[Rhodes22-list] Bill's reply on Mac 26 and Hunter Sailboats!

[Wally Buck]

Guys I think the safety issue with water ballast is a little over blown. It 
is not like people are dropping like flies due to water ballast sail boat 
accidents. Ed sites the infamous Mac26x disaster. Keep in mind that when 
this boat turtled there was NO water ballast. I am guessing if the boat had 
full water ballast the turtling would not have happened.

The way I see it the main problem (beside looks) with the Mac 26X is the 
hull shape below the water line.The older Macs had water ballast but they 
did not share the same type of planing hull as the new motor Macs. The Mac 
26x doesn't sail very well but the older Macs were actually pretty fast and 
had decent sailing characteristics. There is one in my marina and I can tell 
you first hand it sails just fine. If I had to trailer my boat everytime I 
could see some advantages to water ballst.  Many question Mac build quality 
but lets face it they are cheap boats.

Before anyone accuses me of being a Mac26x lover ......for the record I 
would not own one. However the older Macs (26d & 26c) are quite a bit 
different and are not motor sailors. Yes they were not built to the same 
standards as our beloved R22s but for hundreds (thousands?) of owners they 
do the job.

I really do feel the R22 is one of the finest boats in its class. Many 
budgets don't allow for the finest!

Just another view point .....

Wally


>From: "ed kroposki" <ekroposki at charter.net>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Bill's reply on  Mac 26 and Hunter Sailboats!
>Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 07:29:26 -0400
>
>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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