MacGregorSailors.com

Dave U wrote: ... Any advice on the use of stainless steel screws?

So the gooseneck fitting came off the mast?

You're limited to rivets, sheet-metal screws, or tapping the mast. If you feel the mast's wall thickness is ample, I guess tapping for machine screws isn't any worse than the dozens of other places that stainless threads are left to interact with the aluminum. (If the problem recurs, you could always shift the boom up by a few inches and drill it again)!

Is is feasible for a backyard, lone-ranger to source (rent?) a commercial-duty rivet-gun?

Mark Prouty wrote:I hope Kevin lets me in the club.

Hey, trust me Mark, with the amount of times I've screwed the pooch either sailing or motoring, I deserve to be the blasted honorary president!

A hand pop riveter should do the trick I would think...just need a girl named Rosie to pop it...

Dave U wrote:You're limited to rivets, sheet-metal screws, or tapping the mast.

Actually, there's another choice, and it's a pretty good one - RivNuts. They're rivets that have threads in them.. you install them much like a pop-rivet, but when you're done you have a nicely threaded hole - far better than just drilling and tapping the mast. They're often used in aircraft and I used to use them back when I was racing. Sometimes you'll also see them called either a "Nutsert", "POPnut" or "blind threaded insert".

Nutsert / Rivnut / POPnut:


There's a great animation of the installation here.

Also... along a similar line.. if you want a shock-mounted type of threaded insert, try "Well-Nuts" (also called "Rawl Nuts" in the UK).. they are a brass threaded insert bonded to a rubber t-shaped insert.. when you tighten up they expand and lock into the hole. I'm considering using these to mount stuff to the liner, actually.

Well-Nut / Rawl-nut:

You will probably run into the main halliard getting caught on it when you are trying to raise the mainsail. Causes a problem till you go up on deck and free it. Not a lot of fun. I would opt to remove it.

If you kept your main tensioned I think you could keep it clear off the bolt -

I would wonder how tight the nut is, and is it going to fall off and land on you at an innopportune time....

Even though you're destined to be a slip-sailor (having now moved to a "permanent slip") it sounds like a perfect opportunity to practice mast stepping! Since you'll not need that skill too much, one last "experience" might be just the ticket to convince you to occassionally tow elsewhere.
(See, that glass really is half-full).

I bought a Yamaha propeller for my Suzuki. Same diameter, pitch and spline count but one quarter the price on special. I had to space the propellor out with a washer to make it work. I used a plastic washer - dumb. Under power, I hear a grinding sound. Guess wat the washer disintigrated. Good thing that part of the lower unit can be fixed easily.

By the way, anybody know where I can get a speciality washer. I can't find the correct one in a good solid metal.

If you mean the washer just in front (forward) of the propeller, you need more than just a good solid metal washer; you need a THRUST WASHER, specially hardened and made for the forces and wear it will have to endure. Buy it from a marine store, not a hardware store. The lack of a THRUST WASHER is what tore up the entire housing of the lower end of Sloop John B's motor.

I think this guy has us all beat in the "Stupid Boat Tricks" department.

Wow. (This guy needs some MAJOR "Anchor Buddies", Mark.)

I wonder if any Mac's took a hit? Sure hope not!

Looks like the ferry accident had a mechanical cause.

Ferry Crash

It's too bad in any case. Looks like lots of folks just had their season shortened

Fixed link on edit...

That above link doesn't work. This one does: Ferry Crash

WOW, And I thought the Macgregor was difficult to berth. Glad no-one was hurt. Big claims from the Insurers coming up.