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Pretty handy having it there for many reasons even as a table for the barbq, would not feel safe using an inflatable but plenty do although not so many in the places we frequent, pretty handy for carrying supplies you don't want on the main boat too like spare fuel.

Boblee wrote:Pretty handy having it there for many reasons even as a table for the barbq, ....

Good grief, you really ARE Crocodile Boblee! If you bring your boat to North America you can go around saying,
"That's not a dinghy: THIS is a dinghy."
Kittiwake
ps. thanks for the photo: it takes the dinghy concept to new heights

Only problem with towing the dinghy is that you need to keep thinking it's there, haven't had a major yet but there is some heavy rubber around the rub rail (old water hose split) and hardly notice the drag especially at hull speed, have tried casting adrift while towing and the difference is neglible.
Certainly much safer when stepping aboard the when someone like mr Snappy is lurking, he drifted across to the everytime we returned from fishing and stayed there most of the time we were on board but better the one you can see than the ones you can't but he was pretty quick to react to any splashing.
Paul Hogan made himself with that movie but it like most was pure BS some of the water scenes were made in Yarrawonga at lake Mulwala and the pub was hundreds of miles from any water and in a different state but there are plenty of real life blokes across the top who would make him look like a pussy but not this bloke .

Boat sighted in key largo. It's name is my jewel. Dual axle steel trailer and pIckup rig. I'll try to post a pIcture somewhere.

Ix

Would still like to see some more pics if you still got em.

Dude that's seriously awesome, I've always wondered if that might be an option to just leave the mast and rigging at home and just make it a cruiser

Personally, I think I'd still rather have the sail option handy for slow cruising or save some gas when getting from A to B doesn't have a time constraint.

Also a second question... if one removes the mast and rigging, how does that handle the stability of the boat? I would assume it's more stable, yes? Mostly I'm asking because would the "max" capacity still be 6 people, even if ballast is added for slower/stable cruising?

We only had the mast on our boat for the first few trips. Since we mostly just go on day trip ATM we leave the mast at home. Which is why we got the Mac in the first place. Cabin cruiser, sailboat, fishing boat or just going for a ride.

This is exactly what I'm doing. I've had many boats, some large houseboats, but my interest now is comfort and convenience, fuel efficiency and trailerability. I sold the sails and rigging to an X owner in Florida so there's no waste there.

I don't want to re-engineer the boat so I've decided to leave the helm where it is, avoid a windshield that difficult to see thru at a distance, and stick with a canvas top instead of the hardtop I built on my last conversion.

The boat has a 25 hp which may be ideal from my viewpoint. I want to add a second engine on the starboard side. I have a new 15hp but fear that may be too much weight.

There are a few boats that could be bought used for a hefty price that could do what I want but none so easy to load and trailer as the X.

Al in Arkansas

tonto wrote:Dude that's seriously awesome, I've always wondered if that might be an option to just leave the mast and rigging at home and just make it a cruiser .

Here's mine, in 'trawler' mode. I have a tall all-around light that plugs into a socket at the stern that serves as both the masthead (steaming) and stern light, as allowed by the COLREGS for small boats. I just remove the bulb in the factory stern light when using it.



And here's where I store the mast, to keep it out of the weather, and out of the scrap yards.

tonto wrote:Dude that's seriously awesome, I've always wondered if that might be an option to just leave the mast and rigging at home and just make it a cruiser .

That is what we do in Arizona. We sail in winter at Lake Pleasant; a good sailing lake. We remove the rigging for the summer and do the beautiful Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes in the Summer, swimming in the heat (they are poor sailing lakes as they are canyons and part of the fast flowing water system that runs our air conditioners in the summer). We ARE the weirdest looking boat on these waters though, resplendent with sporty power boats and jet ski's.

Going out that way tomorrow in fact.

[quote="Sumner"]A friend posted this picture...



Sumner,
I have to agree to a point. I am takeing my mast down and off the boat for the summer here in SW Fl.(did it last summer)
Reason is we don't like doing over nighters during the hot summers and since we are Trailer Sailers we prefer fast launch as a power boat and enjoy the day at Sanibel beach or other locations.
I do have a Bimini that is larger than my Mast up, boom clearance that I use that has standing headroom under the Helm.
Just another way to use these boats when to hot to rig mast and take down for a day trip.
Takes 1/2 hr to secure mast and set on two saw horses. Takes same time to rerig. mast to boat.
I do put blue tape on standing rigging and code them BS (Bow Starboard/Aft etc.) and such so it's easy to rerig.
Dave

I'm gonna go "Topless" this season due to slow recovery from shoulder surgery.[Torn rotator cuff]


This is me topless & dirty from years ago:


Go Mac Trawler

We were thinking about going 'topless' next season (we are 51 degrees south) so our season starts in September/October. I was thinking mainly so the Admiral can get some Power experience and perhaps do the RYA level 2 power course, I have always been a stink boater till I got this boat anyway, perhaps I need to scratch the itch just a bit more.

I have an old mast from another boat (which is bent) so I was thinking about making a short mast just for lights and antennas. Has anyone else done or seen it done, I was wondering what would be a good length for it.

The right length would be the longer of:

1) The length that folds down aft from the mast foot without being unstepped and reaches the mast crutch. Cut it off 1' behind the mast crutch and you're perfect. Any shorter you'd have to take it off to trailer.

2) The height of the lower shrouds. You need them in place, and you'll need a new forestay to hold up the mast. If you rely on the foot to hold it in place, you'll bend the foot and/or the step.

Whichever of those two lengths is longer is the right length.