Philippe and Beatrice have just taken over their new Maxus 26, which becomes their third yacht. After an Ocqueteau Volume 500 (5 m) and a Dufour T6 (6 m), they take the plunge and offer themselves a "big" boat. " It's the first time we've been able to stand in our booth "raves Philippe.
Looking for a simple sailboat
If the habitable volume was a criterion in the choice of this model, simplicity was also chosen. Thus the Maxus 26 was chosen with very few options. It is an integral dinghy version with an outboard motor. Although most Maxsus 26s are sold with an inboard engine, Philippe preferred an outboard. His experience on his previous boats already equipped with an outboard motor convinced him of this rather atypical choice. What's more.., the outboard is easier to maintain " adds Philippe.
The boat is equipped with the mast goat to facilitate handling. The simplicity of the manoeuvre that can be carried out without forcing by the couple was also chosen. " As we intended to take the canals, with the goat no need for a crane when we pass the first bridge, we can dismantle ourselves without outside assistance. For the wintering, we take the boat out of the water and store it ashore dismasted. This goat will serve us well! ". During navigation, this stainless steel triangle stays flat on the deck and serves as a foot wedge during manoeuvres on the foredeck.
As for electrical consumers, they are reduced to a minimum on board since this yacht has no fridge. Just an electronic control unit (log, speedo sounder) and a portable GPS.
However, performance under sail has not been forgotten and this couple, who have been sailing for a long time, have chosen to take on board a gennaker for downwind sailing in light airs.
Want to cross Brittany through the canals
The boat was delivered in La Rochelle to Catway, the distributor of the Polish shipyard. Hence the cruise that follows, to bring her back to Saint-Malo, her home port, a sea and river cruise.
" We had decided to go through the Vilaine and the Canal de l'Ile et Rance. We wanted to take advantage of this "land" navigation which avoids us to go around Brittany by sea ."
So they left on July 10. After successive stages at sea (Les Sables-d'Olonne, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Ile d'Yeu, Noirmoutier, Piriac), they arrived on July 20th at the entrance to the Vilaine in Arzal.
Sailing at sea is done with good weather at first, but it gradually deteriorates. So much so that the crew is stuck in Piriac to let a gale pass. But finally Arzal is reached without damage.
And the crew is pleased to have chosen the inland waterways, because during the second part of the cruise, while they are well sheltered inland, the bad weather would not have been favourable for navigation at sea.
62 locks later, it is the 1 er august that the sailboat takes its quarters in Saint-Malo. The cruise lasted 20 days in total, without encountering any problems. A nice navigation for a new boat.
The advantage of the dinghy
The Canal de l'Ile et Rance is normally dredged to 1.20 m. But this summer, with the help of drought, there were sometimes only 60 cm left in the diversion bays. If the Maxus 26 had not been a dinghy version (it is available with a twin keel, keelboat and lifting keel), there is no doubt that it would have remained stuck. " Because of the drought, even drifting up to 3/4, we hit several times, one of them quite violently in the rocks of the Vilaine. But the construction is solid, we just had a bit of epoxy resin to do at the time of the wintering. "
Without a dinghy, there's no way through. On the other hand, sailing with a high centreboard is not easy. Indeed, some manoeuvres are risky, especially certain lock passages when the wind is strong. The boat slides on the water and you have to keep it on the axis. " But with Beatrice, we've always managed. "
Good for the speedboat
" If I had to do it all over again, I'd order the same boat, with the same options.. ", Philippe slips us. "At times, I i wondered if an inboard engine might be more appropriate. Indeed when there is wind and sea, the outboard tends to pull the propeller out of the water, even though we opted for an ultra-long shaft. In order to avoid getting stuck in these conditions and keep going, I've asked Catway for a third reef. That way, I can always sail, no matter how strong the wind is. The engine is only used for the entrance to the harbour. "
And that river navigation confirmed to him that he had made the right choice. " In Evran, a little before Dinan, the canal was polluted by Elodean algae. We managed to cross this area by raising the engine every 500 m to clear it of the algae. Impossible with an inboard! ".
A Maxus as a tugboat!
" Due to the lack of water in the river, we didn't meet many people. At the most we crossed 2 to 3 boats a day. On the other hand, we helped Julien Moreau, an "eco-adventurer" who was touring Brittany on paddle. He needed our help to get through the locks. Indeed, the lock keepers didn't want to let him pass alone on his board. On the other hand, it was possible with our boat. "
A successful purchase
Today the Maxus 26 has arrived in Saint-Malo and fills its owners with joy. " I haven't yet tested the boat in heavy weather, but I'm surprised overall by her behaviour at sea. Her high freeboard doesn't penalise her. Her hull offers a very gentle passage through the sea.
But it's especially on the interior fittings that he's bluffing. It has so much volume that it looks like an old generation 28-foot sailboat. What a pleasure to stand under the deckhouse! Not forgetting the real bathroom.. "
