A Major MACFAUX MOD

[MAC-A-TAC]

Can you spot the culprit in the photo?
http://s1186.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... n/library/

This is a sweet boat, but I haven't figured how to park it in my drive way and still be able to see my house from the street .

God > Family > Country

MAC Out.

[metronome]

Ah yes, the Gemini, cool boat. My wife and I are leaning towards one as a live aboard in the future.

[MAC-A-TAC]

And the best part is they're American made.

[metronome]

Always a good thing. Seems a little small for for you though .

[parrothead]

I'm pleased to report that the Gemini is a PERFECT replacement for the Mac -- even though it isn't trailerable. We made the move to a '95 Gemini 3400 this spring, and have been loving it (especially the "not tipping" part, my Admiral would say ).

RIght now we're in withdrawal, having had to put her up for the winter.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Hello Parrothead,

Thanks for the pics, she looks like a fine vessel.
I have a few questions about the Gemini:
What is the average height in the cabin?
How often do you haul out and what is the cost for doing the anti-fouling paint job, including haul out?

I have grown accustomed to walking out to my driveway and working on my boat and not being concerned with the slip and haul out expense, not to mention bottom paint. That would be the big hurdle for me; I would have to make the Gemini my full time live aboard in order to justify the expense in my mind.
Do you feel that your Gemini would make a comfortable live-aboard for two people?

Thanks again for the pics.

God > Family > Country

MAC Out.

[metronome]

The Gemini 105M and 105MC headroom is from 6' to 6'2" in the interior and 6'5" in the cockpit. I'm taller than that, have problems standing in any boat . I can only stand in the companionway of my under the dodger.
Paul.

[parrothead]

Hi MAC-A-TAC,

I just noticed that you're from North Carolina -- that's where we purchased Island TIme -- Oriental, NC, to be specific. Lovely area! Our "repositioning cruise" was great... 3 days through the ICW to Norfolk, and then 3 1/2 days up the Chesapeake Bay to our marina.

To your questions:
- Headroom on the "bridge deck" (standing where the 2nd photo was taken) is about 6'3", down in either hull it's about 6'4". Essentially, you can stand up anywhere you need to -- but around the drop-leaf table you can only sit, same for when you're actually in any of the 3 berths.
- As for haul-outs, it depends on where you are. We had the Gem hauled for our pre-purchase survey, and as I recall it the PO said that was the first time she'd been out of the water in 5 years. That was in Oriental, NC. Up here on the northern Chesapeake the water is more "brackish" than salt - so some winters we get serious ice. Dry winter storage is also better for the hull, over the long term, as otherwise the glass will absorb water over time - and weight is the enemy of speed in a sailing cat. Our cost this year for haul-out, pressure washing, winter storage on blocks, and re-launch in the spring is $867 {package price of $25.50/foot}. Your cost may vary. We won't need to paint the bottom in 2013 as we had it completely re-done, including new barrier coat and 2 coats of hard antifouling, in NC before heading north -- but the eventual re-painting will require a gallon of paint (~ $250} and should be an easy DIY job. We'd only trailer-sailed our Mac for its first season - been in a slip every year since 2006 - so in that sense, the Gemini isn't much more costly for us (needs a larger slip than the Mac - but with a 14' beam it will still fit into a standard slip).
- Finally, I'd say yes. We're planning to "snow bird" by boat after our retirement, as our kids live in south Florida. We know of several couples who, if not truly living aboard full time, do regularly use their Gems for extended voyages. To some extent, "comfort" is a function of equipment, as illustrated below. We've benefited from a great bimini that was installed by the PO (nothing like shade!) and a 10 amp solar panel array installed by a PPO - which we're using to power a killer 7 cu. ft. 12v./120v. Norcold refrigerator-freezer that we had installed in NC. Nothing like being able to make ice cubes instead of worrying about how long your ice will last!

[dlandersson]

Nice ride.

[Sea Wind]

very nice boat.

[Tomfoolery]

I'm pleased to report that the Gemini is a PERFECT replacement for the Mac -- even though it isn't trailerable. We made the move to a '95 Gemini 3400 this spring, and have been loving it (especially the "not tipping" part, my Admiral would say ).

So would mine. She's from a powerboat background, including big trawlers, and doesn't like the below decks in-a-cave feel and motion sickness just from going down there (even in a slip), nor does she care for the 'tilting' of a sailboat. I don't thing I've had the sails up with her aboard yet, but she likes noodling around the Erie Canal in motorboat mode. A catamaran like the Gemini might be the ticket, though I'm liking the trailerability part of the Mac for distant waters, which was the main reason I got into the Mac recently. That, and the ability to pull a wakeboard, as my boys like boating again now.

<long exhale> No simple solution, I'm afraid.

But congrats on the new boat. Very cool.

[Sea Wind]

While not cheap the Corsair is an alternative for trailering without healing. It is a trimaran that folds and comes with trailer.
I saw a F28 at the 2012 BEER cruise and that thing really flies. However, the cabin is smaller than a Mac26
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/10567

[MAC-A-TAC]

Parrot head,

I agree with you on your opinion of Oriental.
My wife and I enjoy sailing MAC-A-TAC from our home in Swansboro to Beaufort, up the cut to Oriental.
Thank you for the information regarding cost.

I was interested in the idea of using an ultrasonic system to retard haul growth below the water line, but it looks like there is no perminent solution for gel coated fiberglass protection other than what you described. The only way around it would be an aluminum hualed boat with the ultrasonic system, but I don't know of any aluminum cats.

[mastreb]

While not cheap the Corsair is an alternative for trailering without healing. It is a trimaran that folds and comes with trailer.
I saw a F28 at the 2012 BEER cruise and that thing really flies. However, the cabin is smaller than a Mac26
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/10567

I ruled out a Corsair because the cabin was too small to be useful for anything beyond daysailing. And because it was 3X the price.