New 28 Coming - And I want one!

[Catigale]

WHen I did my top deck vent mod I cut through the foam in the place where I put the vent.

It looks to me that the only purpose of the foam is to provide a shape for a fiberglass stringer that provides the strength of the hull.

Catigale

[kmclemore]

It looks to me that the only purpose of the foam is to provide a shape for a fiberglass stringer that provides the strength of the hull.

Indeed... a box shape is stronger by weight than a flat slab. However, for all the strength that foam/balsa supplies, they may as well have used inflated baloons (which I've used in the past). However, the foam/balsa does also provide some sound deadening in this application.

All things being equal, I'd recommend against cutting through one of those stringers, though, as they supply much of the overall strength of the panel. Not to say things will collapse tomorrow, but I'd still try to avoid it to help maintain the overall rigidity and prevent future stress cracks.

[Don T]

Hello:
One of the principle reasons for the use of foam in the Mac is pressure. When they were bonding the deck and liner it was difficult to get a good bond. The foam applies pressure to the joints as they are compressed. It offers both shape and a better bond. The liner became part of the deck's structure, resulting in an assembly both lighter and stronger.

[Frank C]

Don's correct. The factory change list of Nov '99 described it just as he says. They began "Bonding" the liner to the deck in a foam sandwich that (Roger's description) ... made the deck much stronger ... than the previous balsa structure. (I don't have the actual wording, but somebody around here does). They didn't describe anything else about the prior method except that after the change, the inner liner became an integral part of the deck structure.

[Miquel]

Hi,

I have a September 98 buid Mac 26X, with va lot of 99 specs (but not the lader, p.e.) Serial number is US-MACX2525I899.

Could somebody tell me if I have still balsa, or it is one of the newer models "lighter & stronger"? My bozt is in The Netherlands(about 120 Km from home, so too far away just for an "in vivo" check), and I have never paid attention to this detail.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help. Fair winds,

Miquel
Culzean.

[juergen X2524]

hi miquel
my 26X has the #2524 and has foamcores
greetings from berlin/germany (old europe)

[norbert]

the only complaint i ever heard about a weak cabin top was from an owner of a foam-cored boat. i think the change to foam was again an attempt toi minimize the production cost ("ligther deck"!). semmes also that this problem only appearded on some of the very first hulls after the changement. basically balsa or foam core are both ok. with wood inside your deck construction you should even be more careful to avoid any water intrusion and and accuratly seal any hole you drill (or the factory drilled! a complete deck sealing session is on my to-do-list for spring). but even a foam core should not get dampish.

the classic way to drill correctly holes in a cored deck: drill a larger hole (about double diameter), scrape out the core as far as you can reach, close the hole from below, fill the whole thing with epoxy, drill the hole again in the diameter you need. the simple way is to seal the hole you drill accurately with a marine sealant (always better than what the factory did ).

[Frank C]

hi miquel
my 26X has the #2524 and has foamcores
greetings from berlin/germany (old europe)

WOW . . . what an interesting coincidence!

You two guys from Europe, Juergen and Miquel, have 1998 "sister hulls" #2524 and #2525. Odds are that those two boats left the factory together in an "international" container.

[Ginieco]

Sorry to those who feel that I have dropped and run. Getting time to get on this site is a luxury at the moment. I have my own business to run but one day soon I hope to be able to indulge a little more. It is a great site for Mac owners but once you get one, there is so much info, I get hooked and so hours later.......

Well, the plot thickens. Some had picked where this new 28 came from which led me to dig a little deeper. I spoke to Phil King in Australia, who ownes Synergy Yacht, the MacGregor distributor. He was reluctant to talk initially but as her is a great fan of MacGregors, I was able to chat for about 20 minutes and this is what I was able to find out:

It seems the new 28 is a development based on the Australian designed and built Mach 28. Phil King markets or did market the Mach 28. This is the story; The Mach 28 had its beginnings when a group of Aussie Mac 26X owners sat around having a drink and idly discussing their boats. The first thing was that they loved their Macs but had wish lists - The girls got in first and so a stand up, good sized shower and toilet area was decided as mandatory. Then they wanted to have a hanging locker for the ball gown. The galley needed a refrigerator freezer that they could easily get to without moving butts off seats. The guys wanted (I am told led by Gary "H" who is 6'2", 202 lbs) to stand under the boom and not get his head knocked off in a gybe, he wanted to be able to stand up in the cabin, all the way fwrd, he wanted a forward berth that he could stretch out on WITHOUT rearranging furniture and he wanted a cockpit that the whole family could cruise with out feeling cluttered. He also wanted a head that he could relax in with the door closed!!! His daughters seconded this.

Apparently the Aussie owners head up to the Whitsundays each year for a two week regatta and have a ball. Everyone wanted more fresh water stowage. 20 to 40 gal is standard and a lot more stowage space.

From what I see, the design is based on the Mac X but is miles away from the 26X's actual lines in that it is wider, longer, taller and heavier. It is wrong to say that it is a "knock - off" but is is correct to say tthat the concept and layout is based on the Mac X principles. A salute to Roger MacGregor's ingenuity. Some of the main differences are; B max is carried all the way aft to widen the cockpit. There is rocker in the hull so it sails better to windward but I am sure it will require more HP grunt to do the same speed under power. The deck shoulders are way out to increase interior volume. The stem is straighter to get more interior length. Overall the boat is much taller to get headroom inside. Funilly enough the boat doesn't look "boxy".

The sail plane is masthead with self tacking jib, roachy main. Plenty of power for reaching running but I think it needs to be reefed early for working or allow the main to twist off.

The list of variations would go on and on.

My spies tell me that the Mach 28 ( soon to be renamed as there is always confusion with the MacGregor Mac) will still be built in Australia in small numbers but they owners have sold the design and sets of moulds for all boats, keeping the rights for Australia and NZ. This is how I came across it. Phillip King told me that there were never plans to export the Mach 28 from Australia. I gather Oz production costs and shipping costs from down under did not make it a viable proposition. I also gathered that he is not too interested in pushing the Mach 28 as he thinks the MacGregor 26M is far better value for money, at least in Australia.

If who I think will manufacture the 28 (? in Europe??) does proceed, then I am sure there will be some tweaking but I am not sure where - I hope they can put in a neat Hot Water unit - is that asking too much? Just my addition to the wish list 'cause the Rear Admiral likes her warm shower. Solar bags don't cut it for her.

What I do know is that the company who will probably manufacture ( and I really don't have good enough information on the project status yet) the 28 will be well known to everyone. They certyainly have the capacity and they export their existing products all over the world. Wish I could tell you but I have to keep faith otherwise they may blacklist me and not sell me one.

I'll post more news if I get any.

From what I am told, the first C 28 will roll out Oct/Nov this year but I think this is ambitious. Maybe in te new year we will see something.

Gini

[Frank C]

Wow, Gini, quite a story! I remember seeing Philip King's descriptions of the new boat in Oz. This one would be ever so much more.

Hmmmm - now I know you didn't say, couldn't say this. But, a well known, European, worldwide exporter of sailboats .... hmmmm ... I'm bettin' that name begins with a B ....
(enateau)

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

If you search way back in the archives there was talk of this boat here by Phil himself. There were even links to drawings. It was early on in this boards implementation, might even have been at the tail end of the old board. To bad we don't have archives like we used to.

Wait, I knew I had it somewhere. Here is the link.

http://www.mackmanboats.com.au/mackman% ... mach28.htm

Drawings, pictures, the works.