Legend "The Edge" vs S-850 vs 26M

[magnetic]

Any chance you could maybe offer an opinion on the boats? Preferably informed?

[ROAD Soldier]

Any chance you could maybe offer an opinion on the boats? Preferably informed?

I don't know how much more I could possible inform you on my opinion that was 90 percent based on the same articles posted on the net and magazines that everyone else here has probable read. Now to add logic to all those flowery articles on any given boat you have to ask yourself is it worth thousands of dollars sometimes tens of thousands of dollars more for a little bit more comfort in a weekend boat. After I have been in the Hunter Edge at the Annapolis Sailboat show in 2009 and 2010 I have to say no freaking way. Now how is that totally hands on informed opinion.

[magnetic]

Let me break this down for you -

Would you prefer the extra beam which Highlander appears to covet in the Legend?

What is your opinion of the inboard & readily accessiblr rudder?

from the photos, do you prefer the Mac cabin layout or the Legend?

if my very basic stats are approximately correct, do you think the Legend will be a faster boat? A more comforable boat? A more seakindly boat?

What is your opinion of the mast support and the compression post down to the keel?

do you think either the S-850 or the Legend is a better looking boat?

go on! You get the idea! Have a go for yourself!

[ROAD Soldier]

Let me break this down for you -

Would you prefer the extra beam which Highlander appears to covet in the Legend?

What is your opinion of the inboard & readily accessiblr rudder?

from the photos, do you prefer the Mac cabin layout or the Legend?

if my very basic stats are approximately correct, do you think the Legend will be a faster boat? A more comforable boat? A more seakindly boat?

What is your opinion of the mast support and the compression post down to the keel?

do you think either the S-850 or the Legend is a better looking boat?

go on! You get the idea! Have a go for yourself!

Ok lets answer these in order given:
Q. Would you prefer the extra beam which Highlander appears to covet in the Legend?
A. No because it would not fit going through my gate in the backyard for storage.

Q. What is your opinion of the inboard & readily accessible rudder?
A. Can't really give an informed opinion on that one since I have an 26X with modified rudders that are easy to get at by adding block and tackle and getting rid of the rear set that also gives me more room for fishing.

Q. From the photos, do you prefer the Mac cabin layout or the Legend?
A. I don't need photos since I have been on both of them and yes the Legend is nicer in that category.

Q. if my very basic stats are approximately correct, do you think the Legend will be a faster boat? A more comfortable boat? A more seakindly boat?
A. Yes to all but only slightly and not enough to justify the difference in price for a weekend boat. If we were comparing a live aboard size boat yes but not a weekend one.

Q. What is your opinion of the mast support and the compression to the keel?
A. Totally a mute point a West Sail 32 is one of the strongest sailboats every created and has a deck step mast. Catalina's have deck step masts it is all in the designer here on how well they transfer the loads. There is no clear advantage to either one except maybe more room in the cabin because the mast post down there is no mast intrusion, but this can also be nullified on a keel step Sailboat by a good layout.

Q. Do you think either the S-850 or the Legend is a better looking boat?
A. When it comes to things that provide a function such as transportation I am purely a functional person. How something looks is totally irrelevant to me. If anything I would in any race prefer the ugliest Sailboat in the race that wins. That way I can make fun of the people that pointed at my boat earlier and laughed, hence the term sleeper.

[ROAD Soldier]

For those of you that need a visual of a sleeper here you go. Also known as doing it Redneck style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A203ShFM854

[magnetic]

BINGO!

Many thanks for that - you see, it is possible for a pair of grumpy old fools to have constructive conversation about something we both love (boats)! I know that squaring up to people comes as second nature, but it's really refreshing when we stop behaving like a pair of RS Owls and share a common passion. I am sincerely grateful for your response and respectful of your views, even if I don't necessarily agree with them

[ROAD Soldier]

Now don't get to much Rodney King on me now. You still are a communist and I am a 30 percenter. However yes we can share Mac ideas as long on any dispute you realize my idea is superior.

[DaveB]

Anything drawing over 1 ft. with water ballast empty is no go for the Everglades and any other thin waters I cruise.
That includes sailing in the Gulf of Mexico for a 138 mile offshore trip to Dry Tortugas from Cape Coral. Or a Trip to the Bahamas to Bimini,cat key or gun key and off the Abacoe's.
One has to know their boat and equip it to do these things and most important have the experience to do it.
I have read about the Edge, and may be a good boat for many but for cost and variable sea conditions for coastal sailing the Mac. has the Edge.
Dave

I spent yesterday afternoon kicking tyres at the London Boat Show, and my conclusion is that the is still the best option

[Highlander]

Gez nice to see you two guy's are finnaly getting along ! Red neck & Commie Eh ! when 's the Wedding date !

J
PS does this mean future sailing dates together would love to see ya two guy's racing against each other , even better on the same boat !

J

[ROAD Soldier]

Only a guy wearing a skirt would think of a wedding date.

[Hamin' X]

The Mac will fit in a standard "Overseas Shipping Container", with it's 7'10" beam. This is a primary design criteria. Also, the shallow draft, cannot be overlooked. The Mac has many points that do not include it's inexpensive build. The other boats are very nice in certain respects; fit, finish, outfitting, size, performance, etc. None come close to the Mac for overall accessibility to the general public (worldwide), or sailing grounds. I love my , and it does what I want, at a price that I am willing to pay.

~Rich

[Highlander]

Only a guy wearing a skirt would think of a wedding date.

Oh Yeh !
Your the one that calls yer boat a "SLEEPER"

I prefer to call my boat a bunker sooner bunker than sleeper

I keep my butt in the V-berth where I can cover all angles of approaching redneck's
would not want to be wakening up to a nick name "Porky"

But I will hold on to the gold rings for use "I here gold is trading high right now"

Well all kidding aside ya have to love this great site EH !

Andy & I go back a few yrs remember the well we both have owned one I still do !

& He's no more Commie than you are " Just as stuborn Yeh " so I guess that makes us all
Have a great day life is so short Ya gotta make the best of it " we do not live forever " OK I do as I've been told I'm a heartless bugger

J

[dustoff]

Having also crawled around the Edge at the Annapolis Boat Show this year I thought the wider beam was the only real advantage.
The Cockpit felt quite a bit roomier, particularly the foot space around the helm, and you didn't feel like you'd be always squeezing around the binnacle. It also seemed to make the cabin a bit roomier, but less 'overnightable'.
I have a wife & 3 kids 12, 10 & 5, and the compartmented(ish) cabin on the Mac suits weekend overnighting w/ 2 adults & 3 kids very well. With a more liveable galley/bunk arrangement. I think the Hunter would feel like everyone piling into a family size tent.
Having finished my first half season w/ a new M I got from Inmon in CA, I love it. You''d be paying quite a bit more for the hunter w/out it being significantly better equipped to sail. As far as sailing performance goes, I'de guess the boats are pretty similar, so what you'd want to compare is hardware and configuration for ease of operation & safety. I didn't see much advantage in those areas on the Edge.
if you take the difference in money and sink half of it into rigging & cabin upgrades into the Mac, you'll get a heck of alot more boat.
(And much better looking IMHO, if you get the blue hull )
Lastly, the towing weight is a consideration as well. I can pull the Mac w/ a v-6 Chevy traverse with no problem. I think with the Hunter you'd have to commit to full size pick-up or big SUV.

v/r
still green mac sailor.

[magnetic]

@ Highlander

I loved my but could never get the engine configured right; I recall that you had a massive jackplate on the back of yours? Fantastic little boat, though using a tiller under power at 12+ kts was quite fun in a decent swell

@Dustoff - what he said

@ Hamin

The Mac will fit in a standard "Overseas Shipping Container"

- no it won't - I shipped mine from Dubai to Hong Kong, and you need a Hi-top container (and don't expect any guidance from the factory on how to go about getting it in)

Overall, I think the comments about a family sized tent, spending the money on better rigging and the likely sailing characteristics probably hit the nail on th head; the blue hull comment is plain daft, as everybody knows that the extra pigment slows the down considerably

Redneck and I are not getting married, but we are starring together in a theatrical production later this year; he is the front end of the pantomime horse

[ROAD Soldier]

Redneck and I are not getting married, but we are starring together in a theatrical production later this year; he is the front end of the pantomime horse

Carefull I like chili. Also if you are not a commie then I will also be eating another plate full of crow in less then one week.