Shipping a Mac to the med

[robbarnes1965]

So I looked at charters in the med shortly on Google. Long story short, there's nothing the size of the Mac that shows up on charter sites and things seem like they start in the 20,000 euros ($30K) and up range, which is ruh-dic-you-lus.

But it does bring up the idea of swapping!

So I've got a brand new Mac that can be dropped in the water in beautiful San Diego Bay, Catalina, or anywhere in Southern California for vacation swap if you've got a Mac somewhere picturesque! I'm not too picky about condition but seaworthiness, a reliable outboard, and decent sails would be required. Also I am serious about a swap rather than a rental.

Takers?

Yes! Like the idea. If you or any other Mac'r want to swap I am willing to look at it. We just did an amazing trip of about 350 miles from Montreal up the Ottawa river to Ottawa and down the Rideau Canal to Kingston then back to Montreal via the St.Laurence river. 53 locks, lots of beautiful scenery, small old towns and 3 cities. It is worth the trip and we have lots of documentation and hints for somebody wanting to do it. You would need a minimum of 2 weeks. Likewise, local sailing around Montreal has 2 big lakes and the Lachine Canal that brings you downtown to our 400 year old port.

I have done 6 home exchanges(Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Boston, Nice and Lorraine region in France) and they all went well so I don't fear the boat exchange. One of the french exchanges was for 4 1/2 months. I gained weight and my liver took a hit because we were literally on a vineyard...

No problem planning far ahead for us. The boat came out of the water this week for the winter.

-rob

[mastreb]

Let's discuss via PM. The nice thing about this is that since it's not a home swap, we don't have to coordinate times--you can be here while we are and just owe us a swap. That way you can come out here in what would technically be called "winter" but is likely more like your late spring. We've camped on the boat in February with no heaters, just sleeping bags and everything was fine (excepting all the condensation). Then perhaps we'll go to Canada in the summer?

[dlymn]

Check my offer on How Many Of Us Are One boat Owners?

Happy to do a boat swap with the too

Stay at my place for a month and use the while I'm at your place using yours, or some other convenient arrangement.

[Lieu Daze]

Just did 2 weeks around the Cyclades on the lead of a small flotilla with a great charter at the end of September.

The islands, people, food, and everything else is a bona fide bucket list qualifier but make no mistake the longer passgaes are genuine blue water experiences. We sailed for the last 8 days in Beaufort 7, scratching gale in parts, with 45+ knt winds and 15'+ seas. Couple that with the fact there are very few anchorages as the coastline plunges directly off in most places so you'll be having a blast getting bumped around in tiny harbours Med mooring with the big boys and crazy Greek ferries.

I love my Mac for a thousand reasons but I believe it would be swallowed up in the Agean unless you really planned it out to stay close and research all your ports of stay. Most charters won't let you go less than 35' or let you sail in more than Beaufort 5 so when their Meltimi winds blow for up to 10 days straight you'll be pinned...in some great paradise though.

[Chinook]

I explored this idea in a thread a few years ago. I seem to recall shipping costs somewhat higher than Roger's $2000. Also, there were comments regarding potentially expensive importation fees/taxes. They don't want you to bring a boat in and sell it there. I also recall a sometime contributor to this site named Marco, I think, who lives near Naples. He has a 26X and makes it available for charter.

[Hamin' X]

I think that you are referring to marsanden. Here is a link to his first thread. Folks can search on all of his posts, or PM him. Just be aware that he has not checked into the forum since Wed. Nov 18, 2009.

~Rich

[tewharaunz]

What about a boat swap?

I found the blog of a 26x owner in Portugal that is willing to swap boats with other MacGregor owners. Sounds like a easy way to have a sailing holiday in Europe, as long as you trust your boat to someone else...

http://arianeoveleiro.blogspot.com/

[Octaman]

Mastreb

I think it’s time for me to chime in.

I live, work and sail in Greece.

The Mac was not my first boat.

I have sailed all over the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea with all kinds of boats bigger than the Mac in ALL kinds of weather. I know this part of the world very well. I am the guy with the local knowledge.

I am also an RYA Certified Yachtmaster trained in the Solent UK - if that will score points with you.

I quote Lieu Daze with his posting above. He is spot on in what he says regarding sailing in Greece.

I also quote Frank C (in the thread that Hamin’X helpfully pointed out above) in his description of the Mac’s abilities and limits. I agree with him totally and the Mac features should be taken seriously into consideration.

Further to all the above I wish to remind you that the Mac is factory rated as being a Category C vessel. It is exactly that.
If I recall well Cat C means it is built to sail/cruise in winds not exceeding Force 6 (26knots or 30mph) and waves not exceeding 2 metres (6 feet). I think that we Mac owners all agree that anything above these figures makes it very demanding on the skipper’s skills and calls for prudent decisions and great seamanship. In my opinion in extreme conditions the Mac continues to be a safe vessel that will stay afloat but becomes very difficult to handle.

I have not chosen to go out in high winds on the Mac but, yes, I have been caught out in a Force 7 and, once in a while, in winds and waves in excess of Force 7. In these extreme, for a Mac, circumstances you forget about the sailing aspect and focus on just motoring in displacement mode with ballast full, all appendages down (both rudders and two thirds of the keel), making slow progress towards the next closest safe haven; throttle in hand, steering up and over the big waves and not complaining about being totally drenched (smile) with every wave that comes over the side. In these conditions, the sailing/cruising adventure transforms into a struggle to overcome the elements and make it safely to your shelter.

Note: This is where a big engine contributes immensely in getting you there safely and reliably. The big outboard is not just about high speeds in calm waters . . . .

Conclusion: if you are not a blue water sailor with prior experience on bigger boats, don’t go out on a Mac in the Aegean and the fierce meltemi winds. Don’t underestimate the Aegean because it looks like a dot on the map compared to the Atlantic Ocean for example. The Aegean is a very challenging sailing ground with a wave pattern that is brutal.

---
Secondly, coming back to the issue of shipping a Mac to the Med, I want to warn you of the laborious, time consuming, beaurocratic procedures in this otherwise beautiful country that are off putting to many that are used to simpler rules in their part of the world.
It can be done, but is it worth it? I think the answer depends on your priorities and how much use you will make of your boat here.

If for six months – a whole summer season – it may be worth looking into; study the relative laws very carefully and try to determine what it will cost you before you make committments.
If just for a couple of weeks, or three – no way.
I think that your best bet would be to charter a bareboat sailing boat. If you are not so experienced go with a flotilla and follow the leader on a 30ft or 30ft-plus fixed keel sailboat that will be more forgiving if you get caught out in strong conditions.

Alternatively, you can skip the Aegean first time around and start with the Ionian Sea and the beautiful Greek islands west of the mainland, that, as a rule, does not have such strong winds in summer.

If you are an experienced sailor, I would also consider a swap if you can find an owner willing to participate in such a plan.

If you have limited experience in blue water sailing, go for the flotilla let someone else take over your worries and make the plans and you can just sip your drink and have a hassle free great time. And in the end leave everything as is, walk away and fly back home to your Mac that will be waiting for you intact in your back yard (smile).

Hope this helps.

Octaman

[raycarlson]

google bareboat charter greece,you can rent a 32 footer for 1000 euros a week from twenty different charter companies.why risk getting your boat trashed during shipping finding out when you arrive that your boat needs 2000 in repairs and a month to get them done.

[Lieu Daze]

Finding a reasonable price charter won't be problem in Greece these days...if your half way interested it's an absolute must do.



One of the little ripples leaving the island of Ios. Taken by my wife on a 65' Atlantic which handled it well, (did rip the mainsail though at one point just after a boat record of 14.5Knts)

I had gone over and joined a great Aussie fellow on his chartered 37' Jeanneau when his wife threatened to leave after the first day of big seas and we had a blast on second reef at near 9knts. Here's it's motoring, (submarining), just outside the harbour.

[Catigale]

Anyone who has photographed seas from a boat knows its about 3x worse than it looks in bits....

Yikes !