Upgrade already?

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
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BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4967
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by BOAT »

there is no secret unfortunately - either your into it or your not. it's like sea sickness - there are two kinds of people - those who get sea sickness and those who don't.'

my dad was one of those guys that had never been sea sick in his entire life. i meet people out in the ocean all the time that have never been sea sick ever. when i go to Catalina and meet other boat owners i find that most of the older guys have never been sea sick ever. those people never complain about their boats being "tender" no matter how bad the weather is. My dad sailed on schedule no matter what - he paid no attention to the weather - to him it was what it was - he just went out anyways - I thought he was crazy.

my wife and i are rare ones - we do get sea sick in the beginning of the season sometimes and then after a few trips out it goes away - we have what they call "fishermans sea sickness". we never throw up - it just makes our tummy hurt for the first day and goes away after that. in the beginning of the season we are a bit cautious avoiding 6 foot seas but after a few trips out we don't even notice 10 foot swells anymore. Last year at the island there was a 5 foot surge swell at anchor and my wife complained about the anchor line yanking on the boat - nothing about the actual surge swell. It just feels natural after a while - she says it's the best sleep ever.

If you never get sick you probably don't care about the bumpiness and rolling (like most the people on this site) - some people like my wife and i will push through the discomfort and prevail and some will not. if you are a 'will not' person then you probably don't really belong on a boat - ANY boat.

if your forcing yourself it's probably not the right activity for you.
disciplefk
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:40 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by disciplefk »

Oh - I am all in! I am fortunate enough to be one of those that never gets seasick. I get a little nervous about spinning around in weather I should not be out in, but luckily I am not making the deck slippery with vomit! The kids are seemingly unaffected. My wife can handle being in the cockpit, but she gets a bit woozy when she goes below while we are underway.

It was funny - I was trying to talk the kids into buying a tube while we were out this weekend for their benefit. Just as I was mentioning it, a powerboat went by with a giant couch strapped to the back. It flipped and scattered the riders all over. They promptly said no and went back to sulking :P
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Bobsquatch
Deckhand
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 6:44 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by Bobsquatch »

It was funny - I was trying to talk the kids into buying a tube while we were out this weekend for their benefit. Just as I was mentioning it, a powerboat went by with a giant couch strapped to the back. It flipped and scattered the riders all over. They promptly said no and went back to sulking :P
[/quote]

Ha! Timing, that's funny.

Buy a good tube, wait for good conditions (warm water, weather and calm seas) and take it easy on them. They will catch the bug. Also don't scare them in heavy traffic, pick your time.

Remember, first impressions... this could be your moment to win them over or lose their interest.
disciplefk
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:40 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by disciplefk »

Not kicking a dead horse, just posting a resolution for future noobs. I did put an offer in on a hunter 33. If I can get it at a decent price, I think it will be a good fit. In the meantime though, I have learned to plan better and most importantly I learned that in many situations, the boat heels as much as you want it to. If it gets to be too much, just spill the wind from the sail and back up you go. Reefing early is also helpful. I know this isnt 'fun' sailing, but it helps with acclimating your nervous passengers.

This is obvious to any sailor with experience and I feel silly for not realizing it sooner, but it was something I did not know just starting out and it made my life much easier. This is not a solution for extreme conditions - you just don't do that in this boat.

I am almost hoping that the sale does not work out so that I can enjoy the mac a little longer!
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dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4531
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by dlandersson »

A tube can be a lot of fun, especially if you start out slow and let them build up. One that allows 2+ people can let an adult ride with them until their confidence increases. It really can be a lot of fun for kids-teenagers. 8)
disciplefk wrote: Mon Jul 15, 2019 5:38 pm Oh - I am all in! I am fortunate enough to be one of those that never gets seasick. I get a little nervous about spinning around in weather I should not be out in, but luckily I am not making the deck slippery with vomit! The kids are seemingly unaffected. My wife can handle being in the cockpit, but she gets a bit woozy when she goes below while we are underway.

It was funny - I was trying to talk the kids into buying a tube while we were out this weekend for their benefit. Just as I was mentioning it, a powerboat went by with a giant couch strapped to the back. It flipped and scattered the riders all over. They promptly said no and went back to sulking :P
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Jimmyt
Admiral
Posts: 3166
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:52 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by Jimmyt »

One cardinal rule of tubing. Don't get any closer to the shore, piers, or pilings than the length of your tow rope extended at a 90 deg angle to the side. A tube is not steerable, and can wind up literally anywhere the rope can reach, depending on how the boat is maneuvered, other boat wakes, etc. A tuber got killed this past weekend on Dog River because the driver got the tube too close to a pier. Horrible mistake.

A tube is a joyful thing to ride on a calm day. Respect the distance rule and let the kids give you thumbs up or down for speed control until they get comfortable. Use large radius turns at first. Tight turns can produce very rapid acceleration and literally whip the tube around the boat.

Sounds like you're getting the hang of the sailing thing. That's great. No matter what boatyou wind up with, if you're on the water, you win.
JCPH3
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 10:50 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Great Lakes

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by JCPH3 »

Where are you sailing in Lake Erie that your getting 20mph winds and big waves?
Were sailing out of Brest Bay on the western shore and rarely see those conditions. Erie can get choppy due to its shallow depth but 3 footers are rare.
Make sure the ballast is completely full. A half filled tank is worse than no ballast. The Mac gives up those first 30 degrees pretty quickly, but usually will harden up at that point.
Stick to some lighter winds and get comfortable with a little tilt. Its actually a blast once your acclimated.
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dlandersson
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Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by dlandersson »

Actually no. A lot of people get seasick, then adjust. :wink:
BOAT wrote: Mon Jul 15, 2019 4:27 pm there is no secret unfortunately - either your into it or your not. it's like sea sickness - there are two kinds of people - those who get sea sickness and those who don't.'
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BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4967
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Upgrade already?

Post by BOAT »

It's those people that never get sick that I always seem to run into - I have not yet met a boat owner that gets sea sick. I have never even heard it mentioned here on the site except by me.

Not one person on this site have ever mentioned getting sea sick that I can remember.
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Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5982
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
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Re: Upgrade already?

Post by Highlander »

U r a new sailor and boater I don,t u will do any better in any other boat bigger or otherwise the bigger the boat the more experience is required to handle it & u will need a heck of a lot more experience to handle those much bigger sails go on youtube & watch all those big sail boats in storms they get pounded just as bad & r only easier to handle if u have lot,s of rough weather sailing under ur belt, if Geoff , Rocky & I went out in crazy crap either in one boat or our own boats as a group we never took any crew with us unless they were rough weather sailors , nothing worse than getting out there in all that good stuff & havin to turn back because of scared crew I personally think u should not b taking an inexperienced family crew out in that kinda weather small kids should always b tethered in when in the cock pit with a PFD on also , it,s supposed to b a family fun event slowly getting the necc. experience once that,s accomplished then plan an organised event that the whole family agree,s too then make it an adventure :wink: , but always respecting the weather window family safety first
then u can do crazy stuff like this lol

Image

Image

J 8)
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Highlander
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Posts: 5982
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
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Re: Upgrade already?

Post by Highlander »

or this








keep the mac & learn to sail it first & enjoy
J 8)
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