macgregor handling in choppy sea

[Andrey-314]

... to be honest, I have far better ways of spending my time than soloing in F5 seas just to prove my manliness.

For sure. But now you have something to remember. Respect. I'm also did several solo distant open sea sailing this /previous summer, some of them non-stop over 40 hours. Sometimes just impossible to avoid bad weather, you always should know how to handle the boat once it happened.

[amberg11]

Hummm Amber11 where are you??

Queensland australia.

[Divecoz]

Sorry Magnetic....... No Real offence meant..
I run a 50 HP happens to be a 4 stroke too, and its a Mercury, swinging a 14 x 10 prop thats 2 3/8 " bigger. That's all I was saying and a lot of fellows run those here as well..
My Lake's comment. is two fold... but I guess as long as your only a few miles from shore whats the difference as long as the shore is land-able.. Lake, Small or large, Sea ( Lake Michigan the Inland Sea) an Ocean ....
No Doubt a Beneteau Oceanis 343 at 5 times the cost sailed better..Used they are running in excess of $100K. I guess I might have asked instead ? Why didn't you just tow it to the New location?
Driver Error ? I Guess , I should have included a smiley face .. IMHO Cars Motorcycles and Boats ... If ya have a less than Fun day due to weather it was Driver Error .......Hahahahahahaha as you said ""but its not necessarily a fun experience""
After many a Long ,Hard ,Wet and Cold Ride on the Harleys, and once we got somewhere warm and dry ,someone would laugh and just exclaim Driver Error hahaaha We would all point at the trip instigator and he would , without a word, Buy The First Round...

You made it on a boat that is really designed for Lakes , Small Lakes and Coastal Cruising..... in sight of land..

As explained in the first line of my previous post, this was a Coastal passage, within 3nm of land (poor visibility notwithstanding), and you appear uncertain whether the lakes should be large or small. There are many people who use Mac's at sea, and many of the US and Canadian lakes are quite capable of throwing up sea-like conditions. The Mac can handle them, if not subjected to "driver error", but its not necessarily a fun experience

I would call this...... driver error... Wrong motor...for sure wrong prop...
But you made it.

My views on the fuel injected Honda BF50 and its viability in Hong Kong have been recorded elsewhere e.g. http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... il#p194760 & http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 00#p200493, but it is a standard option for 2008 and the 11 5/8 x 10 prop has given me up to 16.7 kts WOT (now down to around 13.1 kts due to a very dirty bottom and additional weight). http://www.castlemarine.co.uk/pitch.htm

What are you trying to say by "driver error"? I'm not going to recite my qualifications & experience for the sake of it, but it was a properly planned and well executed trip, passage plan filed with the Hong Kong Marine Department (Coast Guard) and it went off on schedule to a tee. I have been out in far worse conditions in my previous Beneteau Oceanis 343 which - being a larger, heavier and altogether better boat - handled much better than the . However, it cost 3 times as much, couldn't be trailered and didn't really get up on the plane as easily

You made it on a boat that is really designed for Lakes , Small Lakes and Coastal Cruising..... in sight of land..

As explained in the first line of my previous post, this was a Coastal passage, within 3nm of land (poor visibility notwithstanding), and you appear uncertain whether the lakes should be large or small. There are many people who use Mac's at sea, and many of the US and Canadian lakes are quite capable of throwing up sea-like conditions. The Mac can handle them, if not subjected to "driver error", but its not necessarily a fun experience. Today's voyage was a necessity due to relocation to a new mooring; to be honest, I have far better ways of spending my time than soloing in F5 seas just to prove my manliness.

[Boblee]

Crikey saying a Mac is OK in lakes is a bit risky a large shallow lake with only moderate winds can be fairly hairy (Gippsland) but probably the hairiest one for us was in basically protected water in the Whitsundays when we came round a headland with a following sea and 20K+ wind into a fast running tide.
Both the wind and the current accelerated due to the geographics and then got richochet waves and a confused sea, as I said before I have never felt threatened but we nearly got divorced LOL got past the danger areas and then flat seas except the marital storm which lasted several days.
Also this year were running with 20k + winds and running into 4knot + tidal current though a gorge 4-500m wide it was like being in a washing machine, boat handles like a pig but with ballast in and boards down with motor help absolutely no threat.
My advice is do your homework and test the boat when you are ready so that you know what to do when you get caught.

[magnetic]

Why didn't you just tow it to the New location?

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... es#p200486

[Divecoz]

Again SORRY .....You see , I just didnt , open that thread... I also must......just take for granted the number of Marina's here ( every one I am aware of has some sort of ramp) ... and those are out numbered, by public boats ramps no less than 10 to 1 ... I AM surprised as well about the issue of..... No 4 stroke mechanics in your area .. Even in Mexico ( I lived, owned and worked there off and on for 10 + years) The Majority of Outboards Down there are now 4 stroke.. I even did a little research and even took the time to read 4 pages of post concerning Underpowered mac 19? http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... =10&t=8130

Why didn't you just tow it to the New location?

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... es#p200486

[amberg11]

i don't have a mac yet,and would like to know what they're like in choppy seas, strong winds,

I and my crew are "fair weather" sailors, but we've been out with 20 knot winds...using only the Jib (nearly half furled). The boat handled the "swells" fine. I noticed that the full ballast will steady a Mac well in these conditions, the Mac seems to "Plow Thru" well. HOWEVER, we've never been in winds greater than 20 knots, and have never put up all the canvas in these wind conditions.

Personally...if you're considering a MacGregor boat, I dont think you'll be disappointed...there's more to this boat than it's abilities to handle rough seas. Some have made the crossing...Florida to the Bahamas. But, in my opinion...this is a fine "protected-waters" craft...with lots of versalitiy for FAMILY ENJOYMENT. We havent been disappointed. This solid boat is a KEEPER for a life time of family fun, and it wont bankrupt a budget.

The older Classics, (I previously owned a 92 Mac 26-S), have great affordable used prices, handles up to 8 h.p. outboards,
Then, there's the later models, 26-X, which can be found at a good price, used, (handles a 50 hp engine well)
Then, there's the late models, 26-M, and these are really nice looking boats...of course, much pricier.

You're in the correct web site, and Forum, to learn everything there is concering a MacGregor family-sail-boat...Dont fail to get the "FREE" Factory DVD...it's very informative.

Good luck...from a satisfied MacGregor owner.

thanks mate..appreciate that

[magnetic]

I have received a complaint about the intemperate tone of my earlier contributions to this thread and I would like to publicly apologise; I had been out sailing for 10 hours and was fairly tired, therefore perhaps not in the best humour to respond to some of the banter. Please therefore excuse my unfortunate manner and accept my sincere contrition

[jschrade]

I was driving a friend's Catalina 30 in 20 knot winds and some decent seas (4-6 with some big rogues). What I was surprised with was that with a quartering sea (from behind) it was a bear to steer and often wandered just like my 26M.

The nastiest water where I live is coming in Clearwater Pass with the wind and a strong tide fighting each other. You will get breakers in the channel. With a following sea under these conditions, you do not always have full control of the boat. But that's any boat.

I think the 26M is a very safe boat. Risks are the same as any other sailboat in having too much sail and getting knocked down and potentially your rig messed up in the process. Going forward on a 26M can be a really dicey situation and potentially dangerous - let's say your Genoa drum jams. This would not be a great situation in heavy seas as there is little to hang onto as in other boats.

This boat can handle a lot but a lot of what it can handle depends on the experience and knowledge of the skipper.


Jim

[magnetic]

@ jschrade

I agree with you entirely; I remain a committed fan, and share your opinions on the dangers of following seas (particularly under power), but as I was taking photos earlier this week one thing struck me time and time again - just how narrow the boat is in the beam

The hull is as we all know a compromise; I myself have directly benefitted by its ability to fit into a 40 ft container, and we all benefit from the generous headroom which the high topsides allow us below decks; we all know that the boat is "tender" and prone to heeling, and we all know that the combination of light weight and high profile lead to some interesting handling characteristics when the bow finds the wind. However, compromise or not, cheap and nasty or not, that "bleach bottle" hull is fundamentally sound and it will indeed stand up to a bit of a blow and a bit of a swell. I was shipping green water across the bows on a number of occasions yesterday, and although I was nervous about stalling, broaching and then being rolled by the following wave, keep her head into the seas and she was as fine as any similalry sized boat I have been aboard over the past 30 years

In truth, most of us have precious little interest in extreme conditions - certainly not on either a regular or a deliberate basis - and 99% of our boating lives are spent in far lighter airs and calmer seas. It's reassuring to know, however, that for 0.9 of the remaining 1% of conditions we are ever likely to experience, the boat can probably handle it far better than we can, and far far better than most people would ever suspect. With this in mind, I will not be planning to cross any major Oceans in my , I will probably continue to curse and hurl profanities at her in general and Roger's penny-pinching in particular, and I will no doubt sometimes frighten the life out of myself for no particular reason, but I won't be changing boats any time soon. The Mac does what I need a boat to do, far exceeds what I expected her to do, and is a "good" compromise. However, please will you mollycoddled N Americans note that - as another contributor from Australia has recently pointed out - the Mac is emphatically NOTa cheap boat in many jurisdictions, with both new and used craft frequently a multiple of what you guys pay in the States, and "original" spare parts remarkably expensive and hard to come by. As a consequence I thinks a "stock" Mac is a relative rarity, with many being either heavily customised and modded, refitted with "proper" kit, or botched up through necessity and a lack of OEM items outside of the lavish US dealer and aftermarket networks.

Roger produced a very good boat very badly; that doesn't stop it being a very good boat.

[boatbitch]

My first encounter with ruff conditions was in the straights between San Juan island and Lopez island in Washington state. Flood tide against a 10kn wind pushed the rip waves to 8'. I was running fast trying to get into protected waters and failed to put the ballast back in along with putting the dagger back down. Boat did well until I powered down due the rip then handeling went to hello. The boat was rolled by a steep tidal wave onto her side so far that the motor came out of the water and the mast tip touched the next wave. Once she righted herself I corrected boat set up and she handled the rip well. Having a 50 hp on here really paid off in fighting and outgoing tide.
This summer took her off the coast at West Port. The predicted 5-15kn winds changed to 15-30kn winds , swells at 10' and wind waves were 3'-5'. We got pounded for 4 hours on motor power only. When my captain lady got sea sick whick help us to decide to call it a day. She handled the wind well anthough I did not get a chance to set sail under such strong conditions. Got over the Bar before the coast guard closed it. I got worried comming over the bar seeing the white crest of 10' to 15" breakers comming through the bar but it was reasonable mid channel. Thats when the beauty of the boat was realized, put her back on wheels and went to Olympia where there was calm conditions. Vacation weekend saved.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I think the 26M is a very safe boat.
This boat can handle a lot but a lot of what it can handle depends on the experience and knowledge of the skipper.
Jim

Well said, in my opinion.

A feature we must never forget...the boat will float when flooded. At least, that's a "high mark" for SAFETY, even for me as a "fair weather sailor" and certainly for those taking MacGregor boats to further limits more hazardous than recommended.

[jschrade]

There are some advantages that the Macgregor has in severe weather. I have seen many diesel sailboats overpowered by the wind and current, essentially unable to make headway.

That is a problem we do not have thanks to 50+ HP outboard.

Jim

[Divecoz]

I agree with much that is posted in a positive vein... I have tested my boat no less than 2 times and arduously for hours .. All Is Fine..
On the other side of the coin.. PROOF POSITIVE Documented FACT on Video!! Check out Highlanders and His Buds TRYING to destroy Macgregors!

http://s844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010074.mp4
and
http://s844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010128.mp4

Some stills are toward the bottom.. How many of you...... hang , and sail with guys like...... these?

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... 2&start=15
Best of the Best ?or Nuttiest of the Nuttiest???? Your Choice

[beene]

Nuttiest of the Nuttiest!

Bar None

G