Just another dreamer

[Rafael]

Hi all,

I have been checking this site daily for the last few months and I'm amazed with the amount of information, creativity and skills (mods) and camaraderie that goes around here.

I have been sailing on and off for the last 15 years but never got into anything bigger than a one design dinghy. Did Optimist, Laser, HC14, Europa, Dingue (a 12 footer from Brasil) and a lot of windsurfing...

I currently have a little Manta 14 (something like a Lido) but I'm trying to convince the wife that a Mac would be a really great 35th birthday present (still 4 years away).

Anyways, just wanted to say thank you for all the great info and advice you guys share in here. I don't think I've ran across such a tight community. Which only makes me want to be a part of it more and more.

Just as a curiosity, would you recommend a newbie starting without all the bells and whistles like a furler and sheets leading after in order to "learn the ropes" or it is all pretty much the same? Would it be wise to get a simpler boat first, learn the tricks and then upgrade the system or the money that you would spend it is just not worth it?

Anyways, thank you all for the immense amount stories of info that you share.

Rafael

[c130king]

Just as a curiosity, would you recommend a newbie starting without all the bells and whistles like a furler and sheets leading after in order to "learn the ropes" or it is all pretty much the same? Would it be wise to get a simpler boat first, learn the tricks and then upgrade the system or the money that you would spend it is just not worth it?

I would vote to get as many of those types of things as possible. Just makes the sailing that much more easy/relaxing/enjoyable and less work and jumping up to the mast and the foredeck...especially if you like to sail single-handed. Or at least that is my opinion and that is what you asked for.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[hoaglandr]

We jumped in with both feet. Recently bought a 26M but haven't had a chance to get out in it much this fall. Taking a sailing class and will be slipping the boat at the local lake marina in the spring. Retirements coming up and I look forward to having time for the boat!

Russell

[Catigale]

Rafael...you are landlocked near Riverside if I remember my CA geography right? Are you going to trailer sail or slip somewhere?

[Love MACs]

IMHO it is best to start with the basic boat or a good used one with just a few mods. Half, or almost half, the fun is doing the mods that suit you. "All the bells and whistles" may not be what you want or need, and it can dig deep into your pocketbook. I, like you, hung around on this board asking questions, reading and learning for five years before we got our Mac. Great people and great info here The biggest boat that I had ever crewed was a J24. But had sailed smaller ones for years. With the Mac it is sorta learn as you go, and you can go at your own pace. And if there is a problem there is always someone here to help.

Good Luck, warm breezes and blue skies.


Allan

[Boblee]

Agree with Allan
We bought a basic mac with some of the extras and fitted them myself, the idea was that as I had never been on a sailboat dong the mods would help me to learn why I was doing them.
Don't regret it for a minute, it has been an amazing journey over the last 5+ years thank you Roger.

[RJG 26S]

With my recent purchase of a 26X, one of the things that helped me choose my boat was that it was good shape and had very few modifications. One item in particular was annoying and that is the lack of a mast head mounted anchor light. But, otherwise, I was pleased that it had no bad modifications that had to be re-worked.

After going on a bit of a shopping spree, I have a stack of boxes filled with supplies for all of the modifications that will keep my busy this winter and they include:

1. Installing a recessed, two-burner alcohol stove. (No stove was installed by the POs.)

2. Building a custom dc electrical panel which will include:
a. (2) Watts up meters - one to monitor charging and one for discharging.
b. (8) Switches with separate circuit breakers for Cabin lights, Running Lights, GPS/VHF, Bilge Pump, AC inverter, Potable Water Pump,
Acc. 1 , and Acc2.
c. (1) DPDT Switch for Anchor or Mast Running Light
d. Audible alarm for GPS shallow water or anchor drag from my just installed Garmin GPS Map 421S

3. Installing an LED anchor light.

This will be just the beginning. Better anchor(s), Galley mods, potable water system, battery combiner, wood floor, table top, upholstery, window coverings, etc, etc, etc will follow

[vizwhiz]

From what I've been reading on here, anything that makes "the other half" happier to sail along is the best thing to do...

There seem to be a few basic things that help that - roller-furling jib and lines led aft so you can stay in the cockpit with the slightly freaked-out wife seem to be at the top of the list.

Fresh water on-board (in some form) and a bottle of wine seem to be next in line...perhaps starting her with the bottle of wine would help...

Being sure the motor cranks up right away also has some apparent merits.

I'm dreaming as well, and wifey and I are having some of these same discussions...we're talking about getting a 26S to start with, as it is apparently a better sailing boat for the newb (me) and has less sailing quirks about it, but many of the good benefits of the other Macs. It's a lot cheaper too... If you just have to have the big motor, this idea won't work, but we've been talking and looking at "S" boats for now just to be able to get into one sooner.

[jschrade]

You may be surprised what you can get used right now - buyers market.

Jim

[Rafael]

I just keep looking and looking as dreaming and wishing are still free.

But I know that if we get one it will be in a while. There are just too many things going on right now.

We do live by Riverside (about an hour from the Macfactory) now but should be moving to Irvine (CA) shortly. My idea is to keep the boat in storage and use it in several different places, mostly lakes.

As far as the model, If I had to choose between power or sail I would take sail without thinking twice. But the idea or having the big motor and using as a power boat every once in a while is very tempting. I can picture a weekend of sailing and tubing/wakeboarding.

I think I like the M better than the X but would not mind having a X at all. Since I would like to go fast every once in a while I definitely would have to go with a __________ (fill in your color pick and refer to the other thread for bashing the other guys) hull. But by the time that this all happens who knows how many different colors or models would be out there.

Rafael

[vizwhiz]

You may be surprised what you can get used right now - buyers market.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jim. Still planning to come by one of these days soon and see your boat! Didn't you say you were in Dunedin?

I've been looking - I'm sure people will negotiate, but I can't drop five digits right now for a boat. Things can always change, of course, both in pricing and in supply of $$, but at the moment I don't want to make too big of an investment and stretch myself too thin.

dreaming and wishing are still free.

Well put, Rafael. Well put.