Tattoo Yachts

[DaveB]

I have the 102 inch trailer and love it, most States require brakes on both axels. Last time I cked 4 years ago there were 5 states with max. 8 ft. beam.
Since I put on a new 50hp Merc last Jan. I am sticking with the Mac.X.
If I got pulled over , they would put me in the slammer. My almost new front disk stainless steel brakes are still on my old axel, my max. 2000lb tow on my f150 extended cab standard trans. will not do it in the eyes of the enforcer (been doing it for 5 years). Clutch thing over auto trans.
Dave

....and having checked an US site on vehicle width...some US states are 8ft some 8ft6 and some 9ft....so I imagine any manufacturer would not build to a size which excludes sales to a significant number of states!

Perhaps a minor point, but just so you know, 8'-6" is legal in all States on the Interstate Highway System, and for some distance from the interstate (since access has to be allowed somehow). RVers talk about this a lot of their forums, as many are now built at 102" width. It's a problem, for sure, when state DOT or police decide to pull out the tape measure if you're in a 96" State and not on the Interstate. I don't know what the answer is, but it would be nice if States would adopt the 102" width uniformly. There are some parts of the Interstate system that ban 102" vehicles, too, but those are mostly in highly congested urban areas, like some bridges and tunnels into/out of NYC.

But at least you can pass through more restrictive States without worrying about getting fined.

Oh, and if I could get my hands on a lightweight water ballasted sailboat like my , but with another couple of feet of length and 6" of beam, I'd probably stop there. An outboard would be better than an inboard, as the space needed by the inboard would eat up any advantage of another 2 ft of length. Swing keel and kickup rudder(s) for skinny water, and minimal teak (I've had boats with lots of teak - no more).

Where can I order one of those?

Glad to see Laura popping in now and again, too. Puts a face on the company.

[bartmac]

Not sure how it works in the US but here in Oz authorities are more concerned with big trucks ie semi's and B doubles etc than hassling boat trailer and motorhome/camper owners but then again the non standardisation of rules leads to strange going ons......saw a motorhome/bus at an inspection station prior to rego and commented to the owner the ugly state of the rear of his rig...his reply floored me "If I leave the rear bumper on it falls outside the length of the ADR rules (Australian Design Rules) for overhang!!!" (imported Japanese bus)
The one thing that always worries me is going outside the rules and the implication for a insurance hassle should a claim be necessary...our slide on truck camper is right on the limit for width and length and accessories like the steps and awning make it over width "just" not to mention the bicycles on the back going over length

[Freedom77]

Hi Laura: Bought our V-21 in 69, Our V-222 in 71, picked it up at the factory and got to meet you Dad. V-25 in 76. Saw you and your Pop on Eighth Day when you set the record for the Ensenada Race. We came in somewhat later. Glad you are carrying on the family tradition. Best to you and your Dad. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[Boblee]

Certainly didn't spend any money on draftsmen to alter the Mac design!!!

Why would you bother changing it?
The extra 2' and the higher headroom make what was almost perfect better thanks for those photo's makes me want to kick myself again but hey the one in W.A with the mods has got to be a steal at that price.
Hope Laura is looking for ideas.

[Ixneigh]

Beh triple axle trailer not even sure I could tow that, current boat seems about right for the vehicle.
The back berth is nice and the finish seems better but the M still has it in looks. Both macs are visually appealing.
For the price I wonder if you could cut a standard Mac in half and add two, or three! Feet in the middle.
Do it right aft of the daggerboard trunk on the M, and use that for a full width bathroom. Then remove the partial bulkhead, and use the original bathroom area as part of the vee berth.
Ix

[bartmac]

Why would you bother changing it?

Imitation the best form of flattery........and improvements????

[Mac26Mpaul]

Laura, buy one of those boats and ship it to the US, take a few "measurements" Steal back what was stolen from Dad, and then make it better - I'll buy one

[Boblee]

Don't think it was "stolen" but hear what you say.

[LMSharp]

Interesting thread on copies and "the sincerest form of flattery". My parents and we have always taken "splashes" very seriously. Over the years more than twenty companies have tried it, and almost without exception failed miserably.

Copies by people we don't know are bad enough, but I do take it personally when a dealer we trust to handle our brand gets involved. We weren't aware that our dealer in Australia was involved in a larger copy. When we heard about it we asked them to stop and they did, which we appreciated.

I think there's a good aftermarket for storage flat packs, but avoid the trap of taking everything but the kitchen sink sailing with you. I'm a big fan of "keep it simple"

While we don't have any plans for larger trailerable boats on the drawing board keep those cards and letters (ok, posts- I am dating myself) coming, as we do listen to feedback.

[Highlander]

Hi All , So far my storage mods have been to make better & easier access for avail storage ,adding inboard cut out "flush mount" shelves one so far , side access hatches three so far , small overhead cubbies above galley & dinnette r next in the agenda of mods this yr although they have been on the planning stage for more than three yrs now due too the framing material I want to use comes in bulk only , been looking around for along time for clearance on left overs from a commercial job so far no luck ! cabin roof top anchors already installed waiting for them to be made & installed ,
Oh well got two 3X10 opening beckson ports to complement the 4X14 I installed last yr & two double dorade boxes for cowl vents in the works also , just wish it would warm up soon been a long winter this yr

J

[mastreb]

For the price I wonder if you could cut a standard Mac in half and add two, or three! Feet in the middle.
Do it right aft of the daggerboard trunk on the M, and use that for a full width bathroom. Then remove the partial bulkhead, and use the original bathroom area as part of the vee berth.
Ix

Stretching a sailboat would move the center of lateral plane well aft of the center of effort, which would cause a dangerous lee helm. The simplest solution would be be to change the rig to one with a proportionately aft CE such as a gaff rig. You could design a gaff rig with the CE far enough back to match the CLP of a stretched Mac. Your next problem would be that the daggerboard is no longer centered, which is okay but it means the boat doesn't pivot on its center which creates a very heavy helm with a wide turning radius and it would be a pig to steer into a slip.

I wouldn't have believed that people would go to the effort of stretching a boat, but I ran across a 100 year old former fireboat that was stretched from 58 feet to 70 when converted to fishing. It was a wooden plank hull, so much easier to stretch, and a displacement powerboat so no issues with CE/CLR balance.

[BOAT]

I understand the desire for more boat but no one could need it more than mastreb who has so many on board and even he knows it's not a viable option for a trailer boat that is 8 feet wide. Really the MAC is already a little bit too long for a boat that is only 8 feet wide.

You can indeed have a really long and narrow boat that performs great, the 70 foot Anthem that Roger makes is a great example - but the key is to have LOTS of ballast down there to get the boat back up in the air. The only way to do that with a stretch MAC is to put a PILE of weighted ballast in a KEEL. That really eliminates the whole feature of trailer-ability that makes the MAC a MAC!

mastreb is right - you really can't make the boat longer and have a result that is anything practical.

Laura is also right - keeping the design in a perfect form that works eliminates "issues".

The less there is to break, the less there is to break.

[seahouse]

For the price I wonder if you could cut a standard Mac in half and add two, or three! Feet in the middle.
Do it right aft of the daggerboard trunk on the M, and use that for a full width bathroom. Then remove the partial bulkhead, and use the original bathroom area as part of the vee berth.
Ix

Stretching a sailboat would move the center of lateral plane well aft of the center of effort, which would cause a dangerous lee helm. The simplest solution would be be to change the rig to one with a proportionately aft CE such as a gaff rig. You could design a gaff rig with the CE far enough back to match the CLP of a stretched Mac. Your next problem would be that the daggerboard is no longer centered, which is okay but it means the boat doesn't pivot on its center which creates a very heavy helm with a wide turning radius and it would be a pig to steer into a slip.

I wouldn't have believed that people would go to the effort of stretching a boat, but I ran across a 100 year old former fireboat that was stretched from 58 feet to 70 when converted to fishing. It was a wooden plank hull, so much easier to stretch, and a displacement powerboat so no issues with CE/CLR balance.

Counterpoint!

I don't think this is so far out of reach for the person with the right knowledge base and technical skill (some on this forum, I would hazard to guess) and attention to details. All the basics to accomplish that are quite knowable - just apply already-known marine architecture principles.

Blending rads, structure points, keeping relevant daggerboard position relative to the mast..etc, to end up with a perfectly sailable (and saleable) boat. Drawings would let you see any inappropriate aesthetic proportions before you start.

And all else being equal, you will end up with a higher hull speed, equals less drag, equals a faster boat, even with the same sail area, if you choose.

In fact, your car, BOAT, has a version, the 750iL, that has had exactly this done to it between the front and rear seats.

[BOAT]

Well, again, when I say something it's just another opinion and it does not mean anything more than any other opinion.

I suppose if someone is ready to make a stretch MAC ((MACiL))? then by all means do not let anything I say discourage you. I was just thinking for myself that 26 feet is about all the boat I can handle in the side yard and at the launch ramp, but I'm sure there are many many that would like more.

[seahouse]

Absolutely!