MacGregorSailors.com

Sloop there is more life in you then 3/4s of the young people I know.
and while you recover Im sure you had an eventfull life and nows the time to reflect. wish you well
Mike

Obviously this posting repository is much more than just a place to fix boats and compare notes. I dont want to think that, Moe, youll not be here. You kinda remind me of Spock - knowedgeable, pragmatic, responsive, and usually right.

This is, no doubt, a family - and Moe, your decision to part ways with your sailboat is obviously perceived as you're leaving the posting board. If you do, youll be missed.

Sorry to hear about your selling your boat. Guess were sometimes all in that same position - sell or sail, sail or fix, bait or fish? Kind of like the stock market, '. . . Moe's selling his Mac stocks. . . '

Makes us wonder (me at least reflect) on the reality of my busy life and how much I sail compared to how much I want to sail; always imbalanced, by the way. My boat is more therapy for me - a focal point for my art and a reminder of my efforts. Shame those little parts cost so damn much moola.

Moe, I hold my offer to have you come by if you're in the PNS area again. I feel akin to your mindset and would enjoy sitting back with a few cervesas or teas, whatever, and exchanging ideas.

Stay in touch, partner. Live long and prosper.


Michael

Thank you all for the kind words. I'll continue to frequent the Mac forum, trying to help where I can, at least for the time being.

Here's the winner... and it has about 6'2" standing headroom. That's at Pirate's Cove on the Alabama Gulf Coast , a few days before Ivan hit.


Click on the image to view it at its original size

It even has a Porta-Potti behind the seat. Barb sewed a red pup tent-type privacy shelter that hangs from the rear bimini A-frame arms, and is usuable whether the bimini is open or closed. It's equipped with a 60HP BigFoot EFI, two 6.6 gallon tanks, 25W VHF with 4' antenna, and the Garmin 178C.

Loaded as heavily as we do, it runs 32-34 mph at WOT and cruises at about 20-22 mph at 2/3 throttle, getting 8+ mpg. It handles 2-4' chop on Lake Erie just fine, and we've been out twice in 3-5' although that was more like work than play. It's been out 20+ miles in Lake Erie, and I'd take it out in the Gulf, on good days. It tracks like an arrow in following or quartering seas. Best yet, launching involves about 5 minutes to remove the towing cover, trailering straps, and motor support.

Loaded for the weekend on the trailer, it's close to 2000 pounds, so it's still over the 1500 lb max capacity of a Crown Vic.

Yes, we're going to miss sailing. And we'll probably have another sailboat one day. The odds are good it will be another MacGregor.

Hang in there, Sloop. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. You can either start dying or keep living today. I have a strong feeling you're doing the latter.

IMHO, when you give up what you love to do, you are giving up something you live for. While you are recovering from illness, you need every reason to live. Keep sailing!
..
I wish you a speedy recovery. Robert

Moe,

Thanks for all your helpful comments and suggestions. - They will be missed. (Your one obvious failing was your praise and promotion of the 26X over the 26M. What you were saying, it seems to me, was that after many years of experience in designing and refining trailerable sailboats, MacGregor had their head up their ass and didn't know s____ about what they were doing when they brought out the 26M.)

I'm curious as to why you couldn't keep your Mac in storage for future use when you have more time to get back to sailing. Also, what is the size of your Whaler, and can you use it for overnight or weekend trips?

Bon voyage.

Jim Cate

I believe that is Moe and Barb in their Whaler, in the above photo...

Moe, you need to post the photo you sent me... you and Barb on your your Harley. You have more toys than most on the board. Barb has a Sportster that would make my toes curl. Nice bike.

Okay... this is another thing we do on nice weekends besides boating...


Click on the image to view it at its original size

Please note that Moe has a blue hull on the Harley.

No mo' Moe? take care my friend.

John, get better Friend.......!!!

and If either you or Moe find yourself in the pacific northwest chasin Kin, or just visiting, Im sure we can get a mac back out on the water for ya!!

|>arren

So Moe, you've had a couple weeks to think about this since the announcement. Any change of heart? I figure the best reason to keep the Mac over the Whaler is the Mac-people are nicer folks.

So my theory is that you should post on the Whaler board that you're leaving them -- and see if they give you as much love as we did. If not, you should defintely keep the Mac.

Whaler Sites:

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/

http://home.att.net/~classicwhaler/wsb/ ... html-.html

Thanks Z. We're unloading our personal items from the MacGregor and getting it cleaned up to take some pictures for a listing/website. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't cooperated. I still think it's the best cruising trailer sailor on the market, but I just don't have the "can't let it go" feeling I have about the cool little Whaler or Barb's cool little Sportster.

At this point, we're keeping the big Airstream to live in full-time one day, one motorcycle (maybe two), and one boat, and probably picking up a second truck/tow vehicle eventually. So while I don't participate in those Internet resources as heavily as I originally did, I still check some occasionally and some daily. Most of my posts on these are in the archives.

Randy, another Whaler forum is Whaler Central.