Bad Mouthing the MacGregor

[kmclemore]

I must say, I've never really had an overt 'Clorox bottle' type comment, but I do get the occasional "Oh, my, you DO have a lot of freeboard, DON'T you?" sort of comment, which is essentially saying my Mac looks like a pregnant pig floating atop the water. I smile and say "Yeah, it's basically a barge, but it's fun." Let them have their day. Mine day comes every time I take it out.

[innervations]

I'm with Brian. I never get negative comments about my Mac. In fact whenever it is sitting at the ramp lots of people walk up and say how great it looks. I even had one guy ask me about the trailer because he thought it was so well designed. At the seaports club where I am a member everyone is really interested and helpful and mine is the only Mac. Some of my 14yo daughter's friends have rich parents with million dollar boats anchored up in the same bay but they still rotate through our little boat (and refrigerator ) just as much as any other.

Cheers
Rob

[robbarnes1965]

They're not horribly slower than similar sized sailboats are they? I've been admiring the for a while now, and wouldn't mind giving up a knot or two in speed for all of the conveniences you get in return.

I will find out this season. We have a few new Mac members at our club and now that I have sold one of my time-sucking businesses I have committed to racing this season. Being able to raise the daggerboard for a downwind run is a definite advantage over the keel boats.

In all fairness though, If I took out a lot of the comfort stuff out of the boat and replaced the 50hp Honda with a 9.9 like the racing gang, I think it could keep up. But I'm not that desperate to win. Just want to improve my skills. I like the boat the way it is. Similar sized Tanzers, Sharks and the like are great to sail but I can tell you that they arenowhere near as pleasant for an overnight.

[vizwhiz]

@Gazmn

I own an S, and will very soon put her in the water! (yippee for us)

I know the S is more of a "real" sailboat than the X or M in the traditional sense, BUT...
I am still in awe every time I crawl down inside to work on her, at just how much room Roger was able to pack into such a tiny space...
I mean, seriously, we're talking about a queen-size bed, a v-berth that I can sleep in (I'm 6-1, 225-ish, and wide shouldered, and the Admiral and I curl up and nap up there on the weekends while I'm working on the boat!), and plenty of sitting-around room...
Not to mention being able to beach it and travel in the shallow waters which are everywhere here...

I think Roger found "the missing niche" in sailboats, and has thoroughly exploited it...awesome for us! Thank you Roger!

Now, a 26' Mac-cat with just a single cabin...

[DaveB]

I got to laugh as in 1995 I was at the Saint Petersberg Boat Show and the Mac.X was there so was the Compac I was interested in. As I was walking by I was wondering what kind of boat it was and after a few min. with the sales person telling me water ballast, 50 hp engine,twin rudders and a open tansem I just shook my head and asked him does it float and Sail.
Comeing from full keel boats I couldn't be leave someone built a boat like this.
I am now a proud owner of one for 4 years and would't trade it for anything.
I have never got a bad comment, most say is that one of them fast sailboats and I just reply yes.
Dave
PS: name of my boat is HOT TUB

Ahoy,

You've heard the comments, even if you are new to the MacGregor as I am.

"That's not a real sailboat. Nothing but a Clorox bottle with a big motor on it."
The next comment follows almost predictably:
"The MacGregor is not a real powerboat, at least a good one; the boat has a sail on it."

If you're like I am, you might be thinking that someone has a broken rudder here, and maybe a broken record as well.
The comments seem to be going circles, playing the same tune again and again.

The MacGregor cannot be a good sailboat because she is a powerboat;
The MacGregor cannot be be a good powerboat because she is a sailboat.

It sounds a lot like a big Mac attack to me, and maybe indigestion as well.
It almost makes me want to ask, "What boats have you built?'
Besides, you can eat a Big Mac aboard a MacGregor and have your fries and maybe a coke,too if you wish.
To paraphrase Jimmy Buffett: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Matie.
Some Mac sailors have sailed her to the Keys, and the Bahamas, and Lake Jackson in the Tetons.
Argh!

Someone needs to put down the rum for a moment.
If you want to argue that only the fastest powerboat is a powerboat, what happens to the rest of the powerboats?
Do you just want to sink them? The same reasoning, of course, would apply to a sailboat.
It's not speed. The designer did not simply put a sail on a powerboat.
The power is there to get us out so we can spend more time sailing.
If in the meantime, you want to pull someone behind on a water ski, I guess you can.

The design is a versatile one.
A lot of people have bought these boats.
A lot of people have sailed these boats.
A lot of people have had a lot of fun with these boats.

If you don't like the MacGregor versatility, well, that's OK.
Maybe you'll like broccoli.

Once we acquire our own MacGregorX (if the good Lord wills), you can come and sail with us.
Welcome aboard.
Miss Pat may even serve us both broccoli. Who knows?

[kmclemore]

... the Admiral and I curl up and nap up there on the weekends while I'm working on the boat...

Peach-coloured photos or it never happened.

[kitcat]

Funny you should say that......................

Napping eh?

Paul

[DaveB]

Just one other thing, I was told Rodger was 5ft. 6 in. and that fits the area for his boats. , I am 6ft.
Dave

@Gazmn

I own an S, and will very soon put her in the water! (yippee for us)

I know the S is more of a "real" sailboat than the X or M in the traditional sense, BUT...
I am still in awe every time I crawl down inside to work on her, at just how much room Roger was able to pack into such a tiny space...
I mean, seriously, we're talking about a queen-size bed, a v-berth that I can sleep in (I'm 6-1, 225-ish, and wide shouldered, and the Admiral and I curl up and nap up there on the weekends while I'm working on the boat!), and plenty of sitting-around room...
Not to mention being able to beach it and travel in the shallow waters which are everywhere here...

I think Roger found "the missing niche" in sailboats, and has thoroughly exploited it...awesome for us! Thank you Roger!

Now, a 26' Mac-cat with just a single cabin...

[NiceAft]

About four years ago, after we tied up at a dock for a restaurant we like, a fellow walks over to me and asks if I am the captain of that boat (pointing to Nice Aft). I said yes, wondering what comment was coming next. He said, “Nice boat captain!." I smiled and said “Thank you." It turns out he was a member of a yachting club.

Ray

[Steve K]

I've always gotten great comments on my boat. (my D and my former X)

Most bad-mouths I've encountered never stepped foot on, or even saw a Mac up close.

Oh and the first time I heard the Clorox bottle comment was when I owned a Catalina 22.
(side decks too small, not enough real teak inside, cast iron keel.... real keels are lead, you know )

It's all relative.

Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[Barnacle Jim]

Ahoy,

Whether someone likes the MacGregor or not may be more irrelevant than relevant.
The MacGregors are good sailboats. Those people who dislike the MacGregor probably love broccoli.
That's my guess.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I don't mean to give broccoli a bad name.
After all, I am married and have to eat the stuff.
I'm just thinking that maybe if I eat more broccoli, Miss Pat might be much more open to me owning a MacGregor 26X.
Maybe not, but I can dream.

Indeed, Miss Pat is the reason I like the MacGregor 26X so much.
The interior is comfortable, and is something she would enjoy.
You know the saying, "If momma's ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
That's the whole point of these moments at sail, isn't it?
If we've going to be miserable and unhappy, why go out on the water at all?
The best of boats cannot make a miserable life into a happy life.

It's not really a question of having the best boat, or the best of anything. No, nothing like that.
It's a question of having a good time and sharing those moments with people we love.
We need to live life before the tide goes out.

Besides, I'm not one of those people who need a sailboat to improve status.
My few friends would probably say, 'He's beyond any hope of any status anyway."

Here are some relevant quotes from people far more experienced than any of my meager attempts at sailing.

In fact the new 26 is a respectable sailer. I have a client who, after owning an original 26, fell in love with sailing and bought a Saga 35. If the 26 had been such a bad boat he would have never
bought another sailboat.

Bob Perry,
Naval Architect Review
Sailing Magazine

Construction of both hull and deck is solid hand-laid fiberglass, and just about everything on board is made from molded sections to minimize cost-intensive handwork. The result may seem spar-tan to some, but it makes the boat easy to clean and maintain.

Chris Caswell,
Sailing Magazine

So how does it sail? We powered out of the Oakland Estuary at between 15 and 19 mph onto San Francisco Bay looking for some wind. The 40 hp Honda four-stroke outboard seemed completely up to the task. With 50 horses, I've seen video of a sistership pulling a water skier. In every way she felt and acted like most powerboats of this size I've handled previously. I took her through several tight 360-degree turns, several figure eights, and crossed the wakes of several large boats finding nothing out of the ordinary.

Roger Menet
Bay and Delta Yachtsman

Powerboat purists may consider the MacGregor and conclude, "There are several powerboats that come to mind that will go faster or handle slightly more nimbly than a MacGregor." Sailing elitists could properly observe, "There are some sailboats of the same and similar size that will out sail a MacGregor." While there is some merit to either reproof, such critics may be missing the point entirely. MacGregors sell in exceptionally large numbers to boating families who want to enjoy the ability to motor along at planning speeds or slow down and sail silently through the San Juan or Gulf islands.

MacGregors are built on solid, hand-laminated fiberglass hulls. There is no "chop" used in the lay up, which allows the Macgregor to be lighter and more easily trailered than a chop strand lay up of equal size. MacGregor avoids the use of balsa or foam coring in their fiberglass lay up but does include a generous amount of solid foam floatation to keep the vessel afloat should it ever become swamped.

NOR'WESTING MAGAZINE

This same article from March, 2006 included an astonishing statistic: "Every four hours, every day of the year, somebody buys a new MacGregor."
People may buy a pig in a poke once, but people do not continue to buy unless there is a good reason. There have been far too many MacGregors that have been sold for the boat not to be a good boat.

[NiceAft]

Well Jim,

A bit verbose, but point well taken.

What was your point again

Ray

[seahouse]

Hey Jim!

Good points.

But I Love broccoli! Not overcooked, little bito’ butter, some fresh ground peppa’ – deelish!

Or with hot cheese or even Cheese Whiz in a jiffy (yeah, I know “processed cheese food”). Yummy!

Goes great with Macgregors too!

-Brian!

[Hamin' X]

Hmm, since Roger is only allowed to produce one boat a day, the other boats must be coming from China. Just kidding, Roger.

~Rich

[Benmcgov]

I have honestly never had anybody say anything negative about my . In fact the exact opposite, everyone I have met loves it and some even ask me to take them out on it. For the most part I feel the boating community is all about promoting boating no matter what type of equipment your on, as long as your are safe and having fun....thats all that counts.

Cheers,
Ben