[Rhodes22-list] Mac 26x and R22

[Bill Effros]

Peter,

I gather your anchor set-up held outside Clinton.  How was it 
configured?  The 26x next to me last night did not seem to have a bow cleat.

Bill Effros

Peter Thorn wrote:

>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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>