A New 33' Quasi Mac?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The elevated area would only be the small area that the head sits on. I think of this as the head closet. Those standing in front of the head would not be on the elevated platform and would have full standing headroom. Those sitting don't care. The area outside the dividing vinyl door is full height.

[Don T]

OK, I get it. I like that idea, a taller head is way easier for me.

Don

[Indulgence]

I don't understand; why is there so much debate and focus on the head?
Is this an over-reaction because of the discomfort associated with the one we have?

We aren't going to keep referring to this as the "Quasi Mac" forever, I hope.
And it's not really a Hobie any more. I'm wondering how this vessel will be designated.

The ' -KH 33- ' ?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The discussion is two fold.

One, the location and it's possible dual space use has a huge impact on what you can do with the rest of the available interior space. At 33' with a very narrow 8' beam this really is still a small boat compared to her competitors of equal length. Her very fine entry reduces the available space even more.

And two, there is desire to have a real usable head, something neither a X or M have. For day sailors or casual weekend sailors the mini Mac head may seem fine, but in a real cruising boat they are both totally unacceptable.

In may ways, the method used in both the Dragon Fly and the Farrier 32 of combining the open head floor space with the forward cabin floor space is unique and represents an innovative way to deal with what really is a very limited amount of usable full stand up floor space. I don't think it is getting any more discussion than it deserves.

The racing version Art is building will comply to the class rules required to race with all the other Hobie 33's. I assume he will continue to call it that. What he calls the cruising version is up to him, it is his money that is being spent on the tooling and construction costs. Until Art decides what name to sell it under, the one we have been playing with is a Hobie 33 cruiser.

[Québec 1]

Here is a 32 foot trailerable boat with electric mast raising system for 75,000$




http://www.vivayachts.com/UserFiles/Fil ... h_spec.pdf

[Alex]

Yep, nice boat, and recommend car for towing

[Navyvet]

I have been thinking alot about a Hobie 33 as a nice boat to get other then a Macgregor. If you need some ideas about marketing let me know I have a small back ground in sales and I have a few ideas on how to maket this boat. For me it's more of a toss up depends on if this boat is avaible when I go to bye or if I can find a mac dealer that is with in 500 miles of me and willing to talk with me. Most dealers hear mac and they just walk away form you not much fun to deal with. Kelly Hanson is a bit of a drive for me but one I might be making. In the mean time I wait and pray that the economy holds on long enough so that this beautiful 33 can be made and that I can have a chance to bye one myself.

[Indulgence]

It's been nearly three weeks since any further discussion on the 33 footer was posted.
Any updates? Progress? Finalized design? Enquiring minds want to know!
L.

[Richard O'Brien]

I haven't heard anything from Art recently. My only new thought was after visiting a new Hunter Edge at the Denver Boat Show earlier this month, I wondered what would happen if a tall, almost "Pilothouse" design were added kind of like the 250 Freedom? The Edge is certainly more Beamy on the stern, but that tall interior allows lots of room. You'd pay dearly for the windage though.

In my business we cut up big sheets of 2" styrofoam when we want to figure out a space. I don't know what they do in the boat design industry?

I too am anxious to see what happens?
Richard

[Indulgence]

I'm too new to keel boat sailing and have no design knowledge
at all, but I always pause when I come across pictures of pilothouse
motor sailers in the glossy mags. It's often cold and blustery here
(and on the Coast) and I've imagined it would be nice to have the
option of hunkering down closed in from the elements. It would
extend the season and make those iffy days 'go' days. Small heater
at your feet, Admiral below with her knitting bag at hand, sneering
at the cold waves crashing beating on the window. Ahh! perfect.

Off on a tangent. Too long off the boat.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You don't need a hard pilothouse to be snug and warm on a stormy day. We get that experience with our full canvas enclosure. It's the most expensive addition we've made to our X and my wife still says it's the best money we ever spent.

We've had some crossings where the wind and rain are pounding down and the spray from the bow is landing far astern. Through it all we sit snug in the cockpit on our dry recliner seats under toasty fleece blankets while the autopilot soldiers along doing the work at the helm and we keep watch. The enclosure has added a completely protected additional room to the boat making all 26' usable in any weather day or night.

[Québec 1]

You don't need a hard pilothouse to be snug and warm on a stormy day. We get that experience with our full canvas enclosure. The enclosure has added a completely protected additional room to the boat making all 26' usable in any weather day or night.

Ditto Duane, We had an unusually rainy summer last year and I really appreciated the full enclosure whilse watching other folks stuck in their cabins when at the marina . I particularly enjoyed having the aft hatch way completely open ( gives 9+ foot head room)but being perfectly dry under the dodger and as an extra bonus sailling in the rain with the furling foresail. Unlike Duanne I do not have an auto pilot yet...but I want one and am watching for a good deal.



Q1

[puggsy]

Hi there AWK 111....In Australia, a NEW MAC "M" will cost a bit MORE than $56,000...You guys in the good ol" USA are getting it too easy...And since out $$$$ just nosedived, all imports to here will go UP. Puggsy

[AWKIII]

Hi guys.

Sorry for the delay in responding to your questions regarding this thread.

I have been in California for four of the past six weeks and have been in the weeds sorting through phone and e-mail messages.

Things are progressing nicely on the project. The hull, deck and liner for the One Design Racer are in their molds and ready to be pulled. We have ordered lead for the keel and are building some of the smaller parts like the rudder, etc. The trailer has been designed. We will be offering two versions. A basic steel model that will come standard with the boat and a deluxe version which can be ordered as an upgrade.

We are running a little behind because we chose to make a change to the deck mold. The existing boat has 1970's era alloy toe rails. We made the decision to replace them with a modern radius lip. Over the years there have been a lot of complaints from "rail meat" that blood circulation to the legs was being cut off. Additionally, they just look dated...especially with the new cockpit/transom design.

I read this thread almost daily. I have kept detailed notes and have printed all of the sketches that have been submitted. There have been a tremendous amount of great ideas and many of them will be used in the final product. I am pretty confident we will be able to design an interior that is both comfortable, practical and usable.

Our current plans are as follows:

1. Complete the One Design racer.
2. Finalize retail pricing.
3. Develop a web site.

We have already made a few decisions on names. The boat will be produced and marketed by Freedom Boat Works. We already have an existing site for this company...www.freedomboatworks.net. The One Design racer will be called the H-33 S.S. and the cruising version, H-33 S.C.. S.S. stands for Super Sport and S.C., Sport Cruiser.

A couple of notes:

We have made the decision to focus our efforts on the new boats and as a result, we will only offer the existing Freedom line on a one-off basis. We currently have a new 280 and 250 on the showroom floor. If anyone is in the market for a new quality-built trailerable, this may be the opportiunity of a lifetime. We have slashed prices on both of these boats in order to make floorspace available for the new H-33. Both are loaded and are priced below cost. Additionally, financing is available.

We will continue to operate our MacGregor dealership, mail order department and sail loft. In fact, we are actually going to expand these areas. MacGregor boat sales will continue to operate out of our existing Colorado location. Our mail order fulfillment center will be moved to California and the product line e expanded. Our sail loft will be moved to California as well.

Finally, we are looking for someone who would like to earn some extra money. We currently operate five web sites and need someone who would be interested in assisting us in updating them and keeping them current on an ongoing basis. If you have an interest, PM me.

Best Regards,

Art

[cciss]

hi, i've been considering buying my first yacht and after researching with regards to my situation and circumstances, i have come to the conclusion that a Mac 26M may suit my needs best. Since i was hoping to come to the states and buy and tour for an extended period and then import back to aus, I had a couple of issues with it. As Roger so aptly states in his 55 min promo video, you can stay on many waterways for free, but that would have necessitated some serious mods to made it "live aboard" eg head, shower, water tanks. Those issues seem to be addressed in this new design, making it very viable solution for what i had in mind and wanted from a trailable cruising sailboat.
Like to just remind you guys though of one of the great features that make the Mac so popular is it's water ballast, I realise there is always design constraints and i wouldn't profess to know anything about it, but i noticed this design has a huge keel, could it be made hollow and open top & bottom (maybe at the front of the bulb) to take on extra water which would just drain when trailered, also will it still have the rotating mast?
Very impressed to see so much user input BEFORE production, that sort of thinking will help keep the reputation of "the WORLD'S best selling cruising sailboat", look forward to taking a look at the finshed product...