MacGregor 25 to Bahamas?

[JebButler]

I am thinking about buying a Mac 25 - found some good used ones - and would dream of taking it 86 miles to Freeport, Grand Bahama one day. But a Mac 25 ain''t a heavy boat. 2100 displacement, 625 ballast. Would the boat be up to the job if I avoided foul weather?

[soapstone]

I used to have a MacGregor 25. IMHO- it would be suicidal to take one off-shore... Because it''s so light, it snap rolls like a demon and doesn''t have enough mass to tack into a steep chop. (It will go into irons in a jiffy) In addition, the pop top and windows would cave in if you got hit by a breaking wave.

You can try to shoot for good weather, but in the end better be ready to handle survival conditions if you go off-shore.

[Sailormon6]

About 25 years ago, Bill Robinson, who wrote about 30 books on every aspect of sailing during his lifetime, told me that many people make the crossing to the Bahamas every year in boats like the pop-top Catalina 22 that I owned at the time.

Several groups organize fleet cruises to the Bahamas for small boats every year, and, if you haven''t made the crossing before, that''s a good way to go.

Log on to trailersailor.com and make inquiries on their discussion board. Someone there is likely to know who to contact to get in on such a crossing.

[bombayduck]

When I was there last time I saw a newer Mcgregor 25 (or 26)? It had a big outboard on it so I suppose it got there fast.
Brad

[tomWc]

Here''s a guy who''s done it twice, it''s been said that you could do it in a canoe with the right weather window.

http://hcgiles.home.mindspring.com/

[CHENDA]

Originally Posted by JebButler

I am thinking about buying a Mac 25 - found some good used ones - and would dream of taking it 86 miles to Freeport, Grand Bahama one day. But a Mac 25 ain''t a heavy boat. 2100 displacement, 625 ballast. Would the boat be up to the job if I avoided foul weather?

you all coment on the subject, mostly negativelly. just check your history! go to the website of one longtime sailor, richard konkolski who lived in a landlocked country czechoslovakia, nowdays czech republic, where he designed and built a wooden, 24 foot sailboat named "nike" and in early
1970's proceeded to cross the atlantic, then circumnavigated the globe in a boat 12 inches shorter than macgregor 25. since then he aquired tonns of world records and you are all wondering if you can cross 90 miles of warm waters of the florida straits......
CHENDA

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by JebButler

I am thinking about buying a Mac 25 --- and would dream of taking it 86 miles to Freeport, Grand Bahama one day.

OK, but why in the world go to Freeport? Even if you want to I don't think they permit small boats in the harbor, it's pretty much restricted to cruise ships.

[sailingdog]

I doubt Jeb much cares, as he was posting this back in 2005.

[FSMike]

I hate getting sucked in when someone revives an old thread. Oh well.