Well, for now I've decided the 26D is the boat for my list of sailing adventures. I will start my shopping soon. Does anyone happen to know if you can get up river from the Ohio/Mississippi and hook up with the canal system with just a 10HP on a 26S or D? I just don't have good information on the cu...

I strongly disagree with the notion that one cannot live on a small boat -- compared to camping and especially long distance backpacking the Mac 26X and M are palatial. Personally, I can go months on a 20 footer as long as it has a basic cabin. OTOH, I was on a 48 footer for a week in Puget Sound on...

I am learning all the time. I just now came across the Portsmouth Number index, and the Macs are all in the 90s: http://www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/tables05/tables05off-2.htm The Mac 26D is the fastest, as I recall. My Bahama Islander 24 was faster than the Mac 26X which is not good, especially con...

Thanks. Such a great offer and yet not at all uncommon amoungst this group. But first I need to actually buy my Mac and truly I am planning #4 for 5 years from now. But dreams (at least mine) take planning and that is half the fun in my experience. I kinda have my heart set on the Erie canal. Would ...

How did the trip go? The major reasons I am interested in a Mac 26X, as opposed to a performance sailor are four trips I am dying to do: 1-Down the Columbia River System; 2-Puget Sound to Points North; 3-Mississippi -- Tom/Tug (sp) canal to Mobile and on to Florida; and 4-Buffalo to NYC the long way...

Thanks gentlemen for your replies. I got it now! BTW, went sailing in one of my club's boats, a nice Hunter 310, and as we were tooling down the fairway I see a 26X sitting there in its berth looking mighty fine. After our sail I checked it out close up and fell in love all over again just looking a...

Great thread. I am jealous that you are in Florida -- some of the best waters in the entire Americas as far as I know. Take one of those ASA or USSailing courses through keel boats and then join a club for a year. You can sail 22-25 footers right away and they'll let you take bigger ones out soon. A...

Thanks for the most excellent reply. But are you saying the whole group is termed "26C" while the D has the daggerboard and the S has the swing centerboard? In other words the D and S are subsets of the C group as a whole?

Sorry for the confusion.

Too bad no answers to your questions. I was just asked the same thing and haven't hunted down the answers. Here's one for the board if anyone knows: Just what are the differences between the Mac 26C, D, and S? Just the fact that they have different keel configurations, meaning (I guess) a daggerboar...

Try the Intex inflatible "SeaHawk" model. They retail for $200 or so and can be used for everything. They fit in a bag and weigh about 40 lbs. I don't have my Mac yet (jealous of the new owner from Portland, Ore, but I take the Intex with me on my sailing charters and it works great. It ca...

I have just recently looked at Mast 28s (so far I like them) but I have never heard of an Odin 28. What is this beast you speak of?

Thanks for all the comment, I didn't mean to stir up a fray, but I am sincere in wanting the information and will act on it sooner or later. Specific question: Is the M really faster under sail than the X? If so, by how much? Can you measure or feel it when your underway? Thanks again for any replies.

Hey sir,

We are neighbors! I live in Pleasant Hill (work is in Walnut Creek). How do you like your M for the Bay and Delta?

Well, the debate may be ancient but it's still lively I see! For my purposes, the X is winning. As one poster wrote -- the M has no significant differences. I really like the X, and I'm trying "not to let my brain get in the way" though I've already been waiting 4 years to get one -- for m...

My analysis was more of a gut feeling but you not only put it to words, but added the graphics!

Thanks for all that great information.