Naive Aussie seeking US wisdom

[Ian Brooke]

Thanks for being there. I was considering and after experienceing your website I'm convinced that the enthusiasm generated therein means that a Mac is the boat for me .

I'm not sure which one; an X or an M. I'm a dinghy sailor and this will be my first yacht. I want to spend weekends on board, sometimes with wife, sometimes with 2 x teenage kids and sometimes alone. Most sailing will be in Sydney Harbour but will do occassional outside trips. A 26' is about the right length.

Could I have some advice. Also any contacts you have in Australia will help. I beleive there's an option of importing used one from the States.

Thank you,

[Hurley]

Hi Ian

Have been following this board for a number of years and eventualy took the plunge and have just taken delivery of a 05 26 M. I live in Brisbane and had real difficulty in understanding why a boat that sell in the US for $K20 US, lands here for $K60 Aussie....................

Read the fine print and the traps of importing direct.

Rich

[kmclemore]

Hello, Ian! Welcome!

As to which would be better, I think it's largely a matter of taste - both boats would be able to handle your family well.

Many folks like the M because they feel it is a better sailing boat (rotating mast, etc.) and they like the interior layout or the option of having a coloured hull. They also like the fact that you can slide the galley out of the way and have more room for entertaining.

I have an X, so I will tell you I am somewhat biased. I like the X because I think the interior layout is better for my family's needs - the dinette fits all 4 of us at once for meals (more difficult on an M), the head is larger and more roomy - and nearer the companionway so folks aren't walking past you to get there... and it's nearer to a souce of 'ventilation' . Finally, the cockpit is larger than the M and there's more room to get through the transom when loading bulky things (or people!).

My own personal opinion (no flaming please - I'm entitled to have one) is that the X is a better boat for people who like to live on board, but that the M is a bettter boat for those who like to entertain friends on board.

Cheers,
Kevin

[RandyMoon]

I have a M and agree with Kevin.

I love my M and would never change my choice, but I do like the X's head design better and I like the openess of the X's cockpit. If you plan on swimming, the entry into the M from the transom is tight. I have the sliding galley and think it is over-rated. I would prefer a fixed galley so I could have built things in and around the galley. But, for entertaining, you can slide the M's galley back into the aft sleeping area and put cushions in its place. So you can seat more people in the M.

I have never sailed a X so I cannot comment on one versus the other. I have noticed that I can sail the M with the mainsail only and it sails well. They are both great boats.

[Simon]

I wonder which is more stable at sea the X or M? And which is more water tight?

Thanks

S

[RandyMoon]

A prior thread on the subject.

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... highlight=


I'll be when MacGregor comes out with the 2007N, the debate will really get going.

[Simon]

A prior thread on the subject.

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... highlight=


I'll be when MacGregor comes out with the 2007N, the debate will really get going.

Thanks Randy

S

[RandyMoon]

Refering to my comments above, the first picture is the business end of Moe's X. You can see that there is a wide opening for getting in and out.

The second photo is a M and you can see that it is a tighter opening. Maybe it is a stronger design feature, but big people will find it challenging to wiggle past a big motor.

[Divecoz]

I Will never understand why they closed up the motor well on the M . . .I own an M but would like the X transom opening
HUM they steal outboard motors with a chainsaw . . . .I wonder who lives closest ??? That might be Mark P.???

[Randy Smith]

UH, Moe, Randy....Darn nice sterns you boys got!! Randy

[Terry]

I'm not a back door bandit myself, but I think the M does have a more shapely stern. The only time I use it though is when she sits on the trailor, as she is more accommodating in that position. Once in the water though, at the dock & especially at the slip, over the aft side is the entry of choice, especially with the BWY genny track mounted boarding ladder. Just unhook the life line and I can load all gear and passengers over the gunwale, no need to squeeze past the big fat Honda. But even while she sits on the trailer in my driveway I have no difficulty getting my 6' 220 lbs body through that cavity, it's really only my legs that have to pass through. The transom design on the M makes more efficient use of space by placing the helm seat over the engine and free up the extra space for use elsewhere.
I saw an X owner who had a ladder welded onto the aft guide post on his trailer, nice idea.

[Catigale]

I saw an X owner who had a ladder welded onto the aft guide post on his trailer, nice idea

Cool idea - anyone got a picture??

[crackles]

Ian,
Like you, the enthusiasm of this site helped me decide to buy a Mac. Mine is a 2000 X and I am very happy. It had been stripped bare by its PO, I don't know why, which meant I had a lot of fun refitting all the good bits. The help I received from this site was overwhelming and much appreciated.

My wife and I spent the weekend on the Hawkesbury and moored Saturday night in Americas Bay. Absolutely heaven. While putting on the kettle on Sunday morning, guess what I saw. We were being checked out, by a new M. A friendly wave and away they went.

I agree with all of Hurley's points.

Good luck

[aya16]

I love this debate..... As far as entry into the M its actually very easy while on a mooring or anchor. The tightness adds to your stability when getting in and out of a dinghy. Let me explain. The way to get in and out of a dingy is to stand on the ladder side of the motor well plant your arss on the nice flat motor swing your legs over pull the dingy beside the motor and step in. All the time your doing this the closeness of the motor well gives you plenty to hang onto, That is one reason I keep the mast support arch on the boat at all times, In fact I would love to beef this arch support up with maybe 2 inch stainless instead of the 1 inch.

The X is slower, and the accommodations in the M (mine is a 2004) works great for me. No one needs a 10-foot couch in a 26-foot sailboat so taking the 4-foot insert out gives you plenty of room for a fridge. Or large cooler or even a hanging locker. The space you give up in the M cockpit
is given back in the berth below lots of room down there. I use mine as a large storage on extended trips, stuff that would be taken out once at the destination. Then its used as a bed. Forget the v berth in any boat for sleeping it makes for good storage. I like the M better, but wouldnt throw an X out of bed if you know what I mean. I would just install the better sailing stuff from the M Rotating mast and things. You will hear stories of the rotating mast not working all the time, but thats just not true mine rotates 100 percent of the time 100 percent over, If someone elses doesnt then it needs to be fixed. I just came back from a fantastic sail last Saturday. Best day Ive had since I bought the boat.

I think that with this gas problem we have here and the fact that it will cost
80 bucks to fill a 20-gallon gas tank in some places people will rethink the sailboat as a means to go boating and being that most people want a trailer boat the Mac will fill the bill nicely. I saw 8 Macs last Saturday getting ready to go out for the day at the ramp, and it was no way a crowded parking lot...Those Macs were for the most part Newer Ms I saw one X. But the point is, there doesnt seem to be another boat out there that can fit the new wants of the boating public as well as the Mac.
I would rather have a 26 foot Mac then some of the larger trailer power boats I see all the time at the ramp 26 foot power boats that have 3 axle trailers large gas guzzling engines, and half the room of a Mac.

My friend just bought a nice 24-foot powerboat cuddy 50,000 bucks
Heavy duty 2 axle trailer great cockpit that will enclose to make a roomy
Interior. It has a 60 gallon gas tank and when we take it out to where I sail it can only do about 25mph in the chop without beating its passengers to death. Put that big powerboat next to my Mac and the powerboat looks like a dinghy. The Mac is big roomy and and top speed with the engine in the same chop is comfortable.
Plus I can sail it.
The Mac brought me back to boating I gave up a couple years ago. I had boats sitting around not being used for months at a time, I use, work, on or play with my Mac every weekend. I can live on My Mac for days at a time and be comfortable. Looking over at the big larger sailboats in slips near my Mac I dream like everyone else, but the reality is all those boats
Go to the same places I go, If they ever go. Ill bet out of the thousands of boats there maybe two have seen waters ill never be able to see. And I can trailer to most of them even Mexico.

Good luck and look out for those stingy jellyfish that kill you over there.
Is it that bad? I just saw a thing on disc. Channel about those jelly fish you have that one little sting your dead meat. No cure ahhh