MacGregor 26M suitable for my plans?

[Twister_Ken]

Thats a 26C which has a more sailboaty hull design than the tubbier 26X or the current 26M 'power sailers'. Not quite the same animal, but a good enough boat of its type.

Tim

Took a look. Really couldn't imagine living on that during a slow voyage down the French canals.

 

[avole]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I am a French resident so must obtain the French permis, which means passing options for inland waterways and another for sea going craft.

Strongly tempted by the MacGregor because of it's versatility, though I recognise it may not be ideal either as a yacht or as a power boat. However, I have access both to the Nivernais canal and some substantial lakes, so the the MacGregor would seem to suit. The fact that its trailerable is definitely an attraction.

My original thought was to build something like a Hartley 28, but it'll take years to finish and we'd rather get out on the water.

 

[DownWest]

Avole, apart from the canal licence, if the primary force of motion is by sail, you do not need a boat licence. 50hp on a Mac might put it on the side of a MOBO and use on a river/canal might also put you in the over the minimum HP rating (5HP?). You could reg it in UK (and even buy it there) so even less hassle. Quite a few around here have UK reg boats, even some French nationals.
A

 

[prv]

My original thought was to build something like a Hartley 28, but it'll take years to finish and we'd rather get out on the water.

Good decision.

As they say, the only good reason to build a boat is if you enjoy building boats. That you eventually end up with something you can sail is a bonus.

Pete

 

[DownWest]

Good decision.

As they say, the only good reason to build a boat is if you enjoy building boats. That you eventually end up with something you can sail is a bonus.

Pete

Ha! Too true, I am on my third.....It is Ok in the smaller sizes, but work cubes with length...

 

[andytrombone]

Out of interest, how many Forumites have sailed on a MacGregor and what was your honest opinion?
I have only met one person who has hands on experience as opposed to the "received wisdom" that I hear repeated so often.
(FI - I have no personal experience of them)

 

[dylanwinter]

good point

Out of interest, how many Forumites have sailed on a MacGregor and what was your honest opinion?
I have only met one person who has hands on experience as opposed to the "received wisdom" that I hear repeated so often.
(FI - I have no personal experience of them)

come on peeps - I want to know too

Dylan

 

[prv]

Ha! Too true, I am on my third.....It is Ok in the smaller sizes, but work cubes with length...

I reckon it's more than the cube. That just about covers the extra structure, but the bigger the boat the more "stuff" you're going to want to put on board. So you weld up (or whatever) the hull in a year or two, then a decade later you're still installing toilets, you've barely started on the wiring but the instruments you ill-advisedly bought a year or two in are now obsolete, and some of your early woodwork pisses you off daily by displaying the lack of skill you had back then.

Meantime, the rest of your life has been put on hold, your wife has left you, and you're permanently broke

I have a set of dinghy plans on my dining room table; that seems safe enough. But if I ever display signs of building a 40-footer, someone please slap me and point me back to this post

Pete

 

[DownWest]

[
I have a set of dinghy plans on my dining room table; that seems safe enough.
Pete[/QUOTE]

The Rot has set in, tomorrow you will be looking at a 25ft. But that will not have enough space.... so back to the design sites. And get a loan on the house, the pit is endless.
A

 

[dylanwinter]

what about a SCAMP

[
I have a set of dinghy plans on my dining room table; that seems safe enough.
Pete

The Rot has set in, tomorrow you will be looking at a 25ft. But that will not have enough space.... so back to the design sites. And get a loan on the house, the pit is endless.
A[/QUOTE]

take a look at this

http://smallcraftadvisor.com/component/content/article/361

very tempted myself - ideal for the canals of course

Dylan

 

[prv]

I have a set of dinghy plans on my dining room table; that seems safe enough.

The Rot has set in, tomorrow you will be looking at a 25ft. But that will not have enough space.... so back to the design sites.

I already have the 25'. Well, half of it anyway, and owning the whole shebang is not enough temptation to get me into the boatbuilding trap.

The dinghy is to be a tender; since I need a nester to fit on deck and the only people building them for sale want daft amounts of money, self-build is the only option. But I can give it up any time I like

Pete

 

[Twister_Ken]

The Rot has set in, tomorrow you will be looking at a 25ft. But that will not have enough space.... so back to the design sites. And get a loan on the house, the pit is endless.
A

take a look at this

http://smallcraftadvisor.com/component/content/article/361

very tempted myself - ideal for the canals of course

Dylan[/QUOTE]

Oooow! Dylan, not that one, this one...