I decided not to get a mac. What I decided to do. thanks.

[elcid79]

Howdy all,

I have been giving it allot of thought over the past couple of months. Which boat to buy, trailerable or not? Mooring or slip? Etc. Basically, I decided to return to my original dream. I am going to get a 37+- foot modern, or a 45+- foot classic boat. I am going to be getting rid of my apartment, and one of my cars, more than likely the BMW Z3 3.0i if anyone is interested. And moving aboard. Since I will only be spending 14+- days at home per month, it will be like going on vacation after every couple of days. I am looking into a hunter 36 right now. Its a beautiful boat. Just big enough for a single person in their early 20's.

Thank you all for the information that you provided me. And I wish you all the best of sailing. I plan on poking my head in hear from time to time, to see whats new. And whenever I pass (Under Sail), or am passed (Under power) By a mac, I will shoot up an arm and issue a long wave. I respect you guys, your boats, and what ya do with them. So after I get the boat, if any of you ever want to tie up next to mine, I would love to have ya aboard.

JEM

[richandlori]

GO JEM GO!

Do it now while you can if that is your dream! As someone who moved up from a Mac 26M to a 36ft Pearson 365 Ketch, the Mac experience was 100% positive and a needed step that without it...where I am now would have only remained a dream that I never took the first step to make a reality!

Everytime a see a Mac on the water or on a trailer it's like we have an instant bond and a new friendship is made! Congradulations on your decision...now keep us updated and in the loop. Here is a website I am a member of that you may like....it is a online community like this one with people who live abord, own boats, are out cruising, and are just nice boat folks...so come check us out.

http://www.skolnick.org/midnightwatch/bb/

Here is another Cool site....

http://www.netgo4.com/Renegade-Cruisers/

[They Theirs]

Moving is relative to where youve been. Folks who have played the big boat game, maintenance (lots of work and maintenance, its a youths paradise, or lack of experience), slip and mooring fees, repairs and upgrades, old boats without manufactured parts (custom made) blisters and deteriorated glass, old deck construction with balsa and foam, old cracked and pressure shrinking polyester resin with poor manufacturing. Hi load cracking deck, cabin, rail, and rigging. The list goes on and on. The cost of new sails for a 40+-masthead boat start at 5 grand for custom made new, each. Goodness, the versatile Mac is a treasure without bleeding you to death. When you want to sell the Mac, lots of folks waiting for a nice Mac. Check the Boats for sail, big ones by the thousands; its a buyers market there, especially the big heavy displacement dreamboats. Yes, some moving up, and some enjoying a MacGregor, been there, done that,..... best wishes.
BMW Z4 $40,945 for the 3.0i. The Z3 lacked the crispness we expect from a BMW and was replaced and
the Z4 addresses the Z3's faults and rectifies them in spectacular fashion.

[deacm]

Hey!! If you buy the Hunter 36, just buy a Mac 26 as your dinghy after you sell your BMW. [/img]

[Catigale]

Congrats on your decision and see you out on the water - the Mac would be a bit small for living, except when you get older you will figure out how to do this, since you begin to figure out a lot of the things you think are important, arent.

I sailed a Hunter 36 on San Fran last October - I liked the layout down below but the running rigging needed some serious upgrades from stock...the mainsheet was internal boom and had a 180 turn at the gooseneck that used a SS pivot, not even a block. The friction on the mainsheet was awful.

Not a reason not to buy the boat of course, but something to look for. This was a charter boat so it could be that the OEM rigging is better, it got busted by someone and had been jury rigged.

[elcid79]

BMW Z4 $40,945 for the 3.0i. The Z3 lacked the crispness we expect from a BMW and was replaced and
the Z4 addresses the Z3's faults and rectifies them in spectacular fashion.

One major difference, between my Z3 and the Z4... The Z3 is a sharp elegent looking car. The Z4 is kinda... As per handling, it has the M Suspension pack on it. Its a fun car. Drives well, isn't too practicle for anything other than a weekend trip. for 2. It gets great gas milage though.

But then there is the M-Roadster. Super cool car. Still looks kindof funny, but it takes the Z4's bubbliness and makes it look meaner. Then they put in a Really strong motor. Great car.

JEM

[Night Sailor]

A Hunter 36 or 37, especialy the Cherubini designs are capable and comfortable. I like the T cockpit. If I ever get back to deep water, long distance cruises, I'll look for one myself. We find the size to be a good fit for us and family, though our dreamboat was always 6 ft. longer. We learned bigger means exponentially more expense.

When you are shopping be especially watchful of the mast step casting. In many boats it has been found to be heavily corroded. That's easily replaced, but not often examined.

Enjoy your new boat what ever it is, where ever it is.

[Idle Time]

Be sure to drop in often and let us know how it's going. You are probably doing the right thing if planning to liveaboard.

Boy...have to check in here several times aday....now I have 2 more to check. Thanks for the sites.

[James V]

The Hunter 36 is a nice boat. It really depends on what type of cruising you want to do and what you need and how much money you want in the bank and when you want to go.

I went back and forth many times before I decided on my M. Mostly because I did not want to repair a used boat and the draft and cost and if I changed my mind latter. The interior was not that much of a problem with the different designs as I was wanting to cruise Fl and the Islands. To hot to stay inside much. The boat weight is another factor.

Either is big enough for 2 for coastal cruising.

If you make it to Fl, I hope to see you on the water.

[richandlori]

Mast Step....my God...don't bring that up...mine looks like Swiss Cheese and is on the fix it list for my next haul out! That will run about $400 for a new alumium step. The procedure is you CUT off the corroded portion, send it in to this company and they will manufacture a new alunium step in the appropriate length to make up for the part of your mast you CUT OFF. Then ofcourse there is the cost of stepping the mast in the boat yard...on and on... I figure the whole thing will cost me $800 to $1000 because I will use that oportunity to paint the mast and boom, rewire, and new instruments. (which the new instruments alone can fun $1000) for a masthead wind direction-speed combo unit.

well...it is only money right....but is does ALL ADD UP. most of the research I looked into said that buying an older boat and refitting it could add as much as the orginal cost of the boat...AND THAT IS ABOUT RIGHT. But in comparison...for $60Kish...you can't buy a new 36ft Blue Water Cruising boat....try more like $250K!

But on a good note....my mooring costs are $0.99/day in Avila Bay, Ca.....of course I have to buy the mooring equiptment ($3500). But in comparison, Channel Islands Harbor (Oxnard Ca) wanted $407/month for a 36ft boat! So I'll be way ahead in the first year....so I can blow that savings on a solar system ($1700), dingy Davits ($800) and a Honda EU2000i generator instead ($900)....ha ha ha ...did I start out by saying I was saving $.....oh...the fool...the "poor" fool...oh and did I mention the $1000 wind generator I want!

[Rolf]

TT, now this is really ironic! I'm original owner of a 96 1.9 z3, often criticized for its lack of power. I've found it to packs plenty(enough for my purposes). Big motors belong on boats(j/k)!
Rolf

[They Theirs]

"Going Big"

Unbelieveable: Caution, Not for the Weak
The first 5-6 months we stripped off the old bottom paint, dried and repaired some minor blistering, replaced all thru-hulls, and completed a barrier coat. All this took so long because we were both working full time and we lived 30 minutes from the boat yard. We also didn't really comprehend the amount of time we needed to devote to repairs in order to make our goals realistic.
I think we told people we'd have the boat in the water "in two months" for the full 2-1/2 years she was in the yard.
Massive Major RepairWork

[They Theirs]

Rolf
My Daughter used to have one of the big engine Beemers, nice old James Bond Car. She bought the new Vette..Loves it!

[richandlori]

WOW.....that looks almost exactly like my mast step!

You could spend time in a boat yard...or you could take my approach and write a $7000 check to the boat yard and have them do it in two weeks....both are ugly choices! But for the $7000 I got all new through hulls, blister rapairs, new SS Prop shaft and new barrier and bottom paint...my wife still is in shock...but that part is done...now on to other parts!

[bob lee]

while you're looking around, consider the catalina line. we've chartered both hunters and catalina's and like the cat better. both are similar inside with lots of comfort. but we noticed a big difference on the water, the hunters seem to heel alot more then the catalina, we just found the catalina far more stable in all conditions. just personal experience

but good luck, must be nice to be in your 20's and have the chance to make this move ENJOY!