Macwester 26..the dilema

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Wansworth

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The Macwester 26 keeps being fairly well up my list of possible boat purchase,basically for price and size;but on the other hand there are slimmer boats Ivicta 26 Halcyo 27 ect that promise better sailing,Is the Macwester really as bad asas some would have me belive?
 
The 26 really is pretty dire to windward. The 27 is deeper keeled and hence substantially better, but still nowhere near fast. Both have a reputation for severe weather helm, hence you see lots with bowsprits added to try and fix that. They are strongly if fairly crudely built, however, and are cheap, tough little cruising boats.
 
But off the wind ,not trying to get the last inch is it such a poor performer,the accomodation is great.Where I sail we have a lot of flat water in the rias,the problem would be trying to go north agaist6 the portugese trades ......
 
I sailed in one a while back,they do tend to go sideways when trying to sail into the wind,but the owner treated it as a motorsailer,which they are i suppose,the engine was allways on if we wanted to get anywhere,down wind was ok,accomodation was fine,also she was a very seaworthy vessel i seem to remember.
 
My Parents had a mac27 for nealry 13 years.
Great family boat, solid and seaworthy.

Definitly not fast - 4 knts was something to celebrate bt also stable and perfect for family days/weeks on the water.
 
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But off the wind ,not trying to get the last inch is it such a poor performer,the accomodation is great.Where I sail we have a lot of flat water in the rias,the problem would be trying to go north agaist6 the portugese trades ......

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/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif You're not listening are you (or don't want to hear). You will need the engine to go N against the trades, but it will be a relaxing sail back. A Centaur will go upwind better, maybe even a Snapdragon would (but that's not as clear cut).

I'd forgotten about the weather helm, but he did have to brace his feet against the lee seats to keep the pressure on the tiller. I could sail my W25 upwind by just balancing the sails on a beat in smoothish water. Macwester 26 is a great sea-going caravan, but not a good upwind sailer. As already said, think of it as a motorsailer and you won't go far wrong.
 
Re: Macwester 26 - wot the experts said

"The Macwester's reputation is nothing short of legendary - for weather helm and leeway she's almost without equal!"
 
If twere me I'd go for Invicta. Not too bad below - a couple I used to know cruised extensively in one and it's a Van der Stadt design - clever bloke. Probably a better price than Halcyon. Not twitchy but a thoroughbred to handle. It's the old problem of accommodation/performance trade-off.
 
I looked at one some years ago and dismissed it as it was really grubby down below and I thought very cramped. I eventually settled for a Jaguar 27 fin keel which was in good clean condition. It sailed rings round my friends Contessa 28 !!
 
The Halcyon and the Invicta sail better, though not so roomy and you obviously can't leave them on a cheap half tide mooring.

I liken my Macwester to a tug; big, safe, solid and slow. No great performer to windward and designed to be sailed at no more than 15-20 degrees of heel. The design puts me in mind of a lifeboat.

The big plus is that they're a lot of boat for little money.
 
I seam to remember reading PBO?, about the inprovement by fitting a bowsprit to the Macwester. Factory option when the boats were built, but only about 70 were fitted.

Not noticed a lot of differance in room betwwem the Macwester and the Halcyon, which does sail nicely.

Brian
 
In the dim distant past I used to teach in Halcyons. They are lovely seaboats with a very steady motion but to me feel a little narrow down below. The Macwester is 9ft wide but only standing headroom under the hatch.

I considered fitting a bowsprit to my Mac but discovered that by reefing early, balancing the sails and not heeling to much weather helm is not a problem. And like any other stubby bilge keeler, never, ever pinch into the wind.

Having said all that, all other things being equal, I would get the Halcyon. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
For most of the tlme the oat will sit in a marina berth;weekends will allow time to makeit to Baiona or the offshore islands,much of the time we will be stopped and enjiyig the space of the Macwester......but the other boats will give better sailing when sailing...... thanks for thoughts:still a dilema
 
Have you considered a Coronado 25?They were built in Spain so should be available.sails well and has loads of room inside.

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Were really pleased with ours. It has a single keel with about 4 ft draught.Very nicely balanced with just a tiny amount of weather helm.
 
Boats are expensive in Spain,it is regarded as a rich mans pastimeFor instance a little macwester 22 9500 euros....said witha straight face.In the uk much more choice but the downside is to flag it the boat has to be approved.....Regards the Coranado25.There is one for sail and I have been tyo see it but the owner thinks it has gold taps.Keepig a boat is expensive i Spain in relation to income.A bilge keeler OR a fin keeler with legs will mean I can use a public slip to antifoul etc so cutting costs.Overall the Spanish goverment have made it difficult for ordinary people and have invented periodic tests etc ....the nice marinas are to make money out of the tourists a bit ranty sorry!!!
 
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