The Maxus 26, an ideal replacement for the RM 8.80
Yves Guyomar is the proud owner of a Maxus 26 keelboat (2380 kg - 7.62 m), a version he preferred to the dinghy, for its sea keeping and its stiffness. Before this boat, he owned a RM 8.80, adapted to single-handed sailing. After selling it, he was looking for a smaller houseboat, suitable for single-handed sailing, which he does a lot.
It is during a navigation with a friend that he discovers the Maxus universe. "I figured it was just what I needed for my coastal sailing program in Brittany, the English Channel and the Gulf, all the way south to Spain."
The aggressive price of the boat has also decided him. A price that evolves according to the equipment you want on board. "I needed a good autopilot, a chart plotter, a gennaker, an electric windlass. With all this equipment, the Maxus 26 is still reasonably priced compared to what is available on the market. Despite my research, I have not found a comparable boat in the big yards explains Yves Guyomar.
In the end, this boater is very satisfied with his choice and finds many advantages in his Maxus 26 "I have friends who have Dufour or Bénéteau boats and who, curious, came to see me because the look of the boat is nice!"
A particularly well-balanced boat for a Bay of Biscay crossing in Force 6
He left for Gijon, between Santander and La Coruña, for a 6-day cruise from Royan, and was very satisfied with the marine qualities of his boat. "The Maxus 26 is light, so it's alive at the slightest breeze" explains Yves. "Even with 5 to 6 knots of wind, the boat moves between 4 and 5 knots. I passed families during our cruise with much heavier boats âeuros between 5 and 8 tons which is twice as heavy as mine âeuros that were forced to put the engine in light airs."
"On the outward journey, we had fairly strong winds (18 to 20 knots with gusts to 23 to 24 knots, i.e. Grand Frais, force 6). We sailed under 2 reefs. We didn't have any particular worries as the Maxus 26 held her course well and sailed upwind very well, easily at 30° to the wind. When the wind eased and turned, we were able to put up the gennaker, a downwind sail, but one that remains relatively small."
For his crossing from Royan to Gijon, Yves and his crew took 55 hours, while their companions made the same crossing between 52 and 57 hours. And to confirm the good performance of the Maxus 26, he only used his engine for 14 hours, and some times only to recharge the batteries on board. In comparison, other boaters on traditional 32 or 35 foot boats used it for at least 30 hours. "Even in light winds, the Maxus 26 is making good progress! I haven't tested it in a storm yet, but with 23 to 24 knots of wind, we were making good progress with 2 reefs."
During this cruise, Yves was really satisfied with his boat and found it particularly well balanced. The boat is reassuring and does not heel much, thanks to the chines, and its 1.70 m keel, which makes it very stiff.
"When I was downwind and had to tack, I found myself with the jib unstuck by the mainsail, which was flapping a bit. I preferred to roll it up to continue under mainsail alone. With 15 knots of wind, we were still sailing between 5 and 6 knots. In this configuration, the boat doesn't luff up and holds its course well."
Comfort on board, a surprising volume for its size
The Maxus 26 is distinguished by its living space. Its width of 2.82 m is a major factor. Its owner appreciates the rear cabin with its 140 x 200 cm berth. In the front, a Breton bed offers two other beds.
But it is especially the numerous storage spaces on board that were appreciated during this cruise: "I took the supplies needed for 6 days of sailing for 2 people and I was able to store everything without worries: under the seats, behind the backrests... There is no shortage of trunks!"
As for comfort, the large table in the lounge can accommodate up to 6 people. For the toilet, Yves chose not to equip himself with a shower. On the other hand, he appreciates the volume of the toilet which he can access without bending, despite his 1.84 m. The Maxus 26 does not have a dedicated chart table. We use the table in the saloon, as is also the case for many boats of this size.
"On the way back, we encountered a short swell that gently slapped the boat. I was able to check the quality of the construction, because on arrival nothing had moved." confides this happy owner.
