Question: Pointing to wind and motor weight ?

[J.Teixeira]

Hello

I am about to inherit a 1998 Mac 26X. The boat as a Honda 50 HP 4 Strokes. I am thinking on removing the engine and instead place a 9.9 HP Honda 4 Strokes engine.

Mi objective for the boat is calm family weekend in lakes and protected coast line:
1 – “Trailerability”
2 – Space
3 – Sailing
4 – Calm motoring
5 – Price

The questions are:
When sailing can I expect better pointing to wind performance with a reduced weight engine ?

What is realy the best pointing to wind angle of a Mac 26X with a heavy engine like Honda ?

Thank you
Jose

[Trouts Dream]

With 4 ft of free board, I have found that the weight of the engine is not the main issue about pointing to wind.
I also thought I wouldn't use the extra speed much but OOHHH WHAT A FEELIN to head in at the end of the day WOT after playing where I wanted to play.

[ALX357]

Motoring in a stiff breeze will be dicey with only 10 horspower. The boat really needs the 50 horsees at least, and at slow docking speeds, will not readily respond to low horsepower aplied to the attendant small prop. A sudden stop even at slow speeds requires horsepower in reverse to a large prop. It's not just a top speed question, but about being able to control the boat in various conditions.

[pokerrick1]

If you can swing it financially, keep the 50 HP - - - if you can't get the smaller one - - -but TRY HARD for the 50 - - - you'll be glad you did.

Rick

[bubba]

I really don't know what the fuel usage difference might be from 10 to 70 hp but I am thinking that an average speed of 6 miles an hour the 10 hp will be running higher rpm's and the fuel usage will be close. There is the option to tow kids or grand kids around on water toys.

My wife didn't think much for the 70 on our Mac but she read an artical about a guy who the extra speed to dock saved his life when he had a heart attact.

[pokerrick1]

My wife didn't think much for the 70 on our Mac but she read an artical about a guy who the extra speed to dock saved his life when he had a heart attact.

And she still wanted the 70 That would have made most of my wives get a 10

Rick

[NiceAft]

Guys,

Remember that Mad Mike only has a six (If I remember correctly) on Zeno's Arrow. Nobody has done anything with a Mac that remotely approaches his accomplishments.

Ray

[Frank C]

Yeah, but maddmike works harder at it, he's more experienced at it, and he moves slower because of it.

As for fuel economy, the honda 50 won't burn any more fuel at 5 mph than the 10-horse. Fuel consumption is related to horsepower 'EMPLOYED' and it takes the same horsepower for either motor to reach a given speed. The extra friction & pumping losses in the larger motor are deminimus versus the effort to push our hull through the water.

Further, as mentioned earlier the hull size, shape & freeboard are vastly more significant factors to pointing ability, versus the weight of the engine. Your assessment might be astute for a more traditional hull, but it's a nuance that's totally lost on the shape of Roger's hulls.

Finally, you might compare the motor size to choosing an automatic transmission vs. manual transmission in your vehicle. The 50 gives you the flexibility to keep to a short schedule on a weekend, and the luxury to daly a bit, still getting home before dark. Seems to me that luxury is the operative word, with emergency handling as the follow-up phrase.

IMO ... keep the 50. I doubt going smaller can save a nickel.

[School House Steve]

If the boat comes with the 50 Honda, keep it. It will probably cost more to change it to the smaller motor. Consider the advantages of electric start and power trim of the bigger motor. You don't have go WOT unless you want to. But having the extra speed will actually let you SAIL farther knowing you can still get back to the ramp on time.

[Trouts Dream]

Now if it was a 70 HP, I would definately sell it.......

to me.

[Moe]

If you are very much concerned about sailing qualities and would be satisfied with the motoring performance of a 10HP, I don't recommend the 26X. A traditional sailboat such as the Macgregor 26S or 26D (also called 26C for classic by some owners) would be a much better choice for that.

[Morimaro]

Jose,
Moe is absolutely right, the 26Classic is by far the better sailor and if all you want is calm weekends on lakes or estuaries then the 26C with a 9.9hp OB would be a better answer then a X/M.
One problem may be getting a second hand C in Portugal, although I've seen C's in UK & Ireland I've not seen them when I've been over the Channel in real EU.
Having an X/M without at least a 50hp OB is IMHO a waste, even if you don't use the speed because of preference (X/M's cruise at 6-8kts very happily with a 50hp by the way) it gives you the option of a very quick "lets get outta here" in a bad situation.

[NiceAft]

If your concerns are what Moe said:

If you are very much concerned about sailing qualities and would be satisfied with the motoring performance of a 10HP, I don't recommend the 26X. A traditional sailboat such as the Macgregor 26S or 26D (also called 26C for classic by some owners) would be a much better choice for that.

Then he is correct.

If you're more interested in the headroom of the X's cabin, its habitability as a cruiser and concerned with the money, then you will be able to save money with the smaller HP motor if the price of the boat can be reduced (sans the existing 50HP) more than the cost of purchasing a 9.9HP. As Frank and others have stated, there are benefits to a larger motor. Also, there is the fact about fuel consumption, as Frank has stated, but, you will save money if the cost of the 9.9HP is less than the amount of the boat minus the existing 50HP.

My point is that if you recognize the differences of the two engines capabilities on an X, and you believe that you don't need the HP ( and you will not be the only one who does.), then money can be saved, and you can put the cash into your pocket or into the boat.

A new 9.9 Honda 4s can be purchased in the U.S. (I have no idea about the EU) for about 3,000. A used one, obviously less. Can you get the price of the boat reduced enough to MORE than pay for the 9.9HP? That is the question. If yes, then you will save a whole bunch of nickles If no, then you won't.

My earlier point was simply there are many owners who don't elect to have the big motor. I should have elaborated more. What ever your decision, be happy with it and enjoy the boat. Oh yes, send pictures.


Ray

[J.Teixeira]

Thank you very much for all your answers

I was in fact also thinking on fuel economy (here in Europe 1 lt of gas is now 1.45 € = 1 gal=0.66 $) and it seems that it will not stop there…

So consumption is also an important point when buying a boat like this…

And Mac 26C is in fact in mi mind (but not in mi wife mind…)

There is only one question without answer…

What is really the best pointing to wind angle of a Mac 26X?

Jose

[MARK PASSMORE]

You can always buy the boat with the 50 horse. Use it for a while see what its like and then swap engines. If you are satisfied, then sell the 50 on Ebay. If not put the 50 back on it and use the 9 for a kicker. Or just add the 9 for a kicker and use both engines and be happy.