green wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 6:30 am Is it reasonable to assume that my wife and I can SAFELY pull the kids on a tube and teach them to water ski on the with a 50hp? They are small kids in addition to being young. I know the is not a ski boat, but I want to make sure that my (limited) expectations are realistic. As a new boater safety is top of mind.
Towing kids on toys is easy. Did that when we had little ones onboard. They had a blast.
Water skiing? Do people still do that?
Seems all the boats on our lake are wakeboarding with loud music from the arch speakers.
I wouldn't even attempt to learn on this boat. Probably make the skiier frustrated. Pulling toys, that's a lot of fun.
I'm thinking primarily about the fit of the for now through their high school years. It seems like the right boat to introduce our family to boating and sailing in particular. As I think about total cost of ownership, are there modifications to the factory model that you would recommend to make boating and short trips more fun?
Our son was 9 when we bought our Mac. He has grown up learning all about sailing and boating. Now at 23, he takes the boat out on his own with his girlfriend.
It's a unique boat that is a compromise in performance but also has some unique features not found in any other boat. I've yet to meet a Mac owner who didn't thoroughly enjoy their boat. And many owners with kids have really enjoyed the versatility of the boat. Being able to beach the boat and play in shallow water.
Our boat was used as a movie scene for a low budget film that went straight to DVD. Our son worked for the producer and offered our boat.
green, looks like you got a lot of ideas to think about. When you make your decision, please let us know what you decide to get. If you decide to go with an "M" and still want to get the kids into a small sailing craft that is safe and fun that you can take with you on the "M", I'll throw in a pic of my inflatable dinghy with a sailing rig. I have used it to teach youngsters the basics of sailing, and it is very stable and easy to sail. I carry it with me when I am on RV trips and occasionally on the "X" when I want a dinghy.
green wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:34 am
I will buy you as much pizza as you can eat if you come to NC and tutor me
Great news. I think we established back in COVID that Krispy Kreme donuts were entirely acceptable replacements for pizza!
As a footnote re small sailboats for kids who might want a little more action than our Mac's, my wife and I seriously looked at the idea of these little guys: https://tiwal.com/
Had we not come to our senses as aging septuagenarians, we might have actually gone this route for our dinghy/toy boat!
But, back to the main thing. I went from a Hobie 18 Magnum to a 13-ft Hobie Wave to a Mac 26X. I had sailed on larger yachts back in college but had mostly just handled sails and lines then. I found with the Mac's that the learning curve on all the systems was a challenge: electrical (12-volt & 110), plumbing (fresh water and head), chart plotters and depth sounders, outboard engines and fuel systems, trailers with brakes (hopefully working), canvas/Bimini/dodger maintenance, switching from incandescent to LED lights, and finally, handling the thing docking in current and wind. I thought I had a tiger by the tail. But, in time, it all came together. My wife and I are north of 75, and we thoroughly enjoying our Mac for both day sails, motoring to a favorite lunch spot, or taking a trip over several days. I will only throw out one piece of advice we learned---invest in a couple of boat hooks and learn to dock without ANYONE having to jump to the dock in a desperate effort to snag a landing.
It’s definitely a lot to learn. I hope it will be fun.
I rolled with the change of plans today when the crosswind was a bit much for me to feel comfortable coming out of the slip with a narrow turn (and having to back into the slip later in the day with even greater wind). Fun was had learning about all of the compartments and systems.
green wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 2:14 pm
It’s definitely a lot to learn. I hope it will be fun.
I rolled with the change of plans today when the crosswind was a bit much for me to feel comfortable coming out of the slip with a narrow turn (and having to back into the slip later in the day with even greater wind). Fun was had learning about all of the compartments and systems.
Just about all of us attempt our docking with centerboard (apologies: dagger board in your case) at least partially deployed and at least one, if not both rudders down. FYI
green wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 2:14 pm
It’s definitely a lot to learn. I hope it will be fun.
I rolled with the change of plans today when the crosswind was a bit much for me to feel comfortable coming out of the slip with a narrow turn (and having to back into the slip later in the day with even greater wind). Fun was had learning about all of the compartments and systems.
The high freeboard makes the Mac difficult docking. But with practice, you will learn to master it.
Welcome again to the forum and Mac community. Here you will find 20 years of Mac experience and plenty of knowledgeable Mac owners who love to help new owners.
We have a family of 5 (kids are 7, 5 and 2). The M is a great boat for us. We keep it in the driveway, keeps costs down. We pack it up at home all ready to go. If we go out for a weekend, we don't bring the mast along, launching takes me 15 minutes at most before calling back the wife and kids who usually hang out at a park while I launch alone. I have spine issues, and I still manage the boat fine on my own without injury. It's a very easy boat.
For longer trips, we bring the mast and sails, takes about 10 minutes more to set up. we pull it with our Kia minivan, I've done a few mods to keep the weight down, lithium batteries, etc. I only fill water and fuel as close to the ramp as possible. I usually have a loaded weight of 3470 pounds. Driving with a weight distribution hitch is quite fine. We have a Tohatsu 70hp TLDI, would definitively recommend going with at least a suzuki 60 with the larger leg, or a 70hp if you want to give waterskiing a go. The 70hp is for me the perfect power plant for the boat.
It does not sail as well as a beneteau first or a mirage, but it sails fine. Me and the wife sleep in the aft berth, switched the original foam mattresses from the high end Ikea kids twin mattress (they fit well 2 side by side). We sleep much better. The 7yld sleeps on the dinette bench, and the two young ones in the v berth. We are lucky to have an early M (with the galley against the head on starboard). It's a much more open space for the kids to play along down bellow.
With the young kids, consider getting a lines led aft kit for your sail controls. As of now, we sail with a flat top main and a 105 jib. It's quite enough for us, very easy to handle. My 7 year old girl can manage the jib sheets in reasonable wind. For those reasons, we don't bring the genoa along. If we want more speed, the tohatsu pushes the boat pretty fast! Also, we put in a c-head, greatly extended the usage of the toilet, we can go at least a feek without filling the dry bucket (have to transfer pee every 3 days or so). It does not smell, and it's super easy to manage. I don't rely on a pumpout station. Also, we have the full enclosure, meaning more divided spaces for when kids wake up, or when the adults want to stay up a bit!
Your family will have a blast if everyone does not mind living in a more spartan environment, like if you enjoy camping, you will definitively enjoy the mac.
The longest we've been at it was 7 days, which was enough for us. The kids really enjoy exploring different areas, one of the big highlights of the mac for them is not being bound to a marina and always going to the same places. They really love adventuring.
with a 50hp? They are small kids in addition to being young. I know the
