MacGregorSailors.com

Okay.

It doesn't matter if you are in the market or not for a new boat.

Price and weight are also not factors in your decision.

Here is the scenario:

You are at a boat show and you see a new trailerable sailboat being exhibited. This boat is perfect for you because not only does she carry a generous beam but is also:

28' in length
30' in length
32' in length

Give some real thought to this one because I really need your honest opinion.

Bigger is better!! Weight, waterline, sail carried, space below.

Art:

I think that I would opt for 32 feet length for the extra room.

Important Caveat:
I should qualify this, because I'm assume that launching 32 feet and 8000 lbs is as easy as the 26 foot Mac and 4000 lbs.
Perhaps some more experienced PO's can comment on this.

#1 feature = safety
#2 feature = trailerablility, launching, mast raising etc.

I'm not sure how many more survey questions are coming up.
But perhaps this will streamline.
I envision that our next boat will look a lot like this.
http://www.vivayachts.com/?modul=8&more=3&strona=19#d

32 ft.

By the way, these haven't been available for a couple of years.
I spoke to the rep. this April, and he had no plans
to restart the Vivayacht business.

Hi Ralph.

Viva is a Polish builder. There are several of them that run small operations and build a wonderful product. Most are trailerables and designed and sold for the charter business.

They have been going through some real tough times for the past three years. The strength of the Euro against their own currency has really created problems. They can't export them as well. Last time I checked it cost a little over $1.40 to buy one Euro.

Once I get an idea on where folks sit on length, then there will be one final question.

My vote would be for the 30'. But again I am thinking about price and don't want to price this new boat out of the reach of us commoners


Allan

If not worrying about price then bigger is better. That being said, about $50,000 would be about my limit for any boat.

It's a naive question. Length and beam are both factors in safe and easy trailersailing. 65' tow plus trailer is length limit and 102" is beam legal. Getting beyond that and you will be asking yourself lots of questions each time you hit the road. I talked to a fellow who had a Bene 331 on a gooseneck tripple axle trailer who towed from Denver to Florida without permits. Then again if I tried it I'm sure there would be some hitch i.e. fines/problems. The Bene is not a trailer sailor since you need a crane to set up the mast when you launch.

I have watched many trailer sailors launch and de-launch. Macgregor is the field leader and it is a big difference in terms of simplyfing the process. Simple is safer and a big part of the enjoyment of trailer sailing, which is a work project in itself.

Newell
Fast Sunday 96X, Windancer 89D

If we are talking about keeping the beam a 9', I would vote for a length of 28'. My reasoning is that going over 28' would require a wider beam to maintain stability. I used to sail a Catalina 28 and with a beam of 10' it was a very stable coastal cruiser, with plenty of room for 4 people. Also, as length goes up the expenses seem to go up in a disproportionate manner: Slip fees, hull maintenance, insurance, registrations, etc.

~Rich

I fail to see how the question is naive at all.

The Beneteau 331 is hardly a trailerable sailboat. It is barely transportable even with the rig you have mentioned. This is an extreme case where someone purchased a boat that was not designed for this purpose and adapted it to their lifestyle.

I think Catalina and Hobie would beg to differ with you on your assertion that MacGregor is the leader in trailerable boats and easy rigging.

Catalina has a complete line of trailerable sailboats from small to 25' and the last time I checked there were over 300,000 Hobie 16's and 18's built.

Please do not take this as being antagonistic. I am simply trying to determine member preference on some very basic questions.

Ditto Hammin X.
I believe in the inverse size relationship length has to complexity/cost/usability.
Cat 30, waaay more work to sail, maintain.
Slightly nicer boat.
26 feet seems to be a magic rightsize length.

Give me an easy to trailer M that ails like a M 26D, with the Hunter´s open transom, give me a tiller option, with the Seaward 26RK ´s opening portlites and retracting keel, built like a Catalina and keep it under $40K new.

Perhaps the use of the word naive is a trigger point, sorry.

I get lost in the question. If a boat seems perfect to you in all respects, except length, and you want to focus on length as an issue then what are the parameters that will define your choice?

You are at a boat show and you see a new trailerable sailboat being exhibited. This boat is perfect for you because not only does she carry a generous beam but is also:

28' in length
30' in length
32' in length

If speed under sail is important then get the 32'. In theory she will be faster.
If you tow with a RV get a 28'.
If you want ease of setup, in the water in 20-40min get a Mac at 26'. Yes, I know Catalina, Hunter, Hobie etc. make trailerables but if you do more than day sail, ever, and you get out 5 plus times a year get a Mac.

Newell
Fast Sunday 26X, Windancer 89D

32

If the price is right ! 32'

J

32

I think Rich nailed it for me - the problem isn't with the initial expense per foot, but but ongoing costs, since so many things are charged based upon boat length. Further, the cutoff on slips and other measurable limits is sometimes right around 25/26 feet. So... I guess I'm happy with 26.