MacGregorSailors.com

Hi. I am nearly ready to trade in my 21ft Trimaran for a Mac 26 M.
(Probably less sailing fun but more options with the cabin and larger motor).

Having looked at a couple, the only question I have is how to get on and off the boat? I keep my boat on a mooring in Poole harbour, and use a free water taxi service from the Marina to get to it.

On the Mac 26M the sides seem too high to jump over, and I can see lots of potential damage from having the water taxi approach the stern with the outboard and rudders having a nasty accident with the water taxi.

Anyone have suggestions or thoughts on how easy it is to keep and use a Mac 26 M on a mooring?

Thanks
Kevin

..

kb,

For the last two summers I have had my M moored for two weeks of the summer at a lake. I have a 9.5' Achilles inflatable which I use as a dingy. Neither I nor any guests have ever had any problem getting aboard using the swim ladder. although an out of condition, pear shaped guest may have some problem, but that person should be getting on at a dock

Ray

You can board at the stern/transom quite easily. At least it should be as there is no major differences betweek my 26X and a 26M. I get in and out of my tender this way, with no problems and I am 6ft, 230lb and 57 years old, with aching joints

Kevin

This is how we over came the problem
http://macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin/mod ... record=817

Any one have any suggestions or thoughts on how easy it is to keep and use a Mac 26 M on a mooring ?

Also try this
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7857

Jack Sparrow

I understand your concern about alowing a water taxi to approach from the stern. It's one thing to do this in a dinghy, quite another in a larger boat.

I would suggest the cockpit side as the place to enter. Lately from our dinghy we have stopped using the stern and have gone to the side most of the time as well.

We simply pull the dinghy up and tie off to the X mid pulpit. You could use a stanchion on a M.

I never liked the idea of a hard ladder hanging over the side so we bought a Fender Step. It works great. Not only is it soft, and adds extra side protection, but it is a great boarding step. We tie one end to the mid pulpit and have a SS loop that goes on the genoa track. They're not cheap, but it has proven well worth the money. It also is very useful at low docks as well.





http://www.sailorssolutions.com/index.a ... Item=STP01

I think a fender board would be best with about 10 inch (cm???) fenders. Ths would protect the lip in the side of the boat and give you a nice step for your foot. 4 to 6 feet (cm??) long should do it. When not in use you could strap to the sanctions.

This is a board with fenders tied to them. Usually used at the dock. However it can also be use to protect the side of the boat from the dinghy or other boats comming next to you.

If the water taxi has a high enough freeboard you could use a special fender called a rafting cusion. I have 2 of these.


I dock way to much.

We have the M on a mooring and need to have a launch take us out and back after sailing. The launches (there are 2) have about 5 fenders on their side, they have no problem coming alongside the starboard side. There is a bit of a long step down onto the launch but they have a tall hand rail to hold so it isn't difficult. Boarding the M is much easier. The only problems we've found is on really windy days the boat swings much more than other sailboats and the launch may have to make a few approaches but once they get there, grab hold of one of the stanchions, unclip the life line, it's no big deal to get get off the M.

Thanks for all your great suggestions

Regards
Kevin

I like to fall off of my boat. The girls think that really cool.

I get on/off my boat at a mooring from a motor boat. The motor boat comes up to the side of the cockpit, I undo the life-line, and step in. Yes, it is a big step, but doable. Like another person wrote, other larger boats are just as high off the water.

When I have guests, I usually go to my boat and then bring it to the dock where they can get on much easier.

I like to fall off of my boat. The girls think that really cool.

Are they the same ones that don't like it when you run out of gas..... or are they different ones



g

I undo the life-line, and step in.

I have quick pins on my lifelines, secured by a short lanyard. If you dont cleat them off with the lanyard they will work loose while trailering. I keep the solid pins stored on the chainplate and install these while sailing for security.

My M came with a quick release on the life line where it connects to the cabin stantions. I have to say that unless the line is kept tighten, it releases a little too easily in my opinion and I may consider adding a slip ring or velcro strap to assure it is not opened accidentially. It appears to be just the right length to make one or two wraps around the propeller.

Hmmmm ... last two posts refer to quick pins for the lifelines??? I added the "swage-free" pelican hooks to my lifelines, and there's no question of them spontaneously coming undone.

And when I changed the lifelines from cable to single-braid rope, I reset them so that one opens at the cabin, the other at the helmseat. Even so, the line is only 5 feet long (on the 26X) so there's no way it could reach the prop.