I am currently learning to sail on a Venture 21, and I am really loving it. I am already considering going up to a slightly larger boat so that I get the family more involved . One limitation is that I need to be able to trailer the boat I'm seriously looking at the Macgregor 26, but was wondering what other trailerable boats are available in this size range? An enclosed head will be a must for my wife. I'd like to be able to eventually be comfortable on open water and take the boat offshore. I'm new to sailing but not to boating. Talked to a Catalina owner the other day who said that I would be better off with a Catalina 27 if I want to do blue water sailing. He wasn't sure about the availability of a trailerable model. Any advice, including directing me to online resources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance Paul
Trailererable Boats
- Thread starter pmeyers
- Start date
- Status
I would suggest
take a good look at the hunter 24 or 240 and the catalina 25. I think you'll like the both. The Macgregor is a good boat but the 26X is hard to handle with the big engine weight on the back.
take a good look at the hunter 24 or 240 and the catalina 25. I think you'll like the both. The Macgregor is a good boat but the 26X is hard to handle with the big engine weight on the back.
com pac yachts
They are pricey but trailerable with a head. Also Rhodes 22 and West wright potters (only 18 or 19' I think and hunter 260
They are pricey but trailerable with a head. Also Rhodes 22 and West wright potters (only 18 or 19' I think and hunter 260
O'Day
I like my O'Day 25, and I think it's about the extreme end of "trailerable". We've trailered several thousand miles. Takes about an hour to set up or take down (after you've gained some experience), and handles VERY well. My brother has a Rhodes 22, and I'd recommend them as well. I've also thought the West Wight Potter 19's are great boats.
I like my O'Day 25, and I think it's about the extreme end of "trailerable". We've trailered several thousand miles. Takes about an hour to set up or take down (after you've gained some experience), and handles VERY well. My brother has a Rhodes 22, and I'd recommend them as well. I've also thought the West Wight Potter 19's are great boats.
trailerable, enclosed head, open water
Wow, That's a tall order - a trailerable boat with an enclosed head and can handle open water. I guess it all depends on what your definition of trailerable is. I started sailing with a Catalina 22. A very good starter boat. We trailer sailed it the first year. I have to be honest, trailering the boat each time, including rigging, launching, recovering and un-rigging, took most of the fun out of sailing. Even with practice it took an hour from the time we arrived at the marina until the boar was floating. A larger boat will take even longer and will require a very strong tow vehicle. About the largest trailerable boat I know if the C&C Mega 30. I don't know too much about them, but you can find out more if you like. Regarding trailering a Catalina 27, I don't believe it is realistic to do on a regular basis. I'm sure you will find 1 or 2 people who do it, but the boat is just too big to be trailered. You would be much better off with a newer, water displacement boat if you are serious about trailering. My suggestiong would be to get something smaller, in the 22' range to see if sailing, and specifically, trailer sailing, is for you. Buy something old, in decent condition, and you should be able to sell if for what your bought it for in a year or so. For me, sailing was great, trailer sailing wasn't. After one year we sold the Catalina 22 and bought a Newport 28. The Newport is on a mooring and I can go from Marina to open water in less than 15 minutes. And at the end of the day, when everyone is tired, we go from mooring to car in about 10 minutes, then home in another 15. That makes it a lot more enjoyable for everyone. Good luck, Barry
Wow, That's a tall order - a trailerable boat with an enclosed head and can handle open water. I guess it all depends on what your definition of trailerable is. I started sailing with a Catalina 22. A very good starter boat. We trailer sailed it the first year. I have to be honest, trailering the boat each time, including rigging, launching, recovering and un-rigging, took most of the fun out of sailing. Even with practice it took an hour from the time we arrived at the marina until the boar was floating. A larger boat will take even longer and will require a very strong tow vehicle. About the largest trailerable boat I know if the C&C Mega 30. I don't know too much about them, but you can find out more if you like. Regarding trailering a Catalina 27, I don't believe it is realistic to do on a regular basis. I'm sure you will find 1 or 2 people who do it, but the boat is just too big to be trailered. You would be much better off with a newer, water displacement boat if you are serious about trailering. My suggestiong would be to get something smaller, in the 22' range to see if sailing, and specifically, trailer sailing, is for you. Buy something old, in decent condition, and you should be able to sell if for what your bought it for in a year or so. For me, sailing was great, trailer sailing wasn't. After one year we sold the Catalina 22 and bought a Newport 28. The Newport is on a mooring and I can go from Marina to open water in less than 15 minutes. And at the end of the day, when everyone is tired, we go from mooring to car in about 10 minutes, then home in another 15. That makes it a lot more enjoyable for everyone. Good luck, Barry
Trailered O'Day 240
for 9-years. Has enclosed head. Did sail it close to shore on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and the Chesapeake. But 5-ft. seas were the realistic maximum for safety. (Also added a #2 reef which was best $$ ever spent.) Fully equipped boat on trailer tops out at 5000 lbs. Mast is overdesigned. Takes 2 strong crew to step. (3 is much better.) I rigged a mast raising system and could, and did, often raise and lower alone. Great boat! Roomey! 30 in. wing keel draft.
for 9-years. Has enclosed head. Did sail it close to shore on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and the Chesapeake. But 5-ft. seas were the realistic maximum for safety. (Also added a #2 reef which was best $$ ever spent.) Fully equipped boat on trailer tops out at 5000 lbs. Mast is overdesigned. Takes 2 strong crew to step. (3 is much better.) I rigged a mast raising system and could, and did, often raise and lower alone. Great boat! Roomey! 30 in. wing keel draft.
Umm
I've a trailerable, too. Lots of fun, but, when you say things like "offshore" and "blue water," you are talking about a class of boat that a "trailerable" boat does not play in. No MacGregor is in that league at all unless you are motoring to Bimini at 30 knots on a nice day. If you are serious about going "offshore" go find John Vigor's book called "Twenty Small Boats that Will Take You Anywhere," or something like that.
I've a trailerable, too. Lots of fun, but, when you say things like "offshore" and "blue water," you are talking about a class of boat that a "trailerable" boat does not play in. No MacGregor is in that league at all unless you are motoring to Bimini at 30 knots on a nice day. If you are serious about going "offshore" go find John Vigor's book called "Twenty Small Boats that Will Take You Anywhere," or something like that.
Reality
Great information from everyone who responded! It sounds like I may need to lower my expectations a little. Additional research is clearly required. George the link that you provided was very informative. Hunter and Oday25 seem to be top choices. Looked at the Com Pac online- beautiful boats but outside of my budget. H260 sounds good; Paul, I looked your ad; not much detail. NY is a long way; wpould be beyter to find something on the west coast. May have to give up on the trailering idea; lots to learn, Paul
Great information from everyone who responded! It sounds like I may need to lower my expectations a little. Additional research is clearly required. George the link that you provided was very informative. Hunter and Oday25 seem to be top choices. Looked at the Com Pac online- beautiful boats but outside of my budget. H260 sounds good; Paul, I looked your ad; not much detail. NY is a long way; wpould be beyter to find something on the west coast. May have to give up on the trailering idea; lots to learn, Paul
Differences
So much depends on what you have for a towing vehicle, how long you will have the boat in the water after trailering it somewhere, what you consider "too difficult" in getting the mast up. For me, there is a big difference between a "trailerable" boat and a "trailer-sailer". The latter is what you have right now - it tows OK behind a larger sedan or moderate truck, the stick goes up easily (one man job), it launches in a half hour when you have the routine down. You probably wouldn't hesitate to take it somewhere for an afternoon sail. I know a guy who sailed one for a week in the San Juans with his wife and daughter, and they had a great time. A boat two feet longer will be harder to pull, possibly necessitating another towing vehicle. The mast will be beefier, and you will most likely need two to get raised. It will not have anything close to standing headroom, but toilet accomodations will be a little more civilised (but not much) compared to what you have. Two feet longer than that, and the boat will seem MUCH larger, roomier, and heavier than what you have now. It will be harder and take longer to rig, and to launch it yourself, it will just about have to be a centerboarder. You will no longer even consider taking it for an afternoon's or day's sail. You will sometimes find yourself deciding not to go sailing after all, because it is just too much of an ordeal to trailer, launch, and recover the boat. The boat will not really be an offshore boat, because trailerables just have to make too many compromises to be up to that standard. Sure, some of them have been sailed to Hawaii. Some guys can dive into 10" of water, too, but it's not a good idea for the average person. So very few boats can touch all the bases you want touched, though maybe a water-ballast centerboarder comes pretty close (but leave the blue water alone.)
So much depends on what you have for a towing vehicle, how long you will have the boat in the water after trailering it somewhere, what you consider "too difficult" in getting the mast up. For me, there is a big difference between a "trailerable" boat and a "trailer-sailer". The latter is what you have right now - it tows OK behind a larger sedan or moderate truck, the stick goes up easily (one man job), it launches in a half hour when you have the routine down. You probably wouldn't hesitate to take it somewhere for an afternoon sail. I know a guy who sailed one for a week in the San Juans with his wife and daughter, and they had a great time. A boat two feet longer will be harder to pull, possibly necessitating another towing vehicle. The mast will be beefier, and you will most likely need two to get raised. It will not have anything close to standing headroom, but toilet accomodations will be a little more civilised (but not much) compared to what you have. Two feet longer than that, and the boat will seem MUCH larger, roomier, and heavier than what you have now. It will be harder and take longer to rig, and to launch it yourself, it will just about have to be a centerboarder. You will no longer even consider taking it for an afternoon's or day's sail. You will sometimes find yourself deciding not to go sailing after all, because it is just too much of an ordeal to trailer, launch, and recover the boat. The boat will not really be an offshore boat, because trailerables just have to make too many compromises to be up to that standard. Sure, some of them have been sailed to Hawaii. Some guys can dive into 10" of water, too, but it's not a good idea for the average person. So very few boats can touch all the bases you want touched, though maybe a water-ballast centerboarder comes pretty close (but leave the blue water alone.)
All sound advice
This is redundant, but personal experience prompts me to add this. We sail an O'day 23. Everything below is true. We launch and recover from the trailer once a year. It takes an hour to set up. As mentioned, you will need a tow vehicle that will pull this boat and you will need an extension to get into the water. Launch ramps vary and even with a 12' extension on our trailer ramp angles and length can be another issue. Low water in 05' made it almost impossible to retreive our 23' last year. I wouldn't even consider trailer sailing our boat. The cost of fuel being what it is and the inconvenience of rigging and launching would force me to find a new hobby. As mentioned below, 15 minutes and we're under sail.
This is redundant, but personal experience prompts me to add this. We sail an O'day 23. Everything below is true. We launch and recover from the trailer once a year. It takes an hour to set up. As mentioned, you will need a tow vehicle that will pull this boat and you will need an extension to get into the water. Launch ramps vary and even with a 12' extension on our trailer ramp angles and length can be another issue. Low water in 05' made it almost impossible to retreive our 23' last year. I wouldn't even consider trailer sailing our boat. The cost of fuel being what it is and the inconvenience of rigging and launching would force me to find a new hobby. As mentioned below, 15 minutes and we're under sail.
Raises more questions
Having been a power boat owner, the majority of which are trailed, I haven't given much thought to the 1000's of sailboats that I regularly see in Marinas. I know that these questions will demonstrate my complete lack of knowledge about sailing How are boats moved around? If for example I were to find a 27-30 boat that I wanted to buy in Seattle how, other than sailing it would I transport it to So California, which is where I live in the winter. How would I tansport it to Vancouver Island, where we will eventually be living most of the year? How often does a sailboat need to be pulled to clean the hull? I take it without a trailer there needs to be a dockside facility with a hoist and space where the boat can be worked on. My Venture 21 is quite easy to trailer, even for a day of sailing. However based on what has been written, I can see how with a larger boat, it could be quite cumbersome and could take some of the fun out off sailing. Mooring a boat would also seem to be quite expensive. Sorry if these are all dumb questions; perhaps someone could direct me to a resource that describes some of the different aspects of owning a non trailerable sailboat. Another question: In the artcile to which George posted a linl, it described sailboats being Class, A, B, C, D. Is this an industry rating. How do I determine into which category a boat may fall? Thanks, Paul
Having been a power boat owner, the majority of which are trailed, I haven't given much thought to the 1000's of sailboats that I regularly see in Marinas. I know that these questions will demonstrate my complete lack of knowledge about sailing How are boats moved around? If for example I were to find a 27-30 boat that I wanted to buy in Seattle how, other than sailing it would I transport it to So California, which is where I live in the winter. How would I tansport it to Vancouver Island, where we will eventually be living most of the year? How often does a sailboat need to be pulled to clean the hull? I take it without a trailer there needs to be a dockside facility with a hoist and space where the boat can be worked on. My Venture 21 is quite easy to trailer, even for a day of sailing. However based on what has been written, I can see how with a larger boat, it could be quite cumbersome and could take some of the fun out off sailing. Mooring a boat would also seem to be quite expensive. Sorry if these are all dumb questions; perhaps someone could direct me to a resource that describes some of the different aspects of owning a non trailerable sailboat. Another question: In the artcile to which George posted a linl, it described sailboats being Class, A, B, C, D. Is this an industry rating. How do I determine into which category a boat may fall? Thanks, Paul
Pmeyers, The sail boats of the size you
mention weigh from 2 to 5 tons depending on the make and model. Trailer sail boats usually have a retractable keel. After all how do you launch a boat the needs five feet of water to float. The trailers for transporting the keel boats are special purpose made rigs to support the hull and keep the center of gravity as low as possible. It cost me 500 dollars to move my 30 foot 4.5 ton boat twenty miles. Our marina has a travel lift that with slings can lift a boat from a cradle, trailer, or jack stands and carry it to the water for launch.
mention weigh from 2 to 5 tons depending on the make and model. Trailer sail boats usually have a retractable keel. After all how do you launch a boat the needs five feet of water to float. The trailers for transporting the keel boats are special purpose made rigs to support the hull and keep the center of gravity as low as possible. It cost me 500 dollars to move my 30 foot 4.5 ton boat twenty miles. Our marina has a travel lift that with slings can lift a boat from a cradle, trailer, or jack stands and carry it to the water for launch.
Great Questions, Paul
The maxi-trailerable boats that you will likely find on the market will be something like the Hunter 240 or Catalina 250, which use a combination of retractable swing-keel to make it ramp-launchable (see George's pic of the Hunter 240 up on the beach with the keel retracted), and water ballast tanks, filled upon launching for stability, drained upon recovering to the trailer) to make it lighter on the trailer and possible to pull almost as easily as the Venture. These maximized trailerable boats can do all the coastal cruising you want, but cannot wander far from shore. And offshore capability is not something you really need right now anyway; you just threw that in as an eventuality in the future. That will be a different boat. Judging from your post, what you need right now is a boat with enough room and creature comforts to sell the family on daysailing/coastal cruising, but is small enough to pull behind you up and down the West Coast. A larger, non-trailerable boat is pretty much tied to a local cruising ground, unless hoisted on the back of a lowbed trailer and hauled down the highway at an obscene price. As for delivering the boat over the water: I have a 30-foot Catalina, and I certainly don't want to go through the ordeal of motor-sailing it against wind and current along a lot of barren coastline from say, Santa Barbara to Seattle, and then to Vancouver. But water-ballasted trailerable boats like the ones mentioned above can go with you all up and down the coast without the need for a semi-truck. They don't need to be hauled out every couple of years for bottom paint (if you're going to splash it for the whole summer in a slip/on a mooring, a coat of ablative bottom paint applied while on the trailer (blocks and hydraulic jacks will let you paint under the trailer skids). If you're going to "dry sail" the boat (haul it out after each excursion, outta be able to stay in the water a week or so without too much bottom cleaning on the trailer later), no bottom paint is likely to be necessary. With as little bias as I can let slip in, the MacGreggor is a hybrid sailboat/powerboat: trailerable, lots of interior room, very large outboard engine that will let it zoom over the water; but the hull and rigging is light, and in my opinion, should only be sailed in protected bays and inland waters, although they can be taken to the Channel Islands. Promising to give "everything, affordably" it gives nothing well. But they have their enthusiasts. Water-ballasted, swing-keeled Hunter 240/Catalina 250: good calls for where you are right now. Fair Winds, Jeff P.S.— The Category A, Category B, etc. ratings designate supposed theoretical capability: A for off-shore, and then descending. They are used largely for insurance purposes (and to fuel arguments on sailing bulletin boards), but in your case, they really won't come into consideration.
The maxi-trailerable boats that you will likely find on the market will be something like the Hunter 240 or Catalina 250, which use a combination of retractable swing-keel to make it ramp-launchable (see George's pic of the Hunter 240 up on the beach with the keel retracted), and water ballast tanks, filled upon launching for stability, drained upon recovering to the trailer) to make it lighter on the trailer and possible to pull almost as easily as the Venture. These maximized trailerable boats can do all the coastal cruising you want, but cannot wander far from shore. And offshore capability is not something you really need right now anyway; you just threw that in as an eventuality in the future. That will be a different boat. Judging from your post, what you need right now is a boat with enough room and creature comforts to sell the family on daysailing/coastal cruising, but is small enough to pull behind you up and down the West Coast. A larger, non-trailerable boat is pretty much tied to a local cruising ground, unless hoisted on the back of a lowbed trailer and hauled down the highway at an obscene price. As for delivering the boat over the water: I have a 30-foot Catalina, and I certainly don't want to go through the ordeal of motor-sailing it against wind and current along a lot of barren coastline from say, Santa Barbara to Seattle, and then to Vancouver. But water-ballasted trailerable boats like the ones mentioned above can go with you all up and down the coast without the need for a semi-truck. They don't need to be hauled out every couple of years for bottom paint (if you're going to splash it for the whole summer in a slip/on a mooring, a coat of ablative bottom paint applied while on the trailer (blocks and hydraulic jacks will let you paint under the trailer skids). If you're going to "dry sail" the boat (haul it out after each excursion, outta be able to stay in the water a week or so without too much bottom cleaning on the trailer later), no bottom paint is likely to be necessary. With as little bias as I can let slip in, the MacGreggor is a hybrid sailboat/powerboat: trailerable, lots of interior room, very large outboard engine that will let it zoom over the water; but the hull and rigging is light, and in my opinion, should only be sailed in protected bays and inland waters, although they can be taken to the Channel Islands. Promising to give "everything, affordably" it gives nothing well. But they have their enthusiasts. Water-ballasted, swing-keeled Hunter 240/Catalina 250: good calls for where you are right now. Fair Winds, Jeff P.S.— The Category A, Category B, etc. ratings designate supposed theoretical capability: A for off-shore, and then descending. They are used largely for insurance purposes (and to fuel arguments on sailing bulletin boards), but in your case, they really won't come into consideration.
New Hunter 25
If you are interested in a new boat, the new Hunter 25 does pretty well at the stuff you want with the exception of course of bluewater. When I bought mine, I had to make the choice of the new 25 or the new 27. I ended up choosing the 25 for a couple of reasons. 1. I can haul it out of the water to do maintenance. 2. I can haul it to 4 hours to the coast to do coastal cruising. 3. You can really set the boat up and have it in the water in about 30 minutes with one person. Hard to believe, but I can do it myself and have a few times. Now also realize that I usually keep my boat in a slip and very rarely pull it out even though it is pretty easy, it causes a lot of wear and tear on the boat. The really good things about the boat are the shoal draft. That means no swing keel maintenance. My boat has wheel steering and lots of room in the cockpit due to the wheels placement at the rear of the cockpit. The boat has plenty of room in general. This alone, makes my wife much more likely to sail with me. She can lay out in the cockpit while I sail. All that being said, if the Hunter 25 is your choice, be prepared to have a real tow vehicle. The boat is tall, wide, and weighs about 5500 pounds including the trailer, motor, and other equipment. I can pull it from my marina to my house with my V8 powered explorer with a tow package. Would I haul it 4 hours with that SUV, probably not. The explorer is about to be replaced with an F250 just to tow the boat.
If you are interested in a new boat, the new Hunter 25 does pretty well at the stuff you want with the exception of course of bluewater. When I bought mine, I had to make the choice of the new 25 or the new 27. I ended up choosing the 25 for a couple of reasons. 1. I can haul it out of the water to do maintenance. 2. I can haul it to 4 hours to the coast to do coastal cruising. 3. You can really set the boat up and have it in the water in about 30 minutes with one person. Hard to believe, but I can do it myself and have a few times. Now also realize that I usually keep my boat in a slip and very rarely pull it out even though it is pretty easy, it causes a lot of wear and tear on the boat. The really good things about the boat are the shoal draft. That means no swing keel maintenance. My boat has wheel steering and lots of room in the cockpit due to the wheels placement at the rear of the cockpit. The boat has plenty of room in general. This alone, makes my wife much more likely to sail with me. She can lay out in the cockpit while I sail. All that being said, if the Hunter 25 is your choice, be prepared to have a real tow vehicle. The boat is tall, wide, and weighs about 5500 pounds including the trailer, motor, and other equipment. I can pull it from my marina to my house with my V8 powered explorer with a tow package. Would I haul it 4 hours with that SUV, probably not. The explorer is about to be replaced with an F250 just to tow the boat.
Hunter 255
Thank you for the review of the Hunter 25. When we get back to the states, we plan to look at boats, and this boat will be high on our list. The Oday has been reccommended as well, but I am a little concerned about getting a boat that is no longer in production. I do have a good tow vehicle, a Ford 350 Powerstroke, so weight isn't really an issue. Although gievn deisel prices, I had hoped to get something smaller in the future.
Thank you for the review of the Hunter 25. When we get back to the states, we plan to look at boats, and this boat will be high on our list. The Oday has been reccommended as well, but I am a little concerned about getting a boat that is no longer in production. I do have a good tow vehicle, a Ford 350 Powerstroke, so weight isn't really an issue. Although gievn deisel prices, I had hoped to get something smaller in the future.
Mac26X
Anchor Down, You nailed it: "Judging from your post, what you need right now is a boat with enough room and creature comforts to sell the family on daysailing/coastal cruising, but is small enough to pull behind you up and down the West Coast." I have seen a lot of Macgergor 26x with 50hp motors. Would this boat allow me to motor out to Catalina for a weekend of sailing and motor back? I know that this is not a purist approach, but represents a mid range between my powerboat experiences and my desire to get the family involved in sailing. Going to Cataline would be a real attraction, I guess the question might be, does the large motor increase the safe range of the boat. Thanks, Paul
Anchor Down, You nailed it: "Judging from your post, what you need right now is a boat with enough room and creature comforts to sell the family on daysailing/coastal cruising, but is small enough to pull behind you up and down the West Coast." I have seen a lot of Macgergor 26x with 50hp motors. Would this boat allow me to motor out to Catalina for a weekend of sailing and motor back? I know that this is not a purist approach, but represents a mid range between my powerboat experiences and my desire to get the family involved in sailing. Going to Cataline would be a real attraction, I guess the question might be, does the large motor increase the safe range of the boat. Thanks, Paul
Mac 26M
Paul,as a 26M owner,here's my experience for our first season on the boat. The boat has a huge amount of interior space for a 26ft sailboat-the enclosed head is adequate. The boat,right out of the box is bare bones,and you will add what you need as you get familiar. Under sail,it's a nice boat,not the fastest,but I have run it at 7kts with a genoa only,downwind-plenty of fun! Deck rigging is sparse,so you will be adding hardware(blocks-reefing-clutches etc.) The water ballast makes the boat a bit tender to about 15%,then it firms up well. Reefing is a bit earlier than other solid keel boats,but these are things you will become familiar with in time. Under power,it moves along well,depending on how much "stuff" you have loaded on the boat,and if the ballast is wet or dry. I'm not big on speed,so I don't push it much past 7-8kts under power,but even loaded,you should manage 10-12kts. For coastal trips,or a Bahama crossing,(our plan)it will work just fine. Planning on the Bermuda run? Get a different boat. The boat is easily trailered at 2300lb dry,although the Mac trailer is marginal. Load Rite dual axle next year for our boat. We have lots of stuff! Set up the first couple of times can be mind boggling,but once you learn a few tricks its a leisurly 40 minute setup. Last thing to consider is the excellent support of Mac owners on line,and the various "trailer sailor"sailing clubs. We have an excellent one here in New England. Find a dealer,try the boat first,consider your sailing intentions and budget,then look at some other boats too. I hope this gives you a little more to consider. Dan
Paul,as a 26M owner,here's my experience for our first season on the boat. The boat has a huge amount of interior space for a 26ft sailboat-the enclosed head is adequate. The boat,right out of the box is bare bones,and you will add what you need as you get familiar. Under sail,it's a nice boat,not the fastest,but I have run it at 7kts with a genoa only,downwind-plenty of fun! Deck rigging is sparse,so you will be adding hardware(blocks-reefing-clutches etc.) The water ballast makes the boat a bit tender to about 15%,then it firms up well. Reefing is a bit earlier than other solid keel boats,but these are things you will become familiar with in time. Under power,it moves along well,depending on how much "stuff" you have loaded on the boat,and if the ballast is wet or dry. I'm not big on speed,so I don't push it much past 7-8kts under power,but even loaded,you should manage 10-12kts. For coastal trips,or a Bahama crossing,(our plan)it will work just fine. Planning on the Bermuda run? Get a different boat. The boat is easily trailered at 2300lb dry,although the Mac trailer is marginal. Load Rite dual axle next year for our boat. We have lots of stuff! Set up the first couple of times can be mind boggling,but once you learn a few tricks its a leisurly 40 minute setup. Last thing to consider is the excellent support of Mac owners on line,and the various "trailer sailor"sailing clubs. We have an excellent one here in New England. Find a dealer,try the boat first,consider your sailing intentions and budget,then look at some other boats too. I hope this gives you a little more to consider. Dan
Yes to the 50HP motor.
Hi guy, one of the guys here on Lake Hickory has a Mac26 with a 50HP Honda, (Super for sailboats) and can get 22 to 24 mph out of it. He sails here as well as on the ocean at the NC Outer Banks. If you would like to talk to him it could probably be arranged. Hope that helps. Jack
Hi guy, one of the guys here on Lake Hickory has a Mac26 with a 50HP Honda, (Super for sailboats) and can get 22 to 24 mph out of it. He sails here as well as on the ocean at the NC Outer Banks. If you would like to talk to him it could probably be arranged. Hope that helps. Jack
Wrong, it is closer to 12 to 15 knots.
Sorry, I was wrong, I talked to the guy tonight, it is more like 12 knots, 15 is pushing it. Jack
Sorry, I was wrong, I talked to the guy tonight, it is more like 12 knots, 15 is pushing it. Jack
- Status