As a new owner of a Mac 26M, I have some very basic questions. (I have some experience in sailing larger boats in charter, but not a water ballast boat.) A. Does it matter whether the valve, on the transom, connected to the water ballast chamber is left open or closed when the boat and trailer are parked, and is it important to drain the ballast chamber completely after sailing. B. Do most owners follow the owners' manual recommendation of adding some swimming pool tablets to the ballast chamber, or is this not necessary on a day sail? C. I'm always concerned that the water ballast chamber may not be completely filled. Is there a convenient way to check this, or should I always go forward to the V-berth and check the vent valve? D. For deploying the rudders in their "down" position, the 26M includes lines that are pulled up through holes in the transaom and tied off on cleats mounted on the transom. - It seems to me that this could result in damage to the boat in the event the rudders accidentally hit an underwater obstruction or spoil. Seems to me that if they were pulled back, they would either break the line or pull the cleat off the transom. - Has anyone had problems of this kind, and is it possible to use a frictional cleat or release mechanism? Also, pulling the line up through the hole in the transom is difficult because of the drag and friction between the line and the transom. - Is this something I will have to get used to, or is there a way to alleviate the drag on the line? E. Do most owners or the 26X or 26M leave both rudders down when sailing, or do you normally retract one of them to minimize drag? What about disconnecting the linkage between the rudders and the motor for that purpose? G. Are your jib sheets (for roller furling) led inside or outside the left and right stays? - The dealer wasn't sure which was right. Any suggestions for a Mac novice would be appreciated. - Thanks, Jim
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A little help
I can share my meager experiences and possibly answer some of your questions. I've had my 26X since 1996. I drain my tank after sailing, but only so the boat weighs less - possibly saving gas on the way home. I don't think it matters whether or not you leave the valve open. I figure that any bugs that get in will drown the next time I sail. My boat came with cam cleats on the rudder line. I love it cuz they release when the rudder hits something and the rudder kicks up. Apparently MacGregor changed them on newer models. I've never tried using just one rudder. I have disconnected the motor linkage permanently. My motor (9.9) is locked in position and all steering is done by the rudders. The handling was improved tremendously. I don't know how this would work with a larger motor. Good luck and welcome to the Macgregor family.
I can share my meager experiences and possibly answer some of your questions. I've had my 26X since 1996. I drain my tank after sailing, but only so the boat weighs less - possibly saving gas on the way home. I don't think it matters whether or not you leave the valve open. I figure that any bugs that get in will drown the next time I sail. My boat came with cam cleats on the rudder line. I love it cuz they release when the rudder hits something and the rudder kicks up. Apparently MacGregor changed them on newer models. I've never tried using just one rudder. I have disconnected the motor linkage permanently. My motor (9.9) is locked in position and all steering is done by the rudders. The handling was improved tremendously. I don't know how this would work with a larger motor. Good luck and welcome to the Macgregor family.
Rudders and more
I own a 97 26X on Lake Ontario but will share my "pearls" anyway. Always 2 rudders when sailing. I disconnect and reconnect the steering link to the outboard every trip out. (Spare pins are cheap insurance) I have the Honda 50 with power trim, so prior to tilting the engine I always disconnect the steering link and mount it on the fixed bolt. Last weekend, when leaving the slip, I forgot to reconnect the outboard steering link and even though we went out safely, the boat did not respond nearly as well in the relatively narrow marina on rudders alone. As an aside, I'm curious if anyone has had the rudders impact, and wish that they could break away safely, as the fellow with cam cleats claims. Sheets: You don't say if you're using the 100% or a genoa. 100% jib inside the shrouds. Jim there are some excellent discussions on modifying and tuning the 26X, cunningham?, mast angle, weatherhelm, etc. So do search the archives. Perhaps you'll spearhead something similiar for the 26M.
I own a 97 26X on Lake Ontario but will share my "pearls" anyway. Always 2 rudders when sailing. I disconnect and reconnect the steering link to the outboard every trip out. (Spare pins are cheap insurance) I have the Honda 50 with power trim, so prior to tilting the engine I always disconnect the steering link and mount it on the fixed bolt. Last weekend, when leaving the slip, I forgot to reconnect the outboard steering link and even though we went out safely, the boat did not respond nearly as well in the relatively narrow marina on rudders alone. As an aside, I'm curious if anyone has had the rudders impact, and wish that they could break away safely, as the fellow with cam cleats claims. Sheets: You don't say if you're using the 100% or a genoa. 100% jib inside the shrouds. Jim there are some excellent discussions on modifying and tuning the 26X, cunningham?, mast angle, weatherhelm, etc. So do search the archives. Perhaps you'll spearhead something similiar for the 26M.
A to G - Very Important Questions
Jim, A.) Yes it matters so keep it closed. Nesting birds and all kinds of critters can get in there if you don't. As for the "don't worry they'll drown the next time theory", have you ever smelled a dead rat? Yes it is very important to drain the ballast chamber COMPLETELY after sailing. If you partially drain it the shifting weight of the remaining water would make the boat very unstable and you don't want an extra 1100 lbs. or so on the trailer as the trailer isn't designed for that extra load. And if you trailer it with a partial load of water the whole rig would be very unstable as shifting water would throw tremendous weight and force forward on the tongue as you braked and then the reverse would happen when you accelerated. B.) No opinion, I'm ambivalent on that one. C.) There is no convenient way to check the water level other than to go forward and look in the vent hole, besides you have to go forward anyway to plug the hole after filling. You are keeping the hole plugged after filling Jim, right? And opening the vent to fill, Right? I'm in the hydrocarbon processing business and I can tell you that little vent hole is key to the whole filling and emptying process - no pun intended. D.) The rudders actually work great the way they are designed. I'm going from memory here so I could be wrong but they work on the same process as the dagger board as far as filling with water to add stability when submerged, so the initial resistance you feel when raising them is due to getting the water to start to drain. I wouldn't modify them at all and as far as running aground with the rudder they are designed like the dagger board to break or shear if necessary before any damage will occur to the boat. If you're sailing in that shallow of water then you really need to find deeper water. And have them up when motoring over 6 knots. E.) Leave them both down when sailing, it's too much trouble to raise one of them and if you are sailing windward close hauled, the windward side will practically be out of the water anyway. Definitely disconnect the motor from the steering when sailing. You can put the linkage on the fixed post and then if you need a small bit of engine power for some reason to get out of a tight spot you can start the engine, trim it and leave it on the post and steer the boat with the rudders as the engine will be pointing you straight and the rudders will be turning the boat. This is only ok at slow speeds. F.) F got kicked out of the dictionary I guess. G.) If you only have a jib on the roller furling then run the sheets inside. If you have a Genoa on the roller furling then you decide how much sail you are going to put out and if jib size then run the sheets inside and if Genoa size then run them outside and aft to the cockpit travelers (move the blocks back there) and forward to the winch and cleat. If you have the Genoa all the way out and are running the sheets outside and need to reef then change the blocks (forward to the travelers on deck) and the sheets and just roll in the sail to jib size. If you don't know how to do this under sail then point up (bow into the wind) and go into irons (stop), let the sail luft (loosen the sheets and let the sail just blow around harmlessly) while you change them out the first few times and do it while the boat is still in the water. Kind Regards, JonBill
Jim, A.) Yes it matters so keep it closed. Nesting birds and all kinds of critters can get in there if you don't. As for the "don't worry they'll drown the next time theory", have you ever smelled a dead rat? Yes it is very important to drain the ballast chamber COMPLETELY after sailing. If you partially drain it the shifting weight of the remaining water would make the boat very unstable and you don't want an extra 1100 lbs. or so on the trailer as the trailer isn't designed for that extra load. And if you trailer it with a partial load of water the whole rig would be very unstable as shifting water would throw tremendous weight and force forward on the tongue as you braked and then the reverse would happen when you accelerated. B.) No opinion, I'm ambivalent on that one. C.) There is no convenient way to check the water level other than to go forward and look in the vent hole, besides you have to go forward anyway to plug the hole after filling. You are keeping the hole plugged after filling Jim, right? And opening the vent to fill, Right? I'm in the hydrocarbon processing business and I can tell you that little vent hole is key to the whole filling and emptying process - no pun intended. D.) The rudders actually work great the way they are designed. I'm going from memory here so I could be wrong but they work on the same process as the dagger board as far as filling with water to add stability when submerged, so the initial resistance you feel when raising them is due to getting the water to start to drain. I wouldn't modify them at all and as far as running aground with the rudder they are designed like the dagger board to break or shear if necessary before any damage will occur to the boat. If you're sailing in that shallow of water then you really need to find deeper water. And have them up when motoring over 6 knots. E.) Leave them both down when sailing, it's too much trouble to raise one of them and if you are sailing windward close hauled, the windward side will practically be out of the water anyway. Definitely disconnect the motor from the steering when sailing. You can put the linkage on the fixed post and then if you need a small bit of engine power for some reason to get out of a tight spot you can start the engine, trim it and leave it on the post and steer the boat with the rudders as the engine will be pointing you straight and the rudders will be turning the boat. This is only ok at slow speeds. F.) F got kicked out of the dictionary I guess. G.) If you only have a jib on the roller furling then run the sheets inside. If you have a Genoa on the roller furling then you decide how much sail you are going to put out and if jib size then run the sheets inside and if Genoa size then run them outside and aft to the cockpit travelers (move the blocks back there) and forward to the winch and cleat. If you have the Genoa all the way out and are running the sheets outside and need to reef then change the blocks (forward to the travelers on deck) and the sheets and just roll in the sail to jib size. If you don't know how to do this under sail then point up (bow into the wind) and go into irons (stop), let the sail luft (loosen the sheets and let the sail just blow around harmlessly) while you change them out the first few times and do it while the boat is still in the water. Kind Regards, JonBill
J
Jim Cate
Speed
Thanks for the helpful advice. Does anyone have advice on getting the most speed from the 26X or 26M? (I have been challenged to a race, out 3 miles and back, by the owner of a 42-ft ketch.) I would guess that using the genoa, and perhaps raising the leeward rudder on a long tack, and picking a day with winds under 12-15 mph might be the best tactic. Has anyone been able to get their boat up on a plane with the water ballast? Jim
Thanks for the helpful advice. Does anyone have advice on getting the most speed from the 26X or 26M? (I have been challenged to a race, out 3 miles and back, by the owner of a 42-ft ketch.) I would guess that using the genoa, and perhaps raising the leeward rudder on a long tack, and picking a day with winds under 12-15 mph might be the best tactic. Has anyone been able to get their boat up on a plane with the water ballast? Jim
You betcha buddy
JonBill. Thanks for the reply, I guess you put it all in a line. I guess we first timers have something new to train or should I say it has us to train. I can not stand by to long before I get my chance to go for it and that will be real soon. As for your son , like all old GI's we say our prayers each and every day, sometimes in a different light but all in the same we say them and we hope that they are answered by keeping everyone safe. In a time like now and after a war of years ago we know what has to be done and how to do it. we are trained well and we carry on day after day week after week. We seek shelter in the prayers and thoughts of family and friends, we are at peace with our family our friends and our maker.Our maker will protect us for now and for ever.Try not to worry your son will do just fine. His training and his friendships / team mates will see to it. The prayers that we all make and the love of his family will guide him along keeping him safe. God Bless him and all the rest of our sons, daughters who carry on our quest for freedom for the world. Just an old Air Force Dog Handler tis himself, K9Piper
JonBill. Thanks for the reply, I guess you put it all in a line. I guess we first timers have something new to train or should I say it has us to train. I can not stand by to long before I get my chance to go for it and that will be real soon. As for your son , like all old GI's we say our prayers each and every day, sometimes in a different light but all in the same we say them and we hope that they are answered by keeping everyone safe. In a time like now and after a war of years ago we know what has to be done and how to do it. we are trained well and we carry on day after day week after week. We seek shelter in the prayers and thoughts of family and friends, we are at peace with our family our friends and our maker.Our maker will protect us for now and for ever.Try not to worry your son will do just fine. His training and his friendships / team mates will see to it. The prayers that we all make and the love of his family will guide him along keeping him safe. God Bless him and all the rest of our sons, daughters who carry on our quest for freedom for the world. Just an old Air Force Dog Handler tis himself, K9Piper
Empty the ballast on the Trailer
Be absolutely certain to fully empty the tanks as you slowly pull the boat up the ramp. I know of at least one poor guy who ruined his Mac trying to pull his out with full ballast. His trailer rope broke and the rig slipped off, cracking the hull in a number of unrepairable pieces. Bottom line, trailer empty, sail full. I have heard that some have tried to sail downwind and released the ballast on this leg. I think this is fast and exciting, but a good way to end up wet.
Be absolutely certain to fully empty the tanks as you slowly pull the boat up the ramp. I know of at least one poor guy who ruined his Mac trying to pull his out with full ballast. His trailer rope broke and the rig slipped off, cracking the hull in a number of unrepairable pieces. Bottom line, trailer empty, sail full. I have heard that some have tried to sail downwind and released the ballast on this leg. I think this is fast and exciting, but a good way to end up wet.
J
Jim Cate
Ballast
Jon, If I implied that I was thinking of sailing the boat without the water ballast in the immediate future, I wasn't making myself clear. - I have no intention of sailing without the water ballast, or even motoring, until I have extensive experience with the boat. Regarding the need for more training, I'm sure it might be helpful. Actually, I have been sailing in smaller and larger boats (under charter) for some 25 years. Actually, I did take the basic ASA sailing course with (points of sail, navigation rules safety, etc., including two days of sailing) as a refresher last month. I'm also signed up for the more advanced course, providing certification for chartering in the Virgin Islands, etc. - - What I don't have is experience on a smaller, water-ballast boat such as the Mac 26. As you are probably aware, the weather conditions here in the Houston area during the past several weeks has been pitiful, and, with various responsibilities at work and home, I have only been out on the Mac 2M two times so far. Thanks for your concern. - I'm a very conservative sailor, probably one of the few on the board with three reefing points on the main, etc. Jim
Jon, If I implied that I was thinking of sailing the boat without the water ballast in the immediate future, I wasn't making myself clear. - I have no intention of sailing without the water ballast, or even motoring, until I have extensive experience with the boat. Regarding the need for more training, I'm sure it might be helpful. Actually, I have been sailing in smaller and larger boats (under charter) for some 25 years. Actually, I did take the basic ASA sailing course with (points of sail, navigation rules safety, etc., including two days of sailing) as a refresher last month. I'm also signed up for the more advanced course, providing certification for chartering in the Virgin Islands, etc. - - What I don't have is experience on a smaller, water-ballast boat such as the Mac 26. As you are probably aware, the weather conditions here in the Houston area during the past several weeks has been pitiful, and, with various responsibilities at work and home, I have only been out on the Mac 2M two times so far. Thanks for your concern. - I'm a very conservative sailor, probably one of the few on the board with three reefing points on the main, etc. Jim
26M
Jim and all, I have been sailing my 26M since I got it in early April. Spent my fourth overnight this past week. I'm slowly learning a few things, here are some observations: 1. The 26M seems to be overpowered, at least when singlehanded (it has 20 sq. ft. more mainsail area and the "performance" rotating rig compared to the X). I say this because I was out with a group of other Mac sailors and I noted that I seemed to be sailing at about 10 degrees more heel than the 26X or C models. This was in around 15 knots of wind - they were at about 25 degrees I think, I was at about 35. I've been sailing for many years and I am sure my sails were trimmed as well as they could be. This brings me to my next point... 2. The stock mainsail has too much draft or belly in it. In around 15 knots of wind you could sail much more comfortably if you could flatten the sail more. However, with only the vang and traveler, no cunningham or adjustable backstay, you wind up needing to reef. One of my top items for next season will be a mainsail that can be flattened more - I am on the Narragansett and we see 15+ knots a lot more than we see 5. Also, the stock mainsail foot is pretty much the full length of the boom, so there is no real ability to adjust the foot (except to loosen it a bit for very light winds). 3. Referring to the ballast - I'll echo that the only way to verify it is full is to go to the vent valve. Furthermore, I find that in my boat, when I am alone, my weight forward is enough to trim the bow down to where water actually comes up out the vent hole a little bit, so I know the ballast tank is full right to the brim - no need for the dip-tube. I'll add my own emphasis on JonBill's note about having the tank either empty or full - the "Free Surface Effect" can be extremely strong and destructive, take it seriously! 4. I noted the one weekend I had other people on the boat with me, that it seemed to actually sail better with 4 adults in the cockpit than it does with me alone. I am thinking about adding some additional ballast of some sort under the aft berth in those areas that are really not useful for storage, which I could remove when I am not soloing. Perhaps water bags of some type or lead packets like scuba divers wear. Of course it would have to be unable to slip around... Anyone else done this?? 5. For maneuvering in/around slips or tight areas: pull up both rudders and put the daggerboard down about a foot (more if there is plenty of water). With this set up, you can literally spin the boat in place or skip her sideways. I have duly impressed the people on my dock by making solo landings in offsetting winds. With one or both rudders down, you prevent the stern from slipping sideways, and lose a great deal of this maneuverabity for tight spaces. Conversely, when motoring in open water at 7 knots or less, having rudders down makes it MUCH easier to steer a straight line. Now here's a question of my own: I have a Honda 50 and under power I am only getting 12 knots with w.o.t. which achieves 5500 rpm (ballast full). Originally I could get about 16 knots (ballast full). Ballast empty I originally got around 17 knots. I do have ablative bottom paint, and the boat has been in the water since 1 May so there is some "scum" accumulation. Does it sound like I have a problem or need a different prop, or is this what others are seeing on their M's? I don't have the experience with keeping boats in salt water to know how much effect the bottom paint + "scum" have on the boat speed under power. - AndyS
Jim and all, I have been sailing my 26M since I got it in early April. Spent my fourth overnight this past week. I'm slowly learning a few things, here are some observations: 1. The 26M seems to be overpowered, at least when singlehanded (it has 20 sq. ft. more mainsail area and the "performance" rotating rig compared to the X). I say this because I was out with a group of other Mac sailors and I noted that I seemed to be sailing at about 10 degrees more heel than the 26X or C models. This was in around 15 knots of wind - they were at about 25 degrees I think, I was at about 35. I've been sailing for many years and I am sure my sails were trimmed as well as they could be. This brings me to my next point... 2. The stock mainsail has too much draft or belly in it. In around 15 knots of wind you could sail much more comfortably if you could flatten the sail more. However, with only the vang and traveler, no cunningham or adjustable backstay, you wind up needing to reef. One of my top items for next season will be a mainsail that can be flattened more - I am on the Narragansett and we see 15+ knots a lot more than we see 5. Also, the stock mainsail foot is pretty much the full length of the boom, so there is no real ability to adjust the foot (except to loosen it a bit for very light winds). 3. Referring to the ballast - I'll echo that the only way to verify it is full is to go to the vent valve. Furthermore, I find that in my boat, when I am alone, my weight forward is enough to trim the bow down to where water actually comes up out the vent hole a little bit, so I know the ballast tank is full right to the brim - no need for the dip-tube. I'll add my own emphasis on JonBill's note about having the tank either empty or full - the "Free Surface Effect" can be extremely strong and destructive, take it seriously! 4. I noted the one weekend I had other people on the boat with me, that it seemed to actually sail better with 4 adults in the cockpit than it does with me alone. I am thinking about adding some additional ballast of some sort under the aft berth in those areas that are really not useful for storage, which I could remove when I am not soloing. Perhaps water bags of some type or lead packets like scuba divers wear. Of course it would have to be unable to slip around... Anyone else done this?? 5. For maneuvering in/around slips or tight areas: pull up both rudders and put the daggerboard down about a foot (more if there is plenty of water). With this set up, you can literally spin the boat in place or skip her sideways. I have duly impressed the people on my dock by making solo landings in offsetting winds. With one or both rudders down, you prevent the stern from slipping sideways, and lose a great deal of this maneuverabity for tight spaces. Conversely, when motoring in open water at 7 knots or less, having rudders down makes it MUCH easier to steer a straight line. Now here's a question of my own: I have a Honda 50 and under power I am only getting 12 knots with w.o.t. which achieves 5500 rpm (ballast full). Originally I could get about 16 knots (ballast full). Ballast empty I originally got around 17 knots. I do have ablative bottom paint, and the boat has been in the water since 1 May so there is some "scum" accumulation. Does it sound like I have a problem or need a different prop, or is this what others are seeing on their M's? I don't have the experience with keeping boats in salt water to know how much effect the bottom paint + "scum" have on the boat speed under power. - AndyS
My Bad
Jim, Sorry if I jumped the gun, but some of your questions had me greatly concerned. You've definitely done the right thing in taking the sailing lessons if only for refresher. Yes, the water ballasted trailerable boat is a different boat than a traditional fixed keel sloop design (and more different than I first thought it would be), but the trailerable is lots of fun in itself as you know. I love and use the dual purpose feature of this boat. But if my concerns and answers weren't helpful to you at least they helped K9Piper, so they weren't for naught. I agree with everything 'AndyS' says plus this. You have two more reef points in your main then I do and you will need them. Reef this boat earlier than a fixed keel boat and you'll do just fine. You can go faster in stronger wind reefing this boat. Hey guy, we're in each others back yard. Have you tried out Palacios area yet? Forget the Kemah/Galveston scene (and be seen area) and please do yourself a favor and check out the Palacios and west Matagorda Island and west Matagorda bay area for your day sailing experiences. It's completely different and more of a down-home experience. It is the best kept secret on the gulf coast. The water is bigger, cleaner, deeper, more overnight anchorages, a thousand times less crowded, and I can't say enough good about the place overall. In Palacios you will never be wondering who has the right-of-way and why the other boat isn't yielding. I live in Richmond and it only takes me 1.5 hours to get to there from home. Where are you located? K9Piper, Thanks for the kind word and thoughts and encouragement. We will try to keep it together until he gets home safe. Kindest Regards to both you-all, JonBill
Jim, Sorry if I jumped the gun, but some of your questions had me greatly concerned. You've definitely done the right thing in taking the sailing lessons if only for refresher. Yes, the water ballasted trailerable boat is a different boat than a traditional fixed keel sloop design (and more different than I first thought it would be), but the trailerable is lots of fun in itself as you know. I love and use the dual purpose feature of this boat. But if my concerns and answers weren't helpful to you at least they helped K9Piper, so they weren't for naught. I agree with everything 'AndyS' says plus this. You have two more reef points in your main then I do and you will need them. Reef this boat earlier than a fixed keel boat and you'll do just fine. You can go faster in stronger wind reefing this boat. Hey guy, we're in each others back yard. Have you tried out Palacios area yet? Forget the Kemah/Galveston scene (and be seen area) and please do yourself a favor and check out the Palacios and west Matagorda Island and west Matagorda bay area for your day sailing experiences. It's completely different and more of a down-home experience. It is the best kept secret on the gulf coast. The water is bigger, cleaner, deeper, more overnight anchorages, a thousand times less crowded, and I can't say enough good about the place overall. In Palacios you will never be wondering who has the right-of-way and why the other boat isn't yielding. I live in Richmond and it only takes me 1.5 hours to get to there from home. Where are you located? K9Piper, Thanks for the kind word and thoughts and encouragement. We will try to keep it together until he gets home safe. Kindest Regards to both you-all, JonBill
J
Jim Cate
Good sailing areas
Jon, Thanks for the suggestions. My boat is parked in the Gulf Coast Sailing Assc lot, located just south of Watergate marina. As mentioned, I have only been able to go out two times so far, due to the continued rains and my work schedule. I'm aslo looking forward to motoring down to Galveston and sailing in the blue water (with full ballast tank and sails reefed in advance) on relatively mild weather days. Regarding the palacios bay sailing area, I'm not sure how to get there, but I'm assuming it is near Port Lavaca or in the Matagora area, so it's probably an hour and a half drive from here (Clear Lake, Kemah),if everything goes well. In Galveston Bay, I sense that the Mac is almost undersized for comfort in some of the chop with medium winds on weekends, plus the powerboat wakes, etc. - But maybe this will resolve itself after I have been able to get out several more times and become more experienced with the handling of the 26M. However, I do find that it has plenty of stability once it has been heeled beyond 15 degrees or so. Jim
Jon, Thanks for the suggestions. My boat is parked in the Gulf Coast Sailing Assc lot, located just south of Watergate marina. As mentioned, I have only been able to go out two times so far, due to the continued rains and my work schedule. I'm aslo looking forward to motoring down to Galveston and sailing in the blue water (with full ballast tank and sails reefed in advance) on relatively mild weather days. Regarding the palacios bay sailing area, I'm not sure how to get there, but I'm assuming it is near Port Lavaca or in the Matagora area, so it's probably an hour and a half drive from here (Clear Lake, Kemah),if everything goes well. In Galveston Bay, I sense that the Mac is almost undersized for comfort in some of the chop with medium winds on weekends, plus the powerboat wakes, etc. - But maybe this will resolve itself after I have been able to get out several more times and become more experienced with the handling of the 26M. However, I do find that it has plenty of stability once it has been heeled beyond 15 degrees or so. Jim
Palacios
Jim, Did you buy your boat from Frank? From Richmond I take Hwy 59 south to El Campo, then Hwy 71 south to Palacios and it takes me less than 1.5 hours. I'm 1 hour from Kemah but for sailing it doesn't compare with Palacios and the west Matagorda bay system. I have my 26M in Palacios at the Matagorda Harbor Authority covered slips, mast down and up on slings winched out of the water. Palacios is east of Port Lavaca and much easier to get to but it's the same bay system. From Kemah I believe you could take Hwy 35 all the way west if interested in trying. It would take you about 2 hours to get there from Kemah. Palacios has NO night life and only a couple of nice resturants. So Kemah is far better if you like night life and resturants. But for sailing, to me there is no comparison between the two with west Matagorda taking it by far. Palacios is the cross roads of 71 and 35 with one traffic light. There is an Ace Hardware, a couple of marine stores (supporting the shrimp fleet), a grocery store, two resturants, a Baptist church a couple of bed and breakfast and a small 100 year old hotel, a couple of gas stations and that's about it. It's where you go to get lost and do some real sailing. There is a large shrimping fleet but they take the main channel out and back and the rest of the bay system is yours. There are a few sailboats down there but less than 1% of the number of boats that are in the Kemah area. Check out the charts, the bay averages 12 - 15 feet deep, vs. Galveston bay that is 8 ft. deep. There are no spoils to watch out for along the main channel, unlike Galveston bay where in a sailboat with any keel you can't even get across the channel because of the spoils. Plus you can sail out to west Matagorda Island which is about 20 miles out and about 30 miles long; cut at the south west end for the channel to the Gulf and blue water. Both sides of west Matagorda are uninhabited and you can anchor anywhere for the night and stay in the bay system the whole time. There are 2 major Matagorda Islands with the east Island being about 25 miles long and east bay being the only shallow area. East Matagorda bay is great for wade fishing but not for sailing. Palacios is north of west Matagorda island. Then going on south as you know you are into Port Aransas area and then into Corpus area and then into the Padre systems that are 100 miles long (north and south islands) and you can go practically all the way to Mexico while staying inside the sheltered barrier island chains. Good Sailing and Kind Regards, JonBill
Jim, Did you buy your boat from Frank? From Richmond I take Hwy 59 south to El Campo, then Hwy 71 south to Palacios and it takes me less than 1.5 hours. I'm 1 hour from Kemah but for sailing it doesn't compare with Palacios and the west Matagorda bay system. I have my 26M in Palacios at the Matagorda Harbor Authority covered slips, mast down and up on slings winched out of the water. Palacios is east of Port Lavaca and much easier to get to but it's the same bay system. From Kemah I believe you could take Hwy 35 all the way west if interested in trying. It would take you about 2 hours to get there from Kemah. Palacios has NO night life and only a couple of nice resturants. So Kemah is far better if you like night life and resturants. But for sailing, to me there is no comparison between the two with west Matagorda taking it by far. Palacios is the cross roads of 71 and 35 with one traffic light. There is an Ace Hardware, a couple of marine stores (supporting the shrimp fleet), a grocery store, two resturants, a Baptist church a couple of bed and breakfast and a small 100 year old hotel, a couple of gas stations and that's about it. It's where you go to get lost and do some real sailing. There is a large shrimping fleet but they take the main channel out and back and the rest of the bay system is yours. There are a few sailboats down there but less than 1% of the number of boats that are in the Kemah area. Check out the charts, the bay averages 12 - 15 feet deep, vs. Galveston bay that is 8 ft. deep. There are no spoils to watch out for along the main channel, unlike Galveston bay where in a sailboat with any keel you can't even get across the channel because of the spoils. Plus you can sail out to west Matagorda Island which is about 20 miles out and about 30 miles long; cut at the south west end for the channel to the Gulf and blue water. Both sides of west Matagorda are uninhabited and you can anchor anywhere for the night and stay in the bay system the whole time. There are 2 major Matagorda Islands with the east Island being about 25 miles long and east bay being the only shallow area. East Matagorda bay is great for wade fishing but not for sailing. Palacios is north of west Matagorda island. Then going on south as you know you are into Port Aransas area and then into Corpus area and then into the Padre systems that are 100 miles long (north and south islands) and you can go practically all the way to Mexico while staying inside the sheltered barrier island chains. Good Sailing and Kind Regards, JonBill
J
Jim Cate
Yes
Jon, yes, I did buy the boat from Frank. - I spoke with him at several boat shows in previous years, and was impressed enough by the 26M to contact him again. - From what he says,he seems to be having difficulty getting enough of the new boats to keep up the business as he would like. Regarding the recommendations re Palacios, I will want to try it some time. However, there are some advantages with the Gulf Coast Assc, since I can leave the boat parked with the mast up and the sails rigged and launch the boat from their ramp, just south of the Watergate marina. Jim
Jon, yes, I did buy the boat from Frank. - I spoke with him at several boat shows in previous years, and was impressed enough by the 26M to contact him again. - From what he says,he seems to be having difficulty getting enough of the new boats to keep up the business as he would like. Regarding the recommendations re Palacios, I will want to try it some time. However, there are some advantages with the Gulf Coast Assc, since I can leave the boat parked with the mast up and the sails rigged and launch the boat from their ramp, just south of the Watergate marina. Jim
Roger That
Jim, Frank is a gem of a guy! I bought mine from him too. You may have seen my boat before you bought yours as I kept it in his back lot for a few weeks after I bought it. It was a win-win situation. I told him he could show it if I could park it there for a little while as I was trying to find a place in west Matagorda bay area that was set up like the Gulf Coast Assc, for trailer sailors. I can really appreciate what you are saying about leaving the boat parked on the trailer, with the all the rigging up and ready to go. That is such an advantage. There are few if any places where you can do that due to overhead obstructions between the storage lot and the boat ramp, but that is one place where you can. I have toyed with the idea of purchasing a lot in Palacios where I could set up the same type thing, and rent to other trailer sailors, if I could find a place close enough to a public boat ramp with no overhead obstructions between the two. To have a boat ramp built these days is very difficult, due to environmental impact studies, taxes and everything else. Then over there you are competing with the government (LCRA and the Matagorda Port Authority) so why should they make it easy for you. A bigger business could afford it but not a little guy with an LLC. I'm taking a 4 day weekend (4th of July) and may look at some lots in Palacios with that idea in mind. If I find a place I will do some advertising so I'll let you know. Right now it's just in the idea stage. Kind Regards, JonBill
Jim, Frank is a gem of a guy! I bought mine from him too. You may have seen my boat before you bought yours as I kept it in his back lot for a few weeks after I bought it. It was a win-win situation. I told him he could show it if I could park it there for a little while as I was trying to find a place in west Matagorda bay area that was set up like the Gulf Coast Assc, for trailer sailors. I can really appreciate what you are saying about leaving the boat parked on the trailer, with the all the rigging up and ready to go. That is such an advantage. There are few if any places where you can do that due to overhead obstructions between the storage lot and the boat ramp, but that is one place where you can. I have toyed with the idea of purchasing a lot in Palacios where I could set up the same type thing, and rent to other trailer sailors, if I could find a place close enough to a public boat ramp with no overhead obstructions between the two. To have a boat ramp built these days is very difficult, due to environmental impact studies, taxes and everything else. Then over there you are competing with the government (LCRA and the Matagorda Port Authority) so why should they make it easy for you. A bigger business could afford it but not a little guy with an LLC. I'm taking a 4 day weekend (4th of July) and may look at some lots in Palacios with that idea in mind. If I find a place I will do some advertising so I'll let you know. Right now it's just in the idea stage. Kind Regards, JonBill
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