Sailing

Advice on sailing to Bahamas from Florida

Sailing - - January 27, 2017

Hello everyone I plan to sailing my Mac to Bahamas in June 2017 from Florida, have anyone here tried that and if so, what to prepare for and look out for? Also I don't really want to be the only sail boat going over, I know speed boats and fishing bo...

Foresails

Sailing - - January 13, 2017

I bought a Mac 26 and was assured it had the std jib, but it has the genoa. So I need to get some smaller foresails. I have seen storm jibs from 36sqft upwards. That seems pretty small to me, does anyone have a recommendation for a foresail to run in...

asymmetrical spinnaker

Sailing - - May 19, 2016

I know there is a lot of post but what is a good size for my 26m. im looking at asymm spinnaker I can get fairly cheap but maybe its too big?? they are advertising it 3/4 oz, 30 luff, 35 leech, 22 foot. I no expert by far and will be hoping some help...

Kick-up Rudders

Sailing - - May 29, 2015

I already have a swing keel in the form of my centerboard and I wanted to do the same for my rudders. I started with a couple of auto-release cam cleats like those used on the tiller of racing dinghies and mounted them outboard of the existing rudder...

New MacStackpack & RF 150 Genoa

Sailing - - November 5, 2014

Happened upon a sunbrella stackpack on Ebay. & a new oldstock Mac 150 Genoa. Put on a matching RF sun cover & 24" x 16" see thru window. Score! Published by: Gazmn

Rudder Re-Do

Sailing - - January 15, 2014

I recently purchased an older model Mac22 from someone who liked to be creative and make his own fixes. One item he "fixed" was the rudder. He fiberglassed the two parts with numerous layers,making each piece a good 20+ lbs each. Then he added 2 zinc...

Andersen stainless sheet winches

Sailing - - December 29, 2012

Quality Andersen winches made in Denmark. Stainless tops, brass bases & proper bearings inside. These are their # 10 & fit almost straight on, very little clearancing of the oem mounting holes required. I use one for raising my steel daggerboard (see...

Ballast tank vent

Sailing - - December 29, 2012

Eliminate that cheesy rubber / tinfoil stopper for the ballast tank vent. Simple On / Off valve $10-15 worth of parts at a plumbing store. With the raised stand pipe no water burps into the collector funnel which means no need to mop anything up. Pub...

See windvane with bimini up

Sailing - - August 31, 2012

Have a bimini permanently mounted on a radar arch. installed telltales on upper shrounds but not exactly dependable in light winds. Thought about installing window in bimini but that would still require crooking neck upward. So came up with this mod ...

Whisker pole

Sailing - - July 29, 2012

After watching the genny flop around uselessly during a downwind run on the Chesapeake, we decided we needed a pole. I chose the Forespar 7-15. It is a three section twist lock pole that is 7ft. closed and 15ft. extended. (Defender, #-600050, $382.99...

Stay Sail aka Cutter Rig

Sailing - - April 22, 2012

So I starting thinking about this idea when I saw another MacX with a hobie cat jib on it. So I did some planning and looking for the right size sail and making it self tacking... AND I wanted to be able to detach it and lay it up against the mast if...

Whisker Pole

Sailing - - September 20, 2011

Another well discussed mod, and the pros and con's of whisker pole use can be found elsewhere at the forums. But I thought I'd just share which particular model I use, and why. Though this particular Forespar Whisker Pole is recommended for smaller v...

New IdaSailor Rudders with Travel and Sailing Pins

Sailing - - August 23, 2011

Replaced factory rudders with IdaSailor (Rudder Craft) Mac 19 Rudders made out of HDPE. Replaced trailering SS bolts with quick release pins and and brass sailing bolts with 3/8" plastic IdaSailor Mac Rudder Pins. Always looking for a way to reduce s...

Dagger board raising modification 2x1

Sailing - - July 25, 2011

Dagger board raising modification 2x1. Also dagger board do not go all way up with this system. Published by: Romualdas

Dagger board modification

Sailing - - July 25, 2011

Dagger board modification Add weight to dagger board use concrete. Total weight 80+ pounds (35+ kg). Not ok use in areas when temperature rich below freezing point. Published by: Romualdas

1972 Venture 17 rebuild

Sailing - - September 10, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25826781@N07/sets/72157604736968896/with/2929192051/ Published by: JoeVacs

Poor Man's Autopilot

Sailing - - July 12, 2010

Perhaps more akin to Cruise Control than to an Autopilot, a simple way to hold your course under sail is with a bungee cord that's tied around the pedestal pipe. Unlike a wheel-lock, nothing has to be disassembled to install it, and if you have an ur...

Double-vang mainsheet

Sailing - - July 3, 2010

This "double-vang" arrangement gives you better control of the boom, and it comes close to giving you complete gybe control as long as you don't sheet out the boom too far. I bought two genoa-track padeyes and put them on the front of the genoa track...

Spinnaker

Sailing - - March 23, 2010

I added a Doyle APC asymmetrical spinnaker. The halyard is rigged above the jib halyard and then brought down the mast to a V cleat. the tack control is to a eye mounted on the rail, down to a block at the bow, to eyes back to the cockpit to a V clea...

Spinnaker Cleats

Sailing - - March 21, 2010

I use a single sheet with my asymmetrical spinnaker, and walk it around the headstay when I gybe the boat. After last summer's headstay-wraps and drying out 100 feet of wet sheets, I found the single sheet works best for me. But I wondered if there w...

Tiller Pilot

Sailing - - March 11, 2010

Installed a TP22 tiller pilot. the power plug is mounted just inside the motor well. Added a clip for the tiller of the motor to keep it centered for tiller pilot use while motoring. Published by: grady

Righting moment 26X

Sailing - - November 11, 2009

Here are my drawings of the righting moment forces. Published by: Don T

lockable steering

Sailing - - July 26, 2009

Because i still havent found a girl who enjoys me , boating & general outdoorlife im sailing lonesome and therefor i needed lockable steering so i could work on deck under sail . On fore end of axle on my Detmar rack & pinion steering i bolted a chai...

Steering brake

Sailing - - April 20, 2009

Made this steering brake one afternoon from: a 3/4" pulley collar from Princess Auto,($2.49) an eye bolt I found in Canadian Tire, ($1.89) two bolts and a chunk of metal I hammered into submission to make the mounting bracket. (found) It fits ridicul...

Dagger board up grades

Sailing - - December 29, 2008

There were 2 repairs required on my dagger board after season 2007 (grounding up) while I was carrying out these repairs 3 mods are incorporated they are !/ When on a run with the foil retracted and after rounding the bottom mark the load on the foil...

Sheeting the jib on the "high" side

Sailing - - December 2, 2008

The conventional setup has the active jib sheet led straight back to the winch on the leeward side of the boat. When the wind picks up, moving "down" to tend the jib sheet adds to the heeling motion, and may not therefore be a popular maneuver for so...

Daggerboard "Chunking" prevention

Sailing - - November 5, 2008

Many have discussed the damage that occurs to the trailing edge of the 26M's daggerboard upon grounding [however softly]. The major design flaw is that the board tapers to a very thin edge throughout its length - a profile that may work well for hydr...

Headsail Furling line led to cockpit

Sailing - - October 24, 2008

I added 4 fairleads to the life line stanchions, and a small cam cleat on the edge of the cockpit, to help with furling the headsail. Published by: Wes T

additional winches and storage

Sailing - - August 1, 2008

As I.m most of the time sailing single handed I did like to have winches close to the steering seet. I installed a pair of winches on the cockpit rail at a convinient place about parallel to the steering column. As I had to cut in holes into the cock...

Sail craddle

Sailing - - July 22, 2007

I manufactured this sail craddle (thanks to Bill Mackenzie) with some minor mods to suit my M. Instead of individual boom attachment pivots I ran one length parallel with the boom and drilled and tapped c/s screws to hold it on to the boom. I do not ...

Rudder shafts Mod

Sailing - - June 23, 2007

Rudder top bushes are installed as per Octaman's bush installation plus the addition of seals. The seals are commercially available. They are installed over the top of the bushes and held in position with waterproof sealant. Stand pipes (1 inch plast...

Centerboard vs line on 26X

Sailing - - June 8, 2007

The line that retracts/deploys the board is on the right or starboard side of the forward side of the cockpit. The full throw of the line is 23.25 inches. This allows the board to be in the full down position - 63 inches below the bottom of the hull....

Steering upgrade - part 3

Sailing - - April 13, 2006

The first time I noticed the excessive amount of play in the rudder stock was when sailing downwind with unsettled waters and my MacM was rolling. Every time the boat swayed from one side to the other there was a distinct 'clunk' sound from aft below...

Engine Stabilizer for sailing

Sailing - - May 10, 2005

When I purchased the boat I had the dealer include the engine/ connector bracket. This is great while I am motoring below 5 knots. I can drop the rudders and gain extra control. This creates a problem when sailing with the engine in the up position. ...

Weighted Centerboard

Sailing - - October 5, 2004

I was looking for more stability, better pointing and possibly less sudden heeling... I added 138 LBS to the hollow centerboard. This is a major modification. I used my experience of a weighted centerboard from my O'Day 19 to design the changes. Step...

Outhaul

Sailing - - September 30, 2004

This is a simple outhaul system, adapted from one diagrammed in the Harken catalog. I chose 5/16" line for better "grippability," but in hindsight, due to the 4:1 purchase making it rather easy to apply tension, 1/4" line would have probably been suf...

Instruments & Pointing under UK Genoa

Sailing - - September 6, 2004

This shows my mylar 135 UK Genoa on a starboard tack on a milder, late afternoon on SF Bay. The lower GPS speed is ground speed (GS) in mph. Note that the boat picked up speed as I allowed it to fall off to a 70-degree broad reach. (Ignore the upper ...

Ballast Adjustment

Sailing - - October 28, 2003

I figured out a way to make my 26x sail to my expectations and I'm sure all who try this trick will be as satisfied as I am. The trick is filling the ballast tanks maximum full, right up to the hole spout. This is done by reversing the boat with the ...

Traveler Arch Rigging

Sailing - - April 27, 2003

For those of you who are wondering what the rigging looks like on my arch here is a picture that shows how I have placed the boom bails and the mainsheet. Where the aft bail attaches it is about two feet from the end of the boom. Works great. I set t...

Slides on jackline

Sailing - - April 3, 2003

Here are some closeup pictures of how Bluewater yachts mounts the sail slides in the reefing area on a jackline rather than directly to the sail. This allows you to lower the sail to reef without having to remove the sail slides from the track. This ...

Double Furlers

Sailing - - October 16, 2002

First of all, this is not my boat, but a friends. He has the standard CDI roller furler with a genoa installed in the normal way. Forward of this he has a drifter cruising spinaker mounted on a second furler. The spinaker furler does not have a foil....

Mainsail Cradle (Caddy)

Sailing - - January 25, 2002

After viewing the pictures (and price) of the sail caddy on sailcaddy.com I decided I could make my own for a lot less money, using pvc roof gutter material (see picture If you are interested in more details send me an e-mail request. Published by: B...

Mainsail Reefing System

Sailing - - October 17, 2001

(see attached drawing) All lines are long enough to reach from reefing points on sail to respective cleats w/ sail full extended. Location of the cleats is coordinated w/ location of cleats and eyestraps on my lazy jack system. The aft reefing line, ...

Main sheet traveller

Sailing - - July 20, 2001

The archives have had a number of inquires about main sheet travellers. I have now made my own. The design criteria was no knee braking stuff cluttering the cockpit. The cabin top was my decision but cabin access would be important as my head is a li...