MacGregor 26X seaworthy?

[schilde]

My friend asked me to crew on a trip to the Scilly Isles in his Macgregor speedboat yacht, you know, the one with a 60hp engine on the back and some sticks to put sails up with, centre plate, water ballast and all that.

I am a bit cautious of putting to sea in something rather unusual. Can this boat cope in a blow and a swell? Any experience you have much appreciated, or have you seen any reviews?

Many thanks

Steve

 

[paulrossall]

Do a search as there was much debate some months ago on this site about the sea-worthiness of a MacGregor. I have read it all, been on the boat at the boat show and seen them afloat. I might do the trip out of interest if conditions were force 3 or below. I would not take my family on one. It is a matter of judgement but I am a belt and braces man and would only ever buy or charter a boat that I would expect to be able to deal with difficult conditions, say up to force 7. I have never seen a good comment about one!

 

[graham]

The only plus point from a seaworthiness point of view is that they stay afloat after a capsize.I dont know how many have capsized but I know of 2 definite capsizes.

One in the Bristol Channel in winds of less than force 6. One in The states in similar conditions. Both stayed afloat and the crews rescued by other small craft.

The one in the Bristol Channel occured on the day of BarryYacht Clubs "Old SEa Dogs "race.

On the SeaDogs race the older the combined age of the crew the better handicap you get .Most of the yachts are between 22 and 37 feet LOA none of the competitors experienced any great difficulty on the day. One entrant abandoned the race to assist in the rescue .

The survivors where rescued by the yacht mentioned above , The Flatholm Projects Island Ferry and a rescue helicopter.

With a very settled forecast an experienced helmsman and an EPIRB I would probably go on the condition that I was not obligated to do the return passage.

 

[charles_reed]

Re: MacGregor 26X seaworthy? ;-)

Why don't you go - we'll all be watching and you'll join Marie Curie in pushing back the frontiers of human knowledge.

Myself, being a devout coward, I'd think twice against going aboard one tied up in a marina.

 

[tr7v8]

Interesting there is 2 moored up behind me in Gilingham Marina and one was out the other week with 2 very young sprogs and his missus. Bearing in mind they are a US deign and they sue anything and anyone at the drop of a hat I can't think they're that bad!
Just my 2cents, never been on one....

Jim
------

 

[toad]

Go,and if you get back you can tell us about it.

 

[Guest]

designed for the American market off california

fast passage out of port then sail around islands in sunshine and force 3 then speed home again

Fittings seem a bit light weight for this side of the pond

Sailing Today are doing a boat report next month

 

[perini12]

I went to the UK importers in Falmouth for a test sail. Ideal conditions (Force 2/3) on the Saturday but F6 gusting 8 on the Sunday. I felt reasonably secure and understand that they are 'categorised' for up to and including a F6. I felt that they do exactly what it's said they can do.
I also thought the rigging was a bit flimsy bit when I mentioned it was told that there are very few instances of failure and then they tended to be because of outside influences.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>very few instances of failure and then they tended to be because of outside influences.<

Would that be outside influences like weather?

 

[johmal]

I had a Mac 26X and only sold it because I wanted a bigger boat.

I always felt safe, and thought that the Mac felt much more stable and less prone to slamming than my previous boat a Jaguar 25. I put this down to the fact that the ballast is distibuted evenly along the length of the boat, as opposed to a lump of iron at the bottom of the keel.

Although all the gear looks light - it is simple and well thought out. I never felt the rig was overstressed, and simple means less to go wrong.

As far as I know a Mac won't capsise if the ballast tanks are full. The problem area is going from empty to filled - or vice versa. Somewhere half way in between you can have a lot of water sloshing around in the ballast tanks - and that can make a Mac. unstable.

Basically you don't sail with empty ballast tanks!

I have been out in a seven - with the sails well reefed, and it handled OK.

The thing about having 50Hp engine, and the ability to plane - is that what is a relatively long hop in a 26ft displacement boat, becomes a much shorter hop when you can average 12-15 knots.

Get in touch with the Mac owners association - I am sure they can provide details of extended cruises!

The Mac is inevitably a compromise, but I thought it worked well. A motor sailer that motors, sails reasonably well, and only draws 18 ins with keel and rudders up!

John M

 

[Jeremy_W]

How many rig failures is "very few"? I think we should be told!

You had seen the wind go from F2/3 to F6/8 in a day: Your nautical intuition was telling you that the rig was marginal in F6+ in Carrick Roads and the salesman was telling you the yacht was classified UP TO F6!

Why am I not re-assured?

 

[johmal]

I thought about my earlier reply.

What I need to say applies to any boat trip - after that it's down to you.

Do you trust the guy to be safe.

i.e. he checks the weather, has the safety gear, has the charts, has planned the trip, has life jackets, VHF radio etc.

Bon Voyage!

John M

 

[jfkal]

Hmm. Would call them lakeworthy at best (small lake that is). Should work as a stealth sub though, once submerged they are absolutely silent ;-))

 

[Twister_Ken]

How many miles of Atlantic Ocean and rock-girt shores are there between the point of deaprture and the safe haven of the Scillies?

 

[charles_reed]

You can reckon 36M from Newlyn to St Marys, if you work the stream.

Once there I wouldn't say there were any safe (in all weathers) anchorages in the Scilly, excepting, perhaps, St Helens Pool (lots of weed) and Periglis (dries and has a 12m entrance). The latter is full of local St Agnes moorings so you have to borrow one.

 

[andyball]

http://www.ne-ts.com/mac/xx/ar-407capsize2.html makes some good points.

 

[rob]

I for one would think twice but as previous posting suggest do you trust him.
The only thing in its favour is that it has a 60hp engine giving some 20knt+.
If a blow did start to grow, drop the sails and dump the ballast and power to a safe port. The time to the safe haven is very short with that sort of speed.

Go for it, you only life twice!!

Rob

 

[Twister_Ken]

So what are you going to do? nm

`

 

[Gunfleet]

My boat is the same loa as a MacW. The lump of iron at the bottom of my keel weighs two tons and is five feet below the surface. Does this really compare with a ballast tank? I don't think so.

 

[DepSol]

Yes but you lot are just comparing it with saily boats, it does have a motor on the back, an be trailed anywhere and can have the mast up and down in a jiffy if you want to go down the canals. Dont just think about what you want to use it for remember it was designed for many uses so give it its merit on all of them.

Dom

I am boating again ;-)