Open sea?

[ronacarme]

UK's PBO magazine over the years has done several articles re the 26X. I recall one "roadtest" type report and 2 by owner of the early X "Souwester Sam", reporting cruises, the first from Lands End to the Scilly Islands for a week or so. The second was several weeks, from UK to France, then south on French canals to the Bay of Biscay (where the CB dropped out on the first day), then east thru southern France canals to the Med ( along the way picking up a new CB air shipped by Roger), and then south halfway along the med coast of Spain. Good reads.
I tend to be far less venturesome with my X. Good luck. Ron

[They Theirs]

I wonder of anyone has observed any Mac stability testing of this degree?
Example of Capsize testing: videos, with full sail and ballast full/empty

[bastonjock]

UK's PBO magazine over the years has done several articles re the 26X. I recall one "roadtest" type report and 2 by owner of the early X "Souwester Sam", reporting cruises, the first from Lands End to the Scilly Islands for a week or so. The second was several weeks, from UK to France, then south on French canals to the Bay of Biscay (where the CB dropped out on the first day), then east thru southern France canals to the Med ( along the way picking up a new CB air shipped by Roger), and then south halfway along the med coast of Spain. Good reads.
I tend to be far less venturesome with my X. Good luck. Ron

i came close to buying "sou wester sam",jerrmey coles the guy who owns it has done a lot of good work to promote mac,s in the UK

[jimmy alonso]

Hi,
Maybe not open sea but our family vacation in July we took our 2004 26M from Puerto Rico to Virgin Gorda BVI about 80 nm away. Hopping island to island exploring having fun. Total days 13, nautical miles 260.

Long time reader first post.. I learned a lot from all of you. Thanks.

Jimmy

[tangentair]

I think if you buy a Mac (much like anything else) after informing yourself and determining if it will meet your needs, you will be very pleased at its versality and ready to accept its limitations. If you do not think it will do the things you need or want, then why would you buy it? Its like complaining after the purchase that you jet ski's toilet isn't private enough. What I am confused about are these people who seem to have a crusade against Macs like reformed smokers.
We have 4 sailboats presently in our immediate family. One was anchored off Megis Field the other night listening to a beasty boy concert. It has 12 foot of beam, lots of topside room, and is slow and stable. But it isn't going to go anywhere other than Chicago fast and I have been up and down the illinois coastline so far this summer and when my wife finishes (sorry I just can not refer to her as an admiral - she is more like the Queen Mother with Princes Di's style) school next year we will go north to the boundry waters and south to Key West. I looked at others in its class and chose it because it had more room and a 50HP iron genny for when I want to move on.
So I guess I keep coming back to - If someone doesn't like the boat, they should talk about the one they like.

[Boblee]

Spot on Tangentair after using ours as a Caravan, powerboat and sailboat for the last 3 months I cannot imagine any other boat coming close to my needs but many would do any one of the roles.
The more trust me is used the more I trust her, they are an amazing concept but may have to put a tide alarm on so that I don't have to wade out after cocktails when beaching . Even with 30knot winds and 6' seas never felt unsafe.

[Rob Roy]

Would I be mad to think of 50-100 mile coastal passages? Are they strong and stable enough?

Hi

I hate to quote the boring European Smallcraft Directive but the 26X is certified for Category C, designed for up to force 6 winds & 2 metre waves. These conditions are exceeded on the English Channel only 2% of the time.

Provided you keep an eye on the forecast, the boat can be operated safely & you won't find any other boat to hold a candle to the Mac for versatility, spaciousness & low maintenance for the price. However if you plan to cross the Atlantic regularly the boat has not been designed for the job.

Good Luck

[Morimaro]

As well as Jeremy Coles trip over to the Scilly Isles etc, there have been reports in the UKMOA newsletter of Channel Island, Cherbourg, Boulogne, Irish Sea crossings etc. As has already been said, the distance isn't the problem it is mainly the weather and tides. Although only RCD Group C, that doesn't mean it won't exceed the certification, it just means if you do, then legally the boat builder is covered by it EU Certificate against any litigation.
Anyone I have spoken to who got caught in weather over F6 has said the Mac was fine the crew was not!

Cheers
Morris

[Catigale]

Im pretty sure MadMike has taken his through the Straits of Magellen upside down....

[johnnyonspot]

I considered a 26X when I was looking, and even went and looked at one. Also received the M video from Bill at boats4sail. I like the way the boat looked in the video, but when I went to see the X I did not care for all the freeboard, and had been fully advised in the premises that the Mac powersailors were definitely a compromise. Most learned from reading here on this board. I also had a chance to buy a Hunter 23.5 footer for $5k. It was in good shape and the seller really needed to sell, but he refused my $4k lowball offer. Now I realize his boat was worth much more than I could have gotten it for, but again there were things I did not like about it. In the end, I saved my wallet $10k over the X and $3k over the Hunter and lowballed a guy for my Mac 25, and much to my glee he counteroffered at $200 over my lowball offer. So for me it had nothing to do with powering, as I wanted to sail and was not interested in a lot of power, and had a lot to do with price and value. Not every day you can get into a 25 foot sailboat in good condition for what I paid., which was $2400 for boat, trailer, and 9.9 OB. I am sure I can get every dollar out that I have put in when I sell.

[maddmike]

I tried the upside down thing a couple of times, but the stupid boat kept going back to right-side -up. Only serious comment: Very little kids, very little boats, and very big seas should not be mixed lightly. Go for it, but have Mom and the little ones drive down to meet you. MM

[waternwaves]

MM,

Even the bigger 'kids' get concerned when the masthead is close to the water.

A 964 MB SURFACE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH ALONG 133W TODAY
AND TONIGHT. THE LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
AND WEAKEN WED. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL BUILD OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON
WED THROUGH SAT WITH LOW PRES OFFSHORE.


TONIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 11 TO 13 FT...SUBSIDING TO 8 TO 10 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SW SWELL 18 FT AT 12 SECONDS... BUILDING TO 20 FT AT 13 SECONDS AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WED...S WIND 20 TO 25 KT BECOMING 10 TO 20 KT LATE. WIND WAVES 1 TO 4 FT. SW SWELL 19 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.


seems like a perfect day to go sailing around here ......waves are going to be small........no more than 4 meters or so.......

It's trying to track straight in the 6+ meters swell underneath that has me a bit concerned....

I cant go sailing till saturday........ and it looks positively boring with

SAT...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SW SWELL 8 FT...BECOMING W 6 FT.

[bastonjock]

WW

i think that you ough to try the bristol channel when theres a surge tide on the run

[Catigale]

I tried the upside down thing a couple of times, but the stupid boat kept going back to right-side -up.

Im going out with MM sometime before life is over, but my kids will need to be out of college and my affairs in order..

[bastonjock]

did you have to mention college steve i worked out that its going to cost me 4 macgregor 26,s Ive got 7-8 years at about £15000.00

then after that im coming over to America to go sailing with you and MM