engine options

[Catigale]

also, my insurance agent will not write boat coverage for an 26M with >50 HP since this exceeds mfg recomendation, etc.

Captain Hal - check the old threads using search for this...insurers will write policies for a Mac with a larger than 50 HP motor

I think one thing you can take home from the experience of this board is that your intended use (70-90 HP range to maintain performance of a heavily loaded boat) is reasonable and wont lead to problems with decent transom reinforcement. How much is one year of warranty really worth vs getting a better fit to your sailing needs seems to me to be the equation that you need to solve.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

Also, how do you big motor owners secure liability/hull insurance? Any underwriter I should call?

The following is listed somewhere in the archives:

The Mac 26 has a "manufacturer's recommendation" of outboard horsepower, not a rating. If the legally prescribed "rating formula" was applied to the dimensions of a Mac 26 hull, that horsepower limit would exceed Macgregor's recommendation (50 hp) by about 200 more hp. Note that many of the 18-footer hulls that ARE regulated, carry ratings of 200+ hp.

The rating of maximum power capacity became a matter of U.S. Federal Regulations in the mid-1970's following the adoption of the U.S. Boating Safety Act of 1971. This dictated that all outboard boats of less than 20 feet in length must carry a capacity plate stating the maximum number of passengers, maximum number of pounds for passengers and gear, and the maximum horsepower of the outboard that should be installed.

The regulation did not make it illegal for the operator to exceed the rated values, only that they were required to be stated on the boat's capacity plate. Exceeding the numbers was a matter of personal liability in case of an accident, and in some states, for additional violations, in the event on an on-water arrest (for other violations) by marina patrol

Bigshot, forgive me, but as an Insurance Broker, I have to correct or clarify your statement, which could or could not, be true.

1. If one intentionally misrepresents HP to your Agent, and gets into an accident, your statement could be true. Only when an insurance contract is issued under false pretenses, can coverage be denied.

2. Assuming one is honest (a good thing to be in a legal contract like insurance), and tell your Agent your HP, if he's good, he can find you a company that will insure your boat with it's stated HP, regardless of published limit. The insurance Co has issued you a contract and they are obligated to defend and pay on your behalf, up to liability limit of the policy. It's now their problem, not yours. Because of increased risk, they will charge more.

I've yet to see "stupidity" exclusions in liability insurance policies. Even if you break the law by exceeding the speed limit or DUI, they pay out, as long as there's a valid contract between you (i.e. no misrepresentation by you up front, i.e. driving record, boat power, etc).

Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

Mod's edit: Thanks Bob, I thought of that post but hadn't time to chase it yet. - fc

[Divecoz]

I would think that comparing the Mac 26 M or X to any power boat would be irrelevant? I would again here, think that a power boat when rated with the HP in mind, is done with consideration to a safe top speed and the transom and hulls ability to maintain integrity for the life of the vessel?
I would do believe from what I have always read here on this board, that though the Mac is worthy enough for its intended purpose. It truly is not built with the demands in mind of your typical "Speed Boat". My two most recent run-abouts / Speed Boats, were a 17' Star Craft American (as I recall rated to 135HP) and a 17 or 18' Sea ray (rated to 150HP). They both seemed to be foot for foot built a lot heavier than the Mac. That Sea Ray BTW could get a bit touchy even with my 90HP Mercury
Tower of Power

[Captain Hal]

Thanks to all for the followup ; I had seen many of these comments in my search through the archives. Bottom line is, every time I call an insurance underwriter...same result, no sale. When I was shopping last year, I had gotten a quote from Boat US on a 26M with 60 HP; they quoted it allright; when I spoke to the underwriter, they wanted the quote number so they could invalidate it. Don't want to make waves for all the big engine owners but I'm mystified; I'm still a prospective Macgregor owner; interested enough to do the research but have not written the check yet; for what its worth I own a 26' displacement sailboat on the Great Lakes and have been a single engine airplane pilot so I'm not completely uninformed on engine/power dynamics. Airplanes publish a VNE = velocity never to be exceeded; if you do, its possible for major parts to fail (wings and tail fall off, etc); its the pilots resonsibility to manage airspeed and loads on the airframe. I am suportive of Roger's conservative approach to help idiot proof the 26M but it seems that experience of many owners shows that with prudent boat handling, anything up to 90 HP is not 'overpowering' the boat. Still looking for that elusive insurance underwriter...

[Catigale]

Maybe some of you big engine guys could PM or EM Hal with your insurance carriers so that he can get going...

Im just looking over my Boat US policy and dont see any HP reference whatsoever..maybe I put in what I had when I applied online though...

[Frank C]

... When I was shopping last year, I had gotten a quote from Boat US on a 26M with 60 HP; they quoted it allright; when I spoke to the underwriter, they wanted the quote number so they could invalidate it. Don't want to make waves for all the big engine owners but I'm mystified; I'm still a prospective Macgregor owner; ... Still looking for that elusive insurance underwriter...

Hmmmm - Capt, are you in USA or Canada? Not that it should matter, though.
Exactly WHY are you speaking to an Underwriter? ... anyhow, seems the wrong underwriter!
Or, maybe you're overthinking this problem?

I have "quoted" insurance for my Macgregor 26X on the BoatUS website numerous times. I identify it as a sailboat with a 60 hp motor. There's never been ANY question about coverage. (Pls note that most small sailboats would have a 10 or 15, not a 60 hp ... but, this reality has NEVER occasioned any contact from BoatUS.)

I have "booked" the insurance twice onLine, the second time after letting it lapse (having overlooked the annual premium). In both cases the onLine quote has been < $200 per year, including West coastal, plus inland waters. The extension to inland waters req'd a simple phone call (to clerk, not underwriter) plus an annual bump of about 20 bucks.

The BoatUS onLine application has Macgregor 26 as a pre-selection, doesn't it? There is nowhere in that onLine application to enter a "mfg recommended" horsepower, for ANY boat, is there? (Note well, Macgregor DOES NOT publish a "horsepower rating," rather "a recommendation." Further, I've never read of Macgregor performing hull warranty coverage, for ANY reason.) I'm not alone in this insurance endeavor .... there must be a hundred of other Mac 26 owners who have done exactly as I have.

• BoatUS sends a good faith quote based upon THEIR application form.
• Send them a check & your coverage is BOUND!
• Forget or neglect their quotation ....
  ..... & they'll send you WEEKLY reminders that their quote is still outstanding!!

FWIW, I'd suggest you either stop talking to the Underwriter! ...
... or get that 50-horse, which is still 5x the "sm. sailboat standard!"
(I'm very happy with the Suzuki 60, definitely would not want less, but maybe more!)

[Captain Hal]

Perhaps a 50 would meet my needs after all...sorry if I was misinformed about the subject. Happy sailing.