Largest trailable Sailboat ?

[Idle Time]

There is a Mast 28 at this site...goes for $59,000
http://www.yachtworld.com/southshore/

[Luke]

There is a C&C Mega30 group on Yahoo.
On this site I found Mega30 brochures, the history of the production, and a list of Mega30s for sale.

Here is the link Yahoo Mega30 Site

Luke
DreamChaser

[wiehan]

They also have the RL28 that will challenge the MAC 26. How about that ?? You just have to go down under

http://www.rlyachts.net/index34.asp

[Phillip]

I could not see this little mother displayed in previous posts, but this is what I call a Real Trailer Sailer
It certainly answers the origonal question.

http://www.airwaveyachts.com.au/

Peter, from what I can gather, these things are made here in Queensland. Did you look at them before your purchase? If so, what conclusions did you come to? Just asking out of curiosity.
Cheers
Phillip

[Peter HK]

Phillip

No, I didn't look at it. Looks like a nice mono trailer sailer, but when I bought the Mach28 I was looking more for power than sail. I'd had a cruising catamaran for a few years and had decided that long term cruising wasn't a lifestyle that I, or more particularly my wife, would want to continue. Now, with work commitments (time poor), I saw I could get more in a day or weekend with the speed of the powersailor.

As regards sailing, I had a Farrier F31 in the mid 90's, so mono sailing performance doesn't interest me- it doesn't come close. I've given up racing and the Mach28 is pleasant enough off the breeze in good conditions, but in anything else I tend to motor.

Peter HK

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

For someone in the U.S., seems like the only reasonable upgrade path from a Mac26 is the Mast 28. Not sure if that extra 2 feet would be a big enough jump up in size to justify the cost and hassle of upgrading. Seems like the bunks would just be a bit longer than a 26X. Now a 30 foot powersailor which could sleep 6-8 with a tad more beam but still narrow enough to trailer, I think that would probably definitely be worth upgrading to. I guess you may start losing some stability as these type boats get longer without getting wider though.

[Newell]

Dimitri,

I recently wrote to Roger asking that he should consider a 30'x8.5' power-sailor as next production boat. Didn't specify whether it should be DB or CB but I lean towards a CB. I don't need sleeping for 6-8 since I think that is just advertising, the development of a head with shower and a water heater would put me in the market for same.

Of course I never heard anything back.

Newell javascript:emoticon(':macx:')

[Mac Ziggy]

Maybe bigger (or larger) isn't always better. MacGregor made a Mac 36 Cat that had removable beams. About 8 1/2 feet on the trailer.

[/url]http://www.sailboatowners.com/reviews/r ... r&model=36 (You may have to copy & paste)

The reviews by the owners are interesting - they loved their boats.

Also had a small outboard, rated for 25 hp but MacGregor recommended 20 hp.

There's one on eBay now.

[Peter HK]

Dimitri

Having had the opportunity to see a Mach28 and Mac26m side by side, I think you would be surprised by the difference in volume. It is a cubed law after all- length isn't the difference. Could certainly sleep 6 on a Mach28, but the space- headroom (192 cm, 6 ft 4 in), dinette, cockpit (there are another two bunks in the cockpit on a warm night) is a different world.

Larger is possible, but trailering etc gets harder. Where the best compromise exists is, I suppose, a variable depending on the individual, but the Mach28 is a BIG boat.

Peter HK

[Chip Hindes]

It is a cubed law after all- length isn't the difference.

In general this is right, though not exactly; it's only cubed if you don't constrain the other parameters, beam and height, to remain within some externally driven limit.

The 7'-9" beam makes the Mac a relatively skinny boat for its length. Interestingly, the Mast 28 at 8'2" is proportionally even skinnier than the Mac, though only by a few percent. It's doubly interesting since, once you've blown the "trailerable without permits in all states" parameter as the Mast design does, you'd think the designer might have let it expand a little more for both interior volume and improved sailing characteristics. I suppose there's a good possibility it wasn't designed specifically for export to the States, and if maybe it has to do with trailering permits in Europe where the Mast is built. But anyway, if you've been inside a Hunter 260, I think you'll agree with 8'11" beam it's quite amazing how much bigger it is inside compared to the Mac, and presumably, the Mast.

In any case, if the cubic rule is applicable for interior volume, I believe it could be shown to apply to at least three other major parameters: Cubic horsepower to drive it a given speed, cubic trailerability and (most important) cubic dollars

[Frank C]

Mac-Ziggy,
Welcome, first-timer! I was amazed one day to see a guy towing a Mac 36 into our marina yard. But don't get the idea that it's a practical trailer boat - it took him 3 weeks to float it, including an appointment with the yard's crane to hoist the mast! While scanning the website you cited, I found these very interesting comments by a Mac-36 owner:

Problems: Waterlogged daggerboard fell down too low and caught a rock, split open (can-openered) the trunk, but were able to motorsail back to port 2 miles at 16 kts with one hull half full of water. Very exciting, but did not sink.

Next daggerboards will be weaker than the trunk. Am considering foaming the floor of the hulls 8" deep because when it started to sink the rear end went down because of no flotation in the rear of the boat and two heavy motors (2 x Merc 15hp) in the rear.

Sailing characterisitcs: Very stable, great sailing in 20-25 kt wind. A bit wet of course. Doesn't point very well. but reaches are outstanding. Hard to tack initially, but now we can tack regularly.

Motoring characterisitcs: 12 kts max. Turns on its own center. Some cavitation, but not bad with the motors in line with the hulls.

Liveability: Lots of space on deck. Good camper, but very bare bones. There are bunks down below, but used only if we have to.

Experience in dealing with MacGregor: " We made a catamaran? "

Other comments: Don't plan on trailering and setting it up. This is no Hobie- lots of setup time.

[Chip Hindes]

Experience in dealing with MacGregor: " We made a catamaran? "

That's got to be one of my favorite manufacturer's comments ever.

...daggerboard fell down too low and caught a rock, split open (can-openered) the trunk...Next daggerboards will be weaker than the trunk.

This is exactly what I get concerned about every time an M owner talks about reinforcing the puny daggerboard. It's a classic case of "Be careful what you wish for" IMO.

[AWKIII]

Wiehan:

I really like the Airwave! Any idea what she sells for in Oz? Not real keen on the cabin layout or port design, but not a bad looking cruiser.

Do these guys also make the Ross? It is a damn nice boat and they have been around for years.

[Phillip]

AWK111
I am trying hard to get a responce to my e-mails to the address given on the web site re the Airwave and the 780. Finally found a phone number but guess what - an answering machine, at what I feel maybe a private residence.(could be wrong).

You Yanks certainly know how to do things correctly in that I can go to one of your sites, and there are all the costs etc for everything, and I can work out exactly what I need to know, and even who I choose to deal with.

Some of these outfits down here are hopeless. Some seem to think there is some advantage to them in making you put in a request for info re pricing, but in some cases they don't even respond. I hate it when I see $POA (price on application).

I am awaiting info on a smaller Trailer Sailer that has been advertised here that I "think" comes from Argentina. One week later - zilch - nothing back.
If I get any responce I will pass the info on.......don't hold your breath....it has been 4 days of trying so far
Cheers
Phillip

[Mac Ziggy]

FRANK C,

Thanks for the welcome. This is one of the best sites I have used for any area of interest on the net. Part of that comes from the administrator and the other part is the support by the users. Thanks to all.

I had an X but my wife didn't like it. I now have an ex and am looking for a new boat. A guy came from two hundred miles away to get the X. I haven't been so fortunate with the ex.

The Mac ( X or M ) still seems like the best choice for my needs. I'm not a sailor but I'd like to learn. The Mac Cat owners had some problems but they still liked their boats. I like one where the launch crew doesn't have to draw straws to see who gets on the boat.

If you like Mac lingo the manual is located at http://www.joemaletz.com/mac36.pdf. It may seem very familiar.

Joe