Dingy? What's that? Why would I need one of those?

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Sorry I know my feet are pretty hairy. I'll shave them for the next video

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caeru1ean@reddit

One of the few times I saw a McGregor in the wild I thought I was hallucinating lol. So strange seeing a sailboat racing across the horizon with no sails up!

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

https://youtu.be/eovBozRo5gg?si=SyqYmluDaH-9TvMd

It's wrong on so many levels. But also hilarious.

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SubcommanderMarcos@reddit

You almost had me? You never had me - you never had your boat. Granny shifting, not double clutching like you should.

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starkruzr@reddit

God I love these insane, stupid boats, lmao

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CauliflowerTop2464@reddit

I hear you get more tips when showing the feet

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

As long as it's just the tip I'm okay with it

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TheBlackSpotGuild@reddit

I love my McGregor! Same exact one as you. Finally just put a new display and sensors on her today actually. I'll be sailing out of the Jonesport / Machiasport Maine area this summer.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Very nice.

I need to get the U-pipe thing Don't have it currently.

We have a Block Island trip planned for sometime this summer but no specific dates yet.

Most of the time we are in the Barnegat Bay area but occasionally go down to Roheboth bay or one of the larger lakes in Pennsylvania (ie Wallenpaupack or Raystown lake) and the NYC/Hudson River

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Ar7_Vandelay@reddit

If a power boat and a sailboat had a baby...

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Raneynickelfire@reddit

Because you bought a macgregor and you'd like to survive the disaster.

That's why.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

It will still float even upside-down!

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Raneynickelfire@reddit

Yeah, it will. And it will turn upside down too.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Yep just have to flip the rudders up(down)

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Boatshooz@reddit

As a sailor of a proper old school full keel cruiser who has done most of the Great Loop, I firmly believe that the ultimate Great Loop boat is a well-equipped MacGregor 26. Fight me!

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Depends on your crew size.

With 3+large dog on board for a 8-day sail we were pretty crammed.

For a couple it's just about right. The M variant has a slight leg up from the X for cabin space and headroom, but you give up some cockpit space and opinions are divided on which is a better sailer. The M is harder to enter/exit from the ladder.

Shallow draft(12 inches with the foils up), plenty of power when you need to deal with current. A mast that you can step on the water if you need to clear a bridge (just watch your head while it's down! Ask me how I know!)

Definitely a good option for smaller crews though

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Boatshooz@reddit

Oh absolutely! That said, I’ve never met anyone doing the Loop with more than 2 people.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Yep. I think 2+small dog is typical.

The steppable mast really helps you not be at the mercy of bridges.

Missed the 5pm cutoff? Drop the mast and go anyways vs being stuck till 7am the next day.

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Boatshooz@reddit

Yep - also,

Going through a weird stretch of sketchy places along the ditch in Alabama? Drain the ballast and fire up the engine to make 20kph instead of 5kph.

Engine decides to die? Rent a pickup truck and haul the outboard to your home shop or at least somewhere with good mechanics (and not just the mechanics that are there).

Shallow slips/anchorages? No problem there.

Would I take it way offshore? No. But can it handle coastal/Great Lake sailing if you watch the weather and plan your passages? Absolutely

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

I did take it to the Dry Tortugas.

Didn't have any concern at all though I'll admit the upwind beat coming back into a 2-4 chop at night combined with a 1-2kt tidal current pushing me off course wasn't the funnest. Finally gave up trying to sail and fired up the engine.

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ncbluetj@reddit

The Mighty McGregor stikes again!

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hullgreebles@reddit

Everyone rips on us hunter owners until they want to safely beach their boat

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Raneynickelfire@reddit

"mighty"

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

McGregor what's that? I was told it was a Hunter!

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Plastic_Table_8232@reddit

Mc Hunter

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boatslut@reddit

You can cross oceans in a Macgregor...just have to pick the right one🤔

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Next-Juggernaut7404@reddit

That’s a nice gimmick, but I dare you to take that boat across the Atlantic

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

I'm contemplating it.

As far as the boat goes, the foils are my biggest concern. There's a lot of play in their attachment method that I'm concerned weeks of flopping back and forth coils create an issue.

It's CSF is 2.02 stock and I've added 200lbs of batteries pretty low in the hull that I figure would slightly improve that.

But the biggest issue by far is my meteorological skill. Knowing and understanding the weather patterns and how to avoid having too much fun is more critical imo than even the mechanical suitability of the boat.

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wisockamonster@reddit

I’m assuming this is a swing keel? I used to sail my 22 foot Catalina swing keel to Catalina island from Oceanside. I gotta say, swing keels suck and shouldn’t go off shore. That is all.

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Cambren1@reddit

Block Island 40 or Bermuda 40 would disagree about swing keels.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Water ballest. Swing daggerboard.

As a kid I sailed on a 26S with a (I was told) 600lb swing keel. Definitely couldn't imagine that much weight flopping around on a single hinge/shaft under a 26ft boat.

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wisockamonster@reddit

Yeah that’s what I’m talking about.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

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Bad_Idea_Generator@reddit

MacGruber!

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bright_yellow_vest@reddit

I got one so I can pull up to waterfront restaurants where the only options are transient slips or dingy dock.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Parked at the dinghy dock at the Key West City Marina 😁

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bright_yellow_vest@reddit

But also, you do have a dingy!

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

yes I did!

It was borrowed because I wasn't sure if I'd actually need one or not.

Turns out that I did need it to land on Loggerhead Key, and it was quite a bit more convenient to run back and forth from the ball than it would be to take the whole boat, and a lot more maneuverable.

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bright_yellow_vest@reddit

Something tells me this doesn't fly typically

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

They told me there's no way I would get in there, it was too shallow.

I asked that disregarding that if they cared, they said no just don't block the water hose.

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kerberos824@reddit

I love the hate McGregors get. Good stuff, OP. Have a blast.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Some of the hate may be deserved but more for the operators.

I went to an area MacGregor meet-up and all the other owners there were scared of the ocean.

"You t-t-t-take your b-b-b-boat into the o-o-o-o-o-ocean?!?! Oh n-no we don't go to the o-o-ocean"

Meanwhile I'm contemplating how I can safely cross the Atlantic in it.

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Belzoni-AintSo@reddit

There's a third way.... Somewhere between these two extremes. I hope you find that sweet spot before you do something silly like cross the Atlantic in a McGreggor. I'm sure it can be done... But there's very little room for error.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

That's kinda why I want to.

Would be good bragging rights and a middle finger to the MacGregor haters

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SweetSeaCaramel@reddit

Maybe do it east to west then.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Oh definitely. Take the typical route across the north, down to Cabo Verde then across to the Caribbean then ride the gulf stream back home.

I would not want to do that for the first time on an upwind beat. I'm looking to have fun but not that much fun.

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SweetSeaCaramel@reddit

It would be like your very own mini transat race. Maybe do your crossing while the race is on ñ, so that you have better chances of getting help if needed. I guess that makes it a bit less fun? Though seeing one of them wizzz past you would be fun!

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

It's not a speed demon by any means under sail. The 23ft LWL alone severely limits the hull speed. 6kts is my top speed so far. Which I've done in \~10kt wind.

and even with upgraded tanks I carry a max of 26gal fuel. Average \~8mpg off plane or better when motor sailing, so \~200mi fuel range. On plane though it drops to \~4mpg and there's no help from the sail.

Another problem is keeping the house bank up. There's just not much room for wind/solar. I added 200w and it could barely keep up with our loads. I could get another 200w but then it makes the foredeck all but inaccessible, and more often than not at least half will be shaded by the main.

Generator works for short trips but it would be a stretch to try to cross without another solution.

I can of course add jerry cans and double-triple that.

But really I'm just tinkering with the idea. I need a few more seasons before I would even consider it in reality.

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mikeboatman@reddit

Live for yourself, don't die for others bud. Ignore them.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

True. It's one of those things that if successful you'd feel pretty good about regardless of anyone else

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KeepShtumMum@reddit

My mate sailed a McGregor off the west of Ireland. If you can sail one there you can sail one anywhere.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Tbh I feel like blue water passages are more an exercise in meteorology than sailing ability. No boat is going to do well in 50kts of wind

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neutral-labs@reddit

No boat is going to do well in 50kts of wind

True, but some are likely to survive it, and others are not. ;)

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

I hate them too. Good thing I don't have one!

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wrongwayup@reddit

Controversial take: Macgregors get people on the water, and therefore are cool.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

But the people that own them probably aren't cool

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wrongwayup@reddit

Why not? I sail, they sail, cool, cool

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

I own one and I'm definitely not cool. Sample size=1

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wrongwayup@reddit

Counterpoint, you sail a boat. Ipso facto cool.

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Arizona_Sailor@reddit

Just drain your ballast. Sidebar: When I see one of these, loudly I say, MAC-GrrrreGoh, in my thickest Scottish accent.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

She'll do 20kts downwind on an empty tank I'm told.

Right before she goes bottoms up no doubt

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Mine's so small it's practically non-existent

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jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit

Do you mean small feet? 😁

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

You know what they say about feet size...

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dskippy@reddit

Small feet means I guy has small shoes?

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

And other small features. That's why I compensate with a proper sailboat.

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dskippy@reddit

You know what they say about guys with proper sailboats.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

My mast is only 27ft

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str8dwn@reddit

Weird way to set another anchor.

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

Whatcha mean? I just had the front one set and I set it from outside.

Bow eye was easier to get to from the water than the bow cleat l.

Lower angle too but that didn't really matter here

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Intelligent_Hat_5351@reddit

Because you have a real sailboat with a fixed keel?

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timeport-0@reddit (OP)

The year 1450 called and said they want their boat back.

Besides, I glued 50lbs of scuba weights to the inside of the hull on either side of the daggerboard just in case I need it

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InternetIsntMyFrend4@reddit

Show off! If you're Jesus! For us mortals we can't walk on water