Making 26M a LiveAboard Boat

[npatterson]

Just wondering if the 26M is suited to be modified for Living Aboard for long periods of time? My job might take me to Daytona Beach area for 1 year and I thought I could modify the boat to be lived on for that period of time after reading everyone's modification posts. There would be 2 of us aboard. Thoughts / Advice???

[waternwaves]

a couple of nights a week....
rarely have a woman over....
keep the kids out....

eat out a lot.

install a flush toilet and shower.....(tough job in an M)
Install bug screens
Install AC
Be shorter than 5''9""

Yeah,,,,,,,, that might work.....

Been there done that ...... (except for being under 5-9) 2-3 nights a week.... barely doable....in a marina....

[NiceAft]

If you are in a full facility marina, you may not need the flush toilets or shower.

James V has spent a heck of a long time in his Mac, but that was only him. Two persons might start getting on each others nerves. I'd make certain that you really think that idea over.

Ray

[npatterson]

Yeah, we would be staying at a "full service" Marina. However, we still wanted a marine toilet installed and shower for those times you can't make it to the Marina's facility far far away...LOL.

Hmm, I'm starting to think this might be a bad idea for 1 year? LOL

[Québec 1]

This guy did it and his boat is for sail in the classifieds. Check out his equipment.....

!

kmclemore:

I'm sorry, but I have removed this advertisement per the Forum rules. From Heath's sticky on the subject: Ever since I started the discussion board on the old macgregor26x.com website I have had a policy of not allowing For Sale and Wanted notices to be posted on the Discussion Board. The reason for this is that I don't want to have the board get cluttered up with a bunch of notices about things for sale. Then when the item is sold the posts are no longer relevant and I need to manually delete them. I added the Classified Ads section of the website specifically to have a place for posting For Sale and Wanted ads in such a way that they are easily browsed and maintained. If you want to post a For Sale or Wanted notice, please use the Classified Ads section. Posts of this nature on the discussion board will be deleted. Heath However, I have preserved the specifics of the boat in question to maintain the relevant information to the discussion.

COCKPIT:
90HP--2002--Mercury--2/stroke
NewProp 13/11 pitch.Nov'07
FiberglassLockerCovers
New Aft Cockpit Floor for saftey around the motor. Nov'07
SwimLadder
CockpitTable
New-permanent propane lines from aft locker to
grill AND galley. Nov'07
Magna--BBQGrill w/cover
Honda--1000Generator
FullEnclosure
CustomBuilt 50--gallon(YES--50 gallon)gas-tank
TwoLewmar--#6winches
Danforth--5KG--30'Chain--150'Rode
Bruce--5KG--15'Chain--150'Rode
4-lifejackets
FirstAidKit
FlareGun
AirHorn

HEAD:
MarineHead (NOT a Porta-pottie to empty)
PressurizedWater
Full set of shelving-(Pantry) in-front of the sink.Nov'07
On-door-Storage

ELECTRONICS:
300 Watt TrippLite Inverter
Sounder-Furuno
Radar-Furuno(included but not hooked up)
GPS-Garmin III Plus
Pioneer--AM/FM/CD with indoor/cockpit speakers
VHFradio
RitchieCompass
AutoPilot(not hooked up)

AFT BERTH:
Set up with-drawers--for clothing
one w/three deep drawers and one w/two deep drawers.
Under-Cockpit Fishing-rod-holder
Ton of room for sleeping cushions/gear.

GALLEY:
Coleman 2 burner deluxe Portable Stove(November2007)
Full completment of kitchen utensils/pans/dishes
Galanz Microwave(2007)under countertop
Three Drawer mounted utensil storage under countertop
Brand New Laminate Countertop and StainlessSteelSink that has REAL 3" drain and new hose.Nov'07
Pressurized Water
All Curtains on windows and across galley were custom-made and match.Jan'08

Custom Extended countertop replaced sette, added 29" of additional work area with several sq' of under counter storage. Nov.'07
Above the Extened countertop, more storage with four baskets, wine glass holder, spice rack.Nov'07

V-BERTH:
Extended v-berth (I am 6'2" wife is 5' 4") which affords underneath storage. Nov.'07
The V-berth is now 72" across by 77".

DINING AREA:
Secured Two Drawer Plastic Storage w/latches. Nov'07
13" Color TV
Custom-Folding DinetteTable. Nov'07
IGLOO-Brand 110V refrigerator
CustomBuilt storage on dinette table. Nov'07

RIGGING:
CDI RollerFurlingJib
Doyle Sails (Main/Jib)
All Lines run aft
Main Sail SunbrellaCover
3-Sunbrella Canvas line bags. Nov'07
12V solar film panels

TRAILER:
Newer Customized (Nov'07) heavy duty aluminum/dual axle rated for 6500 lbs.
New wiring and tires (Nov'07)

[npatterson]

Yeah, good info thanks. One thing I didn't think about was having to improve / upgrade the trailer to handle the extra weight. Once again thanks...You are giving me a good list of items to think about.

[Boblee]

If you are going to liveaboard in a marina, no problems but in the end it all comes down to the individual and what you regard as essential.
We liveaboard on land and water for three months at a time but take other trips of up to a month in between, but then we used a camper trailer before that for up to 5 month trips on land.
Personally I would love it for 12 months of the year and while the wife enjoys it so long as the sails stay down when the winds are over 10 knots she likes to get home to the house and grandkids so I spend time renovating and totally depressed.
If there was suitable water within 100k's I would be living on the boat.
That boat above sounds great but be careful, sometimes it is better to keep it simple and the more you put aboard the less room you have.
Had another look at the advertised boat above and it would be perfect except for my wife who doesn't like the aft berth in the , that boat would be worth $60-70 k in Aus
Bob

[pokerrick1]

OK - - Been there, done that - - - ALONE! (Well almost alone - the Mac IS a floating Motel in more ways than one ).

I lived in Running Springs, CA 100 miles from LA & Marina Del Rey and played poker all over LA. Before I bought the Mac I stayed in Motel and Hotel rooms (some not so great and lacking security) and played poker at night 4-5x a week. Among my expenses were motel bills of a MINIMUM of $1,000 to $1,200 a month. Then I bought the Mac and in 2006 and 2007, I used the Mac as a Hotel room - - - I went sailing MOST days and played poker at night (tough life, but I volunteered).

I managed quite well, but only because I was alone. Two permanent residents would not have worked. I used coffee cans for #1 and the marina restrooms for #2 and for showers - - - always. I had a microwave, a big AC light over the dinette for reading, and a small rabbit ears TV and that sufficed. Two 1,500 watt electric heaters made the boat very comfortable in our mild winters.

Being able to sail every day had the extra benefit of letting me chill out some from my stressful occupation, which I thought was not only helpful but mandatory!! Also, my boat also paid for itself Boat payment, slip payment, insurance, maintenance and gas all totaled way under my former motel bills, so the boat and sailing came free. The boat was also a much more secure place to sleep - - - not once did anyone ever knock on the companionway and ask if I wanted any drugs

Life in a marina tends to be a lot of party time, but only good if you are single.

I never once used the built in alcohol stove - - - I did use the microwave all the time. I slept in the very comfortable aft berth - - - making the berth is a pain in the as* - - - so I usually slept on TOP of the bedding in a sleeping blanket. I almost always ate out, either in casinos or restaraunts, and used the "cooking" facilities only for real light stuff or late night (early AM) snacks.

It COULD be done - - - but I don't recommend it for two in a Mac

I was always glad to get home - - - but then again I was always glad to get back to the boat! For me, I desperately needed the excercise of singlehanding the boat, as most days I had no crew.

Rick

Edited for spelling

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Some folks cruize in tight quarters for long periods of time, which is more of an endurance than tied up in an upscale Marina with all the conveniences -- shopping, dinning, friendships, security, etc.

The live-a-boards I've met in Marinas (some in large boats, some small boats) seem to find it OKAY. One family I've met, a retired Engineer and wife, retired CPA, have lived aboard 5 years on a 34' sloop locally. They rarely take the boat out of the Marina. A nearby Marina has a couple with 3 kids. The boat appears to be about 40'.

I know a couple (somewhat "rough" & "tough") living aboard a small older sloop -- approx. 26' They've done well for nearly 2 years tied up within a nearby upscale Marina.

I find it interesting visiting and meeting folks in local Marinas that enjoy the water & boating so much that living aboard is their fulfullment.

Personally, living aboard a 26' Mac for a year or so would be a task (IMO)...especially for two.

[Compromise]

OK - - Been there, done that - - - ALONE.

It COULD be done - - - but I don't recommend it for two in a Mac

Me too! And I agree with the above. ALONE!

When we had our 'X' and I was commuting between Orlando and Houston I hauled the X to Houston and lived aboard for about two months while waiting for our home to sell.
Saved me a ton of money! I had everything I needed, laptop card, shore power for the gadgets and of course the port a potty
The marina bathrooms were close by for 'office visits' and showers.
Also agree on the need for bug screens. Other than that it was great......
Not sure if I could do it for a full year. I would think it could get clastrophobic with the hatch and gangway closed off in colder months.....

[Boblee]

I don't think I would be too happy living in a Marina for 12 months, whether the boat was a Mac or a 50' boat, as a stop gap and as Rick used his definitely but as a permanent thing no.
When we are living in ours, almost every day is a different location and the few (3) occasions we have stayed in Marina's for overnighters I couldn't wait to get out but am sure there would be some advantages and of course if you were working in the area it would be a great cost saver, but for a Mac cheaper in a caravan park on land or on a swing mooring.

[tangentair]

I read all the time in various cruising magazines of couples who circumnavigte in 25, 26, 27 ft boats. Ultimately they move up to 30+ or return ashore as the kids get older but it is doable. I spent 13 months in an 8 by 10 trailer in the desert, had a tv, ac, bed, locker, microwave, small refrig, internet, sat on the step when I wanted fresh air or to chat with others sitting on their steps, had meals in a mess hall but if you just lower your expectations 26 ft would be plenty. Just don't be messy or need a lot of things.

[MARK PASSMORE]

Ask OJ. He is spending the rest of his life in a 5 by 7 cell. He would probably love the room in a 26

[pokerrick1]

Here in Vegas, Mark, the standing joke is that no matter how badly anyone is doing, OJ would gladly trade places with ANY of us!!!

Rick

[Bawgy]

Why not just buy a boat that is big enough live in it for the year and then sale it when you are ready to move. You can buy a big boat cheaper than rent !