Years ago I conjured up a houseboat design that could negotiate a bit of rough water and get up on plane with about 50 hp and be quite handy at a campsite. Then the MacGregor 26X came along and added sailing to the mix and my camper/boat went on the far back burner. Now that sailing is becoming too difficult to bother with, that houseboat looks good again!
Roger MacGregor’s powersailor designs are not for everyone. They are best approached with an open mind and it helps to have limited experience with boats designed to either power or sail, but not both. It’s kind of a niche market thing maybe? For those willing to accept the compromises in order to appreciate the good points, of which there are many.
The trailer isn’t one of them. Oh, it works but just barely. Technically that 3500 axle isn’t overloaded but actually it is, putting the tow vehicle to the test. If I was going to do much travelling with it in tow I’d add another axle to eliminate sway above 55.
Dave, you are right, MacGregor's are not for everyone. But with reguard to small feeling bigger, you did bring back an old memory to me. It was back in the early eighties and it was a Hunter, somewhere in the 20' range. As I stepped down into the cabin I was shocked at how much room there was. My first thought was what structurally is supporting all this room?? There seemed to be nothing in your way that you would see in any other boat of that size. An old memory, a young inexperienced non-dinghy sailor.... but still shocked and amazed by my first impression that day. Anyone else have that impression from Hunter sailboats now or back then? I have not stepped into one in quite some time.
I had a Hunter 25.5, shoal keel, probably early/mid-80s vintage. It was my first small big boat, and was kept at a marina on the Sassafras River (MD) -- still there, last I heard. Plenty of room, enclosed head, lots of strings to pull, and the POs even had it outfitted with an asym chute. But not a very good trailer-sailer...(!!). Ergo, the Mac19. Hunter did produce a powersailer for a few years, the "Edge," which could carry a 75hp outboard and trailered at just under 5,000 lbs (!!)...saw it at the Annapolis Boat Show, and was impressed with its "classiness," especially the matched trailer. I wonder how many were produced...and are still around.
Towing 3500 lbs is not my idea of a good time, even though technically my vehicle could do it, and more...but my Mac19 powersailer tows just fine on a single axle. That's the beauty of water ballast. And it's light enough that I don't have to deal with trailer brakes, and all the complications and costs of that. Keeping it simple!
I can tow my 26X with the Ford Ranger like I did with the Honda Ridgeline before it but as you say, it ain’t fun. Little trucks are way overrated for towing capacity. If I’m in a hurry I’ve got a 1997 Dodge 3500 dually. Can’t feel the boat back there with that at any speed. But my X boat sits in the marina all summer so towing ease doesn’t matter much. And now that I’m too old to scamper around on the foredeck messing with sails and spinnakers I can see a placid powerboat in my future.
I love how I can pull up the boards and back onto a beach and step off onto dry sand. Then wake up in the morning to a heavy dewset on the cabin top windows and wait for it to burn off. The galley is like everything else, rudimentary. But these Macs are a blank slate for mods. Also way more capable than most sailors give them credit for.
I have built one of all categories, but for the Trailerable Powercruisers. And I'd like to one of those too, if that doesn't make me sound too selfish! Lol! We most use our Mini houseboat, DIANNE'S ROSE though, so I was cheering for the Mini Houseboat option! AllthebestRoy
My ideal micro cruiser would be electric-powered, with enough of a cabin top for a few cheap PV modules (surplus from one of the big ground mount projects...), a drop-in LFP battery bank, and an auxiliary sail, mainly for downwind sailing. And big enough to double as a comfortable home while I'm trailering it cross-country.
Anything you could possibly want to know about anchoring in the PNW has been tested by SV Panope. Think your anchor is the best? Watch the tests under real conditions and see how it fares, you might be shocked. Regardless, an endlessly entertaining YouTube channel- https://youtube.com/@flygoodwin?si=xVrKjc-gYVt2MOZu
Years ago I conjured up a houseboat design that could negotiate a bit of rough water and get up on plane with about 50 hp and be quite handy at a campsite. Then the MacGregor 26X came along and added sailing to the mix and my camper/boat went on the far back burner. Now that sailing is becoming too difficult to bother with, that houseboat looks good again!
I agree...the camper/houseboat idea looks better and better! But the Mac26X powersailer is just too big and heavy to easily trailer...in my opinion.
Roger MacGregor’s powersailor designs are not for everyone. They are best approached with an open mind and it helps to have limited experience with boats designed to either power or sail, but not both. It’s kind of a niche market thing maybe? For those willing to accept the compromises in order to appreciate the good points, of which there are many.
The trailer isn’t one of them. Oh, it works but just barely. Technically that 3500 axle isn’t overloaded but actually it is, putting the tow vehicle to the test. If I was going to do much travelling with it in tow I’d add another axle to eliminate sway above 55.
Dave, you are right, MacGregor's are not for everyone. But with reguard to small feeling bigger, you did bring back an old memory to me. It was back in the early eighties and it was a Hunter, somewhere in the 20' range. As I stepped down into the cabin I was shocked at how much room there was. My first thought was what structurally is supporting all this room?? There seemed to be nothing in your way that you would see in any other boat of that size. An old memory, a young inexperienced non-dinghy sailor.... but still shocked and amazed by my first impression that day. Anyone else have that impression from Hunter sailboats now or back then? I have not stepped into one in quite some time.
I had a Hunter 25.5, shoal keel, probably early/mid-80s vintage. It was my first small big boat, and was kept at a marina on the Sassafras River (MD) -- still there, last I heard. Plenty of room, enclosed head, lots of strings to pull, and the POs even had it outfitted with an asym chute. But not a very good trailer-sailer...(!!). Ergo, the Mac19. Hunter did produce a powersailer for a few years, the "Edge," which could carry a 75hp outboard and trailered at just under 5,000 lbs (!!)...saw it at the Annapolis Boat Show, and was impressed with its "classiness," especially the matched trailer. I wonder how many were produced...and are still around.
Towing 3500 lbs is not my idea of a good time, even though technically my vehicle could do it, and more...but my Mac19 powersailer tows just fine on a single axle. That's the beauty of water ballast. And it's light enough that I don't have to deal with trailer brakes, and all the complications and costs of that. Keeping it simple!
I can tow my 26X with the Ford Ranger like I did with the Honda Ridgeline before it but as you say, it ain’t fun. Little trucks are way overrated for towing capacity. If I’m in a hurry I’ve got a 1997 Dodge 3500 dually. Can’t feel the boat back there with that at any speed. But my X boat sits in the marina all summer so towing ease doesn’t matter much. And now that I’m too old to scamper around on the foredeck messing with sails and spinnakers I can see a placid powerboat in my future.
I love how I can pull up the boards and back onto a beach and step off onto dry sand. Then wake up in the morning to a heavy dewset on the cabin top windows and wait for it to burn off. The galley is like everything else, rudimentary. But these Macs are a blank slate for mods. Also way more capable than most sailors give them credit for.
I have built one of all categories, but for the Trailerable Powercruisers. And I'd like to one of those too, if that doesn't make me sound too selfish! Lol! We most use our Mini houseboat, DIANNE'S ROSE though, so I was cheering for the Mini Houseboat option! AllthebestRoy
Hi,
Can I please qualify my choice of microcruiser by saying it should be powered by sail with occasional electric auxiliary power.
My ideal micro cruiser would be electric-powered, with enough of a cabin top for a few cheap PV modules (surplus from one of the big ground mount projects...), a drop-in LFP battery bank, and an auxiliary sail, mainly for downwind sailing. And big enough to double as a comfortable home while I'm trailering it cross-country.
Anything you could possibly want to know about anchoring in the PNW has been tested by SV Panope. Think your anchor is the best? Watch the tests under real conditions and see how it fares, you might be shocked. Regardless, an endlessly entertaining YouTube channel- https://youtube.com/@flygoodwin?si=xVrKjc-gYVt2MOZu