That's a "BAD ASS BOAT"...

[Herschel]

I had to smile this afternoon. As the Admiral, my brother and I were starting a light air sailing afternoon on Lake Monroe, Sanford, FL, I was slowing to begin the process of hoisting the main and unfurling the jib. We were idling in calm waters when a 14-15 ft fishing boat with two young men crossed our bow from starboard to port at moderate speed about 25 yards in front. Close enough to hear their conversation as they looked over at my Mac26X, American Spirit. The driver of the fishing boat, giving mine the once over, yells to his buddy in the bow of his boat, "That's a 'bad ass boat'; you could sail around the world in that boat." They "steamed' on out of ear shot; my brother in the bow turned and smiled. I grinned ear to ear. It is nice to know that there are young men out there on the water that think we have "bad ass boats" even if they are a little ambitious in their assessment of our range. Thought I would share the compliment with all Mac owners.

[Russ]

Yea, once you get away from the snobbery of SA folk, I find most people find the Mac a most interesting boat.

When I first launched my brand new boat for the very first time, it was an anxious moment. Would it float off the trailer, would the motor start, how does this ballast stuff work?
A guy by the ramp watching said "Nice boat! How many staterooms does it have?"

My first time seeing a Mac was when I owned my powerboat. Was heading back to the marina and I was trying to pass this sailboat. I thought "Why can't I get past this sailboat already?" When I finally did slowly pass the Mac I saw why. I was impressed. Then I found this forum.

[OverEasy]

First impressions as viewed from our Mac26X over the past year or so:

‘From people seeing a Sailboat bigger than the van pulling it’
‘From a 35 footer motoring Sailboat who went to full throttle in a vain attempt to keep from being passed in open waters’
‘From a “real” Sailboat with an under powered auxiliary outboard being blown backward in gusty conditions’
:D ‘From the over sized in every aspect Bay boat that later in the week managed to ground in the same shallows we cruised through’
‘From another Mac26X owner we met in open water motoring along on a perfectly calm still evening sunset cruise’
‘From the Bass Boat guys whose engine quit and were drifting into the expansive marsh we rescued and towed back to the ramp’
’From us on the first day and everyday since as we found ourselves the new caretakers of Over Easy’

Best Regards
Over Easy
fudt

[dlandersson]

Note that they were talking about an "X"

The driver of the fishing boat, giving mine the once over, yells to his buddy in the bow of his boat, "That's a 'bad ass boat'; you could sail around the world in that boat."

[Russ]

Note that they were talking about an "X"

The driver of the fishing boat, giving mine the once over, yells to his buddy in the bow of his boat, "That's a 'bad ass boat'; you could sail around the world in that boat."

And a WHITE hull "X" also.

[Highlander]

Note that they were talking about an "X"

The driver of the fishing boat, giving mine the once over, yells to his buddy in the bow of his boat, "That's a 'bad ass boat'; you could sail around the world in that boat."

And a WHITE hull "X" also.

Yeah being totally amazed at the Just imagine how estatic , awestruck, zealously, zestfully they,d b eyeballing an blasting by them at 25mp/h at the same time as their eyeballs popped outa their sockets & their jaws dropped open & they look at each other totally in shock & say did u see that ! where did that come from ! it had two black stripes must be second generation & a white hull to boot

J

[dlandersson]

No, seriously

Yeah being totally amazed at the Just imagine how estatic , awestruck, zealously, zestfully they,d b eyeballing an blasting by them at 25mp/h at the same time as their eyeballs popped outa their sockets & their jaws dropped open & they look at each other totally in shock & say did u see that ! where did that come from ! it had two black stripes must be second generation & a white hull to boot

J

[Herschel]

Overeasy said:

‘From the Bass Boat guys whose engine quit and were drifting into the expansive marsh we rescued and towed back to the ramp’

I think that because these two guys were freshwater fisherman that I was especially gratified by their compliment. As you know, most of us wave to boaters as we ply the waters we sail. It's part of the tradition that sez, "I honor you as a fellow boater; hey there"! My experience with fisherman on the St. Johns and associated waters is that they are so focused on fishing and that they apparently consider the boat is merely an "appliance" for getting to their favored fishing hole, that they mostly don't even give us "boaters" a second look, much less a wave. So, to get such high praise from one of them really caught me off guard and meant a lot to me. I guess I underestimate their appreciation for the boat aspect of things.

[Herschel]

Postscript on my "Bad Ass" boat:
The Admiral and I went for a sail on Lake Monroe this past Tuesday. 17 knot winds steady, reefed mainsail, reefed working jib, took one 30-degree roll on a broad reach with following "seas". Both of us north of 75 y/o. What great boats these are that we can still do this kind of stuff as we progress through our "golden years" and not have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it. I tip a glass of cheer to all of us Mac owners (regardless of model or color ). These are BAD ASS boats, and we are BAD ASS sailors, too, with some pretty special Admirals that support us.

[Be Free]

You are an inspiration to me and a preview of what I might expect to be able to do as a sailor a few more years down the road. Keep posting!

And don't disparage those "following seas" on Lake Monroe with a 17kt wind. It does not take much to get that lake stirred up.

[Jimmyt]

You are an inspiration to me and a preview of what I might expect to be able to do as a sailor a few more years down the road. Keep posting!

Ditto!

[dlandersson]

Ditto x 2

You are an inspiration to me and a preview of what I might expect to be able to do as a sailor a few more years down the road. Keep posting!

Ditto!

[NiceAft]

As someone on the cusp of 73, The Admiral and I are not letting that stop us. I could not agree more with your feelings.

June 22 we take Nice Aft on a twelve day cruise of the Chesapeake. Over 200 miles on the water.

We did this last year also, but we had to spend one night at a Hampton Inn because of heat and humidity. Not this year; I bought a 5000 BTU air conditioner. (and we expect to be)

[Stickinthemud57]

Not an or , but an S...

I love getting compliments on the clean lines and overall great looks of my 26S.

I love to tell people how easy it is to trailer, making it possible to sail anywhere there's a launch ramp.

I love to tell people how roomy the interior is, which a queen-sized master berth under the cockpit.

I love being able to keep pace with and often outsail all but the dedicated race-designed boats on the lake.

I love having a boat I can customize to my liking.

I love sailing back into cozy inlets or over shallow areas that would be off-limits for other boats my size.

I love ending conversations about my boat with "I love this boat".

I have often wondered why the MacGregor is maligned by some sailors, but I think I am beginning to understand.

They're simply jealous.

[NiceAft]

Not an or , but an S...

I love getting compliments on the clean lines and overall great looks of my 26S.

I love to tell people how easy it is to trailer, making it possible to sail anywhere there's a launch ramp.

I love to tell people how roomy the interior is, which a queen-sized master berth under the cockpit.

I love being able to keep pace with and often outsail all but the dedicated race-designed boats on the lake.

I love having a boat I can customize to my liking.

I love sailing back into cozy inlets or over shallow areas that would be off-limits for other boats my size.

I love ending conversations about my boat with "I love this boat".

I have often wondered why the MacGregor is maligned by some sailors, but I think I am beginning to understand.

They're simply jealous.

Yep You’re a Mac owner