Powersailers have their uses!

[Grith]

It’s been a bit controversial I know with lots of negative comments from old salts and racer types but powersailers are finding a place in the yachting world.
Very few newer trailer sailers are built these days most being 30-50 year old yachts many in need of complete overhauls and reequipping.
Roger Macgregors cheap mass production of the Mac 26x then m along with slick marketing added a huge number of newer yachts to the fleet which were in a way closer to the original concept of trailer sailers than many of the more modern sports boats complying with trailer sailer minimum requirement rules.
They actually have adequate accommodation for holidays onboard and a degree of versatility that balances out much of their less than perfect sailing performance for many.
Some of the bad rap was from the huge number of newbies to sailing having purchased and having problems and creating havoc and some from their poor racing performance.
They however got many new to sailing out on the water sailing for the first time and whilst not great upwind actually sail off the breeze in competent hands.
The combination of features likely to get the better half’s grudging acceptance of the new purchase price with enough entertainment factor under outboard to engage the kids saw a huge number sold whilst nearly every other manufacture sold a pitiful few boats most going bankrupt or giving up.
Now with large numbers on the secondhand market the resale prices are still generally holding up and even more experienced sailers are sometimes buying them for inshore inland camping cruising with other half or family applications as distinct from around the bouys racing generally with mates which they are not great at.
I am currently out cruising in The Whitsundays a premier inshore and islands cruising destination in Australia.
It is considered a slightly challenging but desirable trailer sailer cruising ground generally more suited to larger yachts.
Over the past few years visiting here I have seen more Mac’s cruising here than possibly all other trailer sailers combined.
Several other manufacturers have tried their hand at producing more yacht like and refined versions and I have chosen one of these to create a versatile trailerable semi live aboard expedition/cruising platform capable of exploring areas out of reach of conventional yachts and many different trailer sailers for many different reasons.
For yachts it is generally draft constraints whilst for other trailer sailers the reasons are wide ranging and unique to each one.
All I ask is for the sceptics to take a second look at the class as have many now who have cruised in company with my unusual Imexus 28 Powersailer.

Showing off its ability to come right ashore and it can also dry out flat in shallow tidal waters.

Smallest yacht and anchored closest in but out here with the big cruising yachts.
Being trailerable it has the ability to move between cruising grounds very quickly on trailer and also access dams, rivers and lakes unavailable to conventional yachts.
Many things that constrain it’s directly upwind sailing ability like very high slab sides for length contribute to its ability as a comfortable long range cruiser.
Finally the rarely used to potential confronting monster outboard allows rivermouth bar crossings, pushing over fast tidal flows and a quick get out of jail free card when sailing conditions unexpectedly rapidly deteriorate amongst its other sometimes entertaining attributes.

 

[Stemar]

Surely it's obvious that anyone who wants a different type of boat from me is an idiot?

No, it isn't. I'm with you on this. That boat may not be a first choice for a transat and she wouldn't be my choice either, as I don't need to be able to take her on the road, but for pootling around the Solent or a similar area then taking her somewhere else, she's entirely adequate, and ability to run from trouble is a definite bonus.

 

[Grith]

Surely it's obvious that anyone who wants a different type of boat from me is an idiot?

No, it isn't. I'm with you on this. That boat may not be a first choice for a transat and she wouldn't be my choice either, as I don't need to be able to take her on the road, but for pootling around the Solent or a similar area then taking her somewhere else, she's entirely adequate, and ability to run from trouble is a definite bonus.

Thankyou for your open minded response. I understand the small number of especially dedicated sailers for whom these craft will appeal and also their limitations in many areas.
They are not definitely not suitable for ocean crossings or around the bouys racing but have a niche to fill in my view.
An originally English sailing friend of mine accompanied us on a recent week long cruise to the The Coorong (a world heritage listed very long narrow and shallow salt water lagoon) and remarked that journey to get there and back from our waterfront home which involved the crossing of our local really huge and shallow freshwater lake Lake Alexandrina in South Australia ( land out of sight in all directions out in the middle ) in 25-30knots plus of breeze with huge steep short waves was a more significant sail than his English Channel crossings and further. Shown here enjoying a steak dinner cooked onboard.

He is now a convert and looking to purchase one like several who have sailed with us despite this crossing.
The lake has a fearsome reputation with winds straight off the southern ocean and return flights to his home in Perth meant just needing to cross in appalling conditions rather than sensibly waiting for better weather.
Currently we are cruising The Whitsundays islands on The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland a several thousand mile tow from our home base completed in 5 days that would be a long and very challenging sail around part of the south and most of the east coast of Australia.
Strong wind warnings here have had the charter yachts banned from sailing whilst we have happily tackled the rough conditions under sail though sometimes double reefed.
Currently we have been cruising on the yacht for 5 weeks, 4 without resupply.

Again finding seclusion in this very busy area via our yachts unique shallow water abilities. We spend 5 days parked in Hill Inlet a truly magnificent location very shallow and tidal.

Across the dunes on Whitehaven Beach the anchoring area was an absolute zoo!
Literally a forest of masts and visiting backpacker/tourist and day tripping boats.
We walked the length of the beach from secluded Hill Inlet and climbed to the lookout at the far end passing everything from super yachts through ferries and cruisers to helicopters doing lunch on the beach combined with a scenic flight.

 

[Concerto]

I remember loking at the McGregor 26M and was quite impressed with what was a clever concept. The marketing DVD was a good tool to help potential customers see the potential. Glad you are enjoying her and getting to lots of different places.

 

[dancrane]

I detect this thread is just Grith saying "Look what a great time I'm having!", but I don't mind. Great photos, fabulous places.

Regarding the powersailer as a type, it's astonishing that they aren't far more numerous in yacht-infested British waters.

They're a fine evolution from displacement sailing yachts whose every aspect has been tortured in pursuit of efficiency, but which remain wretchedly slow even under power, when (laughably often) the skipper grudgingly recognises it isn't productive to persevere under sail.

Treating the motor as being at least half the reason for having a boat, is a clever principle, the next lesson after "never beat to windward". I expect powersailers can sail to windward, but why would you bother to find out? Okay, they're thirsty, but their convenience is far better value than not getting where you want in the time you have, or than routinely having plans scuppered by wind and tide.

I saw that one on Sunday and I realised, the option of sailing only when the weather makes it appealing, and never needing to wait or make excuses if I just wanted to get somewhere...that's the nearest to sensible boating I've seen in decades.

People who don't like powersailers are just distracting themselves from the worse downsides of their own boats. I did.

 

[Grith]

Hi Dancrane

I detect this thread is just Grith saying "Look what a great time I'm having!", but I don't mind. Great photos, fabulous places.

Regarding the powersailer as a type, it's astonishing that they aren't far more numerous in yacht-infested British waters.

They're a fine evolution from displacement sailing yachts whose every aspect has been tortured in pursuit of efficiency, but which remain wretchedly slow even under power, when (laughably often) the skipper grudgingly recognises it isn't productive to persevere under sail.

Treating the motor as being at least half the reason for having a boat, is a clever principle, the next lesson after "never beat to windward". I expect powersailers can sail to windward, but why would you bother to find out? Okay, they're thirsty, but their convenience is far better value than not getting where you want in the time you have, or than routinely having plans scuppered by wind and tide.

I saw that one on Sunday and I realised, that package of sailing only when the weather makes it appealing, and never needing to wait or make excuses if I just wanted to get somewhere...that's the nearest to sensible boating I've seen in decades.

People who don't like powersailers are just distracting themselves from the worse downsides of their own boats. I did.

Whilst there may be a just a little truth about just skiting about a good time the thread was primarily in response to the terrible canning that powersailers have suffered from traditionalist yachties.
Up here in the Whitsundays I would guess from observation most cruising yachts use both main and headsail less than 20 percent of the time and motor about 50 percent of their movements.
We actually sail more than most other cruisers we see (both for tranquility and fuel saving) but if we need to motor sometimes we put her up on the plane and get wherever in we’ll less than half the time of conventional yachts.

 

[Concerto]

For those who do not understand powersailers, then watch this drag race between 3 of them. Naturally the largest engine was fastest.

 

[Concerto]

Just found the marketing video for the 26M. It is worth watching even though they are no longer built. They built over 5000 26's in 4 variants, which is a vast number.

 

[Grith]

I prefer to show power sailers sailing and cruising as it causes less distress to regular sailers.
I actually own two Imexus 28’s at present my now heavily cruising equipped 115hp outboard version and my previous monster inboard equipped version.
The inboard one is now stripped of some of its extended cruising fitout and is about to go up for sale once cleaned up.
Its 180hp turbo diesel Yanmar inboard with twin stainless counter rotating props on a lowering leg make it perhaps the fastest trailerable yacht under motor on the planet having exceeded 30knots during its virtually empty commissioning trials.
Whilst an absolute blast I found it potentially too technically complex to repair when we are focussed on doing very remote area exploration where marine diesel mechanics and parts are rare.
In most remote areas a 115hp Yamaha outboard is a well known entity and at worst is an easily replaceable one versus a technically complex turbo diesel which is a fairly common powerboat fitment in very large centres.

 

[Neeves]

I think the inescapable restriction to greater numbers of 'power sailors' aka trailer sailors is that they are small, to meet road regs (if not convenience). If you walk round a marina, inhabited by floating caravans, the caravans are, without exception - bigger than 26'. Most are around 40' but are increasingly larger (I am sure someone will come up with the figures). As you mention many of these vessels from the major builders have almost new sails - as the rush on Friday (and return on Sunday) to and from the favourite location needs to be accomplished quickly.

This raises the question: Why do people buy a yacht? though maybe why they bought is lost and the question might be - how do you use your yacht?

If you enjoy the journey - then the bigger yacht wins hands down (at a considerable cost). But if you cannot be bothered with the passaging making then rather than towing a 26' yacht across Australia ,many would think of the time involved - and charter.

For most, or many, people they simply don't have the time to tow anything 1,000s km and with a wife and 2 kids - the yacht is too small to live on in comfort and they have a career to complete.

A trailer sailer is for a niche market, which it obviously satisfies(d) admirably. There have been alternatives, for example, yachts designed to be shipped in a single 40' container, both mono hulls FYD | Farr 400 (Design 724) and cats (Seawind built a cat in Korea Seawind 950: Some Assembly Required - Practical Sailor and packs in 2 containers) and I recall a rather narrow beamed 36' mono shipped in a 40' box, maybe that Perry design in the first link.

But the market(s) never took off - 5,000 MacGregor 26s is not going to be a threat to any of the big producers (Interestingly the same number of J24s built) who, the big names, don't seem to build anything close to as small as a 26' yacht - they are all bigger (as that's what the market demands).

Personally I despair at the absence of the 'pocket cruiser'. - there is no easy way to join the pastime - unless you can stomach something, very, old (think project yacht) or very expensive.

Jonathan

 

[Grith]

I think the inescapable restriction to greater numbers of 'power sailors' aka trailer sailors is that they are small, to meet road regs (if not convenience). If you walk round a marina, inhabited by floating caravans, the caravans are, without exception - bigger than 26'. Most are around 40' but are increasingly larger (I am sure someone will come up with the figures). As you mention many of these vessels from the major builders have almost new sails - as the rush on Friday (and return on Sunday) to and from the favourite location needs to be accomplished quickly.

This raises the question: Why do people buy a yacht? though maybe why they bought is lost and the question might be - how do you use your yacht?

If you enjoy the journey - then the bigger yacht wins hands down (at a considerable cost). But if you cannot be bothered with the passaging making then rather than towing a 26' yacht across Australia ,many would think of the time involved - and charter.

For most, or many, people they simply don't have the time to tow anything 1,000s km and with a wife and 2 kids - the yacht is too small to live on in comfort and they have a career to complete.

A trailer sailer is for a niche market, which it obviously satisfies(d) admirably. There have been alternatives, for example, yachts designed to be shipped in a single 40' container, both mono hulls and cats (Seawind built a cat in Korea) and I recall a rather narrow beamed 36' mono shipped in a 40' box.

But the market(s) never took off - 5,000 MacGregor 26s is not going to be a threat to any of the big producers (Interestingly the same number of J24s built) who, the big names, don't seem to build anything close to as small as a 26' yacht - they are all bigger (as that's what the market demands).

Personally I despair at the absence of the 'pocket cruiser'. - there is no easy way to join the pastime - unless you can stomach something, very, old (think project yacht) or very expensive.

Jonathan

I have chartered here in The Whitsundays on several previous occasions. Just two weeks chartering and it starts to become prohibitively expensive and as we have just experienced if the wind blows up the charter companies virtually lock the yachts into a tiny area inshore area and preclude them from sailing at all.
Chartering for four weeks starts to put a huge hole in your savings.
In our 28 foot personally owned Powersailer we were completely free of these restraints and some of the quickly accumulating expenses and happily sailed out to the prohibited Eastern side in the 25knots strong winds warning areas.
There were a lot more Mac’s built than 6000 25/26s water ballast TS’s as that number doesn’t add the huge number of 26x and m’s Powersailers and replacement Tattoo 26’s built by Roger’s daughter and husband after he retired along with the rarer Mac 19 power sailers.
I agree entirely with your sentiments about yachts/water caravans sitting unused in marinas, docks and moorings.
Regarding larger cruising oriented trailer sailers/power sailers there is a growing band of recent early retirees currently buying very expensive caravans here in Australia and I believe the US and Canada some of whom have the time and boating expertise to utilise a trailerable caravan alternative trailerable yacht instead.
Our own Imexus 28 Powersailer is a big step up in quality, performance and comfort on the Mac’s and we are finding it a feasible alternative to owning a larger yacht and doing long coastal transits just to change cruising grounds.
It also obviously also opens up unique inland waters opportunities for extended post retirement travels without the costs and restrictions of caravan parks and the like.
Recently we cruised about a third of the length of The Murray over 6 weeks for instance in company with friends who have been using their Court 750 trailer sailer around 6 months every year for most of the last 30 years.


Their preferred trailer sailer cruising destination is doing multi months out in The Kimberley’s in WA which we hope to begin to emulate their many journeys next year.
The photo below shows our diminutive yacht closest in and amongst the much larger yachts further out.
Despite being one of the more expensive trailer sailer packages in Australia a quick look puts our investment at under a third of the next cheapest yacht anchored here.

Maintenance and storage at home, no marina or haul out fees and the flexibility to reach anywhere in Australia including it’s furthest from us destinations in days not months do compensate in some way for its smaller size.
Re family with two kids I feel our particular yacht is adequate to accomodate that number for a week or two having done so with my daughter and friends.
The added bonus of tubing, scurfing and kneeboarding behind our powersailer made boating so much desirable for her friends to tag along whilst my daughter loved sailing anyway.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I think that there's a big difference between living aboard a 26 footer in the sunny climate of Australia and doing the same in the often wet and windy climate of the UK. That said, my boyhood experience of yachting was on a 27 footer with (probably) less accommodation than the MacGregor. However, expectations were seriously different in those days; a bath a week was regarded as quite normal, for example!

 

[Grith]

I think that there's a big difference between living aboard a 26 footer in the sunny climate of Australia and doing the same in the often wet and windy climate of the UK. That said, my boyhood experience of yachting was on a 27 footer with (probably) less accommodation than the MacGregor. However, expectations were seriously different in those days; a bath a week was regarded as quite normal, for example!

Living in the UK is bad enough weather wise never mind living on a yacht!
Our Imexus 28 is a fair bit bigger than a 26 foot Mac and we did a six week cruise up The Murray River mid Australian winter last year which saw ice on the deck in the mornings at times.
Our friends Court 750 who cruised in company with us was however smaller again than a Mac 26x or m and they also did the six weeks onboard cruising mid winter.
On a personal note both my partner and I are experienced wilderness backpackers including in snow and I have also done weeks camping out of kayaks and off push bikes in appalling weather.
A 28 foot trailerable yacht is comparably Luxury!
Our Imexus 28 has however stepped up another level in modern convenience with both internal and external hot water showers and even an occasional use ceramic fan heater and alternatively a mini portable air conditioner (zero breeze mk2) both of which run from our portable lithium power packs via our shore power system charged by nearly a 1000w solar array.
It also has a manufacturer built in generator box in the stern which fits a Honda eu2.2 which we carried.
After extending our solar system we no longer carry the generator.
Our friends went full greenhouse enclosure on their smaller yacht whilst dodger and Bimini’s were adequate for us with 240v electricity available at all times.
It was on that trip that the big outboard twice proved it’s worth once rescuing and then towing a cabin cruiser powerboat that had broken away from its tree branch attachment that we caught floating down stream and returned against a strong current to it’s distressed owner and once when we struck really extreme funnelled winds and very significant wind waves that overwhelmed our friends 9.9hp outboards ability to push against and we had to go back and rescue them.
It was their first experience of this in 30 years of cruising their trailer sailer.
The waves were breaking over their smaller yacht whilst our rather extreme freeboard and powerful outboard meant we were unfazed!

 

[crewman]

Swallow yachts produced a powersailer recently. I think it was the Coast 250. Big outboard well forward to get the weight central. Not sure if it is still in production. There was a test in one of the sailing mags at the time.

 

[Alfie168]

Thankyou for your open minded response. I understand the small number of especially dedicated sailers for whom these craft will appeal and also their limitations in many areas.
They are not definitely not suitable for ocean crossings or around the bouys racing but have a niche to fill in my view.
An originally English sailing friend of mine accompanied us on a recent week long cruise to the The Coorong (a world heritage listed very long narrow and shallow salt water lagoon) and remarked that journey to get there and back from our waterfront home which involved the crossing of our local really huge and shallow freshwater lake Lake Alexandrina in South Australia ( land out of sight in all directions out in the middle ) in 25-30knots plus of breeze with huge steep short waves was a more significant sail than his English Channel crossings and further. Shown here enjoying a steak dinner cooked onboard.
View attachment 162652
He is now a convert and looking to purchase one like several who have sailed with us despite this crossing.
The lake has a fearsome reputation with winds straight off the southern ocean and return flights to his home in Perth meant just needing to cross in appalling conditions rather than sensibly waiting for better weather.
Currently we are cruising The Whitsundays islands on The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland a several thousand mile tow from our home base completed in 5 days that would be a long and very challenging sail around part of the south and most of the east coast of Australia.
Strong wind warnings here have had the charter yachts banned from sailing whilst we have happily tackled the rough conditions under sail though sometimes double reefed.
Currently we have been cruising on the yacht for 5 weeks, 4 without resupply.
View attachment 162655
Again finding seclusion in this very busy area via our yachts unique shallow water abilities. We spend 5 days parked in Hill Inlet a truly magnificent location very shallow and tidal.
View attachment 162656
Across the dunes on Whitehaven Beach the anchoring area was an absolute zoo!
Literally a forest of masts and visiting backpacker/tourist and day tripping boats. View attachment 162657
We walked the length of the beach from secluded Hill Inlet and climbed to the lookout at the far end passing everything from super yachts through ferries and cruisers to helicopters doing lunch on the beach combined with a scenic flight. View attachment 162658

It all looks absolutely ghastly

 

[Alfie168]

Just found the marketing video for the 26M. It is worth watching even though they are no longer built. They built over 5000 26's in 4 variants, which is a vast number.

Damn phone won't let me share photos it's a Mac 26M being used as a river cruiser in York without a rig whatsoever. Too many bridges, but it is another string to its bow that you can use it as such. I think windage is the biggest difficulty when manoevering in crowded gusty anchorages. They are so light
I still have my trailer sailer Dehler 22 which is very small below, but sails like a whizz in all but high winds where additional low ballast would save the day. I've not sailed this year for health reasons. May have to sell

I lived only a couple of miles from Parkers and Pippin yachts for some years. They both produced first class trailer sailers, but are both long gone and it's such a shame. I have a friend with a Seascape 24 which is an absolute rocket, but it's broken two carbon fibre masts at £20k a pop

 

[Grith]

It pains me every time I see any trailerable yacht without its mast. They were built to sail not be some poor underpowered half arsed motorboat.
Better mast handling solutions are the answer in my view to bridges, powerlines and other overhead obstructions.
The Imexus 28 has a superb manufacturer installed mast raising and lowering system which stays attached at all times when both trailering and sailing/motoring and can be used by one person from the cockpit whilst underway to politely dip bridges trouble free.
It is so stable I am happy to leave the mast partially lowered overnight (shown here) to avoid overhanging trees on a parallel bank overnight tie up.
Yes the Mac’s are very light for their windage but better if manuavireng with their water ballast in. The Imexus 28 is a much larger and heavier yacht with similar windage so is much better in that respect.