ive been TOLD to buy a sailboat!

[Moe]

We felt the same way about the Suzuki 50HP outboard, Richard, but knew that going in. In answer to the question, "then why are you buying a sailboat with a powerboat hull and all that high-drag transom in the water not to mention other sailing issues?" we answered, "For the standing headroom and huge cabin."

It turned out those weren't as important to us as we thought they'd be, and the cockpit became the center of our life aboard, admittedly more for me than Barb. We may've eaten dinner at the table a time or two, but I can't remember it, choosing the cockpit instead, even in the rain under a boom tent. Perhaps that would've been different if the bugs were bad all the time. I also really missed a nicely varnished tiller in hand.

What you said about the investment of all that money into the BigFoot applied to the whole boat for us, at least at this time in our lives.

--
Moe

[Divecoz]

So we cannot be blamed for getting too far off topic . So as to help the fellow decide. Most the sailors I talked with this summer asked . How fast will she go with that big Outboard? 2nd question was . Why would you want to? Two fellows I learned to really respect both said. In a storm maybe 10 to 12 mph if she'll hold up. If your so close you can out run a storm at those speeds you should have been watching and listening and you could have out sailed it as well. Hans said while he pointed to the middle of Lake Michigan. If your caught out there, in a big storm your best friend is your radio and a Big Power boat .
So for me I think???? Unless you have kids who need to be amused with tow toys ? A much smaller motor might well be the ticket. Put that extra couple grand into more and better sails or a 2nd axle and other stuff you'll aways need more other stuff .

BTW something the 26M does better than most if not all other boats her size or near her size? . . . .Sails GREAT on just the mainsail. What could be easier? Off the trailer or out of your slip ,hoist the main sail and sit back and sail all day long . If there's any wind at all ? You can be really sailing along heeled over or flat which ever you like . I like it heeled water at the rail , but actually the GPS says we're going slowing then

[kmclemore]

Actually, I don't really mind my Mac being called a "Waterbago". I know it ain't the best sailboat, and it sure ain't the best power boat either. But what it does do is very unique - it gives us the features of both boats that we like... the kids get dragged around and play, we can get in-and-out quickly for fun (or safety), we can get our 'sailing fix'... and it also lets my family experience 'on-the-water-camping' - indeed we can even use it on the land as a camper, too, as we travel to-and-from. Not many boats can do that.

So, go ahead and call it a "Waterbago"... in fact, I may even use that to rename her!

[James V]

Waterbago - never heard that before, but if you would call a 26M that then you would have to call ALL cruising boats that. We do haul a lot of stuff. Just try putting everything you will need in a boat for a 1 month trip for 2.

That is one of the reasons that I bought the Mac 26M.

[Moe]

You might find it amusing the big motor vs little motor choice is a decision on the Capri 18 as well, but on a much smaller scale. Catalina recommends a 3-5 HP, same as the C-22. But the boat was designed for that back in the days when a 5 HP two-stroke weighed 40 pounds.

Today, the 4-6 HP models give you a reverse gear and optional 2-5 amp alternator, but they come in at 55-60+ pounds. They also typically have a 3 gallon external tank, while the smaller motors have an integrated 1 liter tank. Some models sometimes have both capabilities.

The 2 HP air-cooled Hondas weigh less than 30 pounds, saving a lot of weight on the transom, but could have a problem fighting wind and current. For those on small lakes, though, they do the job and the owners love them.

Tohatsu makes an integrated tank 3.5 HP with no reverse or alternator that splits the difference. It weighs in at about 40 pounds and is also sold under the Nissan and Mercury brands. If we ever replace the featherweight but smokey 4HP two stroke that came on ours (no reverse or alternator), this might be the one.

--
Moe

[bob lee]

we're looking hard at a new tohatsu 6hp for the 18 that has the alternator and reverse gears, weighs in at 56lbs, and costs 1710.00 but i like the idea of being able to run up the battery when i want to, and not rely on shore power. not completely sold on it yet, but getting close

[Moe]

Given our slip won't have electricity, an outboard with alternator is attractive, at least more so than hauling the 45 lb battery home or one of our 55 lb EU generators to the dock. Our recently added on-board charger is there for winter storage and marinas that do have power.

What we're doing now is trying to cut electrical usage back to where a small solar panel could handle it. The target is 10AH/day x 2 weekend nights, and a 20W panel should be able to replace that over 4 good days of sun during the work week. It should also give us 5 nights on the 75AH battery, which I'm willing to take down to 20% charge.

- We're required to use an anchor light, and a 200mA LED version will save 5.2AH/night over the 720mA (as measured by me) Catalina factory Hella anchor light.

- The Capri cabin lights use two 720mA (my measure) bulbs on white and one on red. I don't like the "white" color or uneven lighting of LEDs, but we don't use much lighting at anchor anyway. I prefer using the red even at anchor to preserve night vision. We may replace the red bulbs with 40mA red LED replacements but keep the white incandescents. I also have some of those little white lights John Defino converted to LED I've never got around to converting.

- We like to run a VHF 24 x 7. I've yet to measure them, but our handheld on the 12V charger is spec'ed to draw less than 50mA compared to our fixed VHF's 500mA on standby spec. That's a 11.8AH/day savings if the specs are valid.

- We normally only run the GPS for fixes and in shallow/hazardous areas, but like to run it with the anchor drag alarm on during stormy nights. The specs show a handheld (with external antenna capability) also saves power compared to a fixed unit.

- When necessary and possible, we'd like to use a WindScoop (or is it WindChute?) for ventilation, but we have the two Hella Turbo fans for hot windless nights. They each draw only 140mA on Low and 220mA on high (my measure).

That's the direction we're heading with an alternatorless outboard.

--
Moe (posting over WiFi at lunch)

[Bawgy]

For sail on the www.ncsail.org site $3800

[Terry]

I like your Capri Moe, nice little boat!

"WaterBago"? I believe that term should be reserved for Hunters, after all, Macs are quite spartan.

M cockpit, yes, it is a tad small and 4 adults would be a crowd. I have had three and found we get under each others feet. But, my wife & I are also empty nesters and the M makes a nice couples boat, whereas the X cockpit is more family freindly. I do like being able to brace my feet on the leeward seat though. We also spend most of our time in the cockpit, eat there too. As for the cabin, well you'd be hard pressed to find equivilent volume in the 26' range, power or sail. One of Roger's design changes involved increasing the cabin size. I don't see the Mac as a "tourist" (think Hunter) but rather more a traveller/camper, it is classified as a "pocket-cruiser. I think the M is a great marina hopper (how we use it) and given the currents in my area the 50hp is not overpowered or a waste of $$.

Moe, with your background/experience the power decision should be a no-brainer, you can't go wrong with more power, it is the weight that is concerning. I speak from a current affected sailing area, lake sailing may be different. Never did like driving gutless autos and had my share of them.