I'm in Sydney Australia and want to moor a boat in Pittwater (A harbour about 35ks noth of Sydney harbour) and live on it three days per week on my own. I also want to sail/motor to Sydney Harbour occassionally leaving the sanctuary of Pittwater and travelling within 5ks of the coast.
Will a Mac do that for me and which Mac is best for the job?
Please advise.
Thank you,
Ian
Can a Macgregor do it?
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Ian Brooke
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 6:34 pm
- Location: Sydney Australia
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kmclemore
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6265
- 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 think either of the Mac's could do that job, Ian! You'll need sufficient fuel if you plan to motor, of course, and you'll want to watch the weather, too, as any good sailor would. But close off-shore sailing and motoring has been done by lots of folks in Mac's and I've yet to hear of one foundering.
Now you just have to decide which you like more.... (and no, I'm not goin' there, folks!)
Now you just have to decide which you like more.... (and no, I'm not goin' there, folks!)
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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
Hey Ian, good plan. I haven't had mine between Newcastle and Pittwater yet, but reckon its probably up for it in good weather. But, then again, the boat is very good for launching and retrieving, in my case, an hours drive on the trailer versus 6 to 8 hours at sea. If you plan to live aboard 3 days, then I'd go for something better than a swing mooring. The sailing around the anchor/swing mooring would get pretty annoying for living aboard - my opinion. A marina berth on the Pittwater would work.
But.....bugger the extra money, if you're going to live on it 3 days a week - go for the Mac 28 - lots of room and what you'd call a 'real' shower and toilet, and galley.
Cheers
Craig
But.....bugger the extra money, if you're going to live on it 3 days a week - go for the Mac 28 - lots of room and what you'd call a 'real' shower and toilet, and galley.
Cheers
Craig
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Naaa healthy discussion about the diff. between the two boats always
Helps the new Mac buyer. And reader. It stimulates a post and the boat
Itself is scrutinized better then any article or brochure ever written.
The post, if kept unpersonalized and informed makes great topics of discussion. It adds to humor and sometimes very good stories to read here. It individualizes the posters and keeps things generally rolling along.
The diff. between the two boats is so slight that pointing out the things that make them diff. is an exercise in detail we can all enjoy. I learned more about the X reading the debates then I ever would on my own.
Or we can always post-cute pictures of bunnies.... that will draw a crowd.
Helps the new Mac buyer. And reader. It stimulates a post and the boat
Itself is scrutinized better then any article or brochure ever written.
The post, if kept unpersonalized and informed makes great topics of discussion. It adds to humor and sometimes very good stories to read here. It individualizes the posters and keeps things generally rolling along.
The diff. between the two boats is so slight that pointing out the things that make them diff. is an exercise in detail we can all enjoy. I learned more about the X reading the debates then I ever would on my own.
Or we can always post-cute pictures of bunnies.... that will draw a crowd.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
is better and totally different. 
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RobertKing
- Deckhand
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:46 pm
- Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Definitely doable at a mooring, but I'd prefer one with water taxi service. You'll be hauling a lot out and back. Going out that's 50 pounds or so of ice, one or two 5 gallon jugs of water, 3 days food and drinks including at least one ice chest, the empty Sani-Potty bottom, any fuel required to top off, an occasional quart of alcohol for the stove or propane canister for the BBQ, etc. Coming back, there's all the garbage, heavier Sani-Potty bottom, empty water jugs, an empty ice chest, and sometimes a gas tank. I'd just rather do it in one trip on a more stable water taxi than in more trips in a dinghy.
I'd recommend a 24x7 Nicro Vent to help keep humidity down. Definitely want to get the cooler(s) empty, dried out, and propped open, and prop up the cushions and leave the bilge covers open while gone to help the vent fan get rid of any condensation in the bilge.
A couple of 17" x 17" 20 watt BP solar panels on the stern pushpits should produce an average of about 20 amp-hours per week, enough for 3 nights of cabin light use plus taking care of the batteries' self-discharge. Bringing aboard rechargable lights from home could help eliminate the need for so much solar panel, but you'll need at least one small panel not shadowed by the boom to keep up with self-discharge, if you don't run the outboard for an hour or two per week. AGM batteries have a lot lower self-discharge. Personally, I'd bring a charged iPod for music, and have a 12V plug-in cord for it aboard, and a handheld VHF with rechargable batteries charged at home, but with a 12V charger on board anyway.
As far as the swinging goes, check out these threads:
Anchor Riding Sail
Anchoring with a "Pointer" Sail
And certainly, the 26X is a better liveaboard than the 26M.
I'd recommend a 24x7 Nicro Vent to help keep humidity down. Definitely want to get the cooler(s) empty, dried out, and propped open, and prop up the cushions and leave the bilge covers open while gone to help the vent fan get rid of any condensation in the bilge.
A couple of 17" x 17" 20 watt BP solar panels on the stern pushpits should produce an average of about 20 amp-hours per week, enough for 3 nights of cabin light use plus taking care of the batteries' self-discharge. Bringing aboard rechargable lights from home could help eliminate the need for so much solar panel, but you'll need at least one small panel not shadowed by the boom to keep up with self-discharge, if you don't run the outboard for an hour or two per week. AGM batteries have a lot lower self-discharge. Personally, I'd bring a charged iPod for music, and have a 12V plug-in cord for it aboard, and a handheld VHF with rechargable batteries charged at home, but with a 12V charger on board anyway.
As far as the swinging goes, check out these threads:
Anchor Riding Sail
Anchoring with a "Pointer" Sail
And certainly, the 26X is a better liveaboard than the 26M.
