My 1998 Mac X is very very slow while sailing.

[PlanetExpress]

Hey Guys,

I just bought a 1998 Mac X. So far it has been a blast fixing and cleaning it up. I have gotten out on Lake Ontario a few times now and let me tell you, it is one slow boat. The wind was pretty decent but we just seemed to be stalled. What are some things I can try to improve performance? I have read nearly every thread on here and tried a lot of the suggestions.

For some more information, we have the jib and main that came with the boat. The ballast was filled to about 3 inches from the vent hole. Motor raised out of the water, centreboard down.

Any ideas would be very greatly appreciated.


Aaron

[Ixneigh]

A windspeed measurement and boat speed reading will help us determine if it's an issue with the boat or if it's sailing par for the course for a Mac power sailor. You should be doing 4.5 in ten k of wind roughly on a beam reach.

[Catigale]

Aaron...macs have a lot of freeboard so they don't point too well. 55 degrees to wind at best without major mods

On a beam reach, 90 degrees to wind, they perform well.

The stock sails are basically crap and if your boat has been sailed on my favorite Great lake I almost guarantee the main is blown out....

Where are you sailing from?

[dlandersson]

You might not be doing anything wrong. The X (and M) hull is a compromise design - you won't sail as well as a purpose-designed sailing hull. But when towing a tube or water skier or when it's miller time...you can easily beat them back to the marina.

Hey Guys,

I just bought a 1998 Mac X. So far it has been a blast fixing and cleaning it up. I have gotten out on Lake Ontario a few times now and let me tell you, it is one slow boat. The wind was pretty decent but we just seemed to be stalled. What are some things I can try to improve performance? I have read nearly every thread on here and tried a lot of the suggestions.

For some more information, we have the jib and main that came with the boat. The ballast was filled to about 3 inches from the vent hole. Motor raised out of the water, centreboard down.

Any ideas would be very greatly appreciated.


Aaron

[Knot Tied Down]

Don't worry, Mine is slow too Everything is a compromise though. My speed is generally 4.5 to 6.5 on a windy day. Keep practicing your sail trim, if you have a boom vang, experiment with adjusting that, and also make sure the outhaul is tight enough on the main. Move the cars back and forth if you have them on the top deck to ensure the forward sail is flying right on all three telltales. It takes a bit, but the boat will sail pretty well after you get the hang of what does what. Don't get discouraged, and best of luck!

[Whipsyjac]

Most of my actual sailing experience has been on Lasers and an Enterprise, they are small fast and extremely responsive. I have won some impromptu races by reading the water better than the other daysailors, and I have lost to my brother in law who didn't know what he was doing. It's so frustrating to have wind in your sails and see someone else sailing faster who barely has a clue about running their boat.

I'm just learning how to read my tell tales, and it makes a BIG difference. Reading the wind and the water also make big differences. I just got my windex and haven't mounted it yet but I just found out what the little "tails" are for. I can't wait to get my boat back from the shop and do some sailing with some of the more experienced guys I know.

Last month I was crossing the strait of Georgia and we had a fresh breeze and tons of sea room. We got the boards down, ballast filled, sails up, pointed the boat toward our destination and we were cookin' 4.5-4.8kts. I started trimming sails, checking telltales, and trying to isolate the wind direction all the while losing speed. Whatever trim and point of sail I lucked into I quickly lost. Eventually even though the wind didn't feel like it subsided much we were down to 1.6kts. and we switched back to petrol power.

Reflecting back I saw several things we could've done:

1 I was happy to fall off the wind, fill the sails and see close to 5 kts (somewhere between beating and reaching) with maybe 10kts wind max...then I messed with things...why can't I leave well enough alone?
2 we started with a reef cause its easier than reefing if the wind's too much, but we never shook it out when we started losing speed.
3 why didn't I take the extra time to install my windex??????
4 as the winds eased I could've loosed the foot of the main to get better sail shape(of course 2 I would've had to take the reef out).
5 moveable ballast, there were 4 of us(grown men avg 175lbs at least) and 3 were constantly(randomly) changing position. I've read to move weight forward in light airs, we could've at least gone back to the positions we were in when we were making good time.
6 change tack and tactics, I could've altered course for better speed over water, especially since I had no intention on sailing through the currents in Active Pass.

Its a live and learn kind of thing. Our local Mac club is having a foul weather sail this fall and I'm gonna clear my schedule so I can learn from the people who know how to get these boats moving. My Mac felt really stable to me compared to my experience on Lasers and our previous 12footer, try to find sailors to help you who are used to light boats so you don't waste your time with someone who cant stop talking about how small your chainplates are and why you need a 2000lb lead bulb on your keel. If you're looking for inspiration check out Highlander's youtube vids, along with the one of 2 X's racing upwind on a river(sorry guys I can't remember who or what the post was titled).

Good luck and keep trying,

Willy

[PlanetExpress]

Aaron...macs have a lot of freeboard so they don't point too well. 55 degrees to wind at best without major mods

On a beam reach, 90 degrees to wind, they perform well.

The stock sails are basically crap and if your boat has been sailed on my favorite Great lake I almost guarantee the main is blown out....

Where are you sailing from?

I am sailing from Outer Harbour Marina in Toronto. I didn't think the sails may be shot, they are quite crap, I do agree.

[RobertB]

Refinish the hull in blue and it will go faster

[bartmac]

One other thing we noticed with a similar aged Mac 26X....our sails even though not worn out from use...the actual quality and design is fairly pedestrian...thats fine but the biggest thing as soon as the wind got up and we were expecting some increase in speed...we spent most of the time fighting the rudders ie she would head up and it doesn't take much to stall.With new sails and the mast trimmed more upright she now doesn't fight her rudders and boat speed has improved...mind you I'm now at the end of the adjustment in the forstay and maybe I have to shorten the stay.

[Québec 1]

Refinish the hull in blue and it will go faster

Q1

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii12 ... 010053.mp4

[PlanetExpress]

It sounds like maybe I should upgrade the sails. Can anyone recommend a good place to look?

[Hamin' X]

We really need more info. Are you having problems in light winds? moderate to high winds? Light, or heavy seas? Trouble rounding up when beating, or heeling too much. More info please.

Any Mac powersailor is a compromise and will never compete with a purpose built boat, but when rigged correctly, it will surprise you how well it can perform.

~Rich

[Nautek]

Don't rush into new sails until you get the mast trimmed properly

Tell tails are good but learn to feel the wind on you cheeks and the back of your neck
A real good indicator
Don't know how you will go if you have a beard

Sails can make a big difference but get the boat sailing good with what you have first
It will be amazing the difference a bit of rigging tuning will make

Allan

[PlanetExpress]

We really need more info.

OK, you are right I didn't give enough information.

Are you having problems in light winds? moderate to high winds? Light, or heavy seas?

I am having issues in all wind. I do have White Sail III so I am pretty good with sail trim. I am pretty sure it is either a tuning or sail issue. I am going to try to tighten up the shrowds and stays. One thing I do notice is at the sail where the boom meets the gooseneck, I feel like the sail could be tighter. It is pulled up the mast as far as I could get it but it seems a bit fluffy at that point. Also, the boom is rubbing on the dodger, I cant pull it up high enough to let it clear. The jib is on a furling system and I think it is creating 80% of the power that I am getting. We had the tell tails sticking straight off the back of the sail on a close reach and we were stalling out.

Trouble rounding up when beating, or heeling too much. More info please.

The issue is she wont get going. Not even in 15mph winds. She kind of bobs around and putters. I know it can go way faster than it is sailing right now. We got smoked by an optimist dinghy.

[Tomfoolery]

Some photos of the sail up and its rigging would help. Videos while under way would be even better.