MacGregorSailors.com

I finally got the out on the water Saturday. I bought her this winter and put over a hundred hours into mods (lots from this site) and upgrades. The day started on Fern Ridge Res. in Eugene Oregon. I drive a little over an hour from Salem to get there and pull into the parking area. It took an honest half hour to step the mast and rig everything for launch (including passing all the coolers, bags, etc. up and into the cabin. Everything about the launch was smooth as silk....in fact, the whole day went so smooth. I kept waiting for something to go goofy but it didn't, just a perfect day on the water. We were joined by friends with a 22 foot Catalina (maybe it was a San Juan) and even though I'm fairly new and not interested in racing at this point, it's like Roger says...."Any time two sailboats are going in the same direction, it turns into a race". Well, it sure did and we held our own even though the winds were light and puffy. A couple of times I was able to steel their wind, too much fun. Since there are lots of racing buoys on the lake, it was good practice to challenge yourself. I sure started to appreciate the Mac when, in the afternoon, we moored up to a buoy and rafted up together. The guys and girls on his boat would take turns squating in his small cabin while the others would hold up a towel as the pee'd in a cool whip container, just to have to balance it up the step and dump it overboard. I offered to everyone the use of my fully enclosed head but they didn't seam to care....although my Admiral sure did, and made mention that she was gratefull of it (our restroom). BTW, our boat sailed wonderfully on all points! I was amazed how close into the wind we could do and how controllable everything was. All but pulling into a slip with cross wind in a tight marina with only the 50 hp down....not very much turnability....I backed off and dropped one rudder and it made all the difference in the world.


Because it was one of the first really nice days of the year down here, the ramp was crowded with drunk people trying to launch un-maintained, dead battery'd, forgot the bilge plug, dropped my beer, screaming tatooed girlfriend, soggy baby diapered, oil slicked, forgot the dock line so I'll use the dog's leash, boats. Not so bad in the morning but trying to pull our X out of the water in the late afternoon (only one of 5 marinas was open for the season) was a bit of a show. Even as we were next in line at the dock and trailer on the ramp, in the water. We had some goof with a dead battery, adrift in his white trash boat, blowing into every boat in the marina, asking if I'd pull back out so he could rush his trash-mobile down the ramp before his boat sunk. I did, he did, no problem.

It took me about 45 minutes to drop and stow the mast and button up the boat for the 75 mile drive home. I'll be able to cut that time down as I streamline my procedures. A big thanks to all of you on this forum that have answered questions and gave encouragement, it's the start of what's looking to be a great summer.

JT

CHEERS! I am bring my boat in to town next weekend, to learn how to set it up - and also clean it up. I hope to have it on the water sunday, or saterday.

Kev.

kevinnem wrote:CHEERS! I am bring my boat in to town next weekend, to learn how to set it up - and also clean it up. I hope to have it on the water sunday, or saterday.

Kev.

What state are you in Kevin?

JT

dive4it wrote:All but pulling into a slip with cross wind in a tight marina with only the 50 hp down....not very much turnability....I backed off and dropped one rudder and it made all the difference in the world.

Next time, try the centerboard down half way, or all the way if you have the depth. Just watch for shoals near sea walls and docks. A little centerboard can make a big difference in a cross wind. Being long and skinny, it's not as effective as a wider keel at very slow speeds, but having some centerboard down is way better than none, IMO. Learn to use the prop walk and directed thrust of the OB to your advantage, too. That took some getting used to, as it drives a lot different than a keelboat with an inboard, but once I learned what that OB can do, there are definite advantages under certain conditions.

tkanzler wrote:

dive4it wrote:All but pulling into a slip with cross wind in a tight marina with only the 50 hp down....not very much turnability....I backed off and dropped one rudder and it made all the difference in the world.

Next time, try the centerboard down half way, or all the way if you have the depth. Just watch for shoals near sea walls and docks. A little centerboard can make a big difference in a cross wind. Being long and skinny, it's not as effective as a wider keel at very slow speeds, but having some centerboard down is way better than none, IMO. Learn to use the prop walk and directed thrust of the OB to your advantage, too. That took some getting used to, as it drives a lot different than a keelboat with an inboard, but once I learned what that OB can do, there are definite advantages under certain conditions.

I agree on the outboard walk, etc. What I noticed though is that I only have about ten degrees deflection either side with just the outboard down. The rudders have much more, kind of surprised me. I own 11 boats currently so I'm no stranger to outboards, many times people at the dock or on my other boats are amazed at how I pilot into tight areas (like captain Ron coming into the yacht club) but my Mac just doesn't have much outboard angle. It's partly due to the upturned rudders hitting the boarding ladder on one side and the kicker bracket on the other I'm sure. I'll try a little centerboard next time....it was in a pretty shallow area and that's why I pulled all the boards up in the first place.

JT

dive4it wrote:

tkanzler wrote:

dive4it wrote: (like captain Ron coming into the yacht club)
JT

First - a shout out to Captain Ron always makes the Admiral happy when she catches me reading this site.
Second - I drop the centerboard every time (whenever I can) when docking. The MAC has way to much freeboard not to.
Third - Rudders only make turning more difficult when running the motor - personally.

Have Fun.

First - a shout out to Captain Ron always makes the Admiral happy when she catches me reading this site.
Second - I drop the centerboard every time (whenever I can) when docking. The MAC has way to much freeboard not to.
Third - Rudders only make turning more difficult when running the motor - personally.

Have Fun.[/quote]


More good advice on the centerboard. That really makes sense now that you mention it and I'm going to give it a try next time. I guess I was just paranoid to hit bottom with it since it was the slip closest to shore and was showing only 7 foot depth. I didn't want to hit bottom and have to try to back up at the same time (those two don't mix). In hind site the centerboard would have really kept it from drifting sideways. When I put down one rudder though, the turning authority really improved at low speed.
Another question to you guys, what is the fastest speed that you guys will run with the motor and still have the rudders down and locked?

BTW, I read over my prior post about my experience and I sounded like a cocky sum-bitch. I really did not mean to come off like that at all. I just wanted to point out that I do have some prior experience. Thanks again for all the advice guys....everyone is really helpful....what a collective brain we have.

. JT

dive4it wrote: (like captain Ron coming into the yacht club)

Ben Harvey, to the sound of air leaking out of the fenders: "Did you see that? That was . . . cool!"

Captain Ron: "Alllright! Let's tie her off, and kick back some cold ones!"

I just happen to have the disc in the DVD drawer, as I just finished watching it. Again. For the 30th time.

A little centerboard goes a long way for docking, IMO. The rudders hang down pretty far, so if you can clear the bottom there, one-third or one-half CB should be fine. At that shallow angle, you'll feel it dragging (if it is dragging), and it won't really dig in if going backwards, at least if it's soft mud. Not so much that you can't pull it up, at least. All the way down, and it can try to pole vault a bit, and mabe damage the stop, but at 1/3 down, I don't think so.

It supposedly draws 9" with boards up, and 5-1/2 ft with the CB down, FWIW, and in case you didn't see this little data sheet.

After my first outting and the piling we meet after launching my CB is always down about 12" (about 3.5"-4" of CB line) when departing or returning from now on. I have forgot about it being down at high speeds and haven't notice any ill effects so sometimes I just leave it there.

Congrats on your first trip on the Mac being that good. On my first trip I was starting to wonder how much money I was going lose after I sold it. But I have learned alot since and made some changes to the boat and I think all is well now.

Keep the Water ballast in until you dock if you know winds will force you over. Than haul out at slope and let it drain.
Center Board line down approx. 4-5 inches from full up. That will allow centerboard down approx. 8-10 inches to act as a skeg.
Rudders down on the MacX older style as it's only 8 inches below motor skeg bottom, newer ones are 6 inches lower.
Have a quick release on rudder as a Cam.
Dave

tkanzler wrote:

dive4it wrote: (like captain Ron coming into the yacht club)

Ben Harvey, to the sound of air leaking out of the fenders: "Did you see that? That was . . . cool!"

Captain Ron: "Alllright! Let's tie her off, and kick back some cold ones!"

I just happen to have the disc in the DVD drawer, as I just finished watching it. Again. For the 30th time.

A little centerboard goes a long way for docking, IMO. The rudders hang down pretty far, so if you can clear the bottom there, one-third or one-half CB should be fine. At that shallow angle, you'll feel it dragging (if it is dragging), and it won't really dig in if going backwards, at least if it's soft mud. Not so much that you can't pull it up, at least. All the way down, and it can try to pole vault a bit, and mabe damage the stop, but at 1/3 down, I don't think so.

It supposedly draws 9" with boards up, and 5-1/2 ft with the CB down, FWIW, and in case you didn't see this little data sheet.

[quote="DaveB"]Keep the Water ballast in until you dock if you know winds will force you over. Than haul out at slope and let it drain.
Center Board line down approx. 4-5 inches from full up. That will allow centerboard down approx. 8-10 inches to act as a skeg.
Rudders down on the MacX older style as it's only 8 inches below motor skeg bottom, newer ones are 6 inches lower.
Have a quick release on rudder as a Cam.
Dave



Copy that Dave, I'll make some marks on my CB line so I can gauge it easily next time.

JT

JT,
One of the most important items on your boat should have the rudders on a quick release cam. This allows anything hitting your rudders to auto release cam and lift up the rudders. Duckworks have these and tho max line is 1/4 inch it has worked very well for me past 2 years.
It saves your rudder and bracket in case of grounding or any thing else that may be floating.
Mine has actived the lift many times mostly from debree and shallow un charted waters. No Damage.
Dave

dive4it wrote:

DaveB wrote:Keep the Water ballast in until you dock if you know winds will force you over. Than haul out at slope and let it drain.
Center Board line down approx. 4-5 inches from full up. That will allow centerboard down approx. 8-10 inches to act as a skeg.
Rudders down on the MacX older style as it's only 8 inches below motor skeg bottom, newer ones are 6 inches lower.
Have a quick release on rudder as a Cam.
Dave



Copy that Dave, I'll make some marks on my CB line so I can gauge it easily next time.

JT

dive4it wrote: Another question to you guys, what is the fastest speed that you guys will run with the motor and still have the rudders down and locked?

Hull speed (6.5 knots or 7mph) is the cut-over speed for all boards. You don't want anything down when you're planing.

Until you get the quick release cam cleats Dave B mentioned, just uncleat your rudders as you come into the marina so they can kick up if they hit anything. Their own weight will keep them down at speeds below 5 mph.

Fantastic first outing!

I am in the "state" of alberta, up in canada.

The plan for me is ot bring it in on friday night, clean the inside, and out, then by saterday after noon be trying to figure out the rigging.

One thing I am Still confussed about is where the line is to lower the swing keel- this is driveing me nuts.

If your rudders are hampering low speed maneuvering, I assume you have a small prop ? Maybe a 2 stroke 50 HP with a 12" Prop?
Most of us, I believe with the Big Foot Motors and the 14 X 10 Props are, IIRC and, if its the same for everyone .. Find the rudders down help slow speed maneuvering , especially noticeable improvement in the wind..