macwester 26

[phanakapan]

I'm going to look at a Macwester 26: it would be my first boat purchase and it seems to fit my criteria- but is there anything in particular that I should look out for on a 1971 model. Any comments positive or negative welcomed

 

[steve_cronin]

Many years ago...

Tony Carding who was then features editor of PBO had one (well it was his father's actually). He changed it for a Mac 30 a few years later as I remember. Perhaps someone at PBO could put you in contact with "Troddy". They are tough little boats.

Steve Cronin

 

[AndrewB]

I have sailed a couple in the past. As Steve says, tough little boats that have lasted well. But to my mind a very dull sailing performance even compared with, say, a 26' Westerly Centaur from the same era. And too much weather helm.

You should definitely try a test sail before committing yourself.

 

[halcyon]

Do a search on PBO, ealier this year they did a article on the Macwester 26 re fitting a bowsprit. But they also did a general write up, with comparison with main rivals.
Swings and roundabouts with the Westerly, Westerly a little better performance, Macwester more room and shollower draft.

Brian

 

[brians]

Try www.macwester.org for information

 

[Davydine]

My wife and I sail a Macwester 26 on the east coast and are very happy with it. Ours is a 1969 Mk I model and our only problem has been with the keels. The Mk I has encapsulated ballast and our boat had been kept for several years on a very stony drying mooring with a particularly strong current running through it. This had caused the base of the keels to be worn away which cost about £500 to have professionally repaired (ground back dried and new GRP laid up). Many owners have added shoes to the bottoms of the keels to prevent this problem.

The 1971 boat you are going to see may be a Mk II which had steel keels bolted on so not a problem.

We had a new engine fitted to replace the stuart turner petrol engine and replaced the 3 blade prop with a 2 blader which has given us better sailing performance (about 5 knots average now instead of 4.5)

Weather helm - yes they do suffer badly but we reef the main early and this helps a lot you could add a bowsprit as suggested elsewhere. as for going to windward - start the engine!

A centaur may sail better but you can expect to pick up a good macwester for half the price of an average westerly and the Mac is certainly a very spacious boat.

If you have any questions just ask!

David

 

[BOBBIN]

Had one for 10 years, a 1970 model,

Check the base of the keels on the inside edge.
Rudder bearings
The rudder itself, they have been known to split.
Rubbing streaks, they where held on with galvanized gutter bolts!
Engine should have been replaced with a deisel by know.
Great first boat, ideal for illustrating Lee way.
The later version with different keels is not a Mk11, it is the Macwester 27, a different kettle of fish, and very desireable, if you can find one at the right price, a 27 Mk111 is a superb boat, and very much better all round than a Westerley.
If you look at a centeur, check the keels(they had a habit of dropping off)
Any questions just ask.

 

[phanakapan]

thanks for helpful info-i saw it, and the owners confirmed that sailing performance wasnt the best; but as our main criteria (apart from price!) were solidity, headroom, a new diesel (its got one only used 30 hours), space for kids, it seems to fit the bill. By the way, their asking 10K, but its incredibly well equipped (Radar, chart plotter, autohelm, gps, rope cutter, intruder alarm, cabin heater,all galley stuff, huge heads, roller headsail and main- the only things we'd have to buy is personal stuff like lifejackets) -- so do you think its a fair price if the survey doesnt come back with bigprobs with keels/osmosis etc?

 

[paulrossall]

I had people express similar comments re performance, going into wind etc when I was buing my Macwester 30. It had the atributes which you describe for the boat you are considering and a newish engine is a major plus as it would cost you around £5,000 to fit a new one. This year I have used the engine more than I have sailed as the winds have beenl light when I have been on the boat. Having children and a wife also meant I had to make sure I bought a solid boat that they would be confident with if the weather gets a bit rough. As the keels on the Macwesters are vertical and very strongly constructed you do not get the problems that Westerys get with their splayed keels. As for the price it looks ok to me and I do look at Macwesterly prices on a regular basis. Look at the Mac web site and if you buy join the owners club which is very friendly and there is a lot of information available to you. Look at the for sail section as it might contain some 26's and give you reassurance on the price. Good luck. Regards Paul.