Is it worth it...?

[vizwhiz]

Thanks for all of the feedback! "This" is NOT what I want to do...although it would probably be fun if I didn't have to work for a living!

[Mike C.]

I should probably start this with an apology if I bought the boat you were also interested in.
I just bought a 26D in Orlando last week, with a motor and trailer and neglected cabin and a $3K asking price.
I wonder if I bought the same boat you were looking at?
It is in ready to sail condition, but does need some TLC.
Some previous owners did a few mods on the boat, including an Idasailor rudder, and a few other small things.
If it is the same boat, I would call the cabin neglected instead of dirty. No cushions, most interior black lexan panels missing, but not dirty or beat. Just in need of a winters worth of projects.

Last week I looked at 2 Mac 23 Venture -Newports and considered the "buy 2 to make 1" option. Each had complimentary good points and bad points. Then I found the 26 and decided to get a project boat that could hit the water right away. Being able to go out on it will help keep me motivated on the repairs.

Sorry if I snagged your boat. Hope you find one right for you.

Mike

[vizwhiz]

Naaahh..nothing to worry about Mike - even if you did snag it, I'd just hoot-n-holler with you over getting a good deal! Glad you got a nice boat, and I hope you enjoy it! Maybe we'll be able to hook up once I get one... But that was really nice of you to think about that...thanks!

There are a number of Mac owners in Orlando (TAW on here is there too), so maybe we could pick a big lake over there and have a mid-Florida meet...then do one in Tampa Bay...then one on the Indian River...then sail the Kissimmee River down to Lake O and back... Of course, we have to do it in late January after there was a blizzard up north and take lots of pictures to post... (See, I'm always thinking about you Yankees...)

Anyway, the ones I am looking at are "S" models, not the "D"...I originally liked the idea of the daggerboard best, but after a few discussions about the shallow water that we have in Tampa Bay where I'll probably be doing most of my sailing (and the same applies to the Indian River too) I decided on the swing-keel so if I run into shallow water it will just push the keel up and out of the way.

The $3k boat I was looking at was an S down in South Miami...I WAS looking at an S over there in Orlando, however...that one looks really good and has nearly everything except the air-conditioned doghouse, but they're asking $8500 for it... I would probably only discuss it with them if they really want to negotiate down a bunch...that's the highest priced one I've even considered.

There are quite a few Venture/Mac's out there right now in Florida on Craigslist - if anyone is looking, there is a 21 or 22 in Umatilla (oo-muh-tilla) that is mis-marked as a 26 that is only like $500 that the guy obviously doesn't know what he has...light blue...looks like it's in pretty good shape from the pics...I just wanted to get one of the larger boats...

[Mike C.]

A central Florida Mac sailors group would be great. Count me in when you get your boat.
I think sailing with a similar group of boats would be a blast. I often read the past adventures on the conch cruisers forum. The group seems to have slowed down a bit. Too bad, I would love to do the Dry Tortugas trip. But any group event; rivers, lakes, coasts, would be great.

I would have prefered a swing centerboard for the same reasons you outlined, but went ahead and got the D. I should have increaed my search range to cover south Fl.
I am even thinking of constructing a "temporary" daggerboard to keep stored somewhere incase I am out and hit something like coral in the Keys.

Mike

[c130king]

Mike C and Vizwiz,

Keep your eyes open for the next Jacksonville Macgregor's Get-Together...last two years it was over the Labor Day weekend. Definitely not to far for you guys to try. I went in 2009 but missed 2010...hoping John, Phil, or Mark get something planned for 2011 as I plan to attend again.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[wallville]

Jim keep me in the loop if you hear something. I'm very interested in that float.

[c130king]

David,

Will do. Its about a 12 - 13 hour drive for me. But we got many months to wait. Until then we still need to get our boats out together on the Potomac. I plan to sail on Sunday.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

[vizwhiz]

Yes, I saw that too...will hopefully have some experience under my belt by then and won't be a menace to the whole flotilla!

MikeC, I like the idea too, maybe Lake Jessup or Apopka or Toho...some big lake up there where there's enough room where we can all putter around without worrying about too many jet-skis/speedboats or fishing boats. I don't know if any of them are good sailing lakes...never been on them.

I was actually considering modifying the bottom of the daggerboard on a D (because I thought I was going to get one)...was considering cutting it on an angle (shorter in the front, longer in the rear) and rounding the leading lower corner so it might have a chance of pushing up (like a ramp or wedge) if I ran shallow on something. Might not work on a solid hit (like a log or rock or coral head), but might help on running over shallow sand dunes and/or oyster bars (bottom features that are sloping) or if you happen to get too shallow...don't know if it is worth the effort.

[Mike C.]

I will keep my eyes open for any Florida based trips, and Jax is only 3 hours away. That river always looks appealing when I pass over it.

Vizwiz, of the 3 lakes mentioned, I would only go on Toho (there are two-East and West). Apopka is absolutely nasty green and leaves a brown muck trail behind your boat as you go. one trip on that lake was enough to keep me off it.
Jessup is ok, but has the highest alligator population in the state. West Lake Toho has a hydrilla problem, and starting this year the state is trimming back on aquatic weed treatments. Hydrilla and sailboats dont mix to well.
East lake is big and round, and the jet skis usually keep near the shore, so they are little concern. Lots of room to sail, and my prefered lake even when I am the only boat going. I also saw in a post by TAW that he is one of the macs at the St. Cloud City Marina, so there are already at least two boats already there and ready to go.
Now you just need to get a boat!

[vizwhiz]

Now you just need to get a boat!

Indeed!

Looks like East Toho it is...was checking it out on a map -big and round - that usually means a sinkhole lake, which should mean it's pretty deep too...

[vizwhiz]

Okay...I went boat-looking today...
Spent 12 hours in the car with my wifey and saw two different 26S boats! One was pretty much ready-to-sail, looked good, no real electronics, but in good shape, lines run aft, roller-furling genoa on the boat, sail cover, bottom paint, etc. Original Mac trailer which needed new bearings and tires, but hey, at least I know it would fit! The guy had the original manual still! Okay, that boat has a pending contract and they're supposed to take it out for sea trials on Monday and it may be gone...we'll see.

Second one was the "bargain" boat I originally asked about in this thread. I actually snorkeled under the boat to check out the bottom of the hull...a little bit of growth, not bad, brushed right off, barnacles came right off also...so I'm not too concerned about the bottom - has a coat of bottom paint (or something like it). Centerboard moved freely and ballast valve opened freely also. Boat is...well...less than ready-to-sail, better than I expected, but not particularly well-kept. I have some questions about it after looking at it. The pop-top works, but there's no gasket under it, no gaskets at all, it doesn't seem like (including the front hatch)...so there's some rain water inside where it shouldn't be. But it was apparent that the boat had been used up until the time they parked it - a chart on the countertop, sunglasses inside, etc. (Hey, it has an airscoop too!) One particular mod I don't like (put the boarding ladder where the motor is supposed to go, and bolted a motor bracket to the back where the boarding ladder was)...makes me question why (rotten transom at motor mount?)

Anyway, I want to tell everyone in this forum how much I REALLY REALLY appreciate all of your help, insight, guidance, and instruction!! I have learned SO VERY MUCH from you guys (and gals?) that I felt comfortable taking a look at the sailboats myself, where I KNOW I wouldn't have been before this...so THANK YOU all again for all your help. I feel like I'm one step closer, although I don't have a bill-of-sale in my hand yet...

[K9Kampers]

...One particular mod I don't like (put the boarding ladder where the motor is supposed to go, and bolted a motor bracket to the back where the boarding ladder was)...makes me question why (rotten transom at motor mount?)

The rotted mount is certainly a good point to explore/ verify. The switch could also do with personal preference, something simple like easier access to controls on the engine, torque effect of the engine thrust, etc...

...I have learned SO VERY MUCH from you guys (and gals?)...

...Catigale is a guy, his name is Steph...

[Catigale]

On kicker motor prices...I'm not disputing ricks numbers but in my experience in the Northeast, a good kicker 9.9 will run you a boat buck (1000 USD) used, 2 boat bucks new.

I've found the 500 USD versions were in rough shape and ok for lake sailing, but you don't want to be stuck around Tampa sans motor.

[Mike C.]

Isn't looking at boats fun???

As for the motor mod, the 26D I just got is the same way: motor on the starboard side, and ladder on port going into the motor well. The mod was done prior to the previous owner, so he did not know why other than it was easier getting out of the water and into the boat through the motor well, as is eveidenced by the slight cracking in the bottom of the well from people stepping in an area that was not designed for it. I checked the transom and no problems there, and they had the transom built up on the inside where they moved the motor.
In my opinion, the controls are harder to get to than they would be in the motor well side. That starboard back area is a lot higher up and blocks the tiller and pull starter.


I am thinking of putting the motor back into the well, but noticed most people appear to use a mount even when putting it on the well side.

[vizwhiz]

Got word today that the ready-to-sail contract went through.
I'm gonna be quite busy for the next couple weeks, so will probably not be looking again until week-after-next...
With that and Christmas vacation coming up, I'll probably be boatless until after New Year. The right one will be there...just being patient.