UPGRADE??

[TampaMac]

I really think that ole Roger should build a bigger X-boat like 30 feet min with basically the same design... up until that happens I need to upgrade eventually to something much like the X.

I would like to keep all the good attributes of the X but have a bigger boat that could have a genset and airconditioning, maybe a shower......

Anyway please people if you have a link to a good upgrade boat please post it!

Seems to me that some time back there was a 32 foot shallow draft boat with a retractable daggerboard deal.... I can't remember the name

Anyway please help!

[craiglaforce]

There is something called a Mega-30 that is a trailerable boat from C&C yachts. out of production now. Someone named Dana Barlow I think the name is, has one on the trailer sailor board and also runs a web site for the owners. Looks like a great boat.

Roger really missed the boat in my opinion. His latest boat should have been a 30 foot trailerable with shower, built in tankage and better accomodations. He would have been able to satisfy the mac 26X upgrade market instead of competing against it (poorly) with the 26M

Someone also suggested a genset that is very small and priced under 200$.
I ordered one last week from www.bargainjims.com .
It looked ideal for what I wanted.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

A generator priced under $200 ($189.95 actually).

"Warranty is 30 days"

"Buyer agrees to pay $45.00 insured shipping and handling"

[Gary]

This may be what you were thinking.
www.shoalsailer.com/shoalsailer.htm

[craiglaforce]

$ 247,000! for a 32 foot boat? Wow. I wonder how many they sell at that price?

[TampaMac]

I like the ShoalSailor.... but that price is ridiculous since you can get a nice catamaran with the same or less draft for less money that has more room in it.

Here is the 32 foot boat which was mentioned before:

http://www.seawardyachts.com/page19.html

Any other suggestions guys?

[TampaMac]

Another option even better priced:

http://www.geminicatamarans.com/

[TampaMac]

There is no doubt in my mind that a huge market exists for say a 30-35K dollar 31 foot version of the X, you know about 45K fully outfitted with a motor etc.

It would have the same 9 inch draft and beam of the X, ability to speed under power, combined with a longer waterline it would perhaps scream.

The upgrade options are so far the:

Shoalsailor which draws yikes 30 inches! and costs 247K.

The telestar 28, nice boat with a 12 inch draft, for 65K, but it actually has less cabin room and less cockpit room than an X.

The Gemini 105 for 137K, great boat all around with an 18 inch draft. Presently I'm thinking a used one for about 60K as the best upgrade from an X for myself anyway, can't trailer it I know.

Please if someone knows of some better upgrade boats enlighten me.

Maybe we need to write Roger and clue him in that this market exists. Doesn't he realize that everybody in the USA is driving a 3 ton SUV that can easily drag around a bigger (say 4000#) boat?

[Mark Prouty]

TampaMac,

Thanks for sharing your decision process. This threat has enlightened me on some great boat choices to dream about.

Mark

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Pretty noisy for a small generator, most likely due to the 2 stroke motor.

Here is the leader, cheaper, quieter, lighter than the Honda.

Yamaha 1000w, $619

Yamaha 1000w, $657 free shipping

[kmclemore]

Yep.. looks like a good one.... it's about as quiet as a normal speaking voice (~48db) and it's even cheaper if you buy it HERE.... Oh, and it appears they don't charge for shipping, either!

I haven't measured, but I wonder if this puppy fits in one of the fuel-tank lockers under the cockpit benches? I have a built-in fuel tank (18 gal) so I never use them for anything anyway.

[kmclemore]

"I think the designer has accomplished this. She has a retractable, articulating bow sprit that carries a monster of a masthead asymetrical spinnaker."

Wow... and I though you were going to say she had nice looking legs and a cute smile. (OK, I know, that wasn't PC... what can I say, I've suffered the ravages of a lifetime from chronic testosterone poisioning... I've applied for medical disability, but for some reason it keeps getting rejected.)

"Now all that is left to do is sit back and wait to find out how much this beast will cost to build."

"....perchance to dream: ah, there's the rub;" - Bill S.

[TampaMac]

30 inches to me is too much.

I live Northwest of Tampa, along the Gulf Coast here there is a lot of shallow water. I find that I can go places in the X that I just could not with another boat. With 30 inches I'd be worried about leaving the channels, right now at more than half tide I can wander around aimlessly, which is nice.

It is nice to pull up on a sandbar in a foot of water and not run aground.

The low draft is the really important thing. Accomadations would be second, and speed third.

The telestar 28 is really nice, can really sail at 15 kts, power at the same as the X and has about a foot of draft. If trailering was needed this would be the better of the above boats. It can be had with a shower, but as far as a generator and airconditioning I'm not sure.

However I live on the water and have a boat lift. So to me a used Gemini so far seems the best. It draws 18 inches, and according to the article out of crusing world magazine it will mostly outsail a monohull of 37 feet except upwind. It cannot however power around at the speed of a Mac. But this is a boat I could sail to Key West (220 miles in) and be comfortable for a week.

The seaward eagle is a nice boat, but I doubt there are too many on the used market. I'm not paying 100K for it. And it has more draft and goes slower than the Catamaran. Also I'd worry about running aground with that bulb keel, it doesn't give way when you hit something, sounds like damage is very possible.

I'm not buying anything for at least a year, I'm just starting to gather data, it anyone knows of any other boats.... please post! Thanks!