My first post

[Floridacracker]

This is my first post to this forum or any other for that fact. As many others have done I have lurked in the shadows for many years dreaming of owning a Macgregor. I have many years of power boating experience in the oceans off Florida but never have I been on a sailboat. I purchased my 1996 Mac X off Ebay after seeing the post at work. The boat appeared to have all the rigging, sails, engine and a aluminum dual axle trailer all this for less than 9K. What I didn't know was that I was purchasing from a marine salvage yard The people from the salvage yard had no idea about this boat and if anything was missing. This was a year and a half ago and I finally made my first post. I have over a hundred hours repairing the boat now and maybe that much more to go. This forum has helped me numerous times and I would like to thank all the contributors. Unfortunately I have many more questions and some terrifying stories. Thank you all

[Obelix]

Welcome to the forum Floridacracker, there is a good number of Mac's in FL.

Obelix

[Jimmyt]

Dude,
That was a first post that Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of... Talk about suspenseful. How about some additional info on the terrifying stories and questions.

Welcome to the party!

[Floridacracker]

My first overnight in the boat included myself and the wife. We left from Yankeetown and sailed south toward Crystal River. We enjoyed approx 10-15 miles of wonderful sailing. No one I know sails and they ask me what it is like. I'm sure people with laugh at what I am about to say, but here it is. I tell them 5 MPH is fun 6 MPH is exhilarating 7 MPH is terrifying. Here's why, That day we had a 10-15 MPH East wind with 1-2 foot rollers. I made the turn back East toward Crystal River was on a downhill run and even was able to sail wing on wing I was very happy. I let my wife take the wheel and wind increased with the occasional 20+ gust and waves were 2-3 with the occasional 4 all rollers. I am not concerned with these conditions but I am alert and preparing to drop the main when terror strikes. It is now I watch my GPS speed increase to over 7 MPH probably over 8 but I stop looking. All the rigging is tight the boat feels loaded like a spring then we begin to turn south I tell my wife to make a correction. It is then I see her struggling with the wheel, we continue to turn until we are broad side to the waves and wind. My large genoa possibly a 150% not sure comes round to the same side as the main tearing out the leech line. We now heel so severely all I see is black water and a real threat of being tossed overboard exists. I now yell (unfortunately) TURN LEFT OR WE'LL FLIP. She says take the wheel and I do crank the motor and put it in reverse to slow our forward momentum. It is then i realize I have limited steering less than 10 degrees either direction. We were able to lower the sails and limp into the anchorage the the motor only. Upon further inspection I found the steering bar that connects the motor to the rudders bent into a U shape and flexing severely upon any steering input. I'm sure the people in the anchorage were impressed with my early morning wake up call as I hammered out the steering rod I was able to return home on the temporary repair. After further investigation I found the PO changed the steering to a typical powerboat where the Teleflex goes through the engine bracket to steer the engine. So the steering wheel turned the engnie then the rudders instead of the other way around. The good people at BWY were able to get me squared away.