Fantasy Mac

[Ixneigh]

I did not want to hijack the barrier coat thread.

Returning to the subject.

I would only use the foam core above the waterline.
I would also glass the hull to deck joint and install a much more substantial bash strake for hard docking procedures.

I was thinking of just a custom one off using the molds but if we're talking about still making the boats for sail
Then I would just offer a few different packages similar to what the west wieght potters do.
The top of the line would be for the diehard coastal cruisers who might put a lot of use on the boats.
The a frame mast raiser could be an option on any of them. It's not for me because my rig stays up most of the year.
I would also replace the formicah with teak ply for a little class inside for just a few bucks more in expense even though yes yes, the formicah does last and in my 35 y/o 22, most of it that had not been abused still looked ok.

So now we have a vinyl ester semi cored hull that's beefed up along the top edge to guard against bad docking f ups and rafting to larger boats.
Inside there is a teak ply option and perhaps one or two of the storage mods on this site as options.
We have two helm seat options. One with no hump. One with.
We have the mast/daggerboard option. (expensive probably)
We still have the same great M hull that try as I might with nights spent thinking about it, I can't improve on.
Two decks could be offered. On that is lower and gives a sleeker more traditional look, and the one we have now. I like the space but some may give up headroom for looks. People who just daysail for ex.
Having an extra deck mold lying around would not break the bank.

Perhaps much of the above is impractical. It was just a fantasy of mine to be locked in a room with the molds, some help, and plenty of money.

There are lots of better boats out there I could buy for that money but none of them seems to work as well for my particular use.

Ixneigh

[Kittiwake]

.... I would only use the foam core above the waterline. ....

I'd leave out the cored hull altogether: the cored interior of hulls and decks turns to mush just as effectively above the waterline as below. Simple is good.
Kittiwake

[RobertB]

install a much more substantial bash strake for hard docking procedures.

I think this has been done before

[Ixneigh]

The tires scuff the hull.

[RobertB]

The tires scuff the hull.

Could that be the reason behind the black - to hide the scuff marks?

[mastreb]

Another option I'd offer after thinking about it is what I'm going to call a "Pilothouse hatch"--It's a drop-on replacement for the sliding hatch similar to a pickup camper shell that goes up 12" and has smoked lexan all the way around as windows. The Lexan and black gelcoat would match the two existing black racoon stripes, adding a 3rd. Purpose is to allow tall people like me to stand upright in the cabin, and to provide an option for piloting the boat inside in inclement weather for those with a remotely controllable autopilot.

I personally would also appreciate a tiller option--I see it as dual port/starboard tillers that just come straight up from the rudders, with the tiller arm being able to fold back over to be out of the way. This gets rid of the helm obstruction in the cockpit, eliminates most of the steering complexity, gets rid of the cable obstruction in the aft berth, and makes the steering drop-dead simple. Would lower the cost considerably and some (like me) will prefer it to a wheel. Instruments would be mounted beside the companionway. Does not allow for stern rail seats (which I already have) or I'd be working on a mod for it already.

[Steve K]

You got me with a tiller. I hate wheels.

My fantasy Mac goes in a much different direction though.
BILL, MIKE, ROGER,.......... hope one of you guys still monitor this forum

All I need is a large scale 26 D. Up it to, say 29 or 30 feet. Put some gas lifts on the pop-top and give her an anchor locker. A few changes below deck would be okay, but no major changes......... except you could shorten that port seat and put some useful storage across from the head. You M guys have about the same arrangement inside, so you know what I mean. This would make the V-berth more private too.
Now, you can have a much longer V-berth in a 29 foot D-boat (biggest complaint for the D boat, I think).
The Admiral likes the head where it is in the D. It was too close to the cockpit for her in the X boat, particularly when us guys are all sitting around BSing right there.

I hated the sliding galley in my Catalina, so don't get any Ideas. The galley in the D-boat is just fine.

FLAT DECK IN THE LAZ, from the factory please!
2 to 1, or better dagger board lift.
Maybe the rotating mast setup..... okay yea, I could get use to it.
Molded in places for speakers inside and in the cockpit and a few pockets around in the cockpit for winch handles, sunglasses, sunscreen and stuff like that.
A dedicated place to install a VHF, that I can reach, see and hear, while holding onto the tiller.
@ 30 feet, I'm sure Roger could create a fuel locker back there somewhere by the outboard. My gas tank always sits in the cockpit now and I hate that. (A solution is on my future mods list)
And hey, set the bow up so I can install one of those below deck furlers. Maybe I'll start using a headsail furler again if the drum was below deck level.
These are not real costly things, if built into the molds.
Did I mention anchor locker? Yea I did.

Here's a tip for X-boat owners, as long as we're talking about design improvements........ The best mod I ever made to my 26X was to unbolt the seat and throw it in the trash. This changed the whole dynamic of the cockpit area and lots of boats have an open stern. Maybe if I had ripped out that wheel and put in a tiller, I'd still have that boat .................. naw

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[vizwhiz]

Steve, I'm really really interested in your fuel tank mod for the D... I posted a thread about it for my S boat, wondering the same thing...how did a boat set up for an outboard not have a space for an above-deck (portable) fuel tank??? LOL... I've already had several ideas and asked for help from several others, so I'm watching and waiting to see what you've come up with...

[mastreb]

I think the easiest thing for portable cans would be outboard stern racks and straps setup on the port and starboard high enough that they don't interfere with the rudders when up. Similar to the back of jeep for example. This way you could fill them easily at a gas station and strap them on without having to move tanks into or out of the cockpit while at a gas station. It would look a bit "military" however and probably not to everyone's aesthetic.

[Ixneigh]

Yea the lack of dedicated storage for things ALL boats need like a fire extinguisher and a flare kit really threw me.
With just a little thought these could have been molded into the liner somewhere.

I went ahead and remade my helm seat so it's flat. It's much better for me. The cockpit has more visual space and I now have a perfect backrest for my stature of person. I took the boat out with a couple of friends and although the vis was reduced, at three knots all I was doing was making sure the boat wasn't going to hit a large object. I did not toss the old one in case I ever need it.
I like the idea of the removable pilot hatch.
Might have to make one.

Ixneigh

A note on the wheel. Even though I like tillers nearly everyone of my guests always prefers a wheel.
They are surprised and impressed the boat has one. I bet it increases the unit sales of these boats and that's the name of the game.

[mastreb]

I like the idea of the removable pilot hatch.
Might have to make one.

Make two, and I'll buy one from you

[mastreb]

I'd also offer an option that eliminates the outboard and replaces the rudders with dual electric outboards similar to the Torqueedos but without the lithium ion battery. Essentially its a pair of small 4hp-Equivalent motors attached to the bottom of the rudders, and driven by typical batteries. Cost for the motors would be about $1500 for the both of them. They will get you to hull speed quickly, but not on a plane.

When you're sailing, the motors are in a disconnected low impedance state that allows the props to free-spin and thereby creates very little drag. Once you get to hull speed, before reefing you can flip a switch and put the motors into a hi-Z state--now you're charging your batteries and creating drag that will slow the boat a little (although the rudders will have to be pinned in place to prevent them from pulling up due to the drag if you do this. Alternatively, don't pin them and don't use the hi-Z charging mode).

With dual outboards, docking is a piece of cake because you can drive them opposite one another to point the boat as you please, and turn it on a dime. Dual throttles would go atop the helm, and the helm can be locked at 0 position for docking.

Add a solar Bimini and your boat charges up in the driveway all week so you can motor all weekend. For extended cruising, bring a 4KW genset. Viola, hybrid Mac with a wide open transom.

[Ixneigh]

There was a solar boat that went across the ocean so that technology is proven. It was a weird looking thing though.

[fouz]

Pretty cool idea.

I'd also offer an option that eliminates the outboard and replaces the rudders with dual electric outboards similar to the Torqueedos but without the lithium ion battery. Essentially its a pair of small 4hp-Equivalent motors attached to the bottom of the rudders, and driven by typical batteries. Cost for the motors would be about $1500 for the both of them. They will get you to hull speed quickly, but not on a plane.

When you're sailing, the motors are in a disconnected low impedance state that allows the props to free-spin and thereby creates very little drag. Once you get to hull speed, before reefing you can flip a switch and put the motors into a hi-Z state--now you're charging your batteries and creating drag that will slow the boat a little (although the rudders will have to be pinned in place to prevent them from pulling up due to the drag if you do this. Alternatively, don't pin them and don't use the hi-Z charging mode).

With dual outboards, docking is a piece of cake because you can drive them opposite one another to point the boat as you please, and turn it on a dime. Dual throttles would go atop the helm, and the helm can be locked at 0 position for docking.

Add a solar Bimini and your boat charges up in the driveway all week so you can motor all weekend. For extended cruising, bring a 4KW genset. Viola, hybrid Mac with a wide open transom.

[DaveB]

Not going to happen unless you want to spend $60,000 or more for the basic boat. Thats what you pay for a 21 ft. runabout powerboat.
Surprises me Rodger still puts out the M for $32,000 including engine and Trailer.
Dave

You got me with a tiller. I hate wheels.

My fantasy Mac goes in a much different direction though.
BILL, MIKE, ROGER,.......... hope one of you guys still monitor this forum

All I need is a large scale 26 D. Up it to, say 29 or 30 feet. Put some gas lifts on the pop-top and give her an anchor locker. A few changes below deck would be okay, but no major changes......... except you could shorten that port seat and put some useful storage across from the head. You M guys have about the same arrangement inside, so you know what I mean. This would make the V-berth more private too.
Now, you can have a much longer V-berth in a 29 foot D-boat (biggest complaint for the D boat, I think).
The Admiral likes the head where it is in the D. It was too close to the cockpit for her in the X boat, particularly when us guys are all sitting around BSing right there.

I hated the sliding galley in my Catalina, so don't get any Ideas. The galley in the D-boat is just fine.

FLAT DECK IN THE LAZ, from the factory please!
2 to 1, or better dagger board lift.
Maybe the rotating mast setup..... okay yea, I could get use to it.
Molded in places for speakers inside and in the cockpit and a few pockets around in the cockpit for winch handles, sunglasses, sunscreen and stuff like that.
A dedicated place to install a VHF, that I can reach, see and hear, while holding onto the tiller.
@ 30 feet, I'm sure Roger could create a fuel locker back there somewhere by the outboard. My gas tank always sits in the cockpit now and I hate that. (A solution is on my future mods list)
And hey, set the bow up so I can install one of those below deck furlers. Maybe I'll start using a headsail furler again if the drum was below deck level.
These are not real costly things, if built into the molds.
Did I mention anchor locker? Yea I did.

Here's a tip for X-boat owners, as long as we're talking about design improvements........ The best mod I ever made to my 26X was to unbolt the seat and throw it in the trash. This changed the whole dynamic of the cockpit area and lots of boats have an open stern. Maybe if I had ripped out that wheel and put in a tiller, I'd still have that boat .................. naw

Best Breezes,
Steve K.