mastreb. Yes, I read the entire article. Yes, I know it talked about lightning and "boats". But if you read my comment again, I didn't say the article did not mention "boats". My point was that it didn't mention stats re lightning striking masts on "sailboats". Having a...

This has been an interesting discussion re lightning. From this discussion, I have drawn the following conclusions: (1) No one knows for sure with any certainty the probability of our being hit by lightning on a Mac 26, but that it definitely has and can happen. (2 No one knows for sure with any cer...

Did yuu mention how many miles it is on water from San Diego to Catalina? Nice log. Wish we could have seen some pics!

Looks like great fun! But I'll bet it's a slug when under sail. . . . BUT, there's no doubt that the "biggest threat" is still those enormous wake waves from big power boats that thrash my M about like a small cork on the water.

I also just noticed a good-sized nick (1/2 - 3/4 inch deep) in the aft edge of my board as well. I wonder how large these nicks need to be before they should be repaired or replaced.

Thanks for the "stretching" comments, BOAT. (1) Keeping the mast from rotating while cranking at the same time is an impossible task; as soon as you let go of it, it forcefully swings back to the side. Maybe with someone else on deck to hold it, but that takes more strength than the admira...

It is reassuring and comforting to see that so many others find the process of shroud adjustment to be such a challenging and arduous ordeal. We recently spent over two hours, with a $90 loos gauge, trying to achieve - before we became exhausted and gave up - the #300 (upper) and #270 (lower) recomm...

Nightmare. Mast was seriously bent yesterday. Any suggestions/recommendations as to the best source for a replacement? Thanks.

Victor - Your link to "onlinemarine" doesn't work for me. When I type it into my address bar, it takes me to West Marine. Are they one in the same? West Marine wants $99 plus shipping for the same Loose gauge. How can I get that $88 price?
- Thanks

Just a thought from me....... personally I would never mount a compass in that position on an M or an X, it is the MOST comfortable position to put your back against once you have finished sailing and are enjoying a few drinks back at the marina, put a bulhead compass there and it will stick in you...

Thanks for all of the very helpful input, guys. Thanks for commenting. If I understood you correctly, YukonBob, your compass can be removed to protect it from theft. I would like that! I gather that your's is NOT the Richie BN-202 we've been discussing? Do the rest of you have any apprehension about...

Shopping for a bulkhead compass. Any suggestions? I'd like one of the ones that have a built-in clinometer - need that too. Ritchie makes a nice one, at the right price. Requires a 4 and 1/2" hole and goes 3" deep into bulkhead. But I don't think I have 3" of space between the two lay...

Whoa! What a rip off! Who was the merchant? I'm trying to understand how you got burned like that. I buy a lot on-line and the merchant always tells me what the total shipping fee will be before I consummate the order. Are you guys saying UPS added that rip-off charge after you agreed to a lower, re...

Bob, Looking at the map, that sounds like a terrific place to have a slip. Do you have much experience with taking your Mac into the open waters of Lake MI? We use a slip across the way on Lake Charlevoix in MI. It's a great sailing lake, but we are hesitant about the big lake. On "our side&quo...

Friends, I have really appreciated this (long-term) discussion and have found it to be immensely helpful. But it also prompts more questions: (1) VKMaynard wrote: " I found that on the final adjustment, slightly less than 1/2 of a hole . . ." I must be missing something, because I don't se...