MacGregorSailors.com

We are plannng to have a party in our 01 26X, and would like to know, how many people can you safely take ?
We can have lifesavers for 10 people and i know the boat can take the weight, but dont know if it will become unestable first, and then if we will not comply with coast guard regulations.
The people does not have any boat experience, and he only ones with sailing experience are my wife and me.
Any ideas ?
Thank you
Hector
RGV, TX

If you sail, I would not take more than 6, especially if they are inexperienced.

Conditions should be good or better (<15 kts wind, < 2 foot seas)

You also need to know you can count on the people to respect the chain of command.

That's a really good question and I have been mulling that over myself.

As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, the boat is rated for 6 passengers as it says on our little tag. I am not sure if they could site you for having more than 6 people. I've never been stopped by the Coast Guard, they seem to be busier dealing with the drunks. The Florida Marine Patrol will stop you for any infraction they can dream up.

I routinely take mine out with 6 onboard and I will say that this boat is very comfortable with 6 people as they tend to spread out with some in the cockpit, some below and some on top or the bow. When it gets rough, I clear the top and bow.

My feeling is that more than 6 will start to enter the tripping over each other syndrome and sort of take away from the fun.


Jim

I have had four adults and four kids from ages 12-3yrs. I wouldn't recommend it I have done that twice and each time I tell my self and the Admiral that is the last...but yet it appears to be in my future no matter how much I protest I only motor and then very slowly with that many aboard. And ANYTHING over two hours is two hours too much

Allan

I have done the 4 adults and 4 kids. I always have ballast in with that many people. Keep your weight distributed. It gets crowded when adults want to relax in the cockpit and kids want to come and go off the stern and swim ladder.

There are two answers to this question...

1 - How many people can be on the boat and still have it be stable?

• The answer this is simple... The manufacturer specifies that the boat is designed for only 6 persons, up to a maximum weight of 960 lbs. (that's an average of 160 lbs per person). If the ballast tank is not full, the maximum capacity is 4 persons, not to exceed 640 lbs.
  
  This is from the manufacturer's certification / warning sticker on the boat. (see PDF copy here)
  
  Any more than that, and if you have an accident you are clearly going to be seen as 'at fault' and legally and wholly liable for the situation, since you have exceeded the original specifications for the boat.

2 - How many people can you CONTROL on the boat at one time?

• This really depends on the maturity, experience and mental health of the folks you invite aboard, as well as your own experience with both the boat and your guests. Inexperienced guests are a handful... add alcohol and you're asking for some serious trouble.

Personally, I don't think the Mac qualifies as a 'party boat'... you simply can't get enough folks on board to really have a 'party'. It's more made for 'light entertaining' - say, having two couples over for dinner, for example... and that's about it.

I agree with 6 although I have had 4 adults and 4 children on occaisions... those being good weather, calm seas and not venturing far from port.... more of a fun cruise than "party"

S

The 26 foot Macs are not required to have neither a crew capacity limit nor a HP limit like a small boat with a Coast Guard placard. I think the crew capacity labels should be described as manufacturer limits, not Coast Guard limits

They are obviously guidelines you should follow regardless.

A historic word of caution is the reminder of the 4th of July mishap years ago...an overloaded Mac X which rolled over, causing the deaths of children. The high cabin structure of the Mac X makes it unsafe for too many folks if carelessly shifting too much weight--especially with an underfilled, or empty, ballast.

We've had 4 adults, 2 teenage kids, (full ballaast), and the Mac did fine. Plenty of room for Six.

Hi

The European certificate classifies macs for passengers/crew:

Type 5 - Sheltered waters : 8 people max.
Type 4 - Coastal waters: 6 people max.

I think it is reasonable.

Once I took 8 adults motoring in a lake and the boat was very sensitive to people moving inside the boat.
People over the cabin is not a good idea. 2 were on the bow and the boat was very sensitive when they moved...

Cheers

Jose

Not to make light of a safety issue but, well, maybe you could tow a dinghy to use as a riff-raff raft. Rob

I agree, if one is to overload the boat and a High wind approches than send them all down to the Sole of the cabin and sit until the blow is over.
This will be extra ballast.
This I would do before anything else includeing sail changes.
Dave

Catigale wrote:The 26 foot Macs are not required to have neither a crew capacity limit nor a HP limit like a small boat with a Coast Guard placard. I think the crew capacity labels should be described as manufacturer limits, not Coast Guard limits

They are obviously guidelines you should follow regardless.

4 poker players in the main salon and 2 losers smoking Cuban cigars and crying in their scotch in the cockpit under the full enclosure during a torrential down pour with lots of winds from the north East. Their might be room for some wimen but this is not the place to talk about them eh!

10 people in a 26' boat, any small 26' boat, is too many! If you are planning a party, pick an area with a dock and have a dock party. Take peole out for short rides a couple at a time weather permitting. That way you can have 20 or more, as long as you are tied to the dock!

With the ballast full I do not think this is a safety issue in normal sailing/motoring conditions. (under 15kts wind) the boat will not turtle on you. it may lean over a lot and destroy you underwear. it is more of a comfort issue and that depends on the people on the boat.