McGregor 65

[Renegade_Master]

I am a confirmed stinkpot and dont often venture over here, but thought I'd mention that I got to know chap in our marina who was looking at buying this boat, which is moored next to one of our motor yachts. I had always admired the look of it, very long a sleek, looks fast but what do I know.

They lifted it the other day for a survey and antifoul etc. Went on board today too.
This chap reckons he'd been to the states (apparantly they are made in California?) to see two of them. I think he will be buying this one. Great name too "Dances with Waves" (the boat not him) Anyone had experience of these?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[Sybarite]

I remember shortly after it came out, that one set out to break the average ferry time from Marseilles to Ajaccio. They waited for a Mistral and at times were sailing at 26/27 knots (from memory). I think they were well ahead until shortly before the arrival when the wind fell away completely.

I also remember being struck at the time how cheap they were for their size; about the same price as a good 40 footer.

John

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[robp]

Certainly looks very swish! There's one for sale at GBP92K.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.webworldinc.com/heritage/brochure/prelim.htm>Here's the brochure</A>. Very detailed. 65' long and 12' beam...

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[longjohnsilver]

Loads of info on that site. At todays exchange rates there's one for about 75K!

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[robp]

Trouble is, it'll cost almost that to moor the bloody thing for a couple of years!

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[Jeremy_W]

I was navigator on the first McG65 in the UK. They're fast under normal sail only when kept very light. Load one up with average cruising gear and the performance degrades rapidly. The navigator's elevated seat is just opposite the cooker, so if you fall from the seat - no safety strap or handholds - guess what you fall onto! But that's OK. The cooker isn't gimballed so it wouldn't be in use in heavy weather. The hinges on the heads door look like they've come off a caravan. Come off is the operative phrase: We smashed them, damaging the door, in a beat in F5/6. By the time we reached Gib, on a delivery from Hamble to Mallorca, none of the crew would have minded if we never sailed any McGregor ever again.

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[BobA]

Looks huge comapred to my 26X - but its still all white and plastic inside and cant get where i can

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[graemec]

Jeremy
I am interested in purchasing a Mac65 so was interested in your comments on ocean sailing one. Is there any way we could have a telecon on this? I am in the UK.
Rgds

 

[Guest]

I helped deliver one from Hawaii to San Fransisco (16 days). My impressions coincide with Jeremy's - very lightly built. Fast for the size (we were consistently doing over 20 knots at one point). Very lightly built indeed.

We were very concerned about the consequences of bumping into one of the numerous railway sleeepers that we spotted floating around in the Pacific, especially given the speed - the hull seemed to be wafer thin, and the din that the thing made hammering through waves gave the impression that the boat was about to fall to pieces. But it didn't fall apart, so that was OK. That included beating close hauled against a F9/10 through the night. The noise inside was horrendous. Wouldn't like to repeat it.

The interior felt plasticky and uncomfortable. There were only four berths and the interior was less comfortable than my Contessa, and speaking from memory, no more spacious, despite the boat being twice the length. In total, we developed a distinct dislike for the boat, but it did get us there, fast. Not sure how many times it would do it before falling to pieces, though.

One of the features of the boat was that water continually leaked through the deck where the mast passed through. We hung a bucket in the cabin from the deckhead under the mast, but every few hours it filled up and occasionally collapsed on the poor sod sleeping in the lee berth.

Memorable, but I wouldn't consider one for ocean cruising.

 

[graemec]

Hello Simon

What model Mac 65 were you sailing; original 22000lb racer built 1985-88 or the later 32000lb pilothouse model built 1989-95?

 

[webcraft]

beating close hauled against a F9/10 through the night

Oh yeah? Are you sure that's the Beaufort Scale you are using?

Most AWBs would fall to pieces if you tried that stunt, let alone a real lightweight like the MacGregor, and most sensible crews would relieve the skipper of command if he tried it!


- Nick

 

[Guest]

I'm afraid I don't know the model, but there was no pilot house.

 

[Guest]

Maybe you're right, I can't guarantee the wind force, all the electrics including the anemometer were wiped out - too much water around. I can only describe it. It certainly felt like the boat was falling to pieces. Cockpit was full of water to the knees much of the time from waves (even though they were coming from forward of the beam). On the helm it was difficult not to be thrown out by the weight of water hitting you on those occasions when a wave came over you had to grip the wheel as hard as you could (but of course we were tied on). My fellow crew on watch sitting at the front of the cockpit to windward sheltered behind the coachroof was washed half ofver the lee guardrails by one wave - was saved by his harness. One of the worst aspects was the noise below, being off-watch was worse than on deck.

I have sailed in F 7 and F8 on a number of occasions on my 32'-er. But this was a different kettle of fish. Being a 65-er she can take in her stride winds stronger than a 32-er, and being mid-Pacific the wavelength was reasonably long. Before the wind came on really string (and we reduced sail) we were reaching at over 20 knots.

As for mutiny, it was an attractive option at the time, but it wouldn't have helped. We developed a strong dislike for the boat. But forward of the beam seemed to be not the worst angle to take the wind at the time.

 

[webcraft]

I don't think I'll be signing up for any trans-oceanic passages on one of these, Simon - it sounds like a bundle of laughs.

Close-hauled is not the point of sailing usually chosen in survival conditions - unless of course there is a lee shore involved, but presumably not in mid-Pacific. Did you try heaving to?

- Nick

 

[Guest]

No we didn't heave to - I think the delivery skipper (I was just crewing) couldn't bear the thought of wasting a good wind!

It wasn't quite survival conditions - it helped a lot having 4 active crew (incl skipper - 3 others were incapacitated), and we didn't feel like we were about to be overwhelmed, but it certainly felt hard on a more mortal like me. One of the worst things was the lack of electrics, which meant there was no light to see the compass by at night and, with the sails invisible, it was very much a matter of steering by feel to prevent an accidental tack (then again, perhaps it would've been a good way to heave to), which was hard work and nerve-racking. The other great concern was the feeling that the boat wasn't strong enough to take the punishment, but we had to admit she did OK in the end. But wouldn't set foot on one a second time.

BTW I seem to remember reading an account by a very well respected CO32 source that his favourite gale tactic is to triple reef the main + storm jib, and sail close reaching at an angle of about 60% to the wind - that, provided you have a crew active enough to do it, this is one of the best storm tactics.