Mac 26 in French Polynesia?

[marcopoly]

Hello,
I am from French Polynesia Island..Tahiti, Bora...etc (south Pacific)
I plain to buy a MAC26 soon, or ...
Any owners in this area to give some advices?
Is the mac strong enough for sailling in this area?
I will plain to sail about 80nm in blueocean...not to far?
Regards,
Marc
PS: Sorry for my terrible English

[Catigale]

Thats a long distance for open water Marc. A or would need a lot of modification to be ready for such a trip in my opinion.

If you intend to cross quickly in a weather window of course, the boat would be fine - you could do this in about 5 hours under comfortable power of course.

[Divecoz]

You Have picked the wrong boat for what ever reason OR
Your just trying to pull a leg or two.

If Your next question is ?
Would a 1969 Malibu SS 396 be a good match for the 3 miles of broken pavment and loose sand we call roads on this island I call home?
Then I know your not being serious.
But you want a good boat cheap ( and I shouldnt bother with this but I am such a nice guy)
$3000 for a 30 footer http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=57270

[Richard O'Brien]

Marco

What attracts you to the Macgregor? Is it the power & sail option? Is it trailerabilty? Is it headroom? Do you want to travel long distances fast sometimes, and just sail at other times? Is it low cost? Is it shallow draft for reef-hopping? There may be other bluewater choices depending on your needs. Corsairs are very fast, and motor well. There are many used, cheaper keeled boats, and a few other centerboarders for easy haul out. The big advantage of the Mac is it's trailerability, and you don't have many roads there. Do you?

[marcopoly]

Catigale,
Thanks for your answer. If I understood good, you mean with a MAC26, with a good engine,
I could cross the 80nm in 5 or 6 hours? (if the weather is good of course).

Divecoz, the boat looks very cheap yes but I really like the MAC "concept".
I prefer powerboat but would like sometimes sailling...for pleasure and econnomy...Here the gazoline is more than 2USD for 1liter..

Richard O'Brien, like you said there is no many roads here...so I do not mind the trailerabilty... But to get 50 or more HP to have fun
with the engine and can also sail must be great..I going to have a look to the "CORSAIR's boat like you advice me.I am very "open mind" but
never seen a versatile boat like the MAC at these range of price...

Now just another question, due the different shape of the hull between the X and the M, wich one would be better for ocean?

Regards,
MARC

[Divecoz]

Tell me Marco
What parts of the "Mac Concept" interested you?

[marcopoly]

Divecoz,

A powerboat with sails...or a sailboat with a big engine...
for a great price...
I saw the corsair like talk Richard O'Brien, they also looks great and for a raisonable price...but max HP seem to 10...
If you know other boat like feel free to tell me.
Regards,
Marc

[Currie]

Marco, are we really talking 80nm of blue water sailing? Or 80nm of islands, atolls, etc. in and around Tahiti? Maybe the Mac is perfect for someone who knows that area (i.e. motoring when the atoll currents get challenging - more or less coastal sailing elsewhere). How much of what you'd be doing is truly blue water? Having said that...I own an '04M. I would not consider it for blue water sailing either (agreeing with others above). I would want more of a heavyweight.

Cheers,

~Bob

(Reference for others)... http://www.thetahititraveler.com/maps/fpoly.asp

[Richard O'Brien]

Hi Marco

I only mentioned the Corsair because we have a couple at my marina, and they easily outrun me unless I have my motor nearly wide open throttle, ie. They'd make 8-15 knots in any but lightest breezes. It seems like you're so exposed in the south pacific, with lots of "fetch" allowing the build of some pretty big waves. the trouble with outboards is that they frequently come out of the water in big seas, as opposed to having the prop well under the stern. The other thing is if you're caught offshore in big waves the Mac doesn't have the reinforcing to withstand big waves coming down on it's cabin top, although I've never heard of one failing yet. Finally, the water ballast isn't as "sea-kindly" as a heavier fuller keel. You'd be thrown about a bit, and if shelter wasn't into the wind/waves you'd get pooped a lot.

Sadly, I don't know of any affordable blue-water motorsailers? Maybe Eric3a, or MadMike will see this thread, and have some better advice/

There are a few Mac owners in Hawaii, and they seem to do allright?

[baldbaby2000]

The Corsairs do OK under motor in calm conditions, but if the wind comes up much the motor may not be enough.

[marcopoly]

Currie, well there is 85nm between the 2 islands I would like to cross.
So of course it is not the "trans pacific" but maybe it is a bit far for a MAC26.

Thanks Richard O'Brien for you good advice.

Well, my conclusion is that the boat I would like, doesn't exist yet...
But, I think I going to buy a Mac even if she is not the "best boat for my area". I could stay near the coast, sometime overnight at the small island opposite Tahiti just 15nm... And have a first experience with sailing boat.
If I enjoy sailling I could buy in few year a bigger boat.

Thanks all for your reply.
Any Hawaii's MAC owners are really welcomed...
And about the hull of the and ... wich hull as the better shape for rough sea?
Regards,
Marc

[Catigale]

I dont think you can ascribe one hull shape over another as better for 'blue water'

A Mac will let you make an open water crossing as long as you choose an appropriate weather window.

We avoid the 'is the Mac a blue water boat' topic on this Board since it is more a test of the sailor than the boat. Very experienced sailors have taken Macs into blue water - at my experience level (intermediate) I would not do this.

[maddmike]

If you are really serious about a Mac 26 X, I would consider delivering one to you on it's own bottom, that has been used on a number of open water crossings, which should put to rest any discussions about an 85 mile open water crossing. You would have to put the agreed upon price in escrow to be paid on delivery. Also, if you want to power it above the curreny 2x 6 hp. engines used (on extended crossings), that would be up to you. PM me if serious.

mm

[Brian]

When I was in French Polynesia last year for a dive trip I was thinking that it would be a wonderful location for a Mac. Many of the islands that you are hopping to are within visual distance. Plus, the small 24' dive boat we were in often tilted the outboards up to go over shallow spots. Only one of the seven days had rough conditions, and even then we chose to dive anyway. Those of you that cruise to Catalina in CA probably see worse conditions than you would experience in Polynesia. We often cruise our Mac 20 miles one way to get a cheeseburger. 85nm is a long cruise, but if you consider that one of the planes that flew from Papeete to Morea crashed last year, as long as you have a good wx forecast it would not be that dangerous to make a crossing in a Mac. They use small open boats as transportation over there. At least the Mac has an enclosed cabin for protection. The big motor and shallow draft would be very handy. With its warm crystal clear water and pristine coral reefs Polynesia has to be one of the most enchanting places on the planet. The only problem for me would be that I can't speak French...

[Catigale]

The speak Nesian, not French. If you are a gringo then you will have an American Nesian accent, called Amnesian by the locals. There are so many dialects ergo Polynesian..