A few questions for you guys

[Dangerdog]

Hi everyone, new here, lurked for a little while searching things but im not the best with computers, so here goes.

Never sailed, never owned a boat, trying to decide on my first. Lifelong surfer though (30yo male here) , live on Jacksonville beach (in an apt as big as your shoes lol) and retiring from the prison i work at in less than ten years. I want a boat that will carry me back and forth to Eluethera, mainly in week to 2 week trips, again, mainly to surf. Im a very practical guy, willing to wait out the weather and follow all safety precautions to get me where im going safely. Ive read and reread the arguments both for and against this little boat, (cant really understand the hatred some people have for it but oh well) but just wanted some input from some people that actually own one.

Does this boat have enough storage space to haul me and one or two of my buddies from Jacksonville Fla to Eleuthera for a week or two? No kids, no females, just guys. (gf is scared of boats haha) We are not the dainty type, we can sleep on the beach or whatnot, i was more concerned with where i would stow the 5-6 surfboards (gotta bring spares in case) and enough food and water. Can the Mac deal with a small watermaker? We woudlnt need showers but we would need water for drinking and cooking, i can deal with sailboat tank water it doesnt bother me.

Also, and this is another thing i am stuck on... as ill be buying a used one (jail guards dont make much brotha) what year range should i be looking in? I dont mind spending 15-18 on a newer model if its worth it, but its hard to find articles about what years were favored, most articles focus more on justifying why you have the damn thing nobody talks about what the best model of Mac is. (or if they do i cant find it)

Should i desire the Etec or the smaller motors i see on some of the older ones? What sort of gas mileage / range you get out of the larger motor (50-70 hp) vs some of the macs i see with the little 9 horse job on the back? Running 18-20k is appealing, but does it suck down gas? Anyone owned both? Also, it says this boat is rated for more protected waters how protected is sailing down the coast of florida towards the bahamas?

Sorry for the deluge of questions, ive actually been reading on this boat a lot, just unsure on a few things, and i dont know any sailors, all my freinds are surfers. Should i be looking at 30 foot sailboats instead? Although 3-4 grand in maintenance and slip fees dont sound like my thing i just want to get the right boat for me.


BTW my long term goal is to pick up enough about sailing to either crew on or sail my own boat around the South Pacific when i retire in a few years. (not the mac obviously)

any help is appreciated guys, and apologies in advance if this is in the wrong forum (couldnt find a noob forum)

[Divecoz]

Dangerdog: Welcome aboard...
1st. I have never made THAT trip.. But Many here have . In Fact James (last name ?) had a on going blog of sorts here if you search his name and Bahamas..Many of the boats have done the Dry Tortuga's as well. Important Point.... WITH... Pictures to back up their claims!! Anyone can say or even post anything.. Proof is required for bragging rights.. The proof abounds..
Why do some dis this boat..? Low self esteem.. little self worth.. Need to have a Bigger Newer Better in their eyes.... than you? Each and everyone of those is a major Character flaw..
I have meet more sailors on Bigger Nicer and Surely More Costly sailboats, that have nothing but praise for my boat / these boats..But they ( Mac Power sailors) do have limits as do those big new $$ boats..
Which year? It will have to be an X for that price range..No Big Deal 1/2 full 1/2 empty... No this and that... but you have this and that in exchange..
You do have a choice on a Dagger-board or a Swing Keel with the X Why would that be an issue? If your in skinny water either one should be barely down anyway.. and not sailing , your powering..
9 HP? You must be talking the 26 D or S ( Dagger-board or Swing Keel) For sure as a day sailor, its a better sailor.. Narrower.. less free board a lot less free board .. means short inside and out in height / headroom..without the pop top ..popped up ? You cannot stand-up in the cabin.. its just smaller all the way around and it is Very Limited on speed, under power.. Very close, to what it can sail under wind alone.. Your desired destination is in or about 60 to 80 miles away....divide that mileage by either 6 MPH or 12MPH thats the number of hours it can require to make said trip..Drop the 12 to 10 your still looking at the difference of 13 hrs versus 8 hrs .. your choice..
Your going to be seeing a lot of Tohatsu 50 HP Small prop 2 stokes.. When they were new the were old technology ..Not Bad technology .. proven and they were cheap... For You and again your repeated desired destination The Bahamas... Do you honestly think parts will be available at any price for those motors?? Mercury and Yamaha and Honda are all overt those islands..
IMHO and because of the distance you desire to travel regularly.. Look for a 4 stroke 50 HP ( or larger but as I said I doubt you'll find Bigger than 50 HP $$$) and the Much Preferred Larger Prop! Take your time make a list of what you want and don't buy until its all there ..Not the little add on stuff the primary issues .
4 stroke gets better gas mileage UNLESS you find what you want with a New Etec.. IMHO Doubtful for those $$$

Your price range... It will be on an older steel trailer.. if your like some and are negligent about maintenance.. and being in and out of salt water.. you'll be buying a New Trailer $$$ in No Time at all.. Then P-ing & M-ing and posting here, about how poorly made the trailer is was hahahaha...Yea whatever...

[Dangerdog]

thanks for the reply divecoz, and thanks for the advice regarding the tohatsu i have seen that name everywhere.

[Divecoz]

Your very welcome Dangerdog......
For what you want to spend.. a Macgregor X will be very hard to beat on any given day...
#1. IMHO for the dollar.. These boats , by and large have been well taken care of by their owners.. No Doubt as well there are , a few shmucks out there who never take care of anything...hahahaha and those still think its worth what they paid for it.. That's when two fools meet.. The seller for thinking that way and the buyer ?? hahaha for being stupid
I own a 2005 M with a Merc. 50 HP EFI BF. I am very happy with it.. However GOD willing and I can sell this house in this market.. I'll been down living next door ( Port Charlotte Fla. ) ASAP!
That said....... I am looking ...around... to add a boat to my toy list.. a Center Console around the $$ your talking.. What am I finding??
I am finding a lot of those boats for sale .. Smaller Newer ( 17' = 19' )and there by in better shape.. Humm But a lot of them are, IMHO pretty beat up.. Ridden Hard and put away wet.. NOT how I take care of my toys and I dont want to buy your...... piece of junk.. If its immediately Obvious to me, that you didn't take care of the boat itself .. how well should I assume you took care of the motor?? Yea.. That's what I though and think ..too.
So your looking to buy a Cabin Cruiser that you can comfortably sleep 3 to 4 guys on.. That fits the X.. Heading to the Bahamas.. Your guys right? No cry babies? Your up at 3 or 4 AM and heading out to make the crossing. Wind picks up around 8 or 9 AM and to cut gas consumption you throttle back raise the sail and Motor sail.. doing 6 to 9 knots.. Land over the horizon with itchy feet you drop sail and beat feet for the nearest Tiki Bar..
You might have been there in half the time on that C.C and possibly soaked to the skin along with most your stuff and you'll be sleeping 3 to a room for $100 a night or more??? or sleeping on the beach in a tent..fighting bugs all night and no potty ... But hey you didnt buy that C.C. Yuo did buy the X.. Your almost there.... one of the Buds is down using the Porta Potty , and up he comes with 3 Bahama Mamas Heavy on the Rum.. They are half gone before you ask? Did you wash your hands before digging through the 10 day Ice Chest and making these drinks ? Who Cares... the rum will kill the germs and ya got music on the player and you can see people on the beach..
Your checking the GPS and Sonar and looking for the best place to land.. and you mention to Mr Jimmy Buffet wannabe.. How about you toss in a couple lines and we catch dinner and HEY! Mr. PP Fingers how about you digging out that S.S. BBQ ... we're almost there and..... my glass is almost empty!!
Sounds like a bummer to me.. 3 good buds spending 3 to 6 days for about $125 each.. OK OK if ya get silly and spend all your time buying drinks in bars it could well be $1225 esshhhh Don't catch fish today? Hey ...Dude...Real Men can live on Hot Dogs and beer for 5 days easy.........

[Dangerdog]

sounds about right man!! Except for hotdogs and beer. I will eat just about anything i can spear. Fish, that is, not women haha.

(edit... but yeah to the beer haha)

I am a well aware this boat is not meant for sitting in the middle of open ocean, although im sure there are a few sailors with the balls and skills to take this thing to the moon and back, i just want to make sure people that already own one think i would be ok hitting Abaco with a couple freinds and a few surfboards.

[vizwhiz]

Yeah, welcome aboard. Chinook is just finishing a trip across to the Bahamas, well documented with pics and good advice and all of that.

Check out THIS post.

There are others on this board who have done it before as well...some have links to get you to those stories.

I think it sounds like the X or M is the boat you're looking for - trailer that sucker down to South Florida and jump across to Bimini, then on to wherever the waves are...power to get you across the Gulf Stream and to motor around when you need it, more head room...

[Ixneigh]

Hi ive got a brand new M with etec 60.
Gas consumption is
At 15 k, about 3 mpg
At 7 k, 8 mpg
At 6 k, over 10 mpg
Boat is in cruising trim with one person and 12 gallons of gas.
Those measurements were collected running between known points of land.
Mild conditions.

You wont be able to fit five fullsized boards on this boat easily. It could be done. Not easily.
The accomodations are fine. The M has a better back berth area then the X.
These boats will be fine for the bahamas with caution.
The M sails better then the X.
Youll want to do as much sailing as possible, since gas is probably 6 bucks a gallon in the bahamas right now. And the quality is aweful.

Ixneigh

[jcasale]

Dangerdog,

I am currently living in Atlanta but maintain my residence in Atlantic Beach. I travel back to Florida every three weeks or so and would be glad to give you a tour of my X. I keep it moored on Julington Creek (better sailing on the river than the ICW). PM me if you want to schedule a sail.

John
Atlantic Beach, FL (currently marooned in Atlanta, GA)
2000

[Dangerdog]

Thanks jcasale sending you a pm now

[Catigale]

You will need a pretty big power supply to run a water maker to provide for a crew of 3-4. I think good tankage would be better and cheaper solution.

Storing longboards would be tough, I agree

If sailing is you thing, I'm an advocate of smaller motors on these boats for reasons of costs, service, and fuel economy. A 9.9 HP will take you to hull speed and have the best cruising range, and cost the least to buy, sell and own.

[K9Kampers]

An aft mounted rack system can be configured to carry the longboards. Same as some Macs have been modded for aft mount solar panels and dinghy carriers.

[Dangerdog]

Not all the boards are longboards. A couple of them are only 6'2 or so, then like 2 longboards. I could strap them together also with a little bit of foam in between each board.

How much water can a mac hold safely? What about gas? I know there has to be a some certain limit before your boat is considered a floating bomb lol.

[pokerrick1]

K9's is the better looking fancy answer - - - but your idea of strapping the boards together with some foam in between enables you to place the boards many different places - - - like from the front hatch to the mast area, or from the bow pulpit back. Welcome aboard and Good Luck!

Rick

[Dangerdog]

thanks for the responses guys, and thanks for the figures Xneigh, i sent Casales a pm and hopefully will be getting to walk through or sail on his X, overall im pretty stoked and happy to have found out about the Mac before i purchased something else, i was heavily leaning towards an older Alberg or something similar, but couldnt figure out which liquor store i was going to be robbing regularly to pay the slip fees and maintenance. I drive an f150 it should be able to pull the Mac all over the place.

Also stoked about finding these boards. Owning various motorcycles through the years has taught me the value of a good messageboard. Motorcycle mechanics in Florida have freaking lost touch with reality they want roughly 33 thousand dollars per hour to turn a bolt on your two wheel. I much prefer to just sit the laptop next to whatever im working on / breaking apart / cussing vehemently at etc etc...


happy sailing to all

[K9Kampers]

When my sit-on-top kayak was my dinghy, it nested between the bow pulpit & the mast step for trailering, and the same sometimes for motoring or sailing. Obvious drawbacks to this location is access to anchor locker and forward hatch opening. I've often thought about bringing one of my sailboards along - and figured I'd secure it amidship, outside of the lifeline stanchions, but haven't done this yet tho.