Posted: 06 February 2002 at 3:06pm | IP Logged

These features would be great:

-- can easily place an outboard motor on the transom
-- dockside power -- and electrical outlets inside
-- refrigerator
-- enclosed head, bildge pump
-- trailerable (maybe a centerboard instead of a keel)

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-- Mike

Posted: 08 February 2002 at 12:15pm | IP Logged

Rgds

Glenn

__________________
tropical island

Posted: 26 October 2002 at 3:54pm | IP Logged

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Bobm
robertsmellis@yahoo.com

__________________
Bobm
robertsmellis@yahoo.com

Posted: 15 December 2002 at 9:32am | IP Logged

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Posted: 20 December 2002 at 7:54am | IP Logged

[This message has been edited by bliss (edited 12-20-2002).]

Posted: 17 January 2003 at 8:45pm | IP Logged

Jim

Posted: 02 February 2004 at 1:28pm | IP Logged

That's a tall order for a boat 27' or less.

You will find a lot in this range with outboard power, but eventually you will wish you had an inboard. Few will have shorepower and fewer still will have refridgeration, some won't even have a useably sized, built in-ice box. A good number will have some type of enclosure for the head - many will have the toilet stuck beneath the V-berth which is a pain to use in the middle of the night. All must have a bilge pump of some type. Trailerable is not likely unless you are willing to give up on some of your other requirements.

I saw a demo of the McGreggor 26 and was impressed, but I would agree with Bob that it is more of a water toy than a sailboat.

The Tartan 27 is a great boat. Offshore Magazine just did an  article on this boat, check it out. It is not what one would normally consider trailerable, but it is a sea worthy cruiser.

Posted: 19 March 2004 at 6:54pm | IP Logged

Hello I own a 1981 MacGregor 25 this one is committed to being a sailboat they are fun to sail but they are light air boats. I also own a CS 27 that is a wonderful sailboat this one is not as trailerable it has a fin keel 5'2' draft with a 8hp deisel I have sailed this one with winds gusting from 27 to 32 knots I did reef the main and head sail she also handled 6-8 foot waves nicely. It has a head seperate from the V birth a closet across from it sleeps 4 comfortably this boat has the best of both racer/cruising abilities. I guess it all comes down to what type of sailing you are going to do and how much you want to spend.

Dave

CS 27 Dawn Treader

Posted: 29 March 2004 at 1:17am | IP Logged

Try taking a look at the Catalina 25, it seems to have most of what your looking for from what I know. I have a Catalina 30 and am extremely happy with it, currently looking for a 34. I think Catalina makes a pretty good line of boats.

Posted: 01 April 2004 at 8:43am | IP Logged

Having owned both a Catalina 25 and a Macgregor 26, I think the MacGregor is a great choice.  I owned the Mac in The Bahamas and sailed it all over the islands, including from Nassau to Miami.  The boat is perfect for what you described and IS A VALUE.  I kept mine in the Marina year round, but mobility a trailer gives you is awesome.  I drove it back from FL to MD where I sold it.  There is something about the Macs that I will always love.

Posted: 13 April 2004 at 3:33pm | IP Logged

Consider a Com-Pac.

" The Com-Pac 23/3 is the top of the trailerable Com-Pac line, offering accommodations and equipment which make her a most exceptional yacht. With a two-cabin layout for privacy, a standard-equipment, hide-a-way galley and shoal-draft keel developed from NACA low-drag, high-lift wing sections, the Com-Pac 23/3 is ready for extended cruising and gunkholing. "

There is one in the slip next to my MacGregor 25.  It is an attractive boat with traditional styling, sturdily constructed, and performs almost as well as my Mac 25 in club races.

http://www.boatshow.com/Com-Pac.html

Posted: 13 April 2004 at 6:09pm | IP Logged

Mike,

Don't discount the older Ericsons with your list of possibilities! We have a 1977 Ericson 25 c/b model (inboard diesel, marine toilet, split galley, good tankage).  Nice combination of strength, speed, and trailerability.  You might look at the E23 also if you think the 25 is too large.  They are reasonably priced because of their age and I think one of the better built boats.

Steve

Meridian,  ID

Posted: 15 April 2004 at 12:13am | IP Logged

 I had Mac 25 for 10 years , and sailed all over the chesapeak bay.  with out any trouble.

I now have a older mac 26 IT HAS A LOT MORE ROOM THAN THE 26. IF you are going to sail in protected water thay cant be beat.

If you keeptrack of the weather you could do some costal sailing.

Posted: 15 April 2004 at 9:28pm | IP Logged

Look at a Cape Dory.  They made a 25', 27', (28'?), and a 30'.  I had a 30' for many years.  Great boat, great sailor (modified full keel with a relatively shallow draft...4'2").

Well built boats and I took mine offshore.

Posted: 16 April 2004 at 1:40pm | IP Logged

Edward,

Thanks for the vote of support.  Here are a couple more (free) opinions and observations I offer:  Ericson owners are a fiercely loyal group we have discovered - and perhaps it is even deserved in this case.  They really are a slippery design, the hull/deck joint is glassed and can't leak, it has a full cabin liner, and everything about the boat is adequately built and well thought out (except the icebox).  We keep our Ericson for negotiating mountain passes to our spectacular mountain lakes and we have a Nor'sea 27 for the bigger trips.  If someone is looking at the 27' and under market - GET A TRAILER WITH IT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.  You're in the right size range to tow so why limit yourself?  We can leave Idaho in the snow and in two days be in Baja Mexico's Sea of Cortez, stepping the mast.  Summertime we can be in the San Juans in one long day.  Trailer sailing a good boat with the right gear is a lot of fun and year-round sailing opportunities become virtually unlimited. 

Steve

Posted: 19 January 2006 at 10:20pm | IP Logged

 Hi.  I have a 1978 amf paceship py26, it's a great boat used to sail around fla. and over to bahamas

Posted: 25 January 2006 at 2:03pm | IP Logged

Humm, how do you power a fridge with an outboard???

Lots of boats fit your basic requirements.

Unlikely to find shore power on anything that small as people usually do not live aboard a boat of that size.

Would help to know where you are going to use it.

Lake Dillon is not Lake Erie or the Gut.

The Tartan is a nice boat as is the Cape Dory.

I would also suggest the ODay 28. A lot of room for small boat.

the older Catalina 27 had an outboard. The later models have an inboard and as such fetch a higher price.

I am not a fan of the McGregors 26s but then I sail on the ocean.  Yeah, anyone can pull a stunt. Look at the french dude who windboarded the atlantic. Now think of your wife's eyes glaring through you as the kids cry because the boat is getting pounded and you have a flat bottom, no real keel, and few amenities to allow them to go below to.  Look out for that wave breaking!  Oh Oh, the wife's hair is now soaked.

OK, you can shut off that thought now..

If you are talking about keeping it at home and trailering to lakes and bays, the the 26 makes sense. Again, it is how you expect to use it.

How often will you trailer it? If only once or twice a season, a full keel may be in order if you can find a cheap hoist in that area, or you get an extension for the trailer tongue.

As I suggested in another note, get a copy of Practical Boat Buying by practical sailor. Well worth the investment. Be forewarned they were not impressed with the 26x..

Posted: 03 February 2006 at 7:54am | IP Logged

I own a Mac26M and have been sailing the open ocean in the western carib for a year with it. I have found it to be quite seaworthy and the shallow draft allows me to go into lagoons where conventional sailboats cannot go. I have run my Mac in  a foot of water. One thing I have noticed is that most of the critics of this fine boat have never sailed on a Mac26. I was a skeptic who used to sail on hunters and catalinas. Not that anything is wrong with those fine boats, but the versitility and ease of sailing and trailering that the Mac offers won me over. Also the Mac26M seems as well made as any small Catalina ive sailed on. I have never sailed on the older model Macs like the X, but the M has proved itself to me. Maybe some of the critics should actually go out for a day of sailing on the 26M to see if their concerns are warranted or not. The thing about the Mac is that it is a break from the past. It is a break from the old school deep draft keel boats that have dominated the sailing industry for ions. I love the old boats for sure, they are graceful and fast sailing hulls. But they can't do what a Mac can do when it comes to motoring or shallow water. I have seen too many of those old boats run aground in the channel trying to get into our harbor. I keep my mac on a mooring in the lagoon in about four feet of water. Other sail boats see it in there and try to get up near it to anchor. I feel bad about this, but maybe they should get out a saw and cut that darn keel off.

Posted: 03 February 2006 at 10:18am | IP Logged

Does the Mac26M have refrigeration and shore power, per the specifications of the start of this thread? Of course, these things could be added.

Posted: 28 February 2006 at 2:50pm | IP Logged

Greetings everyone,

I'm looking to buy my first boat for offshore cruising and found a 1972 33' Pearson Yacht for sale. Your thoughts on this as a starter boat? 

Posted: 28 February 2006 at 3:25pm | IP Logged

Merchantprince,

I wouldn't call this a 'small' boat.  My "free" advice on this consideration is just two items that I would say are most important:  1)  Get the boat professionally surveyed - not an option - spend the money, it's the cheapest thing you will ever buy with a 33' boat 2)  Stay unbiased as much as possible.  A 30+ year old boat will have problems - they all do.  Stay unattached and figure out what you really are wanting.  (Ask your wife what she'll tolerate with a boat and you'll get a pretty good idea of where YOU will want to be - seriously!)

You'll have to ask yourself:  How handy are you and how much do you like to sail vs. how much time do you want upside down in and under the boat? 

I have a refurbished '77 Ericson 25 and a '81 hurricane damaged Nor'sea project that is a 2-year project.  You gotta be committed with old boats.

Steve

Posted: 29 March 2006 at 6:52pm | IP Logged

 The best bang for your buck under 27 feet is the good old first generation catalina 27. They made a diesel and an outboard version. I live in british columbia and these boats have held up well on the BC coast for over 30 years.

If you want to race at your local club , get the outboard tall rig version , family cruising only , get the diesel one.

catalina built thousands of these. I have sailed at least 10 cat 27s , they are value for money .

Z

Posted: 30 March 2006 at 8:23am | IP Logged

Merchantprince:  A good friend of mine has a Pearson 33 of the same vintage.  It's a competative club racer, yet he has no qualms taking it to the Bahamas.  It's a well built, seaworthy boat.  Although he did (have to) replace the engine a couple years ago, but that's to be expected with a boat of that age.

Captn Bob

Posted: 01 July 2006 at 9:52pm | IP Logged

I have now had my Mac26m for a year and a half. I sail the open ocean of the caribbean with it. Contrary to the opinion of some "so called experts" I have found it very capable and seaworthy. It is also moderatley priced and affordable to the average family man. You can easily install the desired equipment and modify the cabin to suit your needs. Empty the ballast tank and it will float in less than a foot of water, and you can easily drive it on to a trailor. It is a no hassle sailboat that will run at 22mph under power. It will sleep four adults and a couple of kids, and provide you with all the fun you can handle in a weekend. Maybe that is why the mac bashers hate this boat so much. Imagine, average family men out having so much fun with that darn mac26!