i just finished school from a maritime academy and will be working on ships. naturally i want to live on one, but ships are too expensive and i dont have my own crew except my girlfriend so ill go with a boat. ive looked extensively and the macgregor just looks awesome. liveaboard + trailable is a rare thing!
now i have no experience in sailing, powerboating yes, but i need help sailing with a good school in the nyc tristate area.
also from the people who have done long-range cruising what would you say the fuel range is on your 26M? of course ill add some tanks and try to use as much sail as possible.
has anyone installed radar reflectors, maybe even an ecdis? also the 26M doesnt come with a shower of any sort! im not lookin necessarily for hot water or pressure, but an interior shower in the head would be nice.
what do you think is the minimum added expense to make a 26M liveaboard and long range cruiser? i'm not gonna get one right now, research, get one and mod it probably for next year.
i also havent seen ANY mods on bicycle storage or anything on the mac mods page, anyone?
i plan to join the powersailors soon!
in the market for "bluewater" liveaboard cruiser
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ccarpediem
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:23 pm
- Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - 2006M - Suzuki DF50
OK, I love my new Mac. It is absolutely perfect for me and have nothing but good things to say about it. That said.... using it as a live-aboard? Are you crazy?!?! 
Others may disagree, but I just cannot imagine more than a couple weeks for a cruise. Live-aboard? Not a chance!
It is amazing at what it is meant for, but it is certainly NOT meant as a live-aboard. If you are looking at anything near a new Mac M and doing mods, etc you can find MUCH better boats for a live-aboard for even cheaper. I cannot post links here yet, but go to the yachtworld website. Do a search for sailboats between 30-40 feet that cost between 10,000 and 35,000 (or whatever your expected budget). You will find TONS of better boats for what you are looking for.
Many will be older, but don't let that bother you. A friend just sold a 1968 Seafarer and it was as solid as a rock! Old boats have been proven and are generally VERY solid. Of course do TONS of reasearch and have any boat survied by a licensesed survier before puchse to ensure there aren't any hidden problems. Even though they have a anti-Mac bais
check out the cruisersforum website. They will have tons of useful information about live-aboards there, and pluses and minuses of tons of boats.
Again, I love the Mac but I really don't think it is what your are looking for for your needs. Good luck in your search!!!
Others may disagree, but I just cannot imagine more than a couple weeks for a cruise. Live-aboard? Not a chance!
It is amazing at what it is meant for, but it is certainly NOT meant as a live-aboard. If you are looking at anything near a new Mac M and doing mods, etc you can find MUCH better boats for a live-aboard for even cheaper. I cannot post links here yet, but go to the yachtworld website. Do a search for sailboats between 30-40 feet that cost between 10,000 and 35,000 (or whatever your expected budget). You will find TONS of better boats for what you are looking for.
Many will be older, but don't let that bother you. A friend just sold a 1968 Seafarer and it was as solid as a rock! Old boats have been proven and are generally VERY solid. Of course do TONS of reasearch and have any boat survied by a licensesed survier before puchse to ensure there aren't any hidden problems. Even though they have a anti-Mac bais
check out the cruisersforum website. They will have tons of useful information about live-aboards there, and pluses and minuses of tons of boats.Again, I love the Mac but I really don't think it is what your are looking for for your needs. Good luck in your search!!!
Last edited by ccarpediem on Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
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James V
- Admiral
- Posts: 1705
- Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:33 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Key West, Fl USA, 26M 06, Merc 50hp BF "LYNX"
Hello, I over did oit n my boat but you can search my threads and take a look.
Like I said, I over did it and spent about $ 70g's total and having most of the work done by pro's and some not so pro.
Shower - take a look as some the cockpit mods and what other people have to say about showers. It does work in the cockpit if you are enclosed enough. It does get messy inside. There is a lot of cruisers that do not shower inside do to the messyness. IF you are not too tall, it can be done.
Liveaboard and cruising is 2 different things, sometimes. There are people who liveaboard on 20 footers.
Please note that I do not think that a Mac is a "Blue Water" boat. Only a coastal cruiser. Fine for me but I am a coastal cruiser.
Fuel - 8 to 14 miles per gal. I carry 30 gals and I can get over 300 miles and about 90 miles at Wide open Throtal (WOT)
Liveaboard and cruising is a lifestyle. Not a whole lot of space. It is a lot different that anything else. A lot of the times more expensive.
I have a radar reflector but never used it. Not in open ocean that much and usually keep a good look out. The rigging is a little light for adding things up high. Too much wind might be dangerous.
This boat is fine for Island/Harbor hopping. I advise against anything else as with all coastal cruisers.
Like I said, I over did it and spent about $ 70g's total and having most of the work done by pro's and some not so pro.
Shower - take a look as some the cockpit mods and what other people have to say about showers. It does work in the cockpit if you are enclosed enough. It does get messy inside. There is a lot of cruisers that do not shower inside do to the messyness. IF you are not too tall, it can be done.
Liveaboard and cruising is 2 different things, sometimes. There are people who liveaboard on 20 footers.
Please note that I do not think that a Mac is a "Blue Water" boat. Only a coastal cruiser. Fine for me but I am a coastal cruiser.
Fuel - 8 to 14 miles per gal. I carry 30 gals and I can get over 300 miles and about 90 miles at Wide open Throtal (WOT)
Liveaboard and cruising is a lifestyle. Not a whole lot of space. It is a lot different that anything else. A lot of the times more expensive.
I have a radar reflector but never used it. Not in open ocean that much and usually keep a good look out. The rigging is a little light for adding things up high. Too much wind might be dangerous.
This boat is fine for Island/Harbor hopping. I advise against anything else as with all coastal cruisers.
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
By the time you buy a new 26M...you could spend about $10-$15K less on a used Catalina 30 with all the features you really want in a liveaboard: holding tanks for waste and water, shower stall, proper galley and refridgeration.
But...if it what you want to do...go for it. You will always find people that will be quick to tell you what you can't do and why....sure listen to some of their advise...but only YOU know what you needs/wants are!
Good luck.
Regards
Rich Boren
S/V THIRD DAY
www.pearson365.com
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/svthirdday/
><(((0>
But...if it what you want to do...go for it. You will always find people that will be quick to tell you what you can't do and why....sure listen to some of their advise...but only YOU know what you needs/wants are!
Good luck.
Regards
Rich Boren
S/V THIRD DAY
www.pearson365.com
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/svthirdday/
><(((0>
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ccarpediem
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:23 pm
- Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - 2006M - Suzuki DF50
Agreed, didn't mean to be one of those peoplerichandlori wrote: But...if it what you want to do...go for it. You will always find people that will be quick to tell you what you can't do and why....sure listen to some of their advise...but only YOU know what you needs/wants are!
I had people suggesting I not get a Mac, because they didn't really understand my needs and while I appreciated the input it does get old being told you are wrong by people who may not understand what you need So let me revise a little. If you require a very small draft (less than 3.5 feet) or really want it to be trailerable, then by all means the Mac is certainly a great option. If those aren't too high of priorities, then a boat that doesn't need to make the compromises to meet those goals may well be worth considering for the extra space and ammenities they will likely offer by default.
Anway, I retract my previous statement that you may be crazy
Liveaboard
I can see a young single person living aboard a Mac for while - I often yearn for the early days when I could move my entire household in one trip with a small U-Haul on the back of my Mustang. In those days right out of college, a mac would have been plenty of space and quite luxurious... In fact, I did look at buying a live-aboard fresh out of college, but ultimately decided against it because if the Navy shipped me across country I was not going to have the time/expertise to sail my "home" from Norfolk to San Diego or Hawaii...
"Living Aboard" is not the same as "Long Term Cruising" and may well connote spending most of the time pierside, in which case restrooms/showers may well be available ashore for most of your needs. If that will be your case, then you can look into the mods section for lots of options on installing a basic pressure water system to service both the sink and a transom-mounted shower with cold water. For hot water, I had great success with a Coleman "Hot Water To-Go" portable water heater in the cockpit. If showering in the cockpit creates a privacy issue, there are several options for little camping enclosures that could doubtless be rigged from the boom end.
If you're going to be "working on ships" as a member of the crew, then you might be in a situation where you can cycle to work, and do most of your showering and eating there. Over the years I can guarantee that I have showered a lot more on my ships than at home - saves on the hot water bills, too!
Regarding radar, the Mac is a pretty unstable platform, so unless you want to spend a whole lot of cash on some kind of gyro-stabilized antenna mount, radar is not going to be effective. Without a radar input, I would see no great value to an ECDIS. So, what I think you'd really be looking at is a chartplotter - a device with electronic charts and a GPS/depthsounder/speedometer input that tracks your position for you and displays it on a small LCD screen.
A radar reflector is a fine idea, and properly sized folding ones are readily available.
As far as a mac as a long-range cruiser - well, it is not a blue water boat. So, if you want to cruise the Intracoastal from Maine to Florida and even out to Bermuda, it's ok. But if you want to spend a lot of time out of sight of land, you want to be buying a boat with a real keel and some real displacement, not to mention a more survivable set of rigging.
Regarding finding a sailing school in your area - you mention finishing a maritime school in the nyc tristate area - did you go to SUNY Maritime? King's Point? Talk to the coaches of the sailing teams at those schools (they both used to have real good sailing teams), chances are they know who the good sailing instructors are in the local area.
Biggest piece of advice: Do your homework carefully. To really outfit a new Mac for living aboard and occasional longer trips, I think you'll be in the $35k range. If you truly MUST have a trailerable boat, then the Mac may be perfect, but if not you can probably get a much roomier and more capable, used 28 footer with a good survey and all the additions already installed, for the same or less money.
- Andy
"Living Aboard" is not the same as "Long Term Cruising" and may well connote spending most of the time pierside, in which case restrooms/showers may well be available ashore for most of your needs. If that will be your case, then you can look into the mods section for lots of options on installing a basic pressure water system to service both the sink and a transom-mounted shower with cold water. For hot water, I had great success with a Coleman "Hot Water To-Go" portable water heater in the cockpit. If showering in the cockpit creates a privacy issue, there are several options for little camping enclosures that could doubtless be rigged from the boom end.
If you're going to be "working on ships" as a member of the crew, then you might be in a situation where you can cycle to work, and do most of your showering and eating there. Over the years I can guarantee that I have showered a lot more on my ships than at home - saves on the hot water bills, too!
Regarding radar, the Mac is a pretty unstable platform, so unless you want to spend a whole lot of cash on some kind of gyro-stabilized antenna mount, radar is not going to be effective. Without a radar input, I would see no great value to an ECDIS. So, what I think you'd really be looking at is a chartplotter - a device with electronic charts and a GPS/depthsounder/speedometer input that tracks your position for you and displays it on a small LCD screen.
A radar reflector is a fine idea, and properly sized folding ones are readily available.
As far as a mac as a long-range cruiser - well, it is not a blue water boat. So, if you want to cruise the Intracoastal from Maine to Florida and even out to Bermuda, it's ok. But if you want to spend a lot of time out of sight of land, you want to be buying a boat with a real keel and some real displacement, not to mention a more survivable set of rigging.
Regarding finding a sailing school in your area - you mention finishing a maritime school in the nyc tristate area - did you go to SUNY Maritime? King's Point? Talk to the coaches of the sailing teams at those schools (they both used to have real good sailing teams), chances are they know who the good sailing instructors are in the local area.
Biggest piece of advice: Do your homework carefully. To really outfit a new Mac for living aboard and occasional longer trips, I think you'll be in the $35k range. If you truly MUST have a trailerable boat, then the Mac may be perfect, but if not you can probably get a much roomier and more capable, used 28 footer with a good survey and all the additions already installed, for the same or less money.
- Andy
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
- Posts: 1315
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:40 am
- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
The advice and tips already given are from very experienced folk. I can only agree that a Mac would get a little crowded for "full time" live aboard. I definately wouldnt use it as a blue-water extended trip.
But, it seems ideal for extended coastal and inland touring/sailing with the shallow draft, and high horsepower.
Take a look at some of the log writings concerning the Mac. A good one is Chinook, and their Alaska Tour.
But, it seems ideal for extended coastal and inland touring/sailing with the shallow draft, and high horsepower.
Take a look at some of the log writings concerning the Mac. A good one is Chinook, and their Alaska Tour.
Trailerable BLUEWATER boat, Pacific Seacraft Dana 24
and even this would be spartan and tight for two living aboard! Brochure
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA (INCLUDING BOWSPRIT) ............27’-3” ............................ 8.31 m
LOD ...................................................24’-2” ............................ 7.37 m
LWL ...................................................21’-5” ............................ 6.53 m
BEAM .....................................................8’-7” ............................ 2.62 m
DRAFT ...................................................3’-10” ............................ 1.17 m
DISPLACEMENT ............................... 8000 lb ......................... 3,629 mt
LEAD BALLAST................................. 3,200 lb ......................... 1,452 mt
SAIL AREA, (100% FA) .................... 358 sq ft .......................33.27 sqm
I = 34.0’ (10.36m).......................................................P = 28.25’ (8.61m)
J = 12.25’ (3.73m)......................................................E = 10.83’ (3.30m)
HEADROOM............................................6’-1” ............................ 1.85 m
DIESEL CAPACITY............................. 18 gals ..............................68 ltrs
WATER CAPACITY............................ 40 gals ............................151 ltrs
HOLDING CAPACITY ........................ 15 gals. ............................15 ltrs
ICE BOX CAPACITY ....................... 3.5 cu. ft. ......................0.099 cu. ft
MAST CLEARANCE..............................37’-4” .......................... 11.38 m
BERTHS ............................................................................................... 4
and even this would be spartan and tight for two living aboard! Brochure
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA (INCLUDING BOWSPRIT) ............27’-3” ............................ 8.31 m
LOD ...................................................24’-2” ............................ 7.37 m
LWL ...................................................21’-5” ............................ 6.53 m
BEAM .....................................................8’-7” ............................ 2.62 m
DRAFT ...................................................3’-10” ............................ 1.17 m
DISPLACEMENT ............................... 8000 lb ......................... 3,629 mt
LEAD BALLAST................................. 3,200 lb ......................... 1,452 mt
SAIL AREA, (100% FA) .................... 358 sq ft .......................33.27 sqm
I = 34.0’ (10.36m).......................................................P = 28.25’ (8.61m)
J = 12.25’ (3.73m)......................................................E = 10.83’ (3.30m)
HEADROOM............................................6’-1” ............................ 1.85 m
DIESEL CAPACITY............................. 18 gals ..............................68 ltrs
WATER CAPACITY............................ 40 gals ............................151 ltrs
HOLDING CAPACITY ........................ 15 gals. ............................15 ltrs
ICE BOX CAPACITY ....................... 3.5 cu. ft. ......................0.099 cu. ft
MAST CLEARANCE..............................37’-4” .......................... 11.38 m
BERTHS ............................................................................................... 4
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
This my friend is a Solid Blue Water Boat and is trailerable!
Nor'sea 27
http://www.beneriksen.com/chamois/
I've sailed on these boats and they do a fabulous job in packing lots of "big boat stuff" into 27ft! Two people could live on this in a snap. Heck...if I was single...I would love one of these and just GO!
Nor'sea 27
http://www.beneriksen.com/chamois/
I've sailed on these boats and they do a fabulous job in packing lots of "big boat stuff" into 27ft! Two people could live on this in a snap. Heck...if I was single...I would love one of these and just GO!
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bastonjock
- Admiral
- Posts: 1161
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:41 pm
- Location: Lincolnshire United Kingdom Mac 26X
ive been looking at boat for sale that i felt would make a good live aboard without sacrificing some of the macs versatility.
I like the look of the Macwester 35,she has bilge keels and draws 4ft,theres one for sale at the moment,fully tooled up,has in boom reefing etc and the guys asking 35K GBpounds,another make is the Colvic atlanta.
i can see myself owning one of these boats in a few years,some of them come with hardtops.
the downside is that they are not "trailerable"
I like the look of the Macwester 35,she has bilge keels and draws 4ft,theres one for sale at the moment,fully tooled up,has in boom reefing etc and the guys asking 35K GBpounds,another make is the Colvic atlanta.
i can see myself owning one of these boats in a few years,some of them come with hardtops.
the downside is that they are not "trailerable"
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Catigale
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10421
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
Argo - as a single guy or gal you could do a marina style liveaboard on any Mac (:macx: or 
) in my opinion. Supplement showers with marina showers and head use. Plenty of room for one or two people who know what they are in for.
Best part is, if it isnt your cup of tea (or if your yet to be found soul mate doesnt want to share that lifestyle) you can trailer or even sell at a minimal loss - especially if you buy used.
With access to 110 VAC a small fridge is easily done, and even running hot water - Water from the marina, and hot via a shore powered hot water heater.
) in my opinion. Supplement showers with marina showers and head use. Plenty of room for one or two people who know what they are in for.Best part is, if it isnt your cup of tea (or if your yet to be found soul mate doesnt want to share that lifestyle) you can trailer or even sell at a minimal loss - especially if you buy used.
With access to 110 VAC a small fridge is easily done, and even running hot water - Water from the marina, and hot via a shore powered hot water heater.
I saw a long page on someones blue water experience with the 26x.
seems i cant post the link as im too green for this site
i think with enough training and i will have an extra hand, my girlfriend, it IS blue water, with the proper equipment. i mean having a navtex and a weather fax would be a must, ok maybe not radar so much and ecdis a chartplotter sounds great. i'm wondering if anyone has done a circumnavigation (through panama and suez) with these but i think thats getting WAY too far ahead of myself.
i can manage in such cramped quarters, i have very little possesions and ive bunked on the empire state at maritime college 3 times already and was fine. only thing i definitely see needing is shower, freezer, hot water, and electronics. with a few solar panels, ones on the hatch and some aft of the stern, i think you could power these.
i saw a few nor'seas on ebay, however much older and without recent surveys. i just think its better to buy something new, as long as its not made in china.
i dont know where im gonna work yet as it might be east coast, west coast, or gulf of mexico, so i plan to take the 26m, if i were to make that decision, all over. i like the suggestions of other boats and will ook into those further, however the 26m looks easiest to be trailerable, and i hope not but say i might be stuck without a helping hand i think the 26m would be best!
all im waiting is to get my job now...... until then ill be looking into this.
seems i cant post the link as im too green for this site
i think with enough training and i will have an extra hand, my girlfriend
, it IS blue water, with the proper equipment. i mean having a navtex and a weather fax would be a must, ok maybe not radar so much and ecdis a chartplotter sounds great. i'm wondering if anyone has done a circumnavigation (through panama and suez) with these but i think thats getting WAY too far ahead of myself.i can manage in such cramped quarters, i have very little possesions and ive bunked on the empire state at maritime college 3 times already and was fine. only thing i definitely see needing is shower, freezer, hot water, and electronics. with a few solar panels, ones on the hatch and some aft of the stern, i think you could power these.
i saw a few nor'seas on ebay, however much older and without recent surveys. i just think its better to buy something new, as long as its not made in china.
i dont know where im gonna work yet as it might be east coast, west coast, or gulf of mexico, so i plan to take the 26m, if i were to make that decision, all over. i like the suggestions of other boats and will ook into those further, however the 26m looks easiest to be trailerable, and i hope not but say i might be stuck without a helping hand i think the 26m would be best!
all im waiting is to get my job now...... until then ill be looking into this.
checked the dana, its nice and all..... but one dealer offers it at $147,000. now even if it were used, i dont see it going less than half of that which is still beyond my budget.
i mean i need something affordable to break into and anything beyond $40~45000 might as well be a 2nd purchase years down the road
i mean i need something affordable to break into and anything beyond $40~45000 might as well be a 2nd purchase years down the road