power sailing

[Mako]

I am interested in getting a Mac 26X but want to have actual opinions by current owners. I have a vast array of sailing experience with a lot of racing both inshore and coastal racing on the NSW coast, could these boats be sailed or motored from say Pittwater to Sydney Harbour or Lake Macquarie in good weather? Is there any regular racing or cruising activities in NSW at the moment or will there be someday? What are the actual motoring cruising speeds and fuel consumption with some gear and 2 x adults and 2 x kids? I am getting very differing opinions. I am looking at Sonata 26's as well but like the idea of motoring at decent speeds and the light trailering weight. Sorry to be asking for so much info but I want to make this boat purchase the right one!!!

[Lease]

Motoring from Pittwater to Lake Mac would probably be possible with a kind sea state. Consumption and cruising speed are the issues. With no ballast and WOT you get between 12 - 16 knots on most Macs fitted with 50hp motors. The consumption is very high though (particularly with the 2 strokes). Easing off to 10 knots reduces consumption a huge amount. That would make it what, 3 hours from Lion Island to the channel? If you had to take ballast, then you could probably manage a comfortable 8 knots without breaking the fuel bank.

As for sailing that distance <sigh>, you have to plan for 4 knots to windward in 10 knots of breeze. You can get 5.5 - 6 from a well tuned boat, but it takes a lot of concentration to maintain that for hours on end. The boat doesn't like to stay in the groove, and the steering system provides precious little feedback. Reaching in 10 knots, you could plan 6 knots with the crusing kite. The boat weighs only a tonne neat, but add ballast, motor, family, and crusing gear, and you are well over two tonnes and not a lot of sail to push it along. It isn't just a matter of power either, there are the square corners on the tuck that turn the wake into a real washing machine when on a work, and combine that with the standard rudders that stall at the drop of a hat, and you have an inbuilt breaking system.

Family of four cruising is where the boat comes into its own. Unless your kids are keen sailors, you will spend a lot of time motoring to windward, or hanging them off a doughnut. Aim for enclosed non-tidal waters if you can. the boat is a dream for backing onto beaches and stepping off onto the sand, but needs all sorts of dampers to ease the motion if you intend to anchor. Pittwater would probably be OK, because you could anchor very close in to the low tide mark and stay out of the wind in most of the bays. you can even dry out if you have the time to wait on the tides. The boat sits very nicely on the bottom. I have an old 1995 tohatsu 50 on my boat and when motoring we use close to 15 litres per hour. With a total capacity of 60 litres, we do spend time at the fuel wharf. Four strokes are alledgedly a lot more economical.

Other folks in here are trying to put together the genesis of an association, which is a great start. This will hopefully lead to some racing. Mac against Mac could be very rewarding for the patient sailor. Actually, I was at an inland trailer sailor event quite recently where there was only a zephyr to get on with. Picked the right side of the course and found myself in front for the first couple of hundred metres. Didn't last, but in the light breeze we were holding a lot of them.

Well, there's some input.

[brianhar]

Mako,
like yourself, I've had a number of boats (Off the Beach, trailables and a bit of ocean stuff) and think that I can put my two bobs worth in too!
Being down in Melbourne, I can't comment on the places that you have mentioned, however I agree with Lease that in the right sea state the Mac is very capable of coastal hopping. As far as racing is concerned, yeah the Mac's not the fastest sail craft out there, but it is still a very capable boat. The main point of differnce compared to the more conventional trailables is due to the water ballast. By not having a weighted centreboard the boat heels very easily to 20 degrees, where the water ballast kicks in. In then takes a reasonable amount of abuse to get it to heel any further. This takes a while to get used to.
Under motor, WOT with a four stroke , I'm sorry to say that my fuel consumption is around 20ltrs an hour @ 15 knots (Ballast out) . It improves dramatically when you slow down a bit, but it's not as much fun.

All things considered, the Mac is easily the best cruising trailable around . Having the ability to stand up and move around and a nice big comfortable boat is very hard to beat. Whilst we rarely use the enclosed head, it's still a great comfort for the Admiral to know it's there if required.

In regards to organised racing / cruising. I'm one of the people trying to get it off the ground. At Easter a few of us got together down the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria and had a ball. I'm hoping it will grow from there. Have a look at some of the related threads on this issue and please join in. If we manage to get the show on the road, I'm very keen to organise a Nationals.

Brian
Keep asking questions, and we'll keep trying to answer them.

[rockman]

I have thought about doing the same trip in my 26M. If the wind and waves were ok, then it shouldn't be too bad. I agree with the other comments about the fuel consumption. If you are just pottering along at 6 to 10 knots the fuel usage is not too bad (last time out, we seemed to motor most of the weekend - as there was not wind), nice and slow,the gps said 6 knots, and I still only used 12 litres. But open it up - zoom along at 18 knots and the fuel gets guzzled.

If i was doing the sailing trip, and the wind was a in the wrong spot - I would motor sail, 4 knots of sail speed, plus another 3 of motor speed.

If you are looking for a 26M - I have just put mine on the market. It comes with lots of extras - send me a PM if you want more details, or check it out in the buy and sell on http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au

Cheers
Simon