macgregor 26M 60HP

[carlos mur pera]

Thank you, any information more please:
When do you sail your Mac, do you have problems with motor touching sides of boat?

[carlos mur pera]

Thank you very much for your help and see we later.

Carlos

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Here is a link to Bluewater Yachts custom steering kit .

http://bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%20312 ... eering.htm

It allows you to disconnect the motor from the steering in seconds. Once disconnected it attaches to a stud that keeps the motor pointed straight ahead while you use the rudders to steer when sailing. They have used this for many years. I have the previous version on my X.

The majority of all the M's BWY sells have Suzuki 70's installed. They have no problems with the steering and that large of a motor.

[aya16]

CARLOS I have probably the widest engine you can put on a mac (115 merc) it will not touch any of the sides, I also have the mac ladder and my engine turns full lock and is a 1/4 inch from the ladder.
so I wouldnt worry about any engine in the 50-60 class touching.

Are you saying you are looking at a Suzuki 60? can you get a different brand? Suzuki is strange, the numbers from their site says the 60hp is 359 lbs, thats 6 pounds less than my 115 merc. The 70 suzuki states its 341 lbs??????? In fact their 90hp is 341lbs, their 80hp is 341 lbs, someone can make better sense from this please do. Maybe some one from BWY, WHO REGURLARLY MOUNT 70HP SUZ ON THEIR BOATS

Do You have bombardier in your area of Spain? maybe you could hook up with a e tec 60? I also heard that in Europe all two strokes are banned? including the very clean ones???? Is that true? you can only get a 4 stroke?
Mike

[aya16]

I sail as little as possible last year, was doing some other stuff. This year I will sail about every other weekend. Despite the engine size I have, sailing is the primary fun in my boat to me.
Mike

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

Are you saying you are looking at a Suzuki 60? can you get a different brand? Suzuki is strange, the numbers from their site says the 60hp is 359 lbs, thats 6 pounds less than my 115 merc. The 70 suzuki states its 341 lbs??????? In fact their 90hp is 341lbs, their 80hp is 341 lbs, someone can make better sense from this please do. Maybe some one from BWY, WHO REGURLARLY MOUNT 70HP SUZ ON THEIR BOATS

the NEW! '09 Suzuki 70/80/90 has same powerhead @ 341#
the '09 Suzuki 60 is the old '02-'08 Suzuki 60/70hp powerhead at 359# (probably at close-out pricing because why would anybody buy it?)
the '09 Suzuki 40/50 is the one they've been running since '02(?) @ abt. 250#.

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[Kelly Hanson East]

True story, just yesterday I ordered some parts from a mac dealer (no names) and as we were making the list out I mentioned I put a 115 on my mac. Right away the dealer said Im going to break the mac in half. I said wow, really? even if I take it easy? they said yes. I said how many broken macs have you seen like that? (I was really concerned some) They havent seen any, but know it will break in half.

Classic. I cant think of any other field in or out of my experience that breeds so many experts on things they are clueless about. There are some awful smart people on this Board though (guys like Kevin and Moe to name a couple) who, if you ever push them on something, will have a ton of experience and good science backing up their claims, rather than the Fox News version of "you'll break your boat in two"

I wouldve asked...why two pieces?? - wouldnt it break into more than that??

[2BonC]

Do You have bombardier in your area of Spain? maybe you could hook up with a e tec 60? I also heard that in Europe all two strokes are banned? including the very clean ones???? Is that true? you can only get a 4 stroke?
Mike

Mike,
to give You an update on the European (German) rules: the ban is applying to the common 2 stroke engine for certain lakes only, in Germany the Bodensee and the Bavarian lakes are affected. However the new Envinerude ETECs are accepted on the lakes with the strongest restrictions as well. This might apply to other newly developed 2 stroke engines as well.

Rainer

[aya16]

To be a little negative, cause its fun sometimes, Theres a video on the mac site that shows a mac in gale force winds, (with our own Mike Inmon at the helm)and monster waves, although reefed to the max, the mac is doing real well and doesnt look to be in any trouble. Roger macgregor took the video and narrated it his self from his "big mac". There's the disclaimer "dont do this at home thing in the video.

Reminds me of our first mac get together in MDR,in 2005, Remember Pat? Although not gale warnings, we had small craft adv. As we single filed out the channel with about 8 New macs and one mac X and new friends, we came to the exit to the open ocean. A large, 60 foot or so power boat was stopped sort of blocking our path out, I managed to sqeeze by him and then the rest of the macs followed me out.

What I saw I couldnt believe, a wave coming in as I turned to the sea, that (Im not kidding) was as high as half way up my mast, and it was getting ready to break. That big ole power boat could see over the break wall, and us little mac's couldnt, that power boat saw the massive waves coming in and didnt want to go out. Two things went through my mind, first get my boat turned into that wave as soon as I could, the other was great, I got all these new mac people together for the first time and killed them all taking them out in this surf. I imagined broken macs scattered all over the beach with bodies floating face down everywhere.

I cleared the wave, looked back and saw every mac ride that wave up and over like no big deal, what a sight. That big O' power boat decided to go out after he saw those little mac's, like little ducks in a row, brave it.
I dont know about anyone else, but I had to change my shorts after. Even though we went out there like we do this all the time.

Glad the European ban has been cleared up, I hate info that isnt all true.

Mike

[MARK PASSMORE]

Aya16, I have a Yamaha 60 and love it. No problems at all. Good luck.

[aya16]

Mark I know this guy who has a 9.9 merc on his mac M and he loves it. have to totally agree with him as he's really happy with what he has. Most people are.
Its kinda hard to recommend an engine to people looking into getting a mac, with out alienating those that already have a mac with a different engine.

Such as life, But I have been saying for a long time the suzuki 50 just doesnt cut it, But Im fully aware that there are some people that really like the performance they get from their suzuki, and they are right.
what works for them or anyone is perfectly right in their choice.

But lets take the mac for what its advertised as, a sail boat that cost little to own that also doubles as a power boat, and a way to get to far off sailing grounds in a short time on a short weekend.
A sail boat that will see speeds of 24mph with a 60hp outboard, according to the mac PR.

Well real world that isnt going to happen, rarely do owners strip their boat, go alone and achieve that kind of performance, which by the way is awesome performance in a boat like ours, if we could only do it.
People play with props, ask about upgrading the computer on their 50 hp engine to get that 60 hp performance some want. That tells me not everyone is completely happy with the performance they get.

So lets break it down. if people want close to or at the performance the mac PR states, frankly there is no other route then to get a 75hp or larger engine, unless you strip the boat and go alone all the time.
New buyers need to know this, even though lots of people that have macs are happy with the engine they have, doesnt mean thats for everyone. Thats how the dealer treats people, they sort of put everyone in a box and tell them they will be happy with this such and such package.

So I say etec 60 best engine for the mac in the 50-60 class, hands down, no other engine will give the value and performance out there right now. If people are hung up on the 4 stroke two stroke thing, then they just limit their choices. If the e tec 60 was close in performance to other engines in its class then it wouldnt matter, but its not even close. If people just have to have a 4 stroke then the yamaha, merc, suz, will do fine. I know I left out the honda, well the engine with the least amount of get up and go for the mac is the honda 50. Sorry but thats the way it is. Or was, honda may fix that or they already did.
Mike

[aya16]

Off topic a bit, but you guys are winning the war on using your mac, you even have the factory doing it now. The mac was suppose to be a day sailor, and an occasional weekend romp in a nice quiet sea.

But you guys pushed your boats to the limits, spent tons of money on upgrades to keep the boat floating and packed it with the latest cruising gear, and best of all you use them in all kinds of weather,stay on the boat in comfort you pay for and installed, your mac shows up in places where the big boys go.

We have bwy installing bigger engines as a standard practice, you have dealers participating in long weekend romps in most kinds of seas, Now you have Roger macgregor video taping a stock mac in gale force seas on purpose, seas that no one should go out in. You guys did that, you guys tested these boats, broke the weak stuff, and replaced it, (not only replaced it but engineered and hand made parts for it) added larger engines and beefed up the areas that would get the most stress, long before any one connected with mac did. If Roger listens he will add stainless spreaders, and bump the price about 50 bucks, he will put some lead in the dagger board and beef up the water ballast tank some, and add 100 bucks, He will beef up the transom with a plywood piece that goes from side to side instead of the small hunk he puts in the motor well, and charge a hundred bucks more. He would add or mold in splash molding to redirect the water when the mac is doing the advertised 24mph, and add a hundred bucks.

Sure the boat will cost a little more, But its already a great boat that just needs some tweaking, the tweaking all you guys have been doing for years at your own expense. So what engine will work on the mac? what ever you want as long as you get out of it, what you expect before you bolt it on.

Me, I need an engine that will do at least whats been advertised, and thats with a fully loaded boat. Others may only need a small pusher. But all deserve a boat that on a whim can shoot over to their fantasy place someday when they get the courage or time. We have that in the mac, almost, just like the 50hp engine, almost, so we tweak it a little and there you go. Hey roger I loved that video, but we already tested your boats out, like that before. And we didnt have a mother ship for protection, have some faith in your boat, we do.
That was fun to write
Mike

[Terry]

People play with props, ask about upgrading the computer on their 50 hp engine to get that 60 hp performance some want. That tells me not everyone is completely happy with the performance they get.

So lets break it down. if people want close to or at the performance the mac PR states, frankly there is no other route then to get a 75hp or larger engine, unless you strip the boat and go alone all the time.
New buyers need to know this, even though lots of people that have macs are happy with the engine they have, doesnt mean thats for everyone. Thats how the dealer treats people, they sort of put everyone in a box and tell them they will be happy with this such and such package.

I know I left out the honda, well the engine with the least amount of get up and go for the mac is the honda 50. Sorry but thats the way it is. Or was, honda may fix that or they already did.
Mike

Yea, the Honda is a bit anemic for a 50, and to be honest I wish I had an e-tec 60 or more. Still, no matter what engine you have, once you get your boat loaded for the season you will be working that engine much harder than you thought you'd be and not likely achieving desired speed. Worse still, no matter what engine you start out with, it will give you years and years of service because no one makes a short lived engine. So we are stuck with what we have with no legitamate reason to replace it because it isn't really broke, just old and tired. It is going to be a long wait to replace my Honda.
On the other side of the coin though, I seldom if ever use WOT because I am rarely in a hurry, so I have to ask myself, is it really a need or just a want, and if I do go bigger will I use it to go fast, well maybe if it planes, but not if it still plows when I am loaded for cruising. The only times I need to go fast is when it gets late in the day and I need to be at the next marina due to first come first served or when I have to make slack tide at some pass, the rest of the time I am just cruising.

[aya16]

Terry if you fish and want a really top choice dingy to tow behind your mac, that 13 foot Boston whaler just cant be beat. Or on Ebay you can pick up one of those baltic 14 feet inflatable's. See I can find a place for your honda 50
I would not have changed engines if I didnt have a need for a new motor on my whaler. (great point, you made) 25 years of great service from the original engine on the whaler It started to have problems last couple seasons, so it was time for a change. Good thing I had that under powered 4 stroke suzuki just sitting there on my mac!!!!Now its a fire breathing beast, like its suppose to be.
Mike

[blue angel]

I like my yamaha 60 4 stroke hi thrust 60 (new last year), that one and the merc big foot, similar but not indentical any more, use less fuel than the etec and according to comparison tests, have 73% more backing thurst than the etec 2 stroke, plus more dealers any where in the world. I bet they have higher resale value too, yamahas are well respected globally, probabably more so than any other brand. but I am shopping for a dinghy motor now and may go for the merc 3.5,due to cost and dealer network.

if you are fighting winds and tides in tight quarters, the exra thrust of that big thrust 14 inch prop on the yamaha highthurst and similar merc bigfoot 50 and 60 comes in handy, as I have discovered when high winds suddenly come up in
coloado mountain lakes, but I bet there are tidal pass areas where that extra thrust would come in handy too. you can get the merc or yamaha 50 or 60, and some smaller ones in either bigfoot or normal small prop versions, but to get the extra torque and even higher speed go for the hithurst versions with bigger props and more heavy duty bottom units, only available on the merc and yamaha.On the other hand, the cheaper cost of the etec might appeal to some, plus no need to change oil, a plus. but for me, the other things I mentioned and an inhernt mistrust of 2 strokes overcame the other issues, but to each his own, many seem happy with whatever they have. Which one do you trust to keep being reliable after 10 years, and still having lots of dealers 10 years for now? I put my money on merc and yamaha for that. we need a consumers reports that would cover these aspects with no favoritism. practical sailor liked the merc 9.9 best for smallmotors a few years back, but they seem to be wrongly prejudiced against macs, so I doubt we will see a comparison of the 60s any time soon