I'm new to all this trailer stuff and it hit me last evening that there is probably a best practice for ball height. Part of this became noticeable as i picked up a new tow vehicle over the weekend. So I'm moving from a Hyundai Santa Fe to a Chevy Tahoe so a bit of a difference in how high the ball...

One caveat: these boats do point really well in flat waters. With a true gaff you would lose some of that. Ixneigh, I'm really glad you made this distinction. I've asked people here how high they can point in an attempt to determine if what I'm seeing on my M is accurate. I sail on the California D...

I use an extendable fiberglass/aluminum paint pole I bought from home depot as a whisker pole with a climbing carabiner attached to each end. The other end clips on the genoa sheet. I attach the mast end to the mast raising attachment. the carabiners are attached with hose clamps and tie-wraps so I...

I've done jib only in high winds sailing downwind. Obviously won't help if you need to point up. Other than that mastreb said: I was having issues healing too much in high winds until I reefed both the main (I only have the one, factory reef point) and deployed just a tiny bit of jib on the roller f...

The reason I may not remember is that I despise this connector since it was the source of water getting into my boat and I replaced it with a Perko type where the two halves screw together and when not in use has a screw-on cap. Hmmm, Robert, how did you trace the leak to the deck connector? I have...

Hi guys, So, the pin connector for my masthead light doesn't have a good connection anymore. I can plug the male end into the female receptacle just starboard of the mast on the cabin top, but my masthead light won't come on unless I exert a lot of downward pressure on the pins, which I can't hold t...

Abiehl, I echo the sentiments of Mastreb, RussMT and Catigale, all of whom are frequent, valuable and well respected contributors to this board. I'll add my own perspective. I've been sailing since I was 7. (I'm 40 now). I've done a lot of what people would call "extreme" sports, such as w...

Hi Matt,

My jib sheet is set up the same as yours, it's not snagging on any knots, it just wraps around the end of the bolt, and when the sail inflates, is held there by pressure. A pain, for sure.

bcleme01, Your idea is so crazy that none other than Joshua Slocum himself did it! I just finished readhing Sailing Alone Around the World, and it had some detailed diagrams about how he kept shortening the spar on the Spray until he got it just right. I think if it was good enough for the first guy...

Man, service with a smile! Thanks tkanzler and Cuscus... Another example of ask, and you shall receive on the Mac board!

Cuscus, how did you cut the bolt?

Hi everyone, So, on my :macm: , when coming about, my port jib sheet routinely snags on the exposed end of the bolt at the base of the mast. It's a PITA, because I have to go up on the cabin top when single handing to get the sheet off the mast to allow the jib to come to the other side of the boat....

There is a place in Sacramento, CA called Shipwreck Marine. They strip pretty much everything off of wrecked boats and resell. They have an interesting assortment of parts at their shop, not sure if they would ship or what. You might try to give them a call and see if they have something. (916) 635-...

If your fuel line is hooked up to the motor shouldn't that allow for expansion/contraction if you close your vent? Also, if your tank is full (which it always should be, after all this is a sailboat, what do you need a motor for? :wink: ) wouldn't you expect fuel to leak out while you are sailing (...

Just to expand on Seahouse's rant: I've got two 6 gallon Scepter tanks with "self-purging" vents. These little works of genius were apparently required by the EPA on the tanks I bought. Because they're self-purging, they don't have a vent you can open and close. They're designed to vent to...

I just put enough tension on the wheel so it can't be backdriven, then trim the sails and balance the CLR and COE. From there take my hand off the wheel, sit back and relax, and let the wind and sails control the boat. . EZ, What's the process of balancing CLR (Center of Lateral Resistance) and COE...