 so they could focus on just the 26 foot power sailor.

All the 26 foot Mac's between 1988 and about 1995 are traditional displacement hull with water ballast (under 10hp outboards). In 1990, the model changed from a dagger board to a swing centerboard.

Increasing Hull speed with OB...

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