MacGregorSailors.com

Let me try to put this "politically correct"...

EU Class C is fine for a Mac. Mi boat is C and I never felt limited due to that...

The problem is not the EU rules or protectionism, the problem is the market, bureaucracy and the way things "don't work" in EU->US and US->EU trade...

The problem is more the reasons why a Mac 26 is considered a little like an exotic luxury here in Europe and for the same reasons a Dehler 29 (just an example) is considered the same way in the US.

The same with cars and other industrial products when they cross the Atlantic (any direction)...

That is difficult to understand... (I can't go on because there are rules to be respected here)

But I am sure that any European Mac owner in this web understands what I mean.

I also think that Macgregor Export is also a victim of that...

Some friends are about to become dealers here but they are quite discouraged with the bureaucracy...

I understand I can't go political here but this is a big problem for mac owners around here.

Jose

PS: I did not mean to challenge the rules or the moderators (I agree and apologize for mi "removed" post)

J.Teixeira wrote:PS: I did not mean to challenge the rules or the moderators (I agree and apologize for mi "removed" post)

Thanks, Jose... your new post is fine. And again, if you want to discuss the political implications of this, please visit the Back Room and I'm sure there will be those there willing to discuss their positions.

Two things:

As for political and/or controversial discussions, etc, why not copy this thread (unedited) to the back room so those who choose can discuss it in full context. The rest would remain here as is. Not telling the mods how to do your jobs, but it would seem any such discussion would lose its context as changed and a new thread would be unlikely to start.

Regarding class A,B,C.... I did a bit of reading on Sailnet some time ago about different types of boats and what is deemed suitable for ocean crossings. It seems that general consesus was that the certs were a bit of a joke and the manufacturers had their way. For example, some 30-32 footers i.e. Beneteau, Hunter Catalina, have a Class A certification. Most people in that discussion would not take one across the ocean, however. In fact, some contested that Many 40+ footers with a Class A were not suitable for a crossing. The arguement was the amount of abuse a boat will take in harsh conditions during such a voyage. I'm not sure I agree with some of these arguements, but they were made by people who seem much more knowledgeable about boat construction and design and much saltier than I. Of course, these are opinion of a handful of people having a discussion online. Plenty of people crossed oceans in Catalinas, Hunters, Benes and maybe even a canoe.

Leon

Didn't Thor Heyerdahl cross the ocean on a balsa wood raft What was the cert on that?

Thor Heyerdahl did it twice. The Pacific in Kon Tiki (balsa), and the Atlantic in Ra (Reed i.e. papyrus), but back to the original thread; I believe on my pedestal there is a sticker stating what the factory recommended limits are. Why push those limits

Ray

on the subject of C.E. certification,there are some barge and widebeam narrowboat builders who build their craft to cat B yet only have it certified to cat c,this is down to the paperwork involved.

The DIY boat building market has been badly affected by the certification process,a member at my club built a boat and sailed it to come in 4th in his class at the Fastnet race,he told me that he would not do it today as the CE tickets is more hassle than it worth,so boating looses out in much the same way that car racing has lost out to the large teams/manufacturers.

Heyerdahl's first Ra wasn't certified and broke in two

Later sold as the "catamaran option' by Marketing