Towing a Mac26s with a FWD 2007 Sienna

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MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I LIKE that side ladder..Patrick do you know where that came from?

and where do you store it?
 
monkeybars

monkeybars

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Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
MrBill_FLL said:
have you done the macgregor bump? once on the flat, you boat will be away from the V stop about 8".... that is a known problem w/ the factory trailer.

most do about 15-20mph and slam on the brakes! some vasoline on the bunks helps..
Click to expand
you can't be serious,15 to 20 would put your mac over the top of your car, you must of meant 2-3 or your joking,also your the first person to ever reccomend vasoline on bunks.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
^ yeah, probably more like 5mph...
my point is the boat moves back from the stop, after getting off the ramp. and cranking it won't work. I put a pound of vasoline on my bunks to help it slide... when I hit the brakes.


-YMMV. -I know some use liquid rollers. I'm cheap, and do use vasoline. it works.

its really just a FYI. but that's what I do...
 
Tsatzsue

Tsatzsue

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May 16, 2011
555
Macgregor V-25 Charlton, MA- Trailer
I towed my V25 loaded with my 2005 Honda Odyssey with no problems. It would sway if the tongue didn't have enough weight. I never had any trouble pulling it out. It did have traction control so that definately helped. I live in Central Mass so it was always at least two hrs to the ocean. I towed with the motor and rudder on always. With three girls, the admiral and the dog there is always a ton of stuff for at least one night. Sometimes two. I never added it up but it was overloaded. Just upgraded to a Tundra. No sway ever!! A truck is definately better and the mileage while towing is about the same or better. My issues are usually my fault like when the right trailer tire passed me on the Mass Pike at 65mph on fathers day in bumper to bumper traffic!! That was after the first sea trial and with a hang over. Thank God no one was hurt.

Good luck!!
 
Tsatzsue

Tsatzsue

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May 16, 2011
555
Macgregor V-25 Charlton, MA- Trailer
Oh, and the Mac bump thing is a royal pain in the a&&%. I pull out to a flat spot, crank the winch and pull on the bow rail stantion to rock the boat violently. I usually have to get another bite on the crank a couple times but it pulls up to the stop surprisingly easy. What is worse is forgetting to take off the safety chain while launching on a steep ramp. The eye goes way down under the rubber and is almost impossible to straighten out without pulling the whole thing back out of the water. I have added some painfull gouges in the gel coat doing that. Sumner's adjustable bow stop is the best. Once again Sum has it going on.
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,535
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
I’m looking for another vehicle at the moment but this one would be for just an under 5 mile tow - after driving 900 miles without the boat. In looking at different vehicles, the Subaru Outback looked interesting as it has all wheel drive and the towing limit is set at 2800 pounds - which "by the specs" is right at the limit for a Mac 26 foot classic. The 2800 pound weight assumes the trailer has brakes.

However, this same vehicle list the tongue weight limit at 200 pounds. This is 7% of the maximum weight which of course is under the typically recommended 10 to 15% ratio. However, you will find many Mac Classic owners who say that as long as the tongue weight is over 150 pounds that the boat will tow OK. That is my opinion also, I’ve towed this boat as low as 120 pounds tongue weight (boat not forward enough on the trailer) and didn’t feel comfortable getting the boat up over 50 mph. But at 175 pounds tounge weight, tows very nice.

I’m still thinking about the Subaru Outback. I also understand that an auto transmission is better for pulling a boat out the ramp - but are more prone to overheating. Four wheel drive seems a must and interesting about the earlier post where someone with front wheel drive only had a tough time pulling the boat up the ramp. If I get the Outback, it will only be used for a very short tow at under 40 mph (like about 4 miles), I would not trust it on a longer tow and will keep my now 10 year old truck (which I worry about for reliability now).

FYI, in the attached picture is a mod I did to my trailer just over a year ago that is simple - no moving parts and I’ve now used it about five times and it really has eliminated the need for the mac bump. It is simply a combination of a forward roller on the trailer (actually Ive had this roller for about five years now) and also a lower stop. The upper original stop is still there but it mostly just used as a guide and backup if something real bad were to happen. Everytime I’ve used this, I just winch one time to the stop and pull the boat out and the boat is sitting either at the stop of close to it.
Getting the boat forward on the trailer is important with this boat as that has a big influence on tongue weight.
 

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patrickfarley

patrickfarley

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Jan 10, 2011
331
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
MrBill_FLL said:
I LIKE that side ladder..Patrick do you know where that came from?

and where do you store it?
Click to expand
It is a stainless steel ladder from West Marine. Instead of permanently mounting it on the stern I have clips on the cockpit and the bow. I obtained it second hand from another sailor.
When sailing I keep it on the clips at the cockpit. When trailering I keep it in the Suburban.
I have a line tied to it when sailing so a wave does not try to take it away. I feel like I need to always have a ladder available in case I fall overboard.
West Marine still sells the ladder(I have seen it in the store) but the number on my ladder is obsolete.
 

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Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country


patrickfarley said:
It is a stainless steel ladder from West Marine. Instead of permanently mounting it on the stern I have clips on the cockpit and the bow. I obtained it second hand from another sailor.
When sailing I keep it on the clips at the cockpit. When trailering I keep it in the Suburban.
I have a line tied to it when sailing so a wave does not try to take it away. I feel like I need to always have a ladder available in case I fall overboard.
West Marine still sells the ladder(I have seen it in the store) but the number on my ladder is obsolete.
Click to expand

Great picture, looks like you are having fun :dance:.

I think that your ladder....





.....is the same ladder as what we got for the Endeavour except...



We bought the 5 step gunnel mount....

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...&subdeptNum=50353&classNum=50354#.UNx1vqxoryc

...and I think this is the side mount like what you have....

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...&subdeptNum=50353&classNum=50354#.UNx23qxoryc

WM has their name on them, but I think they are Dive N Dog ladders, who I believe are in Naples. We tried to order direct from them, but they didn't have ladders in stock, so we had to bite the bullet and buy one from WM. Other people do sell them and now that WM price matches that might work,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

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