MacGregorSailors.com

Last year when sailing with some friends I made a bit of a mistake. When I left the boat in the marina, I left the ballast valve open (can't remember why, but I am sure I had a reason). The next time I went out with some friends I forgot that the valve was open and we motored around for a bit, unknowingly draining the ballast. At one point we stopped and put up the sails. The wind was relatively light, I would guess around 8 miles per hour with light gusts. I wasn't expecting much sailing performance, especially with a rookie friend at the helm, but we were pleasantly surprised with about 5.5 knots on a reach. I wasn't expecting that much speed at all. At the time I put it down to lots of railmeat and a good wind angle, plus lucky sail trim. I have no idea if the ballast valve was submerged or not while sailing, but we were on a starboard tack so the valve would have been higher than normal.

Am I the only one to have ever done this?

Was the sailing performance just luck or did it have to do with the partially empty ballast? I really don't think we were ever in danger of going over; the boat rolled to about 15 or 20 degrees and stayed there. I probably should have noticed if we were heeling more in lighter winds than usual, but I didn't.

I know the story about the unballasted Mac26X that rolled over and resulted in the death of 2 children. No ballast, drunk captain, high weight loading up high (11 people on board, 8 of whom were adults, at least some of them on the cabin top), and possibly a line that either wasn't untied properly or was trailing in the water and initiated the death roll. Scary and sad. http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html

But on a day with light winds, which is most of the time on my lake, I will admit to being tempted to sail unballasted after that last experience. Wouldn't do it with kids on board of course, and PFD's all around as always. In low winds, it just seemed faster, and didn't feel unsafe at all.

I probably shouldn't admit this because it makes me sound like an idiot, but during the motoring phase without ballast I had a heavy buddy up at the bow, and while running at 24MPH, we jumped a couple of big wakes. We were motoring at unballasted speeds even though I thought the ballast was in, but at the time I remember attributing the additional speed to the additional weight on the bow (probably 220 lbs more than normal). Again, the boat was rock solid and didn't feel any different at all.

Yes I am a lousy captain I guess. But I learn from my mistakes. It's just that now I am wondering if no-ballast 26X sailing in light winds is really a mistake if everyone on board is an adult who understands the risks?

Without debating the issue good/bad - I've sailed my in light winds without ballast too.

Yeah, me too. It's still not worth the risk--unless, of course, everything is well tied up below deck, you have your PFDs on, and wouldn't mind actually SEEING what happens if the Mac tips over. On a local lake, on warm weather, if you're ready for it, it;s not exactly a life-threatening incident...

I still wonder how a Mac would go 5.5 Kts in an 8 Kts wind. Maybe with a teflon bottom paint...

Are you sure the engine was off? Those ETEC's are notoriously quiet

Lol...I never came close to those speeds ever again in that light of wind. I couldn't get 5.5 knots in 12 knots of wind with ballast in on a trip last year. ALl I remember about the day is that the winds were quite light and I was hoping to get 4 knots or so. Maybe 10 mph winds? I don't really know to be honest, but they weren't strong winds.

We've all done stupid things. I left the motor down and dragged it up the ramp once.

My guess is your ballast filled back up and wasn't empty. Was the vent open?

RussMT wrote:We've all done stupid things. I left the motor down and dragged it up the ramp once.

My guess is your ballast filled back up and wasn't empty. Was the vent open?

twice here

not counting other boats

RussMT wrote:We've all done stupid things. I left the motor down and dragged it up the ramp once.

Me too... motor up, rudders down. "Why the hull isn't this thing centering on the trailer?!"

I did the same things a number of years back, we were running in dead calm water so we dumped the ballast; later that day it picked up while heading through some narrows (tides compounded it) and we were heading dead into 5 foot waves. I couldn't figure out why we were slamming so hard until we pulled into an anchorage and I heard the glug glug glug of the tank filling. It made me think that Macs are a little more stable without ballast in than we tend to give them credit for.

I don't remember the vent position. I want to say it was closed but I am really not sure. I don't think I would have left it open.

Agree with YBob, I think the boats are relatively stable without ballast and will do fine in benign conditions. I have read a few stories about 26X's getting pinned over on their sides by weather "bullets" but they always came back up with the ballast tanks full. That wouldn't happen, I suppose, with the tanks empty. Or would it?

We don't have weather bullets around here. Our prevailing winds are very predictable and we are in the St. Laurence river valley with no significant obstructions for miles and miles. After last year's experience I honestly would feel quite comfortable without ballast in non-gusty conditions. I just don't know if I have the guts to try to find the edges of the envelope and was hoping someone else already new where those edges are.

The X boat is probably a bit more stable without ballast than the M boat because of the flatter bottom on the X.

I know on 'boat' when I step on the boat at the dock before I open the valve the boat rocks over a lot under my weight. After the ballast is full I can't budge the boat running from one side to the other.

The X boat may be good without ballast but for me on the M boat I will not put up a sail without the ballast full. The only time I run the boat empty is WOT in calm seas when I'm trying to get somewhere in a hurry and I don't want spray in the cockpit.

Am I the only one to have ever done this?

Was the sailing performance just luck or did it have to do with the partially empty ballast? I really don't think we were ever in danger of going over; the boat rolled to about 15 or 20 degrees and stayed there. I probably should have noticed if we were heeling more in lighter winds than usual, but I didn't.

I know the story about the unballasted Mac26X that rolled over and resulted in the death of 2 children. No ballast, drunk captain, high weight loading up high (11 people on board, 8 of whom were adults, at least some of them on the cabin top), and possibly a line that either wasn't untied properly or was trailing in the water and initiated the death roll. Scary and sad. http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html

But on a day with light winds, which is most of the time on my lake, I will admit to being tempted to sail unballasted after that last experience. Wouldn't do it with kids on board of course, and PFD's all around as always. In low winds, it just seemed faster, and didn't feel unsafe at all.

While this may be your: "Forgive me father for I have sinned"... moment, [Catholic or not]

You are not the first & certainly won't be the last to have done this mistakenly or intentionally.

I too, occasionally sail, & have on very light occasions, sailed unballasted. & I assure you, I am NOT looking for the edge of the envelope

Use your head - as I already know you do; & enjoy another aspect Only Enjoyed in the state of Mac

Our Macs are forgiving in Many ways...
Roger did a GREAT JOB



-Peace Brother

I've done it sailing before the wind. Not often.

There was an empty ballast X on Narragansett Bay which went on its side and it couldn't be righted. According to the story, there were several people assisting. It was finally towed while on its side.

WASP18 wrote:There was an empty ballast X on Narragansett Bay which went on its side and it couldn't be righted. According to the story, there were several people assisting. It was finally towed while on its side.

Well that info certainly is food for thought...

Thank you for bringing that to our attention.