Macgregor 26 and Long Island Weather

[toben]

I saw a Macgregor 26 this week and thought it would be nice to get a boat that I could pull out of water and park it in my backyard each winter.

I had been looking at boats in the 27-30 foot range and began to understand I might be paying $4000-$6000 in annual costs to paint, store, and moor the boat. So I started to look a little smaller and found the Macgregor 26 which may cost considerably less to own.

Im planning to move to Long Island and wanted to get opinions on the weather around there and the suitability for a Macgregor 26.

[RickLaPaz]

Originally Posted by toben

I saw a Macgregor 26 this week and thought it would be nice to get a boat that I could pull out of water and park it in my backyard each winter.

I had been looking at boats in the 27-30 foot range and began to understand I might be paying $4000-$6000 in annual costs to paint, store, and moor the boat. So I started to look a little smaller and found the Macgregor 26 which may cost considerably less to own.

Im planning to move to Long Island and wanted to get opinions on the weather around there and the suitability for a Macgregor 26.

I see Mr. Mighetto has been very busy this week...........

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums...s&highlite=%2B

[toben]

I dont think you posted in the right thread

[seadaddler]

The macgreger 26 is perfect for the south shore of Long Island
bays,plenty of shallow water.

[RickLaPaz]

Originally Posted by seadaddler

The macgreger 26 is perfect for the south shore of Long Island
bays,plenty of shallow water.

Warning! Not for the feint of heart. And not recommended reading for kids either......


http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html

[toben]

ok so I wont load 11 people on a boat built for 6 and forget to fill the water ballast.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by RickLaPaz

Warning! Not for the feint of heart. And not recommended reading for kids either......


http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html

The drinking issue aside, this was clearly a case of gross overloading on a boat with a high center of gravity in the first place. (and likely with it's "ballast" tank empty)

We had a Martin 242 (fixed keel with about 35% ballast ratio - lightly ballasted by most standards) It took 22 people in and on it before it lost it's natural stability and clearly became ready to roll. (We tried this at a dock just to see what it would take)

A M26 with 12 bodies on board, most of whom were likely on the cabin top, it's not hard to envision the rollover. Add drunken revelry to the mix.......

To Toben's original post, the M26 has obvious appeal for the reasons cited - but there are other trailerable boats that are MUCH better sailboats by virtue of not trying to be two things at once (and doing neither well). The M26's so-called high speed under power is still barely planing, and at considerable cost in fuel consumption.

Don't expect to get a real sailboat if you choose this path.

[BarryL]

Hello,

Where on Long Island would you sail, the north shore (Long Island Sound) or the south shore (great south bay / atlantic ocean)? I am not very familiar with the Mac 26, but the sound and the bay have different weather and conditions. The sound is much much larger and can have much worse weather, with bigger waves and current. The water is deep and navigation is pretty easy. The bay is smaller, has little tidal range, less room for wind built waves and lots of shallows and shoals.

IMHO the Mac could be a good choice for the bay, and less of a good choice for the sound (although I'm sure it could be fine).

Regarding costs, depending on where you keep your boat, you could spend considerably less. For a 28' boat, I paid about $2000 a season for mooring fees, haul, store, and launch. This was with me doing all maintenance, including bottom paint, etc.

There are other trailerable boats that have better reputations than the Mac, such as the Hunter 260, Catalina 250, Precision 23, etc. I have no experience with any of them, so I can't help you there.


Good luck,
Barry

[Sailormann]

Most boats have better reputations than the MacGregor...come to think of it, ALL boats have better reputatons than the MacGregor...

[RickLaPaz]

And a-way we go...............


http://www.practical-sailor.com/samp...at_Review.html