Mach 28 - Interesting new "26X" in Australia

[Miami]

looks like an updated design of the 26X

http://www.mackmanboats.com.au/mackman% ... mach28.htm

I haven't seen this posted here yet, so I decided to do it.

I got some ideas for mods for my boat by looking at this.

[Mark Prouty]

Doesn't look like we'll be seeing any in the US.
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... =australia

[richandlori]

It is the Mac X! Now we know what happend to the X molds!

[kmclemore]

This has been done before... it's in the archives... this boat is a dead-on copy of the Mac, and I'm rather surprised they've not been sued for copyright infringement.

Other discussions on the same subject are here and here and here.

[Lease]

I think it is probably a good move.

The market is very bare when it comes to trailer yachts in Oz these days.

Back in the '70s, there were dozens of manufacturers and scores of good, and not so good products.

Since then, the market has narrowed to the point where there are probably only about three, or four production builders left. Since there were so many boats to start off with, the used market satisfied the declining demand. That is changing rapidly as used stocks run low and get progressively older.

Recently, up to three entrerprises have been importing used Mac 26x's and these are selling as fast as they hit the yards. A used X is selling from AUD45,000 for an average '95, to AUD65,000 for a late model boat. To get a similarly spec'd (ie, motor, trailer, and a few electronics) M will easily kick AUD75,000, so the market is fairly self-regulating.

So a used X at 45-65, a new M at 65-80, or one of these things at 80+ would probably work out OK. Also, the slow rate of depreciation on trailer yachts compared to keel boats of similar sizes will attract buyers.

The competition is:

http://www.australyachts.com.au/yachts/noelex25.shtml
or
http://www.australyachts.com.au/yachts/clubman8.shtml

both from Austral Yachts; or

http://www.sailingscene.com.au/frame1.htm

from Elliot; or

http://www.trailersailer.com.au/Specifi ... tions.html

All very good products, but none that really compete with the Mac on its terms.

Good luck to them I say.

[AJ]

Just spent 3 weeks cruising on my M in a fleet including 4 Mach28's. Nice boats. Sail well and most fitted with 100Hp+. X layout with LOTS of room. It is a MUCH bigger boat than an X or an M, therefore it is a much bigger and heavier rig to trail (tandem trailer with electrically controlled hydraulic brakes). Not one for the family sedan. I wouldn't consider one unless I had access to a water berth. If you mainly day sail and keep the boat on a trailer then I think an M/X is a more practical proposition. For extended cruising the 28 would be my choice (funds permitting!). I gather that Macgregor is well aware of the project and seem to have given it their blessing, given that there is little likelyhood of them producing a similar boat (better buisiness churning out M's).

[Tom Root]

Wow, bet you need a step stool at the helm at times!

I tried to link the image, don't know how to do it on this board, but look at the pics, and see the angle of the helmsman and the amount that the bow of the boat is out of the water! Mine can be at full throttle 22 MPH, and I can still sit and see ahead!

It's nearly a cc of my X! And when I opened the link, the 1st thing that struck me was the port lights (Windows) reminded of a Hunter. Hmm, so little originality, but it is a compliment to Roger and his genuis if you ask me![/img]

[Mark Prouty]

Clone!

[AJ]

Phill King, the man behind the 28, is quite open about the fact that it is a blown up X. He has been selling Macs for years in Oz and has had this idea cooking for a long time. The waterline has been redrawn to improve sailing performance. The sailing/motoring balance seems to have been tipped toward the sailing side (Phill is a multi 700nm Sydney - Hobart race skipper). Agree that its looks are a bit of an acquired taste. Im not a fan of acres of white gelcoat. (Yes Im a blue M skipper I reckon the blue M is the prettiest of the X/whiteM/28s, and Im not biased!). On the water its OK with some of the volume submerged. On the trailer it looks like a beached great white whale!

[edurbin]

yeah the 28 is a big boat. Phil King had one in his shed when I went to buy my 26M. If I'd had another 20 grand to spend then the 28 would have been very tempting. But big - on the trailer looked very big. Phil's comment - tows really well - just don't look in the rear vision mirror !

In the cabin was terrific - room. Proper galley and shower/head. The cockpit also very nice - has got that bit of extra width that is missing in the 26M.

Craig