Bob, You made me laugh.....at myself! I guess to come in here and post that it is cold in Texas shows what a wimp I am and I really don't know "cold" like you do. I do appreciate the reply though and I am going to the boat often, was sailing last week and will try to sail every chance I ge...

Today I am going to plug my boat into shore power to keep the batteries charged. It is cold here in Texas, should have already done this. Anyways, I don't know what position the Perko switch should be in for the charging. It makes sense to me that with the switch in both, that would work but can it ...

Right after getting this boat, I put it in a slip next to other sailboats. As you would imagine I met some very nice fellow sailors in short order and have sailed with them and them with me. They taught me about what you speak of with the head sail. Let it fill, after trimming the main, then trim th...

Could only get about 3.5 knots out of it even in those winds and I suppose it was due to the waves and or my lack of sailing skills.

Ray,

Normally that is what I would do but without the motor, it wouldn't come about far enough to fill the head sail.

Ok, makes sense, thank you

Single reef main

This 26M is my first sail boat and the only boat I have ever sailed period. Had it only a few months and having a great deal of fun and learning along the way as well. Last week on the lake I sail, the winds were steady at 22 knots gusting into the low 30's. As much fun as it was, I could not get th...

The bottom of the boat already had bottom paint on it and was in good condition, not new but good condition. Thank you for the suggestion!

Congrats! I too just bought my first MacGregor 26M about 10 days ago and it's a great feeling I have to admit! I have owned boats before but never a sailboat. And like Ferris Bueller "not one lesson" and it has been a blast until the last few days when the wind quit blowing here where I li...

Well, I said I would have more questions and here I am. I have leased a slip at the lake just a 15 minute drive away. Fresh water lake of course so my expectation is that I would need to clean the bottom monthly or every other month? Keep the motor out of the water along with the rudders I suppose? ...

Tom,

It was my first time to raise the mast since I purchased this boat a week ago and I agree with you, I think I'd been better off to wait til I was in the slip and just raise and or lower it there.

Thanks for the input!

Wow, nice job repairing it. This event is one of my worst nightmares as a new sailboat owner. As I was raising the mast the first time just a couple of days ago of all things, the boat ramp at the marina that I rented a slip has power lines above it. In order to be in a position not to keep ramp occ...

I am looking at one of these presently, wanted to know if you have one, are you happy with it, would you recommend it and or purchase it again if you had the need. Secondly, how hard is it to install? I did see and thread and link in here by mastreb? It had some great pictures and his summary of ins...

Thanks for all the replies......I know I will have more questions as I go along and glad to know you all are here and ready to help!