Diggin' on the photos and report of youz guyzez first adventure of the season! Thanks and good job all the way around! Awesome boat, fine sites and studly sailors! I'm inspired to go out this weekend, though rain is forcast! I don't know the etymology of "willys." Does it have something to...

How's it goin' Douglas? Any progress? Hang in there, we're rootin' for ya. -Bruce

No problems on the oil change. My manual just says the gear oil change just needs to be done "periodically," but I'll go over it more carefully and will mention it on this thread if I discover it needs to be done during the break in period. Thanks so much Russ. March, the baptism by immers...

Thanks Russ! I actually already have the ear muffs but was just chicken to idle it for more than a minute.

Bruce

I have what is probably a simple question: My new Suzuiki DF70 is indicating it is time for the first (20 hour) oil change. My owners manual says I should do this with a warm motor (as I would expect). Do you do this then immediately following a cruise, in the water or in the boat ramp parking lot? ...

Hi Douglas. It is likely NOT a leak in the ballast tank. Blue Water yachts told me that a leaky water ballast is virtually unheard of, so don't despair buddy like I did with a similar problem- it's probably something simple and realtively easy to correct once you find it. I had thought I had a balla...

Thanks Douglas, for the feedback. I can tell you're and encouraging soul. Your beautiful family will benefit from that. I still owe you a song: My Nessie's too skeered to confront me, My Nessie's as shy as kin be, My Nessie's a wimp in cold weather, would rather watch aqua TV! copyright 1745, Bonnie...

finally had a few moments to reference H. Melville...and respond to those truly amazing shots, c130king. Man that ariel shot you took with with your handy cam must have been from a tall mast, I'm guessing five hundred or more feet. Is that on the Mac 65?! Turns out Moby Dick was a sperm whale (chapt...

Am I a comedian? I'm flattered, Wind, but you know what: It takes one to know one! The week is getting away from me and I realized I hadn't reported my experience on Klamath Lake. Just as Ahab had to set sail for other oceans in search for the The White Whale, it appears I must continue my voyage if...

Oh I forgot to mention--Be sure to wear rubber gloves when drying out the bilge cavities. My boat has some "raw" fiberglass shards that can effectively draw blood. Yes...these boats can get under your skin! B

Jonnny 2-- I had some frustrations sorting out the leak theories in my new M last year. Admiral Cat is right on the diagnostic technique, confirmed for me by the nice folks at Blue Water Yachts. Put a pressure nozzel on a garden hose and have a mate throughly spray all points of joinery on the outsi...

The best welcome I could possibly receive, RR! But damn you, I woke up my wife by snickering in the middle of the night at "Bonnie Prince Charlie." Too bad I already named the boat. Ahoy Mates, I shove off tomorrow a.m.. I'll keep glassin' the horizon, earnestly searching for the white wha...

Okay R Ray: "That Photo was taken in 1745 by Bonnie Prince Charlie (!)" (Parenthesis and punctuation, mine). Well, are you sure about that spurious sounding date? Am I being hazed? Is this the way mac owners welcome their admirers, their very emulators?! "Bonnie-Prince-Charlie." ...

But hey--I recant my vegetarian perception of Nessie. Those teeth look gnarley and clean, likely polished from chewing on bones.

The photographer's only achievement? But a good one nevertheless. Where did I put my beanie copter? -Bruno

Thanks Ron. Yea, I'll give it a try- the depth is usually 4- 8 feet and the bottom is just mud, so I think I will actually be able to lower the daggerboard partway safely. And I'll do my best to refer to sheets and lines rather than "rope!"

Bruno