How does a 26X sit when drying out?

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
User avatar
Gary N
Engineer
Posts: 102
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:44 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Cardiff Bay, Wales
Contact:

How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Gary N »

Does the 26X sit flat on the sand or mud when it dries out or does the boat list to one side? I guess what I am really asking is if you were caught in a tidal situation where you missed entry into a tidal area, could you dry out, sleep on the boat and wait for the next tide? Or would the boat be listed to one side on the sand?
User avatar
Catigale
Site Admin
Posts: 10421
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Catigale »

Pretty flat on the flats...baston has some pix of his :macx: on the hard if you search.
User avatar
c130king
Admiral
Posts: 2730
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:30 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Wiggins, MS --- '05 26M "König" w/ 40hp Merc
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by c130king »

Image

Not a problem. Here is Matt's (aka Bastonjock) boat at his old mooring at Wells-Next-The-Sea in Norfolk. It would dry out twice a day.

Good Luck,
Jim
User avatar
opie
Captain
Posts: 895
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:40 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Wilmington, NC

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by opie »

Do a search on the word "beaching" as we call drying out over here. You will get threads like this one (Click here).

I also found it useful to beach my MacX last winter when a 45kt blow was predicted overnight. The tide was going to be out when the winds were worst, so I beached it and slept on the hard more peacefully, but still noisy.
User avatar
Gary N
Engineer
Posts: 102
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:44 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Cardiff Bay, Wales
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Gary N »

Great news. That opens up a lot of options knowing that it lies flat.

Thanks all.
User avatar
Chinook
Admiral
Posts: 1730
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:20 pm
Location: LeavenworthWA 2002 26x, Suzuki DF60A

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Chinook »

We tried this intentionally once, down in south Florida waters near Everglades City. We eased in at high tide, and found a nice sheltered spot to anchor. I knew that, at low tide, we'd be sitting on the mud flat, but it was a soft bottom so I figured it would be fine. And it was, as far as the boat was concerned. Different story in terms of being able to sleep. The transition from floating boat to boat sitting solidly on the bottom took a surprisingly long time, and the change from gentle bobbing to occasionally bumping bottom made sleep impossible, at least until the boat completely stopped moving. And, shortly after that, I was again awakened by the boarding party, namely, a pair of inquisitive raccoons who were determined to check us out. I had to chase them off twice before they finally gave up. In the morning I found muddy 'coon footprints all over the boat. My conclusion: letting the boat ground is quite possible to safely do, but I'll opt for keeping her afloat.
Pete
Engineer
Posts: 194
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:14 pm
Sailboat: Venture 2-24
Location: Wilmington, NC
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Pete »

Just dont make the mistake I did. I pulled the V22 up on the beach on an afternoon high tide. Next high tide would be in the morning so it was perfect for an over night stay. Well I did not check the elevations of the tides. It seamed that the mornings high tide was over 2 feet lower then the previous high. Long story short I was still high and dry that morning and had to wait for the next afternoon high tide.
User avatar
DaveB
Admiral
Posts: 2543
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:34 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Cape Coral, Florida,1997 Mac. X, 2013 Merc.50hp Big Foot, sold 9/10/15

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by DaveB »

Sits flat on level land, I do it often. One anchorage is back side on a sand bar in Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa,SW Florida, I anchor stern to beach and a sharp drop off and as tide gois out stern is high and dry but Bow is in 5 ft. of water.
Wakeing up in Morning is easy slideing out of rear berth as the boat is 15 degree down at the Bow but I easy just puch it off so I don't have to wait for tide.
Dave
Image
Gary N wrote:Does the 26X sit flat on the sand or mud when it dries out or does the boat list to one side? I guess what I am really asking is if you were caught in a tidal situation where you missed entry into a tidal area, could you dry out, sleep on the boat and wait for the next tide? Or would the boat be listed to one side on the sand?
User avatar
Catigale
Site Admin
Posts: 10421
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Catigale »

Heh heh - BTDT Pete. Tides have a lot of things that influence them - its a good thing that it wasnt a 'monthly' historical high tide.... :? :? :?
User avatar
restless
First Officer
Posts: 421
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:55 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Sunny South England....uk
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by restless »

If you're sat in mud overnight, just beware that it is possible to clog up the cd trunk. I've even seen a mod where a poker could be pushed in at the back to get things going in a hurry. Otherwise we enjoy beaching her as often as we can.
User avatar
hart
Captain
Posts: 514
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:31 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Foley, AL 2001 26X "Wind Song" 50 hp Mercury Classic MMSI/DSC: 338081191

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by hart »

I stuck Wind Song pretty hard on the beach during the Florida 120. When low tide hit about 23 feet of her were out of the water:

Image

More Florida 120 pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiobiz/s ... 323994596/
User avatar
Québec 1
Admiral
Posts: 1447
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:02 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Honda BF 50 - MACM0047E303 Lévis, Québec Canada

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Québec 1 »

The M does a good job at beaching too...but not at 12 knots coming in :D :D
Image
Q1
User avatar
The Mutt
Captain
Posts: 611
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:28 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Springwood, NSW, devinetemptations.com/macgregor26x.htm
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by The Mutt »

c130king wrote:Image
Jim, with tides like this you could take a kite buggy with you and catch some wind.

Image

Glenn
User avatar
sbods
Chief Steward
Posts: 62
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 1:32 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Southampton - UK - 26X Yam 50

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by sbods »

Yep, they sit nice and flat.... PROVIDED the bottom is flat.... always check your charts and have a good look around before you decide to let her dry out.

Another point to make (sounds obvious I know!) but check the wind forecasts. It may be nice and calm when you dry out, but you really do not want breakers coming down on you as you start to re-float!

:macx:
User avatar
Gary N
Engineer
Posts: 102
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:44 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Cardiff Bay, Wales
Contact:

Re: How does a 26X sit when drying out?

Post by Gary N »

Another question. When you dry out on a beach or mud, do you open the ballast to drain off the extra weight on the hull?
Post Reply