MacGregorSailors.com

It depends on your state of mind, I guess.

Don't think of it as an expense, think of it as an investment opportunity.

The dividend comes in the form of enjoyment.

What we are investing in comprises two major components.

While labour costs might not be climbing that fast, the ton of refined chemicals that makes up a boat comes mainly from oil. Thats never going to be cheaper than it is today.

My advice: list your essencial requirements, look for the most ticked boxes, invest your money, and start enjoying the dividend.

As character building as self importing might be, character building is not a characteristic I look for in a boat.

My thinking.....

Tks
C ya.
Clemo

Take a look at the cost of a reasonable size caravan or motorhome, then look at the cost of camping sites, now look at the Mac as a floating abode that could allow you the best seats in the house for New Years fireworks on Sydney Harbour, the only site costs as such are marina berths ... in all the years I have sailed I am yet to pay for one night (Public Jetties) if you go Gunkholing you might have to share with the local wildlife.

It's all in how you look at it, some people like 5 star .... we prefer 1 Million stars.


Glenn

That's a good way to look at it. I don't feel so bad spending 50 to 70 on a toy. I''ll get my wife to read that it may help getting the
Bert

I agree with Mutt but as for working out which boat to buy have a real good and honest look at what you want it to do and buy one that is set up accordingly.
Our basic boat worked out very cheap with the import deal we got and it had all basic Aust fitting specified and fitted at the factory but to set it up for long term cruising to the level we have would have cost well over 90k and possibly closer to 100k and more again to convert a US sourced boat s/h.
On the other hand if you only want a day sailor a basic boat will do even direct from the factory with a bit of safety gear and a small outboard.

As Boblee wrote, "have a real good and honest look"

Our story:

I have been around the water and boats since the early 60's, raced catamarans in the 70's/80's my wife had no idea if she would be comfortable in a boat, our first trailer sailor was a Jarcat5 purchased for a good price she loved it, we have had dolphins swimming beside us in Port Stevens and pulled up on some beautiful shore line for swims and BBQ's, because of owning the Jarcat5 Linda got a taste for sailing but didn't like the small size, due to an accident I had it took a little time to replace, during extensive research of nearly 2 years we managed to narrow down to a few styles of boat at the time we couldn't make our mind up about which Mac we preferred the 26X or 26M, after going on both we dropped the 26M from the list, it gave us the feeling of being a bit small inside mostly due to the forward toilet position and smaller dining area, it's a personal thing, one of the other boats we were looking at was a F31 Farrier tri, at the moment we have no time to build one, perhaps one day, could even be a F36.

The best advice I could give you Bert is to keep the other half in the loop, find out any concerns she might have, going for a day sail with someone is a good start.

Glenn

I have done lots off boating but not a lot off sailing.
Bob and Glenn i like to ask you : what are all the extras on your and

Bert

Bert
I don't really know where to start or if I can remember all the mods but we have two 50L water tanks under the v berth a 150l under the rear berth (probably only holds 100l though), jabsco water pump for pumping into or out of the tanks and for a shower on the transom the system also has a double filter for the sink and the original pump tap for emergencies. Two extra batteries one beside the original and another under the v berth set up to charge by two 65w solar panels,a 50amp 12v honda powered alternator, from the tow vehicle and a battery charger either from mains or the inverter to pump from the vehicle or between batteries, there is a 70l evercool fridge freezer which can also be isolated to any battery or a power supply when on mains, the 240v switchboard switches from mains to inverter feed and multiple outlets around the boat there are also probably 6-12v outlets too also also most lights are converted to led.
We used Raymarine with a c80 monitor for chartplotting and sonar also have the autopilot (Ray).
Modified the galley with two sliding doors so that the whole internal is accessible, made drop down drawers above the rear bunk and filled in the port side hole above with a cupboard /switchboard cabinet on the portside mounted the VHF/27mhz and portable vhf radios also have two portable uhf and a hf radio (portable for use in vehicle or boat)also have sound system.
There is an arch which takes the place of the old mast carrier and holds the aerials, solar panels and boat hook etc etc.
Barbeque mounted on the stern rails and also use single burner metho cooker mounted on the galley and a butane cooker for emegencies the support for the mast is adjustable for height when camping mast down, bimini, sail cover and heaps of rigging mods etc etc etc.
Thats enough I'm knocked up from trying to think of them all but what anyone else does will depend entirely on what they are planning to do with the boat but would suggest that anything that is done will not detract from basic use so that when you are finished it will still appeal to prospective buyers, by stripping out the cruising gear ours would still be perfect for day sailing with very little extra weight.
I should have used a 60hp motor and probably would not use an etec if planning on visiting remote places especially across the top where there is no service, you need good ground tackle etc and the trailer needs modifications for long distance hauling.
Bob

Bert, we are still doing mods getting things to work for us, we imported our boat to Australia at the end of last year, I have been finishing the Mods that were needed on our tow vehicle, the intercooler install is almost finished, then back to getting the boat up to speed, ready for some cruising at Christmas time.

I have resealed the chainplates, staunchions, motor bolts and everywhere else that bolted through the hull.

Put in access port in the rear of the boat above the motor well to allow access to install the grab rail and dinghy motor mount on the stern.

We have two six volt deep cycle batteries under the V-Berth seat starboard side against the forward bulkhead, port side has two 20 litre water drums and a 10 litre fuel drum holding metho for the HeatPal 5100 heater/single burner stove, a GME radio/CD/DVD/USB player and speakers go into the anchor locker flotation area above the V-Berth. The forward dinette seat bin has two plastic boxes to hold food.

An electric winch connects to the base of the mast as part of our mast raising system, I have yet to make a holder to store the winch inside when not in use.

Mods currently underway, installing a pressure water pump, moving fuse box and switches that were below icebox to battery bin, the battery bin now a 7stage 240Volt battery charger replacing the 110 volt US charger, installed a Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR) to isolate the batteries when not charging, a new switch panel to be made and installed.

Making/installing a bowsprit for the Spinnaker/Quelcher, making/installing traveler over cabin for boom, making/installing rear arch for the solar panels and Vertical Axis Wind Generator (VAWT) and swing out davits and hold the mast while on trailer, running the hailyards inside the mast to stop clanging.

Then there is the Pedestal table, platform above the steering controls to protect them, fit the LPG hot water unit for showers, 35Litre Engel fridge freezer in icebox.

The Raymarine ST4000+ autopilot is below the steering wheel, the Raychart 320 Chartplotter connects on top of the pedestal, an ST40 Wind Instrument and ST40 BiData Instrument is to Port of the companionway.

We have a roll of soft marine carpet to go over the interior walls.

A LCD television/DVD player shall be connected to the toilet wall above the stern dinette seat, power wiring, A/V to and from stereo, and dinette table so we can see what we shot on the camcorder is already in place.

I know there is more that has been done and materials that are already purchased but not installed yet ... can't think of them at this time.

Glenn

Geez, Bob and Glenn,

I am surprised the boats still float.
I have a 40W dolar panel mounted on the back of mast carrier, several water bladders, electric water pump, lots of additional storage racks, several 12v outlets around the boat, dual battery system, combiner to assist the battery charging, Volt / Amp Gauges and still working/thinking on the rest.
Lots of ideas.

Dirk

That's amazing I don't think I need all that for starters.
I live close by the water ,when I get the first thing is getting to know how to handle the boat and not having done much sailing, that could take some time I think .After that start planning some of the trips you people have done. But the Kimberley's and the gulf of Carpentaria are some of my dreams and if it never happens it was fun dreaming about it. But thanks for all the info . If any of you Mac Gregor people come to SA your welcome to drop in leave you car and trailer on our farm while you brave the southern ocean, we do get some good days and if not the Murrey is not that far from here.
Bert

At first look it does seem a lot of bits and pieces, get down to reasons behind some of the mods and things start making sense.

Electric winch for mast raising - if my back,shoulder or knee goes out again and I'm out of commission then Linda can get the mast down on her own. Extra water and fridge/freezer - we can be a bit anti-social and stay away from built up areas and associated services, HeatPal 5100 and metho for fuel - the HeatPal generates 1500W of heat, great in winter, with the lid off we have an extra single burner, Radio, TV etc - sometimes it's nice to put the heels up, Solar panels, VAWT, Charger, VSR, etc - part of the veins controlling the boat electrics, bowsprit, arch, davits - why not.



Glenn

Folks, as attractive as the bulkhead over the V berth is for the CD/MP3/AM-FM, is is not the best place. (IMHO)

We put our VHF just by the companion way for easy access from the cockpit, right?

If the CD is playing, you have to get from the cockpit, up to the V berth to mute it before you can answer a call on the VHF, back at the companionway.

I would have the CD by the companionway, next to the VHF.

Tks
C ya
Clemo.

We have our radio/cd/mp3 player above the mirror, additional speakers in the cockpit with kill switch (so we can switch the outdoor speakers off)and a remote control unit.
All nice and easy.

Clemo wrote:Folks, as attractive as the bulkhead over the V berth is for the CD/MP3/AM-FM, is is not the best place. (IMHO)

We put our VHF just by the companion way for easy access from the cockpit, right?

If the CD is playing, you have to get from the cockpit, up to the V berth to mute it before you can answer a call on the VHF, back at the companionway.

I would have the CD by the companionway, next to the VHF.

Tks
C ya
Clemo.

Like Mistral we also have a remote control. When we eventually have the LCD installed the bulkhead shall be the most convenient place for controlling the DVD portion of the stereo, it's also an easy control point when ready for sleep, we use the V-berth not the pizza oven.


Glenn

So many mods and so many ways to customise the boats for individual requirments, it just depends on priorities.
When We bought the boat except fo a trial sail I had never sailed so bought the boat direct from the factory as standard except for the stern rails and installed the supplied extra's here so that I could get hands on and make the boat how I wanted it instead of what someone else thought was important but certainly picked up some great ideas off here even if I did modify them my way.
Will be going to Albury this weekend but without the boat so hopefully can get to talk with some of you blokes and maybe pick up some more ideas.
Dirk If we don't fill the tanks and take out the fridge there is not a lot of extra weight but when heading off for three or four weeks without being able to get extra supplies she is pretty heavy especially towing a fully loaded dinghy (300-400kg)? plus possibly 6-700 kg aboard but most onboard weight is very low.