Seeking help to outfit a Mac 26S for gulf crossing.

[jesico]

Has anyone crossed on a Macgregor 26 S/C? How did you outfit your boat for crossing? Suggestions appreciated.

[pkipp]

The Mac as I understand is a very unseaworthy boat. I was discouraged to even look at one when I was on the hunt for my boat. I would recommend not crossing in that boat.

[bill_of_q3]

Buy lots of life insurance!

[Gene66]

As a Mac 26x owner in the Puget Sound area I can vouch for the Mac, it is not a bluewater offshore sailboat, but rather a very versatile hybrid motorsailer, it is great for its design and what it is design for... to get people into sailing.

It is perfect for SF BAY, Puget Sound, Great Lakes, any lake, the Cheasepeake Bay, and I even imagine daysails on either coastline in good weather conditions. Its 50Hp engine and ability to sprint 100 miles in 5-6 hours is key, hopefully you will decide not to get 100 out, but if you are 15 miles out you can reach protected waters in an hour or less, hence this is it saving grave in my eyes.

I am not as cynical about the Mac as other purists as they are usually either jealous or envious in a sort. If you are island hoping in good weather you should not have much problem, I have been through 6-8 foot swells in a light gale, while rough, it was very seaworthy as a power boat, not a sailboat under those conditions.
Good luck with yours plans, and plan appropriately.

[Stefan]

If you really want to go to the Bahamas in a Mac 26 go to the following link and read about Capt''n Jim

http://www.a1sailboats.com/adventur.htm

[Irwin32]

Even a raft can make it across an ocean if the weather cooperates. Offshore sailing is a crapshoot - so the question is: How lucky do you feel? When you compare the McGregor to other boats in her size you see her standing rigging is smaller. Her mast and boom are smaller. Push on her hull sections just before the bow. Does she flex? How heavy are those windows? Good luck.

[svdragonseeker]

The Gulf can be a very dangerous place! I have been out in my Hans Christian 33 and gotten the xxxxx beaten out of me. If it was not for the boat I don''t know if I would be here now.
The boat that you are talking about should not venture outside the breakwater. If you must go, go inside. The ICW will take you to Appalachacola where you would have to go uotside for only app 36-40 hrs. Better yet follow the coast around as that boat probably doesn''t draw much water.
If you plan to do much crusing get another boat.
SV

[Denr]

Lets be honest and to the point....this boat is a piece of crap that is not suitable to safley cross the Mississippi river not to mention the Gulf. Put this piece of tupperware on a container ship if you want to live to be another year old.

Gee Whiz, Denr, Why sugar coat your opinion? You can tell us what you really think of the Mac 26S. You don''t need to hold back on your opinions. (and I thought I was the voice of doom and gloom around here) 8^)
Jeff

[Denr]

Jeff
It would be a disservice to those who read these pearls of wisdom to portrait the Mac26S as something other than the piece of sh_t it is! The MacGregor''s may have been responsible for introducing many new sailors to the sport of sailing but this toy is no more than a beginners boat for sheltered small inland lakes. Are there any engineering characteristics of this boat that you would incorporate into one of your designs and put your name on? I rest my case!