macgregor 22

Cavi · #1 08-20-2012

I sailed a banshee when i was a teen then stopped sailing at 18 only to start again last year at 44. I have been sailing a Rebel 16 and a banshee. truthfully I have been sailing the banshee way more than the Rebel.
I came across a Macgregor 22 that is in pristine shape, it is from the 1970s, and has a 150 jib that has the self winding feathure that would allow to sail with the jib partially rolled or fully extended. I am considering trading my rebel for it as the price is really low. I know the mac gets a bad rap, but I am thinking of buying it as a stepping stone. I am not really sure if I will enjoy a large boat so I am figuring this would be a good way to try one out without much financial risk.
Does this sound okay? Will the mac sail okay?

KIVALO · #2 08-21-2012

At one point I owned a Mac 25 and it was an OK boat. I bought it for much the same reasons you indicate you want the 22 for. Mine was a swing keeled boat. My only real complaint is that sometimes it simply would not tack. Perhaps it was the poorly tuned rig or maybe it was crappy sailing on my part but in light air that thing would not tack without the iron genny's assistance. All it would do was point close too but not through the wind and then fall off again. It only did this in light air though and for some reason I seem to remember only with the wind a 1/4 astern. No idea why. Besides that the sailing performance was OK, I figured it for a lake boat or sheltered water boat. The pop top is really nice for when you need to be below decks. I don't know about "your" 22 but I suspect it will be similar.

Good luck.

Brad
s/v KIVALO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavi

I sailed a banshee when i was a teen then stopped sailing at 18 only to start again last year at 44. I have been sailing a Rebel 16 and a banshee. truthfully I have been sailing the banshee way more than the Rebel.
I came across a Macgregor 22 that is in pristine shape, it is from the 1970s, and has a 150 jib that has the self winding feathure that would allow to sail with the jib partially rolled or fully extended. I am considering trading my rebel for it as the price is really low. I know the mac gets a bad rap, but I am thinking of buying it as a stepping stone. I am not really sure if I will enjoy a large boat so I am figuring this would be a good way to try one out without much financial risk.
Does this sound okay? Will the mac sail okay?

Nicklaus · #3 08-21-2012

Everyone is different, and I'm far from an expert. But... The one regret I have is buying a "stepping stone" boat. I bought a 27' and now want to upgrade after just a season and a half.

I did look at a 30' and that extra 3' made me nervous just standing at the helm in the slip.

Sounds like you have the basics down. I'd find a friend with a larger boat and sail with him a few times. Then buy something large enough that allows you to do what you want to do in 3 years.

If you know all you want is a daysailer or something for quick trips like on a small-ish lake, then disregard everything I just said.

wroobin · #4 08-21-2012

I had a Mac 22 for a bit, it sailed ok. I don't think it's as bad as it's reputation. Once I had the rig tuned up properly and got a decent set of sails the thing sailed just fine.

The thing to look out for on these, is the swing keel. If it's showing signs of rusting out it's a pretty big job to strip down to bare metal and reseal.

Cavi · #5 08-21-2012

the sails are in good order, infact the jib is a 150 and on a self realing unit so I can set it out or in as needed for the wind!

Mobnets · #6 08-21-2012

Cavi:
That "self realing unit" or "self winding feathure" you refer in your posts to is known in the sailing world as "roller furling".

Mobnets
1973 Paceship Chance 32/28 "Westwind"

Cavi · #7 08-22-2012

Thanks I guess.....

CalebD · #8 08-22-2012

The older, smaller MacGregors like the V22 and the 25 are not the boats most people take issue with. The ones that get all the negative hype are the 26 X & M models that can take a 50 HP outboard and are neither really good sailboats or good motor boats.
Lots of folks started out with boats like the M 22 or 25. They really seem to be 'Stepping stone' boats that get people out on the water to begin with. Some are happy with a 22' or 25' boat but many are not and move up in size.
I think the best advice you have been given is to try to get out on nearly any sized keel boat. No keel boat is going to sail like a Rebel 16' which can plane.
On the other hand if you really want to try a boat that you can actually sleep on then why not a cheap M 22'? The only problem with this idea is you are talking about trading your Rebel 16 for it.

DrB · #9 08-22-2012

that has you excited to buy it aside from the attractive price? Have you considered other 22 foot boats as a "stepping stone" boat? I don't know much about the MacGregor 22, but Catalina makes a 22ft boat that is easy to sail, can be trailered, able to do an overnight in, and a pretty decent daysailer. It's also pretty easy to buy and sell. If it isn't the most successful production boat ever made, it is in the top 3. The other nice thing about the Catalina 22 is that it doesn't have the "bad rap" associated with it as the MacGregor does, even though the model you are looking at isn't the "bad" one.

Just another option to consider.

DrB

SeaQuinn · #10 08-22-2012

If I were you I would take a few lessons on a 20 to 30 foot boats before actually buying one. It is always better to get something that will last you five or ten years if you are looking at a stepping stone boat. Saves you a lot of money getting something like that.