Thanks for all the comments.
Most of you must be in areas of the country with nicer people than mine because the people I have encountered are mostly not kind to the Mac. Besides a few stray smallish O'Days, I am one of the smallest boats in my entire 600 slip marina. I can't tell you how many 42+ foot sailboats there are and those owners sure like to flaunt their boats, their length and the amount they paid. It's startling how few actually do absolutely no work on their own boats. I do all my own work (as most Mac owners do). Last week one guy assumed I must work in the yard since I was waxing my boat. He wanted to know why his electical hookup wasn't working. I said I didn't have a clue. He walked away confused wondering why a "yard worker" was so short with him. I got a good laugh.
When I got into sailing I thought all those that sailed were part of one community. At least around here, that isn't the case. At least most of the powerboaters near me are friendly and interested in the Mac. I hope more of them get one so we can start our own "MacGhetto"!!!!!
Most unsafe boat on the water?
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
"Blew By You" my stick to those purists... 
I am from England but I have my boat and live out in Malaysia. Most of the sail boats here are liveaboards as there is very little wind daytime and if you want to go any distance by sail it has to be done at night. Hence my Mac with its 50 HP Johnson is spot on for these waters. I was working on my boat and a plonker came along and said "we call these floating objects you know". I never responded as whats the point?. The rest of the liveaboard community here are interested in the low cost and the ability to motor at 14+ knots, though one or two are concerned at the light weight of the rigging. I havent been out on my Mac in a storm yet because although frequent here, they are very short (1 to 2 hours) and predictable.
I have heard countless stories from 'real' sail boat owners of the expense of slips, maintenance, hauling out for bottom clean (a big problem in the warm waters here) and very few of them actualy go anywhere, they just live on them.
One guy once told me there are only two happy days in sail boat ownership..........the day you buy it and the day you sell it........... inbetween is a nightmare of maintenance, hassles and the costs that go with it. Not so with my Mac it costs me 35 US$ per month to store on the trailer at the yacht club and 15$ to launch and recover by tractor, no wood to deal with or an expensive to maintain diesal engine. The local outboard mechanics here are excellent and charge 4$ per hour labour.
I don't envy any of the other guys with the sail boats I can get along just fine with my Mac, great fun and low cost.
I have heard countless stories from 'real' sail boat owners of the expense of slips, maintenance, hauling out for bottom clean (a big problem in the warm waters here) and very few of them actualy go anywhere, they just live on them.
One guy once told me there are only two happy days in sail boat ownership..........the day you buy it and the day you sell it........... inbetween is a nightmare of maintenance, hassles and the costs that go with it. Not so with my Mac it costs me 35 US$ per month to store on the trailer at the yacht club and 15$ to launch and recover by tractor, no wood to deal with or an expensive to maintain diesal engine. The local outboard mechanics here are excellent and charge 4$ per hour labour.
I don't envy any of the other guys with the sail boats I can get along just fine with my Mac, great fun and low cost.
ALX357 wrote:COOL NAME, = Blue Bayou hominym - if that is the right grammatical ,,,, and appropriate for the Mac.... My X still is going without a name so far.... maybe "Great White Wander" or something like that....
too bad "Naughty-Gal" is done to death....
Yeah we were going to cross the spelling Blew Bayou with the blowing sun face. The First Mate (Teacher) decided against this intentional grammatical error.
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kmclemore
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6256
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:24 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Ambler, PA -- MACX2018A898 w/ Suzuki DF60AV -- 78 BW Harpoon 4.6 -- 2018 Tahoe 550TF w/ 150 Merc
I'd like to say I'm the level-headed sort, but I've lived with myself for over 49 years now, and I know me pretty well at this point... and I know I'm usually not very 'calm' in that sort of situation... I tend to come very much un-glued, and really quickly. Think hair-trigger.
So... it occurs to me that if I were presented with the circumstance that was originally described - a clown commenting how 'dangerous' my boat is, and then promptly giving it a swift kick and scratching it up - that my better senses would rapidly take their leave and he would very soon understand just exactly why MacGregor boats are so d*mned dangerous... because the enraged (and very possibly criminally insane) Mac owner inside will jump out and kick your bl**dy *ss whenever you scr*w with his boat!
"Dangerous" indeed.
You did the logically right thing, and I commend you for keeping your head, I really do. However, in all honesty, I think had I been the owner, that guy would have lost his.
================================================================
Now, I'm not saying I'd rely upon any sort of weapon in that particular case, but I do like to consider the following amusing thought when defending life, liberty and property... not sure where I first heard it, but I'll paraphrase as best I can....
"Never try to scare a man with your gun. People understand guns. They've been desensitized to guns and they no longer inspire real fear. No, my friends, in order to inspire a truly memorable and visceral fear experience in your opponent, forsake the gun and get creative... try chasing them with a hatchet instead - as gnarly and rusty a one as you can find. Your opponent will shrink in fear... for he is being opposed not by a sane person with a gun, but instead by a raving lunatic with an axe, and that is very dangerous indeed."
So... it occurs to me that if I were presented with the circumstance that was originally described - a clown commenting how 'dangerous' my boat is, and then promptly giving it a swift kick and scratching it up - that my better senses would rapidly take their leave and he would very soon understand just exactly why MacGregor boats are so d*mned dangerous... because the enraged (and very possibly criminally insane) Mac owner inside will jump out and kick your bl**dy *ss whenever you scr*w with his boat!
"Dangerous" indeed.
You did the logically right thing, and I commend you for keeping your head, I really do. However, in all honesty, I think had I been the owner, that guy would have lost his.
================================================================
Now, I'm not saying I'd rely upon any sort of weapon in that particular case, but I do like to consider the following amusing thought when defending life, liberty and property... not sure where I first heard it, but I'll paraphrase as best I can....
"Never try to scare a man with your gun. People understand guns. They've been desensitized to guns and they no longer inspire real fear. No, my friends, in order to inspire a truly memorable and visceral fear experience in your opponent, forsake the gun and get creative... try chasing them with a hatchet instead - as gnarly and rusty a one as you can find. Your opponent will shrink in fear... for he is being opposed not by a sane person with a gun, but instead by a raving lunatic with an axe, and that is very dangerous indeed."
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
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Sloop John B
- Captain
- Posts: 871
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:45 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Florida 'Big Bend'. 02x Yamaha T50
Gees Norton, you live in Stamford Ct and one of the older guys took you for a 'yard hand'. I'll gather my family together tonight to shed a tear for this misfortune.
KRV, discontinue any thought of Blew Bayou (especially with the blowing sun icon). This will haunt you in the future, and it's hard to change the name on a boat later without catching ill fortune.
Kevin, you've been tippling again. Tune down on the hatchet remedy. The moderators are PMing each other. And your stache is not silly.
A guy knocked to get my youngest daughter out on her first date and he looked a lot like Mark's caricature except he was purple and a little shorter.
Mark is now able to edit with balloons and we're all going to be in trouble.
KRV, discontinue any thought of Blew Bayou (especially with the blowing sun icon). This will haunt you in the future, and it's hard to change the name on a boat later without catching ill fortune.
Kevin, you've been tippling again. Tune down on the hatchet remedy. The moderators are PMing each other. And your stache is not silly.
A guy knocked to get my youngest daughter out on her first date and he looked a lot like Mark's caricature except he was purple and a little shorter.
Mark is now able to edit with balloons and we're all going to be in trouble.
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kmclemore
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6256
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:24 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Ambler, PA -- MACX2018A898 w/ Suzuki DF60AV -- 78 BW Harpoon 4.6 -- 2018 Tahoe 550TF w/ 150 Merc
Nope, no tippling involved, SJ... that was last nite - enjoyed some very nice Victory Brewing Company "Hop Devil". But anyway re the hatchets, I *did* say it was an 'amusing thought '...not a serious one! So, back off, moderators!Sloop John B wrote:....Kevin, you've been tippling again. Tune down on the hatchet remedy. The moderators are PMing each other. And your stache is not silly. ....
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Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL
- Admiral
- Posts: 1006
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 7:28 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26D
- Location: Oconomowoc, WI
Several years ago, I went out to San Jose, California to visit my brother.
Arriving at his house at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, I parked my van in front of his house, instead of waking him, and went to sleep.
A little later, I awoke when I heard someone, removing my spare tire that was mounted on the outside of my van.
I had camped on the way out so I knew where my hatchet was. I grabbed it, opened the door and chased the guy down the street a little ways, in my underwear.
The next night, my brother suggested I park in his garage, or at least his driveway. I said that I didn't think he would be back, and parked in the street the rest of the time I was there.
Arriving at his house at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, I parked my van in front of his house, instead of waking him, and went to sleep.
A little later, I awoke when I heard someone, removing my spare tire that was mounted on the outside of my van.
I had camped on the way out so I knew where my hatchet was. I grabbed it, opened the door and chased the guy down the street a little ways, in my underwear.
The next night, my brother suggested I park in his garage, or at least his driveway. I said that I didn't think he would be back, and parked in the street the rest of the time I was there.
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waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
I wonder how many families have to give up sailing every weekend because the kids get bored...while all you guys with kids are out having a blast on the tube.
We could afford a bigger boat and I keep dreaming of one but the reality is...unless we plan to liveaboard...this one is perfect.
When we first pulled it into a sailboat club in OK we got a few friendly comments about the place going to heck. But the ones who kidded us were always at the dock in bad weather while we were out having fun jumping the waves. We had enough power to get us where we needed to go. One "real sailboat" owner even wished he had a Mac. We use to go out together alot. He could sail rings around us but was impressed with the launching ease and power. He likes to trailer sail. We did a cruise last year around the tip of Florida. Three men with their boat and Jim and I on our X. We started rigging and launching after them and were in the water and waiting. Same with hauling out. They really liked our boat then.
We could afford a bigger boat and I keep dreaming of one but the reality is...unless we plan to liveaboard...this one is perfect.
When we first pulled it into a sailboat club in OK we got a few friendly comments about the place going to heck. But the ones who kidded us were always at the dock in bad weather while we were out having fun jumping the waves. We had enough power to get us where we needed to go. One "real sailboat" owner even wished he had a Mac. We use to go out together alot. He could sail rings around us but was impressed with the launching ease and power. He likes to trailer sail. We did a cruise last year around the tip of Florida. Three men with their boat and Jim and I on our X. We started rigging and launching after them and were in the water and waiting. Same with hauling out. They really liked our boat then.