In need of a MacGregor mentor - update 2 at top

[Be Free]

I have an engine disconnect on my X. It does make the steering a little lighter but not enough to be worth disconnecting it.

Glad you posted that Bill. I never would have believed it. On my M, the experience is night and day different. Steering with the motor tilted makes the helm heavy and miserable under sail.

Wonder why the X is so different?

I don't know. I expect the steering geometry is similar. Maybe your 60 ETEC has a higher center of gravity than my 40 Honda. Maybe my steering is stiffer due to cable differences. Lots of possibilities.

[Ixneigh]

I almost always disconnect the engine while sailing. The boats nice and light on the helm and is a joy to sail most of the time, (not a speed demon of course)

Ix

[AmandaRuth]

My waterway is so congested due to shallow limitations on each side of the river and tons of speed boats with huge wakes, commercial vessels like water taxis and commercial tour boats...so being able to quickly lower and turn on my engine to maneuver out of dodge has saved me a few times.

[dlandersson]

Ditto, use a boat hook.

I usually lean over the seat (way over!) to open or close the valve. Closing it after draining and still on a plane while single handing is interesting. One of these days it's going to bite me.

Come to think of it, I guess it already did. I lost a very nice phone out of my shirt pocket doing that maneuver.

[AmandaRuth]

This is my thinking - I can push it down fairly easily with a boat hook, but pulling it up maybe not without bending the rod. It is new and rigid.

I'm thinking if I buy this then I can clip it to the boat on one end (so I don't clumsily drop it and it gets caught in the prop) and the other end I can pull up the valve without lifting the seat.

For $20 I will likely buy and try it. I'm sure I can find other uses for the gizmo if it doesn't work.

https://a.co/d/aPZ3TbG

Thoughts?

[NiceAft]

I use my boat hook to open and close the transom valve. No awkwardly stretching over the stern. That’s why I keep it vertically just inside the cabin, alongside the companion way steps, easy to grab and put away.

As stated three pages ago. The boat hook makes it easy..

If you have an expanding boat hook - mine extends quite far - you don’t lean, well, you don’t lean anywhere near as much. Never had a problem. Never lost a boat hook - this way. They do float

P.S. You grab the handle by placing the hook right next to the rod. You pull up, not sideways.

[Russ]

This is my thinking - I can push it down fairly easily with a boat hook, but pulling it up maybe not without bending the rod. It is new and rigid.

I'm thinking if I buy this then I can clip it to the boat on one end (so I don't clumsily drop it and it gets caught in the prop) and the other end I can pull up the valve without lifting the seat.

For $20 I will likely buy and try it. I'm sure I can find other uses for the gizmo if it doesn't work.

https://a.co/d/aPZ3TbG

Thoughts?

That would work. Or just tie a piece of cord to the handle and make a loop to pull it up.

[AmandaRuth]

Thanks Russ - I think the bungie combined with moving on the water will give me a little "jiggle" to help delicately raise the valve handle. I'm most concerned about something falling into my prop, or bending the rod. I think I can also use the boat hook to leverage the angle better to go straight up. Oh boy, now I get to buy something new on Amazon - turning into a great day!

[dlandersson]

Ditto

I use my boat hook to open and close the transom valve. No awkwardly stretching over the stern. That’s why I keep it vertically just inside the cabin, alongside the companion way steps, easy to grab and put away.

As stated three pages ago. The boat hook makes it easy..

If you have an expanding boat hook - mine extends quite far - you don’t lean, well, you don’t lean anywhere near as much. Never had a problem. Never lost a boat hook - this way. They do float

P.S. You grab the handle by placing the hook right next to the rod. You pull up, not sideways.