? how often do you use your boat
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Sailfish
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:32 am
- Location: Los Angeles 2006 BLUE M 60 HP ETEC(Sailfish)
how often do you use your boat
I am considering buying a new boat but I was wondering how often do you tend to use your boat. I know this will vary but have they been what you were looking for. and do you see yourself happy with you boat. I am hopeing my family will catch the bug that I have and we will have many years of sailing to look forward to. : ?
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ALX357
- Admiral
- Posts: 1231
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:09 am
- Location: Nashville TN -- 2000 MacGregor 26X, Mercury two-stroke 50hp
I knew six years ago that i wanted a Mac 
, and finally things worked out last year, i bought mine, 
and now i am still satisfied that it is the right boat for me. 
Features, looks, comfort, performance and cost are all favorable, a great balance, IMHO. 
I sail or motor several times a week, and spend some time besides on cleaning, projects and mods, or boat care.
If the only way to have the boat were on the trailer and launch, it would still be worth it, but slipped, rigged, and waiting in the water is a close second to what i consider the best - dry storage on the trailer, in a locked compound, rigged, and near the water without any overhead obstruction. That would be the best for the boat and for the money, though in-the-water at a dock makes for the easiest way to sail more.
Despite the claims to "20 minute" or "11 minute" rigging times from mast down in trailering position, to fully rigged and ready to sail, I estimate at least an hour. Roller-furl Genoa, halyards-to-cockpit, and the removal/re-mounting of mainsheet tackle and jib blocks, plus any other things you don't feel comfortable leaving outside on the boat, add to the time it takes to go from road to rigged.
IMHO, the rig time is the most limiting factor of how much you will use the boat for sailing. Several sailors on here with Mac's just use it as a motorboat primarily. It is probsibly the best motorboat made for comfort for the money.
, and finally things worked out last year, i bought mine, and now i am still satisfied that it is the right boat for me. Features, looks, comfort, performance and cost are all favorable, a great balance, IMHO. I sail or motor several times a week, and spend some time besides on cleaning, projects and mods, or boat care.
If the only way to have the boat were on the trailer and launch, it would still be worth it, but slipped, rigged, and waiting in the water is a close second to what i consider the best - dry storage on the trailer, in a locked compound, rigged, and near the water without any overhead obstruction. That would be the best for the boat and for the money, though in-the-water at a dock makes for the easiest way to sail more.
Despite the claims to "20 minute" or "11 minute" rigging times from mast down in trailering position, to fully rigged and ready to sail, I estimate at least an hour. Roller-furl Genoa, halyards-to-cockpit, and the removal/re-mounting of mainsheet tackle and jib blocks, plus any other things you don't feel comfortable leaving outside on the boat, add to the time it takes to go from road to rigged.
IMHO, the rig time is the most limiting factor of how much you will use the boat for sailing. Several sailors on here with Mac's just use it as a motorboat primarily. It is probsibly the best motorboat made for comfort for the money.
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
Sailfish,
I bought my 2004M in August of 04 and put it in the water for the first time October 24th. Since then I have used the boat 31 times, which is pretty good in my estimation for less than a year, considering I live in Bakersfield, Ca with a 2 1/4 hr drive to Oxnard. I do have my boat in a mast up dry storage and they splash and pull the boat for me with a crane (a 7 min process). Having it stored there DEFINITELY makes it easier to use the boat more frequently.
I see that you are in the Los Angeles area, I am always looking for an excuse to go sailing and would be more than happy to take you out for a day or 1/2 day. I am actually home in Ca for the next two weeks, which is rare for me, as I travel to Minnesota for work quite often. So send me a PM or post here and lets get out on the water, its the best way to determine if a Mac is for you. I can be open midweek or weekends, (Oct 1st is out, my daughters B-day, but almost anyother days is open)
Rich
I bought my 2004M in August of 04 and put it in the water for the first time October 24th. Since then I have used the boat 31 times, which is pretty good in my estimation for less than a year, considering I live in Bakersfield, Ca with a 2 1/4 hr drive to Oxnard. I do have my boat in a mast up dry storage and they splash and pull the boat for me with a crane (a 7 min process). Having it stored there DEFINITELY makes it easier to use the boat more frequently.
I see that you are in the Los Angeles area, I am always looking for an excuse to go sailing and would be more than happy to take you out for a day or 1/2 day. I am actually home in Ca for the next two weeks, which is rare for me, as I travel to Minnesota for work quite often. So send me a PM or post here and lets get out on the water, its the best way to determine if a Mac is for you. I can be open midweek or weekends, (Oct 1st is out, my daughters B-day, but almost anyother days is open)
Rich
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Catigale
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10421
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
Welcome sailfish!
I slip in the Hudson River in upstate NY, we go out every weekend, and often both weekend days for a half day or overnight for the summer.
We take about 6 longer trips by trailer to somewhere new, usually on this schedule
Lake Ontario - sail WIlson NY to Toronto Canada - 5 hours drive, 3-5 days out.
I work with Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, so I trailer the boat there a couple times a year, work during the week, sail after 6, and expense the trip..life is good. 3 hour drive.
Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket were our other trips this year.
One more trip planned - Lake Cayuga NY in a couple of weeks when the leaves are in.
I would get a slip or mooring for the first year so you spend your time learning your boat, rather than launching.
Launch time is an hour - its really nice if you find an activity for the kids/Admiral so they dont have to mope...when you get better you can get it down to 30 minutes or so, depending on your definition of 'ready'
I slip in the Hudson River in upstate NY, we go out every weekend, and often both weekend days for a half day or overnight for the summer.
We take about 6 longer trips by trailer to somewhere new, usually on this schedule
Lake Ontario - sail WIlson NY to Toronto Canada - 5 hours drive, 3-5 days out.
I work with Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, so I trailer the boat there a couple times a year, work during the week, sail after 6, and expense the trip..life is good. 3 hour drive.
Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket were our other trips this year.
One more trip planned - Lake Cayuga NY in a couple of weeks when the leaves are in.
I would get a slip or mooring for the first year so you spend your time learning your boat, rather than launching.
Launch time is an hour - its really nice if you find an activity for the kids/Admiral so they dont have to mope...when you get better you can get it down to 30 minutes or so, depending on your definition of 'ready'
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
This year, I towed my boat to the North Channel and sailed for two weeks. I took an extended weekend and sailed the Apostle Islands. I also spent days on her on the local lake.
Next year I plan another extended trip earlier in the summer. I'll then be leaving my boat on the trailer near Bayfield Wisconsin for extended weekend trips around the Apostles.
Next year I plan another extended trip earlier in the summer. I'll then be leaving my boat on the trailer near Bayfield Wisconsin for extended weekend trips around the Apostles.
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Beam's Reach
- First Officer
- Posts: 310
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 1:25 pm
- Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada 97X, 50HP Mariner 4 Stroke
Welcome Sailfish
We bought our X in May. We're lucky enough to have 3 large lakes within a 20 minute drive of our home and explored all three without the kids within a couple of weeks of getting it.
We docked the boat at our cottage for about a month and used it as a floating cottage so the kids could get used to it on familiar waters. The first few outings were under power only but now we've gotten quite comfortable with the sailing aspect.
The time spent rigging and launching can really limit the time spent on the water. As mentioned above, if you can wet slip you boat, at least at first, you'll use it more often. We now keep ours in a slip about 5 minutes from our house. We've been able to pick the kids up from school and be out on the water within half an hour and spend a couple of hours sailing and enjoying the sunset. Then we return to our slip and barbecue some dinner and can still have the kids in bed by 8:30 or 9 PM. Even when we aren't going to sail, we often go down and have dinner or just spend a couple of hours puttering around, cleaning or just lying in the sun reading.
We've probably been on the boat at least once a week since we put it in the water and have spent several nights aboard either at dock or anchored off a sandy beach...and still get admiring looks from the other sailboats that have to take their kids to shore in a dinghy to get to the beach. You just can't beat the Mac for versatility!
The kids weren't as quick to catch on as I had hoped, but they're coming around. See the thread "My kids have finally seen the light".
We bought our X in May. We're lucky enough to have 3 large lakes within a 20 minute drive of our home and explored all three without the kids within a couple of weeks of getting it.
We docked the boat at our cottage for about a month and used it as a floating cottage so the kids could get used to it on familiar waters. The first few outings were under power only but now we've gotten quite comfortable with the sailing aspect.
The time spent rigging and launching can really limit the time spent on the water. As mentioned above, if you can wet slip you boat, at least at first, you'll use it more often. We now keep ours in a slip about 5 minutes from our house. We've been able to pick the kids up from school and be out on the water within half an hour and spend a couple of hours sailing and enjoying the sunset. Then we return to our slip and barbecue some dinner and can still have the kids in bed by 8:30 or 9 PM. Even when we aren't going to sail, we often go down and have dinner or just spend a couple of hours puttering around, cleaning or just lying in the sun reading.
We've probably been on the boat at least once a week since we put it in the water and have spent several nights aboard either at dock or anchored off a sandy beach...and still get admiring looks from the other sailboats that have to take their kids to shore in a dinghy to get to the beach. You just can't beat the Mac for versatility!
The kids weren't as quick to catch on as I had hoped, but they're coming around. See the thread "My kids have finally seen the light".
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
Slamjammer,
Your post was almost like reading about a marriage break-up. I do understand your position about use it of sell it. That yearly wet slip cost of $2100 would get me in HOT water with the admiral for something I only used once a month (Ill spare you the math on $/boat use). I love my Mac and the flexibility it provides forth only 1) God 2) Family 3) Country 4) MacGregor and would be in serious depression without it. The Mac and all of its peripheral activities have literally given me a new more relaxed and pleasant take on life!
Sailfish,
When we going sailing on my boat out of Oxnard?
Rich
Your post was almost like reading about a marriage break-up. I do understand your position about use it of sell it. That yearly wet slip cost of $2100 would get me in HOT water with the admiral for something I only used once a month (Ill spare you the math on $/boat use). I love my Mac and the flexibility it provides forth only 1) God 2) Family 3) Country 4) MacGregor and would be in serious depression without it. The Mac and all of its peripheral activities have literally given me a new more relaxed and pleasant take on life!
Sailfish,
When we going sailing on my boat out of Oxnard?
Rich
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Compromise
- First Officer
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Orlando, Florida. Boat in Cocoa.
Ideally, in Florida, we slip from May until Jul or August. Depending on when the tropics start heating up! When they do get active we keep her at home on the trailer. There are pros and cons as mentioned above. When on at the slip we would go out almost every weekend. When on the trailer, there is the time to rig and derig to consider and therefore every weekend does not always work, that would be the con. The pro of having her at home is you get to tinker anytime you want!
I bought my 1996 MacGregor in January 2005. I use it on average 2x a month. I also go to fiddle (work?) on something on average once a month. I usually sail just with family (wife and 2 daughters); however I have also sailed solo once. The boat is moored which makes using it easy.
I have some thoughts on owning the Mac (or any other boat).
For once a month usage or less, renting is probably much more economical. I rented in Miami a Catalina Capri for one day for I believe it was $400. It seemed expensive to me at the time, but if you add up the cost of ownership renting makes sense if you will only use your boat about 10-12 times a year. I pay approx $250/month for wet storage, $450/yr for insurance, $30/month for bottom cleaning (necessary here). So, rough calculations show that my monthly costs are close to what it would cost to rent a boat once each month. I am not including what I spend on stuff and other misc.
What any cost analysis misses is the qualitative or subjective aspects.
For me and I am sure many others, there are many joys of ownership. I can go out for just a few hours whenever I want. I like making modifications to the boat. I'm planning some overnight trips. None of these thing would I be doing unless I owned the boat. Finally, sailing and having the boat is a hobby that I just enjoy.
When I purchased I was undecided. Many friends pointed out to me that if it didn't work out I could sell it again, probably for exactly what I purchased it for. So, the risk of trying out the boat was rather small, since if you decide after a year the boat is not worth it -- the market for sailboats is rather good.
I have some thoughts on owning the Mac (or any other boat).
For once a month usage or less, renting is probably much more economical. I rented in Miami a Catalina Capri for one day for I believe it was $400. It seemed expensive to me at the time, but if you add up the cost of ownership renting makes sense if you will only use your boat about 10-12 times a year. I pay approx $250/month for wet storage, $450/yr for insurance, $30/month for bottom cleaning (necessary here). So, rough calculations show that my monthly costs are close to what it would cost to rent a boat once each month. I am not including what I spend on stuff and other misc.
What any cost analysis misses is the qualitative or subjective aspects.
For me and I am sure many others, there are many joys of ownership. I can go out for just a few hours whenever I want. I like making modifications to the boat. I'm planning some overnight trips. None of these thing would I be doing unless I owned the boat. Finally, sailing and having the boat is a hobby that I just enjoy.
When I purchased I was undecided. Many friends pointed out to me that if it didn't work out I could sell it again, probably for exactly what I purchased it for. So, the risk of trying out the boat was rather small, since if you decide after a year the boat is not worth it -- the market for sailboats is rather good.
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Frank C
Just another opinion in the chorus ... many of the reasons for owning a Mac are intangible. Pride of ownership, dreaming up improvements, day-dreaming about past adventures, and future too ... these intangibles comprise, for me, a sense of independence & freedom. It's my take on Roger's video fluff, " . . . my own little island." (And assuming the purchase options are well-considered, I also agree that a generous percentage of cost can be recovered on re-sale.)
And amplifying Slamjammer's comments, just this added observation ... when the newness of boater-ship is still in first blush, I didn't mind my storage arrangements. But after five years, I now feel that my boat is trapped in 'boating Purgatory.'
Boat and trailer sit in mast-up dry storage. Though it's at a terrific rate of just $70 per month, it means that evening visits aren't practical for me. It's too far from home for a simple cabin visit, and obviously too much time (trailer to water, and back onto trailer) except for weekends. Meanwhile, my homeowners assoc. prohibits driveway or backyard status, and I still rue the idea of bottom paint & a wet slip. So the boat's too far from home for a quick-fix on the trailer, and still too far from water to take evening-advantage.
See what I mean ??? I really need to find closer dry storage so I can at least tinker-on-the-trailer. Or, since a wet slip is very reasonable at about $200 per month, I need to simply "bite the bottom-bullet" ... seal & paint the hull. I'd suggest you'll be immensely pleased if you can keep your new boat in your backyard ... or in the water. If you cannot do so, then hope your buying-bug is strong enough for a distance-relationship. Hope this logic is somewhat helpful, and isn't "clear as mud!"
If the cost of a baggie-lift was about $3,000 (?) and the Marina would permit it ... I'd consider slipping her atop an inflatable lift!
And amplifying Slamjammer's comments, just this added observation ... when the newness of boater-ship is still in first blush, I didn't mind my storage arrangements. But after five years, I now feel that my boat is trapped in 'boating Purgatory.'
Boat and trailer sit in mast-up dry storage. Though it's at a terrific rate of just $70 per month, it means that evening visits aren't practical for me. It's too far from home for a simple cabin visit, and obviously too much time (trailer to water, and back onto trailer) except for weekends. Meanwhile, my homeowners assoc. prohibits driveway or backyard status, and I still rue the idea of bottom paint & a wet slip. So the boat's too far from home for a quick-fix on the trailer, and still too far from water to take evening-advantage.
See what I mean ??? I really need to find closer dry storage so I can at least tinker-on-the-trailer. Or, since a wet slip is very reasonable at about $200 per month, I need to simply "bite the bottom-bullet" ... seal & paint the hull. I'd suggest you'll be immensely pleased if you can keep your new boat in your backyard ... or in the water. If you cannot do so, then hope your buying-bug is strong enough for a distance-relationship. Hope this logic is somewhat helpful, and isn't "clear as mud!"
If the cost of a baggie-lift was about $3,000 (?) and the Marina would permit it ... I'd consider slipping her atop an inflatable lift!
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richandlori
- Admiral
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:08 pm
- Location: Living Aboard in Morro Bay, CA
- Contact:
I think the "Best" options would be as follows:
1. stored in a water slip in my backyard
2. stored in a water slip away from my house, but short drive away
3. stored on its trailer at a Mast-up storage facility where THEY splash/pull your boat for you that lets you drive your car to the boat
4. stored at your house on its trailer
There are plus and minus to all of these, but it was sure nice for the 3 months I had her stored in my RV spot on the side of my house. It gave me the oportunity to do mods and "baby" her.
I pay $105/month for mast-up, they splash/pull.
Rich
1. stored in a water slip in my backyard
2. stored in a water slip away from my house, but short drive away
3. stored on its trailer at a Mast-up storage facility where THEY splash/pull your boat for you that lets you drive your car to the boat
4. stored at your house on its trailer
There are plus and minus to all of these, but it was sure nice for the 3 months I had her stored in my RV spot on the side of my house. It gave me the oportunity to do mods and "baby" her.
I pay $105/month for mast-up, they splash/pull.
Rich
Well, we just got the boat a month or so ago. Before that, we had a Hobie Cat. However, I can say that we don't sail enough. Maybe once every two weeks or so. Life just kinda gets in the way.
We have a SMALL lake nearby that I can use to drop the boat in the water when I get real twitchy and need to sail. It's good for checking things out and doing some shake down cruising.
We have a lovely and large inland sailing lake about two hours north of us. I'm really hoping that we can get up there this fall for some real sailing and a chance to enjoy the changing colors.
Fair winds,
Nick
We have a SMALL lake nearby that I can use to drop the boat in the water when I get real twitchy and need to sail. It's good for checking things out and doing some shake down cruising.
We have a lovely and large inland sailing lake about two hours north of us. I'm really hoping that we can get up there this fall for some real sailing and a chance to enjoy the changing colors.
Fair winds,
Nick