Ahoy!

[Bilgemaster]

Well, I finally got my hands on a 2001 Macgregor 26X yesterday, my first sailboat of any kind, so thought I should come on by here and introduce myself and the boat before pummeling each and every one of you of with my incessant newbie questions. I am in Woodbridge, Virginia, just a hop down the road from the Potomac River and from there the Chesapeake. I had been looking and saving up for a semi-decent 26X in my price neighborhood (and it's a rotten neighborhood, where the streets are covered in broken malt liquor bottles and crack vials), and I was, I believe, pretty lucky to find a rather nice 2001, which the previous owner had put a LOT of work into, especially the electrics and radios, etc, but never got to actually sail after he blew out his knee. Wife wanted it out of the back yard, so that was that. Aside from a stint during the Carter Administration as a "riggers apprentice" aboard the non-sailing 301 foot museum square-rigged tall ship Balclutha in San Francisco Harbor, which primarily entailed my scurring up the ratlines with a pot of pine tar, a day sailing manning the spritzel sail (look it up) on the Golden Hinde II replica of Sir Francis Drake's 17th century circumnavigator, and my own Amphicar (one of those cockeyed amphibious "boat-cars" from the '60s...again, you may have to google it), my actual sailingexperience on anything designed after Queen Elizabeth the First reigned is nil.

So, yes, I'll be having questions, and would welcome any other local 26X owners to drop me a line or maybe even drop by for some moral support, with beverages naturally, as I suss out this weird new bird.

Regards,
Bilgey

[Rumdirty]

Well then allow me to be the first to welcome you to the most friendliest forum on the planet! I've been searching myself for a bit and am just finishing up on my own purchase. Pizza will be expected but other than that these folks aren't too demanding

[DaveC426913]

Welcome Bilgemaster!

First thing to know about owning a Mac: they only take synthetic pine tar. Anything else'll gum up the works.

[Tomfoolery]

Pepperoni.

I would suggest you put your location/sailing waters in the "Location" box on the control panel, along with outboard (OB) make and hp. Saves a lot of asking later, and can help folks who want to advise you, as location (even in a general area) can effect the response, and/or folks may be more inclined to help in person. Look at most members' profiles next to their user name for examples.

Does your boat have a name yet?

Welcome to the board.

[Russ]

Welcome

Now the adventure begins.

[Chinook]

Welcome aboard. It's new owners like yourself who keep this board fresh and interesting. We hope to be cruising up Chesapeake Bay in spring 2016. Get that boat of yours acquainted with bay waters and maybe we can meet up out there next year.

[Herschel]

Welcome. I know you will find the folks on this forum very helpful. We don't always agree on certain aspects of our boats, but we do bring tons of experience with them from a wide variety of settings. I have found the forum invaluable. I will throw this advice out there for some discussion and consideration. I leaned to sail on smaller boats, and I consider that experience valuable in adjusting to the uniqueness of the Mac X. But, if I were actually learning to sail with my Mac as my first boat, I would be more comfortable heading out with a reefed main and a working jib on a roller reef. That way you have minimum sail up and the ability to reduce sail fairly quickly when those "what the hull do I do now" moments arise. The idea is not to scare yourself or your crew right off the bat. US Sailing Association and American Sailing Association offer lessons from certified instructors. The basic idea is to go over what you plan to do ashore, think your way through the evolution, walk through it in your yard thinking about what you will be doing in the actual boat, then practice that maneuver on the water. Most sailing courses are comprised of about 6-10 basic lessons, so take your time and work your way through the basics. US Sailing divides the sailing skill set into maneuvers in winds below 14 knots and winds over 14 knots, so for starters, I recommend you make your first few sails in the lighter winds and build up your confidence and knowledge of the boat and the sport before tackling anything over 14 knots. Again, welcome aboard. And, oh by the way, spouses of avid boat owners automatically qualify for the title, Admiral, the moment the papers are signed and the craft is trailer home.

[dlandersson]

Pizza?

[mastreb]

Let me just go ahead and answer all of your future questions:

1) Evinrude ETEC-90.

2) Raymarine EV-1 tiller, or wait for Vic's in-helm autopilot to release

3) http://www.bwyachts.com

4) JudyB sails (She's on this board), 7 oz. loose footed fully battened.

5) Pettit Hydrocoat

6) Fortress FX-11 on a bow roller

7) CDI Furler.

8 ) 14x11

9) Whatever Highlander waxes his boat with

10) Search the consolidated trailer replacement thread

(and welcome!)

Matt

[Rumdirty]

Matt, you just answered all the questions I didn't even know to ask!

[Tomfoolery]

Matt, you just answered all the questions I didn't even know to ask!

Just give it time. You'll hear more answers to questions you didn't even know existed.

[cptron]

Welcome aboard and I like meat lovers.
Just watch this forum and you will see that we have several get togethers for sailing adventure on the east coast. They are fun for all and very informative. I have actually met a lot of the people who post on here and can't believe how much I need to do to my boat to compete with some of these guys.
Now get out there and enjoy your new toy.

[Obelix]

Welcome aboard

Obelix

[fishstalker7]

Welcome aboard!

Great group of owners here! Their support has been invaluable to me as I sort thru mods and learn the Mac...hope you find the same!

[Don T]

Welcome to the lair, or the cabin, or the salon, or whatever.