bow thrusters

[Wayne nicol]

any body got any input with regards to these, i have a tight slip i need to get into sometimes- and can get a bit windy in there too.
how would they effect performance- sailing, 5 kn under power and wot!
just a tad pricey though!!
more expensive to ding somebody elses boat in a cross wind when dealing with these high windage macs!!

[jimbo]

Do not permanently fit. I had thought of an electric trolling motor connected to the anchor roller (somehow) and the towing eye. Fitting would be like a slotted system so to remove unpin and lift straight up. Same unit would double as tender propulsion. Only fit when needed.

[Wayne nicol]

thats actually a really good idea- been thinking about an electric for my inflatable tender.
will look into it!
thanks

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Don't sell yourself short. Practice and a good line handler are a lot cheaper and much more convient that hauling around a trawling motor.

[Russ]

Don't sell yourself short. Practice and a good line handler are a lot cheaper and much more convient that hauling around a trawling motor.

I gotta agree here. Our boats are fairly small and although wind is a major issue, adding more complicated mechanics is not preferred over learning techniques.

The Mac blows around a lot, but with full fins and a little speed this can be compensated for.

[Sailor Dale]

That full fins and speed comment is spot on. I had strong winds in Port Townsend this past weekend that were trying to push me towards the boat on the port side. But going in with good momentum at a nice angle, turning sharp, and applying a burst of reverse worked very well. Kissed the bumpers just like Captain Ron.

[mrron_tx]

I'm just glad that Wayne brought it up I sail alone 99.999% of the time and the lakes I go to have the worst marina slips and ramps...and yes the wind whips around both most of the time , and the basin is small for My ....as most of the marina's were built for smaller bass boat type's and pontoon boats. If it were not cost prohibitive , I would already have one. Here in Texas We have a law that tells Us to "Drive Friendly" I wish it applied to boating as well. These bass boat types will just stand there and act like You are speaking Chinese if You ask for a hand getting lined up in the slip. Wayne.... Let Me know how the trolling motor works out for You. Ron.

[Russ]

Here's someone who's already done it.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1068

I guess it works well.

My marina is full of pontoons boats and ski boats. The few sailors we have are viewed as an anomaly. And yes, the Mac's high freeboard will catch a lot of wind.

I find full ballast, full fins and just enough speed to keep water flowing over them makes a huge difference. I am virtually single handed all the time. The key is to practice and learn how these boats handle. They are a lot different from almost all other boats. I could dock my keel boat in any conditions, however the Mac is quite a challenge. But it can be done with the understanding of her unique handling characteristics.

[jimbo]

Here's someone who's already done it.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1068

I guess it works well.

......

Yup spotted this some time ago but I do not want to add extra fittings. My idea is to have some bracket that fits over the existing bow eye snuggly with a pull to set/release pin to lock the bracket to the bow eye. This will stop up/down movement. Then if the top end is secured for rotation (to be determined) then should be good to go. Ideally drop motor over bow, pull cord to lock to the bow eye, some type of quick release lock to the anchor roller or pulpit, plug into socket in the anchor well. So should be quick and easy.

Full fins down not an option for me as the berth I use is too shallow. I did however create a V in the shallow pen using rope that the bow slots into and cannot really veer off. This so far has worked very well. Does not work if need to reverse in though.

For public jetties, yes full fins and ballast is better but some approach speed is required still and I prefer a gentle - minimal speed - approach. To simplify things I use an idea from this or another forum - a very long (permanent) light line from bow to stern (fitted to each side) with the slack taken up at the stern cleats. With the slack released and the line clipped to an extension boat hook (plastic clip added to the boat hook) that gives me up to 10feet reach (or more) from the hull as a triangle - bow - boat hook - stern. Once this line is over a bollard then I haul in the slack at the stern cleat - this brings the hull against the jetty. Often the motor is not even required at this point. This particularly works well if you initially reverse in under power in particularly nasty conditions as long as you do it stern into the wind and or/current so that the bow is not going to blow around too much although if you have clearance it does not matter what the bow does as long as it does not try to over take the stern

[Russ]

Full fins down not an option for me as the berth I use is too shallow. I did however create a V in the shallow pen using rope that the bow slots into and cannot really veer off. This so far has worked very well. Does not work if need to reverse in though.

Great idea. Maybe a bumper and you just have to aim for the V
How much does the M draw with fins down anyway?
I would put something down if I were you. Even a little dagger will help.
When I get to the ramp, I have the dagger down and a crew member ready to pull it up just before we hit the trailer. Works well. I also noticed a big difference with ballast in, so I leave it in until the boat is pulled from the ramp.

To simplify things I use an idea from this or another forum - a very long (permanent) light line from bow to stern (fitted to each side) with the slack taken up at the stern cleats. With the slack released and the line clipped to an extension boat hook (plastic clip added to the boat hook) that gives me up to 10feet reach (or more) from the hull as a triangle - bow - boat hook - stern. Once this line is over a bollard then I haul in the slack at the stern cleat - this brings the hull against the jetty. Often the motor is not even required at this point. This particularly works well if you initially reverse in under power in particularly nasty conditions as long as you do it stern into the wind and or/current so that the bow is not going to blow around too much although if you have clearance it does not matter what the bow does as long as it does not try to over take the stern

That's a great idea. Ray, from BWY suggested that for me. I implemented it the first year and it does work well. Provides something to grab and pull the boat in.

Also it's a must to keep the motor attached to the steering. I left it in the center once and started to freak when the boat wasn't responding.

These boats are much more challenging than keel boats or even power boats with more in the water.

[Wayne nicol]

thanks for the input- they sure are different from my power boat.
i hear the practice thing, right on the money, however our prevailing weather is usually from the se, i have to come in with the wind 45 deg to the dock off my stern 1/4 go around the dock finger that i tie up too, now trying to swing the bow into / against the wind, turn thru 90 deg, with the wind blowing off the dock into the neighbours boat 10 feet away.
its far easier to back in- and thats way easier- in fact i really find the macs always dock way better in tough conditions in reverse.
but then if i back in, i have to leave forward, the second the lines are off the wind blows you straight onto the neighbour, so i have taken to lining the boat in and out of the slip.
but i am gonna think about the loose line- bow to stern, i could power forward, with the line over the bollard- power the stern away from the dock, that will easily cantilever the bow against the wind, as the bow rounds the dock end, and the stern is clear, pull the quick release hitch on the stern cleat- and if its a good floating rope , it wont foul the prop..
in fact if i run the bow end through the deack cleat and back to the cockpit, i can easiliy retrieve the line as i release it from the stern cleat.
gonna practice this this weekend in some un obstructed areas.
thanks for the input.

my other issue is trying to get this beast on a trailer in the strong crosswinds here at the launch ramps up here!!
so i always have to approach with a bit of speed- and i dont like that.
lined the boat onto a trailer many a day.
a removeable bow thruster might help a lot for trailering

[Russ]

Wayne, you certainty do have some unique challenges. Your bow thruster idea is intriguing. Sounds much more sophisticated and cooler than the mod above. I look forward to hearing how you implement this. Mac owners are a resourceful bunch.

--Russ

[Tomfoolery]

a removeable bow thruster might help a lot for trailering

Could be dicey if it's exposed to the trailer structure.

[Wayne nicol]

yup, that sure is a concern with the trailer.
thats why i was thinking about a permanent bow thruster- but rather pricey.
gonna try the rope thing this weekend- going out for three days.

[Cris]

I’ve used this mod to great satisfaction for over a decade: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=156. Many years ago I added a wrist-worn wireless remote control. It’s one of my three favorite mods.