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Does the blue hull scratch easily and does it look ok after a couple of years or should I just accept the fact that I will go slower and get the white hull??????

Scratches easily, definately ! But slower, probably, assuming what Ive read is factual <<
But, blue is pretty,and Admirals like pretty boats
Edit Add: Dont forget that the white hull is much cooler during those hot days tied at the dock or on the hook.

The Blue hull does show scratches easily but I have been very successful in covering them up with wax crayons and wax. I ran across a shade that almost an exact match for filling deep scratches and buffing out minor abrasions. For instance, a mooring bumper rubbed the finish and I was abloe to wax it out with the crayon to where its unoticeable.

Don't know about the heat, have heard both arguements.

I have a blue hull and it does require more care, also Blue hulls are hotter in the direct sun. I've had mine for 15 months. However with wax and sleeves on the fenders you can minimize the scratches and preserve the nice Blue hull. I still like the way it looks on the water and personaly think the Black on top is harder to keep up. I asked the same question on this board just before I bought mine and I was told the same thing. I know you will be happy with either look and after some personal touches you will not look back. Good sailing ahead Phil

You can't see the hull from the cockpit, so the color matters not to me - but my Admiral insisted on Blue after seeing one at a boat show. Pretty much all of our hull scratches are from season 1 when we were storing on the trailer - we got a slip for season 2. I agree that in terms of maintenance, the black stripes are more of a pain. Visually, I think the Blue hull makes the boat look less "tall" -- but for some reason the wind isn't so easily fooled.

In any event, our boat's hull color, + Jimmy Buffett's song about a funky restauant in Key West inspired her name, "Blue Heaven".

Oh I don't know, the black and white appeals to me



Even if it is slower

G

Yes, the black stripes do fade and are very hard to maintain.
As for the blue hull, I have one, and every scratch & scrape brings tears to my eyes. I still like the blue hull more, and with the blue canvas accessories, she looks real purty, but she is higher maintenance. Most of the damage happens in your first season, after that preventative maintenance kicks in.

You're supposed to do maintenance

Rick

Good point Rick. This was one of the major reasons I traded my teak and carpet laden keel boat for a Mac....no more time for "extra" maint and that boat took a lot of it. Now it is just an occasional exterior pressure washing and interior wipe down...big selling point for overly busy people. The other major reasons were shallow water operation, high speed motoring, and trailerability.

I'm new to Mac's & 'sail pending' on a Blue - but what is this about slow? Tell me it aint so!

Boatnick, it's definitely a friendly joke. Nothing to it. Blue boat owners need to claim something to help justify the extra time they spend on maintenance while white boat owners are out sailing.

BoatNick wrote:I'm new to Mac's & 'sail pending' on a Blue - but what is this about slow? Tell me it aint so!

No it's true boat color can add or subtract 5 knots. Watch the Macgregor video carefully. Play it backwards and you will hear the secret revealed;)

Its a running joke about the blue/white hull on this board..

Play the Video backwards and John Lennon sails a white hull on the Fourth mode of PLaning sailing

Catigale wrote:Its a running joke about the blue/white hull on this board..

Play the Video backwards and John Lennon sails a white hull on the Fourth mode of PLaning sailing

But the blue hull makes you look like a more 'experienced' sailor a lot quicker. (I only hope I don't start looking too experienced too quickly)

Keeping with the musical analogy, a musician showing up for a gig with shiny, scratchfree guitar always makes me nervous

I'm from Philly. When I was a kid, early in your schooling around here you were taught about Ben Franklin and an experiment he did over two hundred years ago. He took 1' squares of fabric and placed them on the snow. Each fabric was a different color. Red, Blue, Black, Yellow, etc. The dark colors absorbed the heat of the sun and melted the snow underneath.

I remembered that experiment when I was looking to purchase my Mac. I got the white. I purchased a black Sunbrella cover for the sail, a black Sunbrella Bimini, and made black Sunbrella seat & back cushions. The boat is gorgeous! I don't have any pics of the cockpit, but this one of her at anchor will suffice.

I also had two ports installed for cross ventilation at anchor. I emphasize at anchor because once when heeling over greater than 35degrees, water came pouring in the starboard port. I now close them when the sail is up You can see the starboard port just behind the lower black stripe.

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