Hi Taylormade, Just moving on a bit, do you happen to know the size and preferred material for the rivets used to attach the gooseneck to the mast? Mine are a little loose and I'd like to replace them. The existing rivets look awfully like stainless but I struggle enough with Aluminium rivets. Is mo...

HI Mikefloutier, I'm using a RM 2000+ below deck and a basic Madmanmarine remote up top. I see this as a basic point and go autopilot system and set it to steer via visual/chartplotter fixes (or into the wind when setting sails) so I am not concerned about calibrating the compass. I did initially wo...

Hi guys, I'm using the Madmarine remote to control a Raymarine ST2000 attached to the rudder link bar. The down side with this setup is the lack of feedback (everything is below deck) - the Madmarine remote receiver does not provide an audible signal to verify operations, specifically auto/standby s...

Speaking of goose necks and rivets, on last trip, I noticed that the rivets holding the goose neck assembly to the mast were loose, allowing a little movement. They obviously need replacing. Any idea on the diameter, shank length. Should they be stainless or Ali (with S/S pins)? Cheers all

Hi Ric, My boat (Genisis) lives mast up at Paynesville usually Feb - Jun. There are a few of us Macs over there! It's at least affordable and a great cruising ground although the 4 hr drive is a b...... I never found anything around Melbourne including Westernport that will take a Mac. I had it in t...

My 26M was bottom painted with an epoxy (I think) antifoul by PO some 4 years ago. Since I've had it, the boat has lived in mast up storage, but the bottom paint is getting a bit tacky. Is it possible to remove the antifoul and get back to a reasonable gelcoat, or would the gelcoat have been abraded...

Cheers Yukon Bob and Kadet - the idea of centring the main under power (or jib) and then dropping did occur to me shortly after posting - telepathy or wot! Sounds exactly what's required - thanks heaps

Hi all, a point of sailing that does worry me is when running before the wind with sail(s) let well out. While serenely cruising along, you haven't noticed that the following wind has freshened. You're approaching your destination and need to drop the sails to motor in. This of course requires you t...

Can anyone explain how it is that the black strip just under the gunwale maintains a good finish, as does the hull generally compared to everything above the gunwale?

Great trip

9 deg and hail down here in Vic today so most envious. I like the sound of the "cross SUP\kayak thingy with bum and foot wells". Can you please provide any details? - ie; brand, Aus supplier etc

Cheers for now

Thanks for the great pics Mac26paul.

I too will add s/s stays from the arch to the pushpit uprights to brace it up, using bimini fittings, just as soon as I get the repaired arch back from the S/S Fabricators.....

Stuart

Hi, I have a largish solar panel attached to the rear of the mast arch at the top, with support struts from the mid point of the panel down to the pushpit rails (with seats). This arrangement keeps the panel at right angles to the arch but doesn't really brace the mast arch itself (poor geometry?). ...

Interesting.... wot's the unit just behind the steps - an A/C unit?

Also looks like some kind of gas strut under the cabin table!!

Ezra at BWY identified the studs for me as UPF 32855. UFP supply all the MAC trailer bits through Trailer Buddy Products in CA. Karavan Trailers (www.karavantrailers.com.au) in NSW (Aus) have the studs and lots of other trailer bits!

Best to check all wheel nuts are tight and hubs are coolish to touch after towing for a while - nearly had a major catastrophe on weekend when loose nut(s) resulted in 4 of 5 studs shearing off. Managed to stop from freeway speed with the wheel just about to fall off. 4 hour wait before lowloader tr...