Any negatives on the 26M 2009

[irayone]

Hi All !
I am new to this site. I am in between boats and came across the 26 M. I have alwys owned a dock boats Rawson 32, Pearson 385, and Catalina 42.
Great comfortable blue water boats. However my sailing grounds are from Morro Bay to the Channel Islands, Catalina, Long Beach. I am tired of paying dock fees. I can park the 26 M at my home no problem. I would like to set it up as a coastal curiser.

My Questions are what are the down sides of the craft ? I do understand that it's a motor /sail which is down the middle of both worlds and may not do everthing with an "A"++.......

Second question... Has anyone had the coastal cruising experiance on the west coast Channel Islands with this craft ?

Third question... What is the bigest swell the craft has encountered in the channel crossing ???? Any experianced Capt's out there ??? What can the boat handle ?

Thanks......IRAYONE

[blue angel]

I have a 2008M, hard to beat as a trailer sailer, and plenty of them go to the channel islands from s california on nice days. it is not a blue water boat, so pick your days, and maybe trailer closer before heading accross.

the only disadavantages with the boat are that iit is tricky to dock in strong crosswinds, but once one learns to back in at an angle and let the wind push ine bow straight as you swing into the slip, it becomes easy.it is the opposite of a keel boat, easier to back then go forward. and it high so it is a bit of jump down to most docks, am looking for a removable step to put over the side of mine.

hard to find another boat that is a good of a combo of the following 3 things
:
sailboat
power boat
travel trailer

not the best at any of these three, but an amazing combo, and the same lightness that can be seen as a disadvantage in some water situations is a big plus when trailering across country

[pokerrick1]

Hey irayone - - -WELCOME:

The biggest disadvantage to me was the time to unrig and rerig for trailering - - - a search of "rigging time" etc. will give you a wealth of info - - - - which is why I always kept mine in a slip at Marina del Rey. I went up north along the coast many times (but never as far as Morro Bay - - - one of my favorite tourist spots) - - - and I always stayed within sight of the shoreline (cause I am a scardy cat sailor) and never had any problem handling any waves. One of the great things I love about my Mac is the absolute EASE of singlehanding - - - I often sail alone.

For an experienced sailor like yourself, you will probably be a little disappointed with the sailing performance of the Mac - - - and I definately recommend a demo sail before you buy to be sure you can live with the performance. For me, my demo sail on the Mac was the first time I ever set foot on a sailboat - - - and the peace and quiet SOLD me! I taught myself to sail and asked a lot of questions and made a bunch of mistakes - - - but finally now I can sail some.

For me the boat has been an excellent intro to sailing - -- and if I still lived on the ocean, I would probably be looking to mve up to my dream boat (something like a Catalina Morgan 42 or 44).

The Mac is NOT a 42 footer - - - but for what you pay you get A LOT!!!

Rick

[March]

Got two negatives, one on each battery.

[David Mellon]

If I wanted a fast sailboat I would have bought a Prindle 18' catamaran. I love my for too many reasons to list.
I go to Catalina often, I leave from the Cabrillo Beach ramp (Long Beach) because it is the closest to both Avalon and Two Harbors. It takes about 75 minutes for the 22 to 23 mile trip depending on the destination. I have about an 80 mile range leaving me plenty of spare gas for any emergency. For the other islands I trailer to Santa Barbara or the Channel Islands State Park ramps. day sailing from Dana Point harbor is a real joy, they just rebuilt the ramp there.
As to rigging time, I have replaced all the bolts with quick release pins and eliminated any wasteful practices. For sailing I can launch in 30 minutes once I park at the ramp. If I plan to motor to Catalina, the boat would be loaded the night before, I raise the mast, leave the boom and main below and launch in 15 minutes. I just purchased a Johnson Lever for the roller furler, that will save me another couple minutes rigging, and a lot of hassle. It will also open up the ramps in our area that are placed on the inland side of the PCH bridges, as raising the mast on the water will become much easier.
As to swells, I have been out in small craft warnings and 12' swells were not an issue, the chop was more of a problem. The boat surfs the swells with ease, the chop drenches the cockpit. I have resorted to foulies and goggles. If I were to change my habits and plan weeklong trips a full enclosure would be a must. I am sure our brothers in Alaska would say an enclosure is a must, here in SoCal for daysails it would be a luxury. I am unclear how one reaches the foredeck with an enclosure in place as I have never been aboard a Mac with one mounted.

[Captain Steve]

Irayone, I have been around Anacapa and circumnavigated Santa Cruz. There are many Macs in Channel Islands and Ventura harbors that sail the channel. The motor gives you a great safety margin for wind and weather. I have been in 10 - 12 foot swells where you surf the swell like a surf board. The Mac gets picked up you pick up speed sliding along the crest and then off the back ready for another one.

[baldbaby2000]

For trailering it's a great boat. Three of us can rig it in less than 30 minutes. One complaint I have is the flimsy daggerboard. I've never "broken" one but I've severely damaged the trailing edge a few times and had to repair or replace it. It is easy to remove and replace.

[irayone]

WOW Thanks for the great input.....Going to The Mac head quarters to give one a test ride.
Capt Steve... How much anchor chain rode do I need for the Channel Islands??? My experiance is 50 ft at a 7 to 1 ratio....Thats 50 ft of chain and 300 ft of rode on at least a 20 lb hook.???????

[Finn]

Captain Steve,

I’m considering spending up to a week sailing and visiting the Channel Island National Park –perhaps even this summer. Would you be willing to share some of your experiences? I’m vary interested in hearing your thoughts about (1) the best time to sail out there; (2) where to anchor for the night; (3) any special preparations.

Sincerely,
Finn

[irayone]

Hi Capt

My favorite spot is Smugglers.. clear water...There is a great book about the Channel Islands which tells all in great detail. I wouldn't go with out it. How ever I can't seem to remeber the exact name of the book or author. At smugglers you can anchor out in 20 ft Around the corner is is scorpion. then prisoniers. Just east of prisoniers is a great cove to dive for scallops. It's usually rough going east around to the potatoe patch so I stay on the west channel side. I don't like going in over 5 ft swells. Beaware of the north east off shore winds. Even on the leaward side...off shore winds are dangerious.
Great surf in China bay. I usuall hit smgglers first then if conditions aren't the best I move around the channel side. I like a 7 to 1 scope but with the smaller boat I have no experiance. I need to know what size anchor, size chain, how much chain and rode ? Is it the same for a 40 fter?

[irayone]

Capt Yes I would like to share exp. The optimum time to go is Aug, Sept,Oct. Foggy in june & july, April & may are fine just watch the weather. The winter is too cold for me. I like to sail and swim. So the warmer the better.

[puggsy]

I've had a few different types over the years, from charter boats [ see the photo in the next subject] down to small bilge keelers. and here i am with my final choice..the .
You cannot beat it for versatility...safe as houses, plenty of space down below, enclosed head for the ladies, can park it up in knee deep water...moor it, trailer it...the best mast raising system yet...and actually improves with mods...
Be aware, though, that even with ballast, its a bit tender....so make sure all down below is secure...
Puggsy...and as you did ask, qualified to boot...





Hard to believe, but our whole coastline is like this...flat as...no mountains, nothing...makes for difficult navigation..once you are out ten mile, you lose your sense of how far north or south...and there is virtually reef about a mile offshore...MOST of the way...so all you guys in USA and Canada have beautiful scenery to boot.

[Captain Steve]

Some good input here. The book is by Brian Fagan.[u]The Cruising Guide to Southern California’s Offshore Islands[/u] The book goes into great detail on anchorages and reading the wind. I used to belong to Channel Islands Yacht Club and we ran a training class on sailing the channel. I will see if I can find a copy of the book we produced. Maybe we can scan it and share with others.

Sept and October are the best months for weather. Go to http://www.sailthechannel.com for good information. I bought their produced tape of a 5 day circumnavigation of Santa Cruz Island. I am still planning on copying that trip. The DVD gives great information as well as whats on the island too.

We know the preview clip says that the main feature is 55 minutes long. We tried to whittle it down but it’s a really big island, so the main feature is actually 70 minutes. It includes some island history, channel crossing information, preparation, anchorage descriptions, and a great tour of the island’s many anchorages. To cap it all off, we got some great rare footage of the interior of the island’s famous Painted Cave.

It also has another 30 minutes of interviews and special features related to the island, including:


An animated retelling of the Chumash Indian folktale, “Rainbow Bridge”
An informal interview with Brian Fagan, author of “The Cruising Guide to Southern California’s Offshore Islands”.
A great interview with the superintendent of the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary.
An interview with Lotus Vermeer of the Santa Cruz Island Nature Conservancy.
Whether you’re planning a passage to the island or just want to get a feel for what it’s like out there, we know you won’t be disappointed!

To purchase this DVD for just $29.95 click the Buy Now button below.


_____________________________________________________________

Where to buy “Around Santa Cruz Island” off the shelf*

“Pacific Yachting”
“Anchors Way Boatyard”
“Island Packers”
“Santa Barbara Sailing Center”
“Ventura Sailing Program”
“Beacon Marine”
*These organizations offer great services related to boating and to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Be sure and visit them when you’re in their neighborhood. Check back often as this list grows.

_______________________________________________________________

Questions?

(831) 458-1995, 831-332-2516 or e-mail to cruise@sailthechannel.com

I run a chain rode of perhaps 30 feet onto 250 feet of braided nylon. Many anchorages are deep....but...with the macgregor you can get in up close where others cant go . Remember you have to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes on the coast. Keep a watch and travel with good visibility. Both local harbors have national park locations for information on going ashore and fishing restrictions. Have not made the trip by my friends have gone to Catalina from here.... about 60 miles each way.

[delevi]

irayone,

I think the Mac would suit your purposes fine with a few coveats. Although it's not a "blue water boat," it is certainly capable of coastal cruising, though I would recommend some modifications and upgrades for those purposes. You will end up reefing earlier than you are probably used to. I would strongly recommend re-thinking your ideas about a trailerable boat, however. You mentioned that your main motivation was not wanting to pay slip fees. I think you would likely find that paying the slip fee is well worth avoiding the hassle of trailering rigging/derigging/trailering back every time you want to sail. I used to keep my boat in mast-up dry storage on the trailer. After 4 years, I couldn't take it anymore and bottom painted.. got a slip. Don't get me wrong. I love what trailerability has to offer. There are destinations you can sail which you couldn't possibly sail with a water-locked boat, or simply may not have the time to sail to vs. trailering there. I do this several times a year. However, I like to sail often, and there's nothing like walking up to the dock, casting off the lines, and you're on you way. I enjoy the Mac for what it is, but frankly a Catalina 400 is my next boat, though it will be quite a while. My philosophy is that it's too much boat to own which I can't fully take advantage of due to time constraints associated with working for a living. Coming out of Cat42 and Pearson 38, the Mac might be a disappointment. For what it's designed to do, it does well. And despite what some may say about its sub-par sailing performance; with a quality set of sails, some added ballast, proper sail and reefing controls, she's actually a respectable performer. It's biggest weakness is tracking in heavy seas, particularly on reaches. She does well upwind, but big seas will slow it down quickly since it's so light. Though not a hazard, control will be less than desirable coming out of a substantial sized keel boat. You'll find that handling her in such conditions is quite a bit different from a keel boat... for example, when sailing downwind in heavy conditions, you would be much better off running under main only vs. headsail only like on a keel boat. In So Cal, you shouldn't have a problem most of the time. I sail in 25-35 kts often on San Francisco Bay and the SF coast. 15-20' swells are not uncommon. They're only scary when they're close together, or when they break. Took a few breakers, surprisingly with no problems at all. Once you get used to the boat, many of the shortcomings can be tamed... however, she'll never sail like a Catalina 42, nor be nearly as comfortable as far as the ride and accommodations. The ability to motor at speed is very nice, especially if winds are light to none or you just need to “get there.” This is one of the strong points of the boat, so don’t listen to the dealer about a 60 hp maximum. To take full advantage of this boat, you’ll want 70-90 HP. There are, of course, warranty issues if you do that. I hope this helps.

Leon

[mattabbe]

I've been out to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Catalina many times. Just pick your day, to much wind is no fun and can be dangerous.

As for the biggest swell, two winters ago we went out to Santa Cruz from Ventura, nice ride over, a little bumpy once we got near the island. We had a nice day but when we left the protection of the island to go home, the swell was up to 8'-10' with a 35 knot wind, it sucked, but we were safe. If we went perpendicular to the swell, the motor would come up out of the water occasionally and we would loose our ability to steer momentarily and the boat would swing around so we angled the boat toward Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard and surfed the swell which was less worrisome until we got out of the crazy wind closer to the shore and then turned home to Ventura.