[Rhodes22-list] Mac 26x and R22

[Rob Lowe]

Peter,
Thank for you that lovely comparison and description of the R22.  About
brought tears to my eyes. - Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Thorn" <pthorn at nc.rr.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 10:53 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Mac 26x and R22


> 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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