So we have finally launched our new to us Mac 26X Marmite. We left it alongside a quay overnight to dry out on soft sand and as the tide came up the hull to deck seam on the transom leaked and flooded our boat which promptly sank with water rising to half the way up the cabin, gutted!! We are going to have to re-engine it and I possibly have an option on an 18 month old Evinrude 90HP ETec. I know this is up there in terms of power but they are light and we were struggling to get any more than 14 knots out of the fitted 50 HP Yamaha. If any one has got any experience or thoughts on this I would be grateful. I have seen a Mac with a Suzuki 90 fitted, which weight wise is comparable, but still have some concerns about the transoms structural ability to deal with it.
Regards
David Bayliss
Hi David,
Don't worry that no one's replied, it was the Big Mac 25 year celebration dinner last night so probably a few sore heads this morning.
Looking over the water, to our transatlantic cousins, it seems 90hp is fairly normal.
I too was mildly disappointed when I first tried a fast run with my 2009 Suzuki DF50 but since I only want to go 5kts max I didn't stress.
I have to say I'd be rather more concerned about the boat filling with water though :) .
Mine leaks fairly easily around the transom area if I launch too steeply but, since it's only a brief dip not much gets in.
Your leak must be pretty major but since you don't mention it further I can only assume it was a simple fix - sea-cock or something.
I'm sure some of the engineer types will be along shortly. Hard to imagine anyone sailing today if the weather's anything like here in Cornwall.
Love the name Marmite btw, it so sums up the Mac's perception!
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
Hi, Mike,
I am still in awe of your trip to the Scillies and back. I am thinking of posting a note asking members to let is know about their greatest Mac Adventure but will leave that to after the summer rally is finished and people can draw breath again.
One of the common leak points, when launching steeply, is the hole where the steering rod enters the boat. A simple rubber grommet can fix that.
Enjoy the rest of the summer. Are you taking part in Falmouth week, this year?
Simon Armitage
Sowenna 26M
Thanks Simon, it was a lovely trip, especially involving overnights in both directions; I've written it up for later publication.
I do plan to have another go at Falmouth Week. I tried one race last year, my first race ever, but failed miserably to even reach the start line before the 5 min cutoff :)
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
David,
I am sorry to read about this disastrous event. How depressing.
Someone once told me that Macs were unsinkable?
I have heard of suction occurring between the hull and the sea bed and the Mac not floating off as expected. Something to do with the centreboard housing?
Outboards are getting lighter these days which possibly allows a more powerful engine to be mounted without upsetting the balance, but I am no expert. As Mike said, the 'Wise Men' of the association are away on the Associations annual rally, this year on the East Coast. I am sure one of them will get back to you when they return.
However 14 knots is a really good speed, so don't be disappointed; many skippers will be dead jealous, not having managed that speed in many years of ownership. The blurb about a Mac's speed is similar, I think, to the advertising by motor car manufacturers about mpg's obtained but conditions have to be absolutely perfect to achieve it.
I achieved just over 20 mph, about 18 knots on a prolonged run once and once only. The water was as still as a mill pond with the sun reflecting off it like a mirror;there was no wind, the mast was down, no water ballast and most of the gear ashore as it was an end of season jolly before hauling Sowenna out of the water for her winter lay-up. I also had a friend aboard who races power boats and he trimmed the engine. Probably a once in a life-time occurrence which I will never forget. An observer said it was like magic as we zoomed into view in apparent silence and on the plane.
That said, good luck with finding and repairing your leak and with sourcing a new outboard.
Simon Armitage
Sowenna 26M
If you are going to put a larger engine on it, make sure your insurance is valid. The hull on the 26X is rated for a 50HP max engine (i think) and the 26M is rated for a 60HP engine (as per specs on http://www.macgregor26.com/specifications/specifications.htm). Going above this invalidates some insurances.
Tim
I'm not sure why you want to add so much power to a MAC but I would be careful as the 90hp motor is a lot heavier than the Yamaha 50hp (Yamaha 112 kg vs Suzuki 90HP 156 kg). When you hit a wave there is a lot of energy pushed back into the transom. The speed is determined not by the motor HP but by the power to weight ratio, the hull design and the amount of power you can put into the water. Fitting a larger motor won't necessarily make you go faster. The Yamaha 50 normally supplied for the MAC 26Ms is a 'high thrust' model with a reduced gearing to allow it to spin a larger pitch propeller (13 5/8 x 13). A higher powered motor on a smaller pitch propeller will probably actually go slower not faster on a MAC. The waterline length, hull shape and windage are the main things that create drag on a boat hull that the engine needs to overcome these all go up exponentially as the speed increases so a lot more power is needed to get a small increase in speed.
On our MAC 26M wih the Yamaha 50 hp we normally get about 15 -17 knots at full throttle (4500 rpm) in a slight sea. We dump ballast at full throttle with the rudders and dagger board raised and when the speed steadies we close the ballast valve and throttle back to about 12 knots to keep on the plane to improve fuel efficiency, comfort and maximise range. 20 knots is only achievable without the normal cruising stuff aboard and in flat water with no wind or a following wind as the windage on the hull and rigging becomes significant at speeds above about 10 knots.
A large heavy powerful motor on a MAC is not going to make it much if any faster than the motor its designed for fitted with the appropriate pitch propeller and could well be a safety issue as well as an insurance issue.
Hope this helps
Mike - TARKA 26M
I have just re engined my 26X, it is a 2000 Boat so the original engine was 18 years old and starting to give some problems at Sea.
I looked at the various options and went for a direct replacement of the original Yamaha 50 with a new one that has 5 years warranty.
as previously mentioned before , the 26X is rated for a 50 Hp and the 26M for a 60Hp.
My thinking was that if I was ever to sell the boat it would be best with the correct rated engine.
also, if you tell the insurance that you cruise more than 17 knots, the insurance will increase significantly.
Rob . Maggie Jane
Hi David. As the sun sets on the last day of our Big Mac event with boats retrieved ready to roll I can finally have time to comment. So sorry to hear of etc back disastrous sinking . I can't imagine how the water got up to your deck / hull join but yes they can be very leaky especially if you sail heeled over for long periods. Or rain is persistent. I would recommend anyone who suffers internal drips to take off their rubbing strip take out the many bolts clean up and reseal with sicaflex. Do it in warm weather otherwise the rubber is very hard to get back on. Hopefully your insurance engineers will do this but they could say it was a maintainable issue. Must be a mess inside. I would agree with comments about the engine. 60 is plenty with right thrust etc. Maybe a stainless prop. You can have great fun at 15 knots and get out of trouble quick.
Regarding water ingress people should also check the bolt through the engine well that secures the steering. It can be loose and sucking water into the rear bedding or bilge area. Lots of washers and sealant.
Hope you get afloat soon and start having fun. We've had a great time on the Blackwater estuary.
Roly
Just as a point of interest - The Yamaha FT50 and FT60 are the same engine - just chipped to a higher power output and rejetted. So both weigh the same.
Mike - Tarka 26M
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17285
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