First Mods?

[robbarnes1965]

My dealer recommended against the furling main. Guess he had alot of problems with it.

I don't really understand why it's a $3000 option either.

Old school guys don't like furling but there is a reason the biggest manufacturers are making NOT having furling an option. If you've used one it's hard to go back. I have a 6 year old and it's nice to furl from the cockpit when I'm alone. I use the main always now but before I installed it I would often just unfurl the genoa if I was single handing in any kind of rough weather. That said, the reason I like the in/on boom vs the on mast one I have is mine makes it more difficult to raise/lower the mast. The cost difference involves a custom mainsail - another reason I like Mike Inmon's system. The stock main only needs to be slightly altered to my recollection. I never have any problems with mine. It works the same as the genoa furler. A boom system like Inmon's will allow you to drop the main just like you would a non-furling sail if there is a problem.

[robbarnes1965]

When I bought my boat I spend a bout $6000 on a full enclosure that I hardly ever use. In hind-site I would have easily lived with the factory bimini and a furler instead.

I also use my stern mounted BBQ a lot. I just got a new one of these though and will try to figure out how to mount it. http://www.cook-air.com/index-en.php Have one one version or another for 20+ years and they are great.

[pokerrick1]

Believe me, if I had an M now it would have mainsail furhling. Once you've used it it's real hard to go back. I had the privledge of piloting Dennis Neal's black hull with main furhling, and it was a real treat.

There are no serious problems with the furhler about which I'm aware

Rick

[ginks]

RJG, details on the LED anchor light? Did you put it atop the mast? I have a 99 X and am leery of all the issues people have had running wires up the mast. I think although not totally legal (makes it partially illegal?) I can live with a battery powered light on a stick that I can attach high on the backstay or run up the mast on a line. If I do decide to tackle the mast wiring I'll do the inverted LED trick with the steaming light and run an antenna cable at the same time. Otherwise I may just do a handheld radio as well. So far I'm only sailing on a small lake in Indy and don't foresee any big water in my near future.

I also want to find one or two good DC fans for hot days in the cabin. I've done lots of research on all of the above via this board but the ideal solution still doesn't seem clear.

Finally I also want to replace the cabin lights with LEDs. I guess I'll pull a bulb and try to find an LED replacement, again lots of discussion here about that but no easy web link I've found to just get them ordered.

Thanks,
Gerry

[wincrasher26]

I just bought LEDs to replace the 921 bulbs in my RV. It was very confusing, but I found the right bulb to use by browsing the user reviews on amazon. I ended up paint about $3 a bulb that are about 200 lumen.

[RJG 26S]

RJG, details on the LED anchor light? Did you put it atop the mast? I have a 99 X and am leery of all the issues people have had running wires up the mast. I think although not totally legal (makes it partially illegal?)

My anchor light is a basic "Hella 2492" fixture with a http://www.doctorled.com/ge90.htm bulb. Per the Coast Guard regulations, a vessel shorter than 12 m long is required to have an all around light (unbroken over 360 degrees) with visibility of 2 NM. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=na ... ent#rule21 This light meets this requirement.

The light is mounted on the top of my mast on a 1/16" aluminum sheet cut to the profile of the mast and bolted to small sections of drilled and tapped aluminum angle riveted to the mast. Getting the wire run was a PITA with all of the bolts (particularly the spreader bar bracket bolts which cross each other) and foam that was in my mast. After getting the foam out, I attached a string to a plastic grocery sac and had a shop vac hose duct taped at the top. By working the string back and forth past the obstacles, the vacuum finally pulled the bag to the other end. (Alternatively, you could temporarily remove the obstructions.)

Both the mast light and anchor light are wired to the same deck plug wired to a DPDT switch on my switch panel with a diode to ensure only one light is on at a time. There are several posts on this forum discussing this.

Bob

[ALX357]

Passive ballast vent.

Not much expense, but a lot of work installing it properly.

Single best mod you can do to a Mac.

[yukonbob]

The LED anchor light will work if not vis @2miles IF you are anchored in a designated anchorage, where you are NOT required as a boat <12m to display ANY anchor light whatsoever. (not that going completely dark is a good idea)

[RobertB]

Passive ballast vent.

Please - more detail

[Freedom77]

OH BOY!! Where do I start. Freedom was launched January 2, 1977 and I've been doing one sort of modification or another ever since. First Major mod was masthead rig out of the factory. required heavier mast extrusion so we could fly gigantor chute for long distance ocean racing. Then adding "chickenhead" and running halyards internally with turning blocks leading back to cockpit for single handing. Split backstacy w/ adjuster. Cut out PITA molded in so called galley and glassed in to make extra bunkage. Built dropleaf table and hanging locker. Added storage cubbies. I have pages of notes on modificactions in my log and I ain't done yet. A sailboat is a hole in the water into which you pour endless amounts of money. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt

[WASP18]

We recently found a powerful and inexpensive, battery-operated fan for $9.95 at "Bed & Bath". The brand name is "O2 Cool". Takes four "D" size batteries which act as ballast for this light-weight.

[06HARLEYULTRA]

All our "mods" so far have consisted of taking EVERYTHING not nailed, bolted, screwed or some way attached out of her, and doing a big time cleaning. The cushions liners have been laundered and airing, the foam washed/dried, and the boat open with a tarp over it to promote air flow, with a fan when I can.
Made my first order from BWY to get some parts and waiting for that to come.
The next order on the agenda is to tune up the Honda and fix the lower unit (it has a crack).
From there we'll practice raising the mast and mounting the new jib to the roller furler, along with new lines.

The biggest problem so far is "life" getting in the way of "wants"

Rich

[vulcan98]

Hi Buddy, glad you are getting some things done. Reminds me of all the work we did. Where is your lower unit cracked at? Our lower unit was cracked on the starboard side along the stabilizer. Sure glad you have a pair of great deckhands to help you. Give me a shout if I can help.

[06HARLEYULTRA]

The lower unit is cracked exactly on the top, just behind the prop. I will try to post a pic. Have been home, off work for 2 days with wicked cold.
It is not leaking gear oil, and some advice is to just leave it, others have welded it. I'm leaning twords just replacing the whole unit.
Dont want it to be a hassle when I need it most, OR have it leak oil in the lake/ocean, and have DNR follow the oil trail to my boat.

Will call you this weekend for sure.

Rich

[Catigale]

Rich.. You may want to try JB Weld or equivalent on a cracked lower unit

Make sure the cracks are "stopped" first