Sailboat capsize Nov 8 Providence River. Is it a MacGregor?

[bobmcgov]

Originally Posted by dca81

Geez...I am a newbie and just purchased a 2004 Macgregor 26M .... I plan to keep the water ballast full at all times while on the water. But I will use the boat on lakes in Colorado and can almost guarantee I will get unexpected gust over 15 50 kts.

Fixed.

Welcome to Sailnet, and to sailing. I'm not kidding about the 50 kts, BTW: mountain winds come out of nowhere with incredible power. We got nailed this September on Lake Granby by 50 kt winds that lasted for 15 minutes, then dropped to dead calm. About rolled our SJ21.

A Mac26 with proper water and fixed ballast should be fine IF you pin the centerboard down and have the means and presence of mind to shorten sail IMMEDIATELY. Once winds of that kind get hold of you, it becomes very hard to reef or furl. IIRC, The Mac26 uses a fairly high-aspect main and a pretty big genoa; get the jib put away first, then have some kind of jiffy reefing system that will permit you to shorten the main w/out leaving the cockpit. Things will be insane for a few minutes when the gusts come, so practise these drills in mild conditions until they are rote. Later Macs are very high windage boats; their profile alone will be enuf to induce some serious heel and sagging to leeward. Not much you can do about that, but don't expect to point in high winds. Even motoring may prove difficult. Also, even on perfect blue-sky days, you might keep the hatchboards in and PFDs, if not on, right next to you. The second we see a dark line on the water, life vests go on.

Cheers!

[timebandit]

I think I mighy be getting 3 footits.

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Yes, but barely... and it is a pretty massive boat to trailer... Here's a photo of it on the trailer....



It is a lot bigger than a MacGregor 26x/m on a trailer, as you can see in this photo.

[zaliasvejas]

The boat under discussion seems to have been designed by salesmen or con men, out to swindle the uninitiated. I saw one being launched recently.... the spreaders are aluminum tubes not much sturdier than ironing board legs.
I have not sailed on one and have no desire to do so, just seems too risky. Granted, apparently they will not sink, but so will not my dinghy.
I saw one TRY to sail in 15 knots of wind. It was caught in irons for about 20 minutes, the jib flapping furiously, boat seemingly pined down, out of control. The only way it got going was when the skipper wrapped up the jib, dropped the main and turned on the large motor.
This boat seems to be one of those marketing design exercises, with no regard to reality. Sailing out on the water, anywhere, is somewhat risky and limiting your sailing ability and safety does not make any sense.

[timebandit]

Might wanna check this out--

Mac26S_PromoCD.wmv

YouTube - Macgregor 26M, on auto pilot, 45 deg in 45 knots

[timebandit]

Can you imagine towing, launching or sailing this boat in a lake?

If you saw it on it's side how many people would even know what kind it was it was?

I wonder how well it sails in 5kts.?

Looks like it has a lot of freeboard too.

Originally Posted by timebandit

I wonder how many of those real sailboats can do this---


Just one of the option of a Mac 26 with water blast.

[souljour2000]

I'm not in the market for one but a couple from Austin,TX I think it was... recently took one up to Bremerton,WA or therabouts and launched...then made it to Juneau and back in one of these...I guess the speed helped them crossing some sounds and rounding some points in smaller weather windows than normally would be attempted...interesting boat certainly and undeniably could be the right boat for certain types of sailors...never cared much for the "spaceship " or "shuttlecraft" look I must say...

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by timebandit

Might wanna check this out--

Mac26S_PromoCD.wmv

YouTube - Macgregor 26M, on auto pilot, 45 deg in 45 knots

Don't want to be picky but I looked at the "45 knot" video and there is no way it was blowing anywhere near 45. Hardly a whitecap in sight. Probably more like 15 with gusts to 20+. Probably felt like 45, though.

As to the McGregor video, I would question his ethical integrrity in suggesting that these boats are suitable for those conditions, even with the disclaimers. I'm sure you could find a Catalina 27 that has gone accross the atlantic but I would suggest that it would be irresponsible to use it for marketing it as a bluewater boat.

[defrich]

I have a 26M , and sail it when I can ( three times this week ). With the help of some wanna-be sailors, I have had the boat heeled over at 45 degrees. by 40 degrees she was slipping seriously sideways. The kids were a bit worried, but with me there calming them down and 'suggesting' a proper course ( pun intended )of action , they righted her nicely ( and went on to dip the genoa a few times more, but with humor these times ). I don't buy the claim of 45kt ( nor 45 mph winds either ) winds as claimed in the video . But It is a fun boat for me and mine.

Blue Skies...

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by CBinRI

Don't want to be picky but I looked at the "45 knot" video and there is no way it was blowing anywhere near 45. Hardly a whitecap in sight. Probably more like 15 with gusts to 20+. Probably felt like 45, though.

As to the McGregor video, I would question his ethical integrrity in suggesting that these boats are suitable for those conditions, even with the disclaimers. I'm sure you could find a Catalina 27 that has gone accross the atlantic but I would suggest that it would be irresponsible to use it for marketing it as a bluewater boat.

Here's MacGregor himself filming an M26 from his 70 footer in true gale force conditions. Pretty interesting - especially his commentary:



BTW - Childress took a C27 around the world.

[CharlieCobra]

While I haven't had my 36 year old MacGregor (Venture) 21 out in a Gale, it performed well in 20+. I wouldn't take it out in worse mainly because there's no way to reef or furl the sails, not because it can't take it. It's usually the sailors who can't handle conditions, not the boat... Nice little vid by Roger though.