[Rhodes22-list] Mac 26x and R22

[Peter Thorn]

Bill, Ed, Rob and Lurkers,

Having circumnavigated Long Island, except the blue water part, in a 26x , I
can say Richard Smith's comments about them are right on the money.  They
really don't either sail or motor that well.  The steering is very hard too.
But, IMHO, that's not the worst part.

About a year ago Cousin Tom and I sailed in his 26x up through Big and
Little Pequot, passed Plum Island, entered LIS and then traveled a 30 km
long port tack in SW winds until arriving in Clinton, CT after dark.   It
was calm and we were whooped, so, as cruising novices, we made the biggest
mistake of our trip then.  Instead of traveling the last 300 yards in the
dark into an unknown (to us)  protected anchorage, we set the hook right
there in open water.  Tom took the queen bed under the cockpit and I the vee
birth.

Now a 26x, even with the tanks full, is a light boat for its size.  Think
ping pong ball.  About 3 am the winds changed from calm to storm approaching
from the east.  Waves 2-3' started bouncing our 26x ping pong ball around
like Gin in a martini shaker.  I believe the vee birth took most of the
activity.  By 4 am I was truly getting green around the gills, so I woke Tom
and discussed getting underway to take advantage of the winds from the east.
We started to get ready,  but by 4:30 it was dry heaves over the side for
me.  My first seasick experience!

This year I've sailed Raven enough to fully appreciate what a wonderful 22'
foot sailboat Stan and Phil Rhodes have created.   Raven has a fine enough
entry to avoid the pounding and smacking the 26x flat bottomed ping pong
ball gives it's riders in rough conditions.

On paper, the 26x is supposed to be faster than the R22 under sail.  In
reality that is not my experience.  Under all conditions except motoring,
Tom could not keep up with us in Raven in the upper Chesapeake last week.
The 26x has tighter headsail sheeting angles, but with the flat bottom it
must be footed to keep the flow going over the high lift rudders and cb, or
in light air they stall and leeway results.    Raven makes much better VMG
to windward.  We would start sailing together, but as each day progressed
the result would always be the same:  when our lead became large, the 26x
would convert to "motor boat mode" and run the 50hp Suzuki to catch up at
the end of the day.   We would arrive first, and we would have sailed the
entire distance.  Much better quality of experience, wouldn't you say?

In fairness, the 26x was a great boat to travel around Long Island in 7
days.  If the wind or our bad judgment let us down, the 50 hp Suzuki would
bail us out.  While passing down the East River and by the battery it was
nice to be able to throttle away from any threats.   Any small boat is no
match for those ferries and tugs, so it was nice to be able to get out of
the way.

But anyone interested in pure sailing should think twice before buying a
26x.  There is just no comparison to our lovely R22.  If you believe that a
motorboat will get you there faster, but that in a sailboat "you're already
there", then a high quality sailing experience easily trumps the flexability
advantages of the 26x hybrid boat.  The light responsive helm and
dinghy-like sailing characteristics of  the Rhodes are very worth the price
of the boat.

PT




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ed kroposki" <ekroposki at charter.net>
To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 7:29 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Bill's reply on Mac 26 and Hunter Sailboats!


Bill Said:

"Actually, I owned a Mac 26 water ballast ... is fun, although it is
true that failing to put any water into the tank gives the word "tender" a
whole new meaning...it's hairy.  A cheap thrill ...1/2 filling the ballast
tank is also very interesting."

Bill:
So if you liked water ballast so much, why don't you still have a
water ballast boat, like the Mac or Hunter?  Give the two guys looking at
the Hunter and the Mac your insights.
Are there any safety or boat integrity issues specific to water
ballast?  You are the one who has had both type boats.  What are your
experienced insights?

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA
Addendum:   "This ... is like an Enron budget -- smoke the numbers, cook the
books, hide the truth and hope no one finds out."  Senator John Kerry




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