DSK wrote:

Jim Cate wrote:

I suppose that you are right in one respect. - The MacGregor boats
have incorporated a long list of advantageous features not available
in most displacement boats, and the new Mac 26M carries that tradition
forward as did the earlier models.


You really are addicted to Macgregor advertising, aren't you?


... The Macs were one of the first cruising sailboats to popularize
the use of water ballast, the advantages of which are so obvious that
their competitors (e.g., Hunter, Catalina) are now offering it also.


Except that the Mac 26X was so poorly designed that it needed to have
lead ballast added.

Actually, the ballast was added because of the taller mast, and to
provide greater stability when powering without the water ballast.

My wife & I owned a water ballasted Hunter 19 for 10
years and it sailed fine... in fact we outsailed Mac 26Xs many times in
it, and a Mac 26M a couple of times.

And when, exactly did you out sail the Mac 26M, Doug? There's very few
of them out their, and I seriously doubt that you sailed against an
experienced M owner, particularly since most of us haven't had our boats
more than a few months.


... Further advantages include positive flotation (the boats actually
float, even if the hull is compromised.


Imagine that... I've been sailing boats with positive flotation since
about 1968.

The point of my note was not that all the listed features are unique to
the Mac, but that the Mac offers a package of features not usually
provided in a cruising sailboat of this size. Other boats have them, but
few boats of this size have the overall package, and few offer them at
anywhere near the price.





... Further advantages that are unique with respect to most of their
competition is the ability to "fly away" from the
"displacement-speed-barrier" that keeps most sailboats locked in their
place (unless they are surfing down a wave during a storm).


If that's true, then why is the Mac 26X and Mac 26M so slow under sail,
compared to other boats of similar size? You don't have to look ver far
at all to find 26' boats that will sail rings around it.


Although it isn't a racing sailboat, it is faster under power than 90%
of cruising sailboats, certainly faster than 90% of the boats discussed
on this ng. And it CAN escape the hull speed limits in which most boats
discussed on this ng are actually imprisoned. - Care to race under
power, Doug? Under sail, it isn't going to win the Americas cup, but
it's fast and responsive enough to be fun, exhilarating, and challenging.

... Still further advantages include the ability to float in waters as
shallow as one foot, and to be beached for picnics, camping, etc.


Comes in very handy, but it's hardly unique to MacGregors. There are
quite a few centerboarders that can be beached, including some 40+ footers.


And of course, I didn't say it was unique to the Macs, did I? But if you
were honest, Doug, you would admit that most cruising sailboats don't
have such capabilities.

... A still further advantage is that they are trailerable,
permitting them to be conveniently relocated to a desired sailing area
hundreds of miles from their usual port.


Comes in handy as long as you have a behemoth SUV to tow it. We used a
minivan with a V-6 for our trailerable... got about 25 MPG with it. It
is nice to be able to cruise far waters on a short vacation.

But again, this is hardly unique to the Mac 26X or Mac 26M. If you knew
more than what Macgregor told you, you'd find that out.

Actually, I don't have a "behemoth SUV" at all, Doug. And I do just fine
with our family sedan. With respect to trailerability, what is unique
with the Mac relative to most boats of this size is that its weight is
substantially reduced by removing the water ballast, and that it sits
very low on the trailer. Again, if you were honest, you would admit
that the combination of features provided in the Mac26M is unique
relative to MOST cruising sailboats of this size.


All in all, Jeff, you are quite correct in suggesting that the Mac 26M
incorporates many of the same features and characeristics developed
over the years in earlier models. It merely carries the tradition
forward to a higher level. - Very perceptive comment on your part.


And when are you going to actually look at a Mac 26X and compare hull
shapes, and realize it's the exact same as your boat? Not very
perceptive on your part.


And when are YOU going to actually compare them, Doug? - If you did, you
would see that the hull shape of the M is substantially different from
that of the X.

Jim