New 26M

[1st Sail]

My Etec 50 WOT is 5800 rpm wht a 3 blade 14 x 11 prop. 12-20 gal fuel, 2 batt, 2 adults, lightly loaded, 2 anchors. If you are running with more crew and load then you may be spot on. Running light I would think you may be a little under pitch. My Etec factory spec WOT is 6K rpm, looks like the Yami 70 is 5800rpm WOT if I have the correct model. I have no experience with Yamaha except I understand they are very good OB's. Just passing on my personal stats if it helps.
Enjoy your new boat and have a great time. Welcome to the MacSailors. There are really some great members here. Just wish they all lived in the midwest so I had someone to sail with.

[cptron]

I have the Etech 60 installed from the factory. Does anyone the prop dimensions for this or do I need to call Mac in Cal to find out?

[wincrasher26]

Frankly, as long as I can plane, I'll be a happy camper. On rare occassions, I may pull a tube with this boat, but mostly just putting around, so ultimate speed is not all that important to me now.

Unless you're getting stainless, props aren't all that expensive, so down the road I might experiment if I'm dissatisfied, or bored, with the OB.

The reason I wanted to opt for such a big motor is someday going to the keys or bahamas (maybe in 3 to 5 years if I can work up to it). I've spent alot of time reading peoples stories, and frankly am scared to death of big water. Biggest waves I've ever been in are 3' swells in my Potter off Daytona Beach. So being able to scoot across at a good clip makes alot of sense to me. Being out of sight of land is another of my mental issues, but I've ordered a GPS chartplotter to help me get past that.

Probably spend this summer and fall doing the lakes in South Carolina. Maybe this winter going down a stretch of the ICW or around Ft Myers (Estero, Sanibel & Caya Costa).

[Divecoz]

You'll find lots to see and do and lots of area to sail in and around the Charlotte Harbor Area.. From Sanibel to Sarasota.. Use Some caution around Sanibel / The Terrible Mile because of lots of traffic and a zillion markers.. My Charts are usable with dry markers and I high lighted ( with different colors ) the different lanes ahead of time and that IMHO helps a lot.
The Mac IMHO is Perfect for that area with its shallow draft, ability to beach it... its Large outboard ...its ability to be fully ..self ...contained..
I launched once North of Boca and did some sailing in the Gulf and came back in thru Boca Grande Pass .. Went out through Boca Grande and came back in thru Captiva Pass.. Left out thru Captiva and Came back in thru Redfish Pass... I had hoped to make it to 10,000 Islands but the weather never permited it..I still had a Great time...

. Maybe this winter going down a stretch of the ICW or around Ft Myers (Estero, Sanibel & Caya Costa).

[wincrasher26]

Is Burnt Store Marina a good place to put in and explore from there?

[Divecoz]

I had the sweet deal to die for .. for being on vacation.... My brother and Sister in law Live in Port Charlotte and They live on sailboat water and his neighbor no longer uses his pier..and they are GOOD BUDDIES! When I wasn't out on the water , I was staying at their place .. We pulled and relaunched my several times over the winter and we played and toyed and added this and that.. There is a vacant lot next to my brothers house and he mows (all but a HUGE Pepper bush 40' in diameter!) so my boat and trailer and truck could sit there and I never was concerned with where I could leave my truck and trailer legally and safely for weeks at a time.. DaveB is living down there and will know where you can leave your truck and trailer legally and with few to no concerns..

Is Burnt Store Marina a good place to put in and explore from there?

[hart]

Just purchased a 2012 26M...

In my search on the site, don't see much info on the Yamaha F70. Thought this was a good engine choice, but would love some feedback on that. Also, I see a lot of conflicting advice on whether to motor with or without ballast. I tend to be cautious, so probably keep it in.

Congrats! How are you liking the Yamaha F70. I'm thinking about repowering my "X" with it.

[mastreb]

I have the Etech 60 installed from the factory. Does anyone the prop dimensions for this or do I need to call Mac in Cal to find out?

Empty, lightly loaded, or de-masted you should be running the 13x13.75 prop. Heavily loaded you should be running 14x11.

[fouz]

So how is the f70 working out?

[dlandersson]

Dude, the south side of Lake Michigan is where we're all at!

My Etec 50 WOT is 5800 rpm wht a 3 blade 14 x 11 prop. 12-20 gal fuel, 2 batt, 2 adults, lightly loaded, 2 anchors. If you are running with more crew and load then you may be spot on. Running light I would think you may be a little under pitch. My Etec factory spec WOT is 6K rpm, looks like the Yami 70 is 5800rpm WOT if I have the correct model. I have no experience with Yamaha except I understand they are very good OB's. Just passing on my personal stats if it helps.
Enjoy your new boat and have a great time. Welcome to the MacSailors. There are really some great members here. Just wish they all lived in the midwest so I had someone to sail with.

[Lvoight]

Dude, the south side of Lake Michigan is where we're all at!

My Etec 50 WOT is 5800 rpm wht a 3 blade 14 x 11 prop. 12-20 gal fuel, 2 batt, 2 adults, lightly loaded, 2 anchors. If you are running with more crew and load then you may be spot on. Running light I would think you may be a little under pitch. My Etec factory spec WOT is 6K rpm, looks like the Yami 70 is 5800rpm WOT if I have the correct model. I have no experience with Yamaha except I understand they are very good OB's. Just passing on my personal stats if it helps.
Enjoy your new boat and have a great time. Welcome to the MacSailors. There are really some great members here. Just wish they all lived in the midwest so I had someone to sail with.

Where do you go out of chicago. I am up by North Point. How about you?

[Wrudd3]

RE to propping:
Here is an Email I have from the BWY's engine tech, when I removed the DF50 and put on the DF70A.

-----
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 2:59 PM
Subject: DF 70A Prop

We use the 13 7/8" X 15" Pitch Suzuki Prop, part number 5811-87L10-019. If the boat is heavily loaded and the ballast is full, you will not quite hit the WOT RPM range, but the cruise speed and fuel economy seem to be a little better than with the 13 pitch. This is not the first Suzuki motor that likes to be a little bit toward over propped on a heavy boat. You really don't need to add the transom wedges with the 70A.
----
For gas mileage I went with a 13 7/8" X 13" Suzuki prop. I get about 18.2 kts /20.9 MPH, no ballast.
Blue Water Yachts' 13 7/8" X 15" Pitch Suzuki Prop setup must be used on boats with only safety gear and some cushions.

I am running a heavy load, my M26 2005 has bottom paint, memory foam under V-berth, 20 gal water bladder, tools, 20 gal. fuel, one deep cycle & one standard battery (wet cells), bedding, all cushions made for the 26M, 2 anchors, misc. safety items, and the DF70A @341 add 4? quarts of oil.
The boat is very stable with no ballast and 6" waves. Remember it has 300 lbs. down low in the hull.... plus my 'stuff' added to the boats weight :0)

I did have the 26x for 9 years, that was NOT as stable at speed w/no ballast . . . just full power on flatter water.

Question: Any one able to give the top speed of their M26 with a Suzuki DF70A 14 X11" prop and loaded level IE; light - med - loaded for a trip?

Will

[dxg4848]

Also, I see a lot of conflicting advice on whether to motor with or without ballast. I tend to be cautious, so probably keep it in.

I pull my 160 lb son on wake board at WOT making semi-sharp turns with no ballast. Don't worry about motoring with no ballast in calm conditions. Definitely put ballast in if it is windy or choppy.

[BOAT]

I think I got a virus at the same time Heath's website went haywire - I guess they got me too - but kapersky's removed it. You are looking at the Seaward but that's a real sailboat - that's not a power sailor. The seaward will not go fast under power. Also, the seaward is 6000 pounds! Almost THREE TIMES the weight of the mac!! The seaward is a very nice boat but it's also wider than 8 feet so you can't trailer it in a lot of places. Saw that boat a long time ago and after sailing an Aquarius 23 for so many years I remember saying to my wife "if this is the best they can do for us trailer people then we ain't gonna have a boat anymore". I was tired of hauling around a rig that weighed more than a fifth wheel and was even harder to park. When I told the seaward sales guy at the boat show I was going over to the MacGregor display to see the X (it was many years ago) the Seward guy insulted me!

He said something to the extent of "if your stupid enough to buy one of those you deserve it".

I have never looked at a Seaward since. Besides, I don't wand to depend on a battery to get my keel off a sandbar.

If I wanted a traditional sailboat I would have bought one. (Been there, done that).

[wincrasher26]

I guess this has turned into the "anything goes" thread!

I like my M26 just fine, but my next boat will be a Seaward 32RK - probably next year. A very nice "real" sailboat with generous cruising amenities plus the 12" draft we enjoy with our Mac. With boats weight can mean stability, which is what we get the most grief over. Pricey? Ha! Have you looked at the price of new boats lately?