Mac 26s Yawl
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johnnyonspot
- First Officer
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:19 pm
- Location: Elk River, MN.
Mac 26s Yawl
I was browsing boat ads in Thunder Bay, Ontario and ran across this curiosity, a MacGregor 26s Yawl. Now all it needs is another three headsails.
Bet it is a good sailing craft
I corresponded with the owner of that boat a few years ago. Alexander seemed to be a very knowledgable and experienced sailor, third generation professional mariner. He liked the basic design ideas of the Mac S but felt it needed a lot of changes to be reliable on Lake Superior where he took extended cruises away from the populated areas.
No slight intended, I own a Mac S and am very happy with its performance.
He felt that the ketch rig (not a yawl at all, at all) was a well balanced rig for the Mac. He had a 3 foresail arrangement. The bowsprit for reaching, a furled jib and a solent stay for heavy weather / storm conditions. When clawing off a lee shore (his words), he preferred the mizzen and small foresail.
You don't see it in the picture but his main and mizzen were reduced in height with a gaff configuration to reduce heeling and improve stability.
He commented that he thought the Mac was a well designed boat. It's no Contessa but it is good for what its built for. He said " its one of the few worth fixing up". His concern was heavy weather sailing performance. Positive foam floatation was a comfort he remarked upon.
I think that the configuration, that he arrived at, would be a very capable sailing craft for the conditions on Lake Superior. In many ways Superior is like an ocean because help often far away.
No slight intended, I own a Mac S and am very happy with its performance.
He felt that the ketch rig (not a yawl at all, at all) was a well balanced rig for the Mac. He had a 3 foresail arrangement. The bowsprit for reaching, a furled jib and a solent stay for heavy weather / storm conditions. When clawing off a lee shore (his words), he preferred the mizzen and small foresail.
You don't see it in the picture but his main and mizzen were reduced in height with a gaff configuration to reduce heeling and improve stability.
He commented that he thought the Mac was a well designed boat. It's no Contessa but it is good for what its built for. He said " its one of the few worth fixing up". His concern was heavy weather sailing performance. Positive foam floatation was a comfort he remarked upon.
I think that the configuration, that he arrived at, would be a very capable sailing craft for the conditions on Lake Superior. In many ways Superior is like an ocean because help often far away.
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delevi
- Admiral
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 1:03 am
- Location: San Francisco Catalina 380, former 26M owner
- Contact:
A Mac Yawl. Now I've seen everything.
So Highlander,
How about it?
Rig that Mac Pony with a mizzen. Then trail her down to San Francisco. We'll go out on the Bay and load up on some of that fine Scotch, then put up all six sails in 30 knots breeze. Beene will be at his usual post, standing on the rail, hanging on to a shroud with one hand and shooting video with the other. No that would be some priceless footage. Wooohooo! 
Leon
So Highlander,
How about it?
Rig that Mac Pony with a mizzen. Then trail her down to San Francisco. We'll go out on the Bay and load up on some of that fine Scotch, then put up all six sails in 30 knots breeze. Beene will be at his usual post, standing on the rail, hanging on to a shroud with one hand and shooting video with the other. No that would be some priceless footage. Wooohooo!
Leon
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waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
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johnnyonspot
- First Officer
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:19 pm
- Location: Elk River, MN.
Re: Bet it is a good sailing craft
If it isn't a yawl, then why does the ad say its a yawl?Tiny Tim wrote: He felt that the ketch rig (not a yawl at all, at all) was a well balanced rig for the Mac.
That mizzen mast is pretty far back, or at least appears so in the picture. Beats me.
(I can hear saws, hammers and cursing already 
)Ketch or Yawl
JohnnyOnTheSpot:
If the mizzen mast is ahead of the rudder...its a ketch; even if it says its a yawl. If a rat called itself a lion it would still be a rat (with an attitude maybe).
That mizzen mast (on a ketch) needs to be shorter than the main mast or it would be a schooner.
If the mizzen mast is ahead of the rudder...its a ketch; even if it says its a yawl. If a rat called itself a lion it would still be a rat (with an attitude maybe).
That mizzen mast (on a ketch) needs to be shorter than the main mast or it would be a schooner.
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johnnyonspot
- First Officer
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:19 pm
- Location: Elk River, MN.
Beats the hull out of me, man. All I know is it says "yawl." In any event, I know of the accepted way of distinguishing between a ketch and yawl, though this is not accepted by all. (hey, that rhymes) And using this widely accepted definition, since the rudder on Macs hangs aft of the stern a Mac could never be a yawl, yet the owner apparently refers to it as one, which is his right I guess. Perhaps Highlander could build a platform extending aft of his rudder on which he could mount a mizzen mast thus creating a yawl.