Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 19 by Marlin Hansen

Year built	1972
Location of boat	White Bear, MN 55110
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	16-22 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1972
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, yes, I make fools out of Hobbie 16's and on a reach I out run Hobbies 18's. When alone on this 15 ft rocket, nobody passes me. I out ran a 24 ft racing catamaran on Lake Michigan in 20 knot winds. They had two guys out on trapezes. After 3 miles they gave up! My Venture cat was a foot airborn several times. I have had power boats claim I was briefly going 34 mph.
Gear that's been added	Yes, New cleats, guy wires & custom sails
Structural or complex improvements	The Venture 15 Cat was built too light & with too much sail. That is why it is so fast. I have reinforced some components. I sail in over 20 knot winds. The side stay cables broke. With stronger cables the side tubes bent from the pull. I put in stronger tubes. I almost never dump it, but I added a small "football" float to keep the mast from sinking if I dump.
The boat's best features	Breath taking speed. After 32 years with this boat, it is still a rush. The day after a storm Lake Michigan can have widely spaced, smooth swells about 3 feet high. Take a 20 knot wind and come off the swell at 30 mph. Get all the way off the tramp in the back corner with your butt against the rudder to keep the oppsite front tip up. The tramp inflates from the ground effect wind. The boat comes off the water by 2 to 3 feet and with no drag, accelorates. I have covered over 100 feet "flying" my cat like this. It is the ultimate sailers thrill. The hulls land with a "wamp wamp" If the down wind tip dips down before you land: BAIL OFF!
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I have broken things by sailing toooo hard. The rudder handles had to be cut 4 inches shorter because at very high speed they lift up from the rudder force and the downwind handle hooks the main sail.All the hardware is a little too light for high winds, but this makes it fast.
Sailing characterisitcs	Over 30 mph it starts to rock back & forth on the banana hulls. Use the main to cancel this or you will "endo". "High siding" is a thrill & it seems like "time slows down". But for maximum speed the up wind hull should be just touching the water. It is fun to see a guy in a power boat leaning forward to get maximum plane on his boat so he can catch me.
Motoring characterisitcs	I have 30 years of license stickers from 3 states on my boat. I quit buying tabs.Now it is FREE: no license no fuel no insurance.If they can catch me I will claim failing memory. I am 63 years old & still "like a rock" Okay, so my wife says I'm not modest.
Liveability	Like living on a motorcycle.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	nope
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	nope
Other comments	My favorite toy. I hope I can sail it for 10 more years!Hey, before you try "flying" any cat on Lake Michigan swells, call me. It is can be very dangerous. Marlin 651-429-1967

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