What Is Up With The Gate Latches (Hasp) On Our Macs?

[K9Kampers]

If it weren't the gate latches, it'd be the plexi windows, or the 'lampcord' wiring, or the too small anchor locker, or the ... It's a Mac and you get what you pay for... I've paid for an affordable, entry-level boat that I can store in my driveway and sail Lake Champlain for a week, and in half a day be on Buzzards Bay sailing to Cuttyhunk for the weekend!

Catigale nailed it...

Macs are the cheapest, entry level production boat on the market. Every component is selected on low price basis.

That's how he has stayed in business for over 4 decades, and he doesn't have to defend his business plan based on that.

Davey Jones locker is strewn with the business wreckage of lots of people who had "better" business plans than Roger.

A Mac, for all it's drawbacks, is like a blank canvas. It can be customized to suit it's owner and do all the above, affordably!

[GaryMayo]

The latch does not make it sail better. It does not keep out thiefs. It does not make the boat sell better. So why put one on in the first place if what you say is true? Roger would have made another $100,000 in savings alone in boat hardware costs not to mention labor putting them on.

Any simple lock will keep an honest man honest. This is true enough.

Maybe there is something I am missing. I can be rather stupid at times.

Anyone that likes their locking system on their boat, tell us why and maybe post an image of it for us all to share.

Can't show you mine, took it off when I cleaned the boat and tossed it in the trash.

I will call John today to confirm if this is factory hardware, not to doubt anyone here. Just trying to figure it all out.

[GaryMayo]

My impression of the macs is they do overall use quality materials, but do not put in some things seen in other boats.

Hardware, you guys feel macs skimp on hardware?

I see a Mac as having no aftermarket stuff put on. Things like the mast, cables, fiberglass, sails, stuff a sailboat needs to work, all seem pretty good. Am I wrong?

[K9Kampers]

I never have 'locked' my hatch. I carry a lock on board, but have never used it for the hatch. However, I do secure the gate latch with with a cheap carabiner to keep the companionway hatch from sliding open while trailering in the rain! BTDT! If trailering with my screen hatchboards in place (no latch), I just tie shut the sliding hatch to the helm.

[K9Kampers]

My impression of the macs is they do overall use quality materials, but do not put in some things seen in other boats.

Hardware, you guys feel macs skimp on hardware?

I see a Mac as having no aftermarket stuff put on. Things like the mast, cables, fiberglass, sails, stuff a sailboat needs to work, all seem pretty good. Am I wrong?

Other than replacing bolts & nuts with pins & clips, I've not had to replace any hardware, but I did pull out all the factory lampcord wiring & snap connectors and re-do the wiring properly. Seems the late model owners complain about the factory winches.

While the boat should come from the dealer ready to sail, there's all kinds of aftermarket stuff that can be added to a Mac.

[GaryMayo]

I saw white 110 volt light duty appliance cord in the Mac 25. That is factory wiring?

I see no reason it would not work, but is does not look like something that would be in code. Must bE no codes for wiring small sailboats. Still you would think cali would come up with codes for everything. My boat still has it 28 years later. My Mac 25 was built the year we got married.

[vizwhiz]

Bottom line is most boat people are good people, and most thieving rabble aren't interested in sails, oars, sleeping bags, or a battery. I just don't leave anything on the boat worth stealing.

This is my first and lasting impression...the only real value to locking your hatch shut is to stop the simple "lifters"...those who walk by and help themselves to anything that isn't bolted down. The latch with a little lock in it stops most of that. And, just like for your house, an experienced (I can't bring myself to call them "good") thief who really wants your stuff will get it regardless of the security you have, so trying to over-do the security is fruitless...it would be better to spend $$ securing your motor, not the hatch.
As for fit-and-finish, my S has the same silly gate latches, one on the hatch and one on the lazarette - and I'm really not at all happy with them either - BUT, since I'm more interested in other parts of the boat, they just don't rate high on the "fix it" list.

[GaryMayo]

Bottom line is most boat people are good people, and most thieving rabble aren't interested in sails, oars, sleeping bags, or a battery. I just don't leave anything on the boat worth stealing.

silly gate latches, one on the hatch and one on the lazarette - and I'm really not at all happy with them either

Thank heavens, I was afraid I was the only one that thought they were silly.

[vizwhiz]

I was afraid I was the only one that thought they were silly.

LOL..I'm sure you're not...they're just such a small and incidental piece, and many boats use them, not just Mac's, that they don't get as much attention as you've given them. I think you'll find that you don't need much more on a Mac. On a 65-footer with teak all over and impressive wood carvings, sure...on a fiberglass Mac that you spray out with a garden hose...not so much.

[Y.B.Normal]

This last September, my boat was broken into while it was moored on a bouy. They kicked in the companionway panel (the top of the panel split enough so the perp could slid between the panel and the hatch. The hasp stayed secure.
Had the fiberglass not split, they probably wouldn't have gained entrance.

They also broke into 2 other boats. Their multiple-panel doors were easier to breach.

[seahouse]

Truth be told, at first that hasp was somewhat of an embarrassment to me - I thought it was a dead giveaway to anyone that it was a cheap boat. I'd sailed on larger boats in recent years, and none had anything cheezy like that. Then I started noticing other boats in the price point (and higher), and, as you point out Gary, it's common.

I look at it as and "advertisement" that the boat is locked when there's a big heavy laminated Master padlock hanging from it- it's really just a stage prop, but is somewhat functional. The opportunistic theives will go to the next boat that's not so obviously locked.

I substituted that padlock for the combination lock the dealer supplied, which then went for use on the anchor locker hasp. When there's no lock on the companionway hasp, its prominent location "advertises" that your boat is ripe for the picking.

- Brian.

[Divecoz]

Gary: Its a serviceable, decently made sailboat , and for the X's and M's a modest powerboat as well, all the while , for a very reasonable price.. It can as well be suitable for short term Live-Aboard..Ive done 5 weeks.. Sumner on a 26 S has done 3 months.. Many many others have done this as well.... With all that going for it . You can, depending on where you live .. tow it with a NONE Dedicated Tow Vehicle.. For what we pay New or Used for them , many of us own them .. These Boats are affordable..FOR MANY of us.. Often that's a huge issue.. Can I justify the original purchase price..??
So I don't see your points.. so show me. Show me what you have DONE to YOUR Boat.. Anyone can say they don't like this or that.. do it, and show us.. BUY One and Modify it to your hearts desire.. you may even exceed a few others here Like Captain Jack Sparrow....First Buy one $$$$ If on the other-hand , you find them soooo undesirable, Don't Buy One.. The Seaward is a Nice boat .. You might be able to pick up a nice Used 26 for $50K...
Soooooooooo a silly cheap hasp that serves its function is all we need.. I see mine for a few minutes a year.. Most the time the Companionway "door" is not in place.. or I am inside.. and I don't see it.. Ive Never been robbed in 7 years, and I personally spend more time and energy Sailing Mine... or just sitting and acknowledging all the compliments I get on it.. BTW you've Missed.. Much more Important issues that might deserve your/our attention..

[Divecoz]

YES X 3

If it weren't the gate latches, it'd be the plexi windows, or the 'lampcord' wiring, or the too small anchor locker, or the ... It's a Mac and you get what you pay for... I've paid for an affordable, entry-level boat that I can store in my driveway and sail Lake Champlain for a week, and in half a day be on Buzzards Bay sailing to Cuttyhunk for the weekend!

Catigale nailed it...

Macs are the cheapest, entry level production boat on the market. Every component is selected on low price basis.

That's how he has stayed in business for over 4 decades, and he doesn't have to defend his business plan based on that.

Davey Jones locker is strewn with the business wreckage of lots of people who had "better" business plans than Roger.

A Mac, for all it's drawbacks, is like a blank canvas. It can be customized to suit it's owner and do all the above, affordably!

[Crikey]

Fake alarm stickers are probably worth their weight in gold!

[Russ]

Actually, I'm amazed Roger puts a latch on the boat to begin with. The boat doesn't come with a lot of other stuff many of us have to add ourselves.

The latch doesn't bother me that much. I put a really cheap lock on the boat because I'd rather a thief break the lock than bust through some fiberglass to get in. If they want in, they are coming with some heavy tools. They aren't neatly unscrewing things. When you consider thieves us sawsalls to cut transoms off boats to steal outboards, a latch isn't gonna slow 'em down.
Yea, boats have cheap locks. *shrug*

A fake alarm keypad might be a good deterrent. A real alarm might be better.

The hatch alignment and gap seems to be a bigger "first impression" issue for me. I agree that this is the point of first impressions and boat builders should realize this. It's like the front door of your house when you are selling it. Realtors will tell you to paint it, clean it, do whatever it takes to make it look good for a first impression.
Then again, Roger sells every boat he can build so why change anything. If he were to read this thread (and learn about the Internet) he might decide to remove the latch from standard equipment and save $5/boat.