First Family Trip Out: Disaster

[Sea Wind]

Couple of suggestions:
1) Get a vhf radio, if you have one practice using it and the difference between a mayday and a pan pan call; this is the best way to contact other boats around you and get help that could be closer. Newer VHF radios let you connect to the GPS so your position is transmitted automatically in case of a distress call.
2) Get a GPS/chartplotter, this will always tell you your exact position and will be a good measure for currents if you let the boat drift away for about a minute. Newer models will also tell you about tides, nearby fuel, marinas etc.
3) Join BoatUS, this is the equivalent of AAA on the water and they also have a service when trailering the boat, very cheap service for the piece of mind.
4) Have fenders ready when you are approaching a dock.
5) When we anchor in areas with stronger current, I run a line from the stern ladder to a fender and let it floating so that it is easier to get back on the boat by pulling the line rather than swiming against the current. I have also used this to snorkel in areas with very strong currents.

[Saxacussionist]

Been there - done that!

The most embarrassing moment for me was when I was trying to slip the boat at an unfamiliar marina that had metal docks and almost nothing for bumpers. All was going well until I wanted to give it that reverse 'hole shot' mentioned above. I did, however, manage to put the motor in forward, rather than reverse! EVERYBODY knew the rookie had landed!!

As far as entering and leaving your slip, anybody ever try this? (Keep in mind that I'm still a rookie so this may be wrong in SO many ways...)

When I am ready to leave, no matter if I am by myself or have others with me I do the following and it works great with my 26S:
1. Start the motor, throttle down to idle, turn the motor as if to turn the boat to starboard, and put it in forward gear. This will cause the boat thrust gently forward and move the aft to port (dock side) and gently hold it there against the bumpers.

2. Hop out and remove the line which holds the bow away from the dock to allow the bow to gently contact the front bumper, which will hold the bow in place.

3. Remove the lines from the bow, then walk back to the stern and remove the stern line. The boat won't move an inch.

4. Hop back in the boat, turn the motor back to amidships, shift to reverse and you're on your way.



When returning:
1. At about 3 slips away shift to neutral and allow the boat to slow down as much as possible while maintaining directional control.

2. Shift in and out of forward as required to maintain just enough speed. Usually once or twice will do it. Point the bow directly at the center of your slip. Try to end up just 'kissing' the bumper with your bow. If you realize you are carrying too much speed, add some reverse as required.

3. As soon as you 'kiss' the front bumper turn the motor as described above and allow the stern to settle against the dock bumper.

4. Hop out and attach the lines in reverse order as above.

Give it a try!

[robbarnes1965]

Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I can always come off looking like a total TOOL! You're in good company pal - keep me lookin bad....

I second that one. My "foolproof" docking system when pear-shaped when I grabbed the wrong dock line coming in last weekend. I rammed the dock nicely. Only a small chip on the gelcoat but a huge chunk out of the pride. There is some kind of law that says your biggest gaff will be when the most people are watching....

[EZ]

With all of the trouble you had, many wives would have put the kabosh on boating. Your wife sounds like quite a trooper.

[rtshinn]

Did you ever figure out the Steering issue?

My steering was pretty well locked up when I took my 26x out for the first time. I had to disengage the linkage while out on the water and steer the rudder with my feet.
It turned out just to need some lubrication. I didn't double check it before I shoved off. Duh!

Now I have a serious/mysterious leaking problem. Took it out of the water until I have time to look at it.

Robert

[tonto]

It bugs the sh~t out of me when boaters come balls-to-the-wall into their slip (well they're still no-wake, but it seems like they're going too fast) and then at the last second switch to reverse to stop. One of these days their throttle will stick or something and they'll damage the dock and/or their boat. I just hope it's not my dock

[Catigale]

Robert...check the base of your compression pole for corrosion. This was the source of my hull leak

[KLMartini]

Did you ever figure out the Steering issue?

My steering was pretty well locked up when I took my 26x out for the first time. I had to disengage the linkage while out on the water and steer the rudder with my feet.
It turned out just to need some lubrication. I didn't double check it before I shoved off. Duh!

Now I have a serious/mysterious leaking problem. Took it out of the water until I have time to look at it.

Robert

We haven't figured it out. What kind of lubricant?

[rtshinn]

I just used some motor oil on the exposed end of the shaft tempraraily and worked it back and forth. I'm not sure what is recommended but likely a heavier grease.

[Tomfoolery]

It bugs the sh~t out of me when boaters come balls-to-the-wall into their slip (well they're still no-wake, but it seems like they're going too fast) and then at the last second switch to reverse to stop. One of these days their throttle will stick or something and they'll damage the dock and/or their boat. I just hope it's not my dock

Saw that happen a couple of days ago. To a sailboat, no less. Coming into the dock area, with finger piers on both sides, and attempting to dock in the last slip on the land side, against the sea wall at the very end of the row. Small sailboat with an even smaller OB, which musta been around 2 or 3 hp from its size and lack of sound. I was wrapping up the mast and rigging to pull the boat out and take it somewhere else, and after it passed behind my boat and I turned away to get back to work I heard a 'bang!'. The SB didn't slow enough to make that tight 90 degree turn and plowed into the sheet piling at about 45 degrees. With the corrugated shape of sheet piling, I guess there was no chance it would just slide along the rest of the way.

I don't know why they came in so hot, with at least 4 adults on that small boat (less than 20 ft), but I guess they found out just how little reverse thrust that OB had.

Slow is pro. Slow is pro. (my docking mantra)

[Russ]

Smart to get a pro check out the motor. You need one that you can rely on.

Looking at your jib, that looks really messed up. Hopefully you can get it sorted out. It should roll nice and neatly around the forestay.

Seriously! We got it turned around the other day with help from our neighbors and unwound it and wound it back up. At least it's not backwards anymore!

The motor guy comes on Friday so we'll know what up then.

If you manually rolled it up, that might explain why it's sloppy around the forestay. On a calm day in the slip, pull it out and roll it back up while keeping light tension on the sheets (ropes) and it should furl up nice. Shouldn't have stuff bulging out of the center.

Hope the motor issues are simple. Often they are.

[Catigale]

Kathryn...somewhere there is a thread about someone who forced oil down the steering cable to free up a stiff steering problem. I'll try find and link...

Btw.. It takes some pretty shiny brass fittings to dive into sailing for the first time...but with this forum in hand you will be fine and the crazy first few will be warm memories

My maiden voyage on the Great Lakes still makes me chuckle....a decade later

[Catigale]

Link to some discussion on lubricating the steering gear here

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... il#p221734

Worst case you might have to disassemble the steering box but that's just bolts and nuts...and if you can't get it turning smoothly you are half way through the replace job already......you can fix this stuff yourself...no need for 150 buck an hour Marine services, you just have to conquer the mystique....


Since Cher is the one who stays cool under fire, she gets rank of Captain, while you get the Admiral role. Labels are important so that we know what's expected of us, rather than follow our hearts, as you know.....

[chipveres]

WARNING: I don't know what I am talking about.

West Marine has this lubrication system for steering cables:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... DoySaB8bCY

I know it works fine on my buddy's skiff with a Yamaha outboard. But my boat is a Mac 22, so I am not at all sure if it is the right thing for a bigger/newer Mac. My steering system consists of leaning over the transom.

Hopefully one of the Mac 26 folks will chime in.

Chip
S/V Macaroon
Dania, FL

[KLMartini]

Thanks for the steering advice! We bought some lube and applied generously although not on the cable itself because I have no idea how to take it apart. What we did helped some. We decided to have a guy come out to look at our wiring and he can look at the steering issue at the same time. We just thought it would be best to have a professional take a look-see at everything so we don't have *too* many surprises and can prioritize what needs to be done first.

I changed the lightbulb in the head fixture and discovered some weird wiring (hence, the decision to have someone take a look.) neither of us have any problem repairing things ourselves, but since I have limited experience, I'm not shy about asking for a direction!