I think that much of what you say has validity except for three of your points.

"A good boat to learn with - it seems a basic boat like this would be a good "starter boat" because it is relatively small and simple. -- Most of the owner reports I''ve been reading reveal happy,contented folks that are happy with the inherent limitations and advantages this rather unique boat offers."

Reply: From talking Mac26X owners on the internet and in real life and watching them under way, one thing that I have come way from the conversation with is that these are terrible boats to learn to sail on. I actually taught a husband and wife to sail who had owned one for well over a year when I took worked with them. The problem is that the boats are not terribly responsive so your sails can trimmed completely wrong and there is no clues to tell you that.

In talking to Mac Owners, I have comcluded that many of them simply crank the motor if they want to go any where and sail when conditions are perfect for brief periods of time. While I have run into quite a few owners who clearly love their Mac''s, I have also run into quite a few who really hate them as sailboats. The thing that I have concluded they are like Churchill''s talking dog,"Who cares about enounciation, its that he talks at all", which is to say that they are poor sailboats and no to great as powerboats but they do both which in and of itself is remarkable.

I also had a good friend who went sailing with a Mac owner in an effort to try to help them ''get more out of the sailing part of owning the boat.'' His discription suggests that if you know how to sail and you enjoy boats that sail well, the Mac would be a very frustrating experience.

"Because of the high resale value, get out from under it if I decide it''s NOT what I want."

I don''t know why you think that they have a high resale value. In several recent conversations, I have heard two owners describe taking a real baths trying on the boats. Initially when the boats were introduced there were a limited number of used ones on the market. At this point the used market seems a bit more flooded (at least around here) and both guys described having the boat on the market for a comparatively long period of time and then having to dump it at a big loss. They both originally thought as you did and had set the resale price close to what they had paid for their boats. As the boats languished on the market, they both ended up accepting low prices. The one boat actually failed survey and was put back on the market and at the time of my conversation had yet to sell. If you must buy a Mac26X at least buy a used one so that someone else has taken the first hit.

The other problem is the lack of light air or heavy air ability. You are talking about sailing in an area noted for predominantly light air punctuated by some pretty heavy stuff. I think that your conclusions could steer you towards a used trailerable, but if you really want to sail and sail safely I would suggest that you buy something that is better built and which also sails better as well.

Respectfully
Jeff