How to tack in very shallow water.

[Ixneigh]

I’ve been enjoying my M in very shallow water and she will now sail on all points in any water she can float in. The stub keel reduces the strain on the rudders to manageable levels. Note I have the OEM “thin” brackets as well.
however she still won’t go about under just a main unless I use this procedure, which I’ve gotten good at and will also work in a pinch for unmodified boats.

Come onto the wind, sheet the main in tight, helm hard over, now pick up both rudders out of the water. She will go right around even in the shallowest water. Drop the rudders once you’ve gone about.
I usually use just the main in real shallow places to keep speed down. In this case I was successful tacking the boat with just a double reefed main in 20 K of wind, and working my way up wind in less than two feet of water.
The stock M would sail somewhat in shallow water but not something I’d want to do for miles. I still would for short distances like cutting across flats and things, before I made my additions. The tacking was an issue though. The rudder truck solves that.

Ix

[NiceAft]

Come onto the wind, sheet the main in tight, helm hard over, now pick up both rudders out of the water.

What an ingenious process. This really works

[kmclemore]

Come onto the wind, sheet the main in tight, helm hard over, now pick up both rudders out of the water.

What an ingenious process. This really works

Yeah, I could see this working, given the wind’s effect on the boat’s tall freeboard.

[NiceAft]

Why would I question the judgment of the captain of the Titanic. Hmmmm

[kmclemore]

Why would I question the judgment of the captain of the Titanic. Hmmmm

We are not amused.

[Ixneigh]

It does work. Apologies if this is a thing everyone already knows about.

Ix

[Be Free]

This is new to me. I had come to the conclusion that it was not possible to tack a Mac (no poetry intended) without the jib.
I can't imagine pulling my rudders up for every tack. How do you do that? Did you try with only one rudder in the water through the tack?

[Ixneigh]

The Mac M model will come about just fine with a main only, IF you have the board down. Even mine will do it with the board down, despite two major underwater additions I’ve made that will each hinder tacking normally a little. You MUST have way on the boat, at last a couple knots, the bottom should be clean, and you should have decent sails.
However: if you still can’t do it, for whatever reason, try that trick. Head the boat up slightly, sheet in the Main tight, let the helm go and just pull up both rudders. It only takes a few second. It’s way faster than trying unsuccessfully to come about. The boat will sort of lazily drift over to the other tack. Then drop the rudders again. I like to start with the rudders in the Horizontal position. I’m already in shallow water when I’m doing this.
I discovered this because I had my boat do this by accident when I was messing with the rudders one day trying to clean off seaweed.
The why: I don’t like to sail in shallow confined waters when the boat can’t turn around. I do a bit of sailing in those locations.
If the boat won’t tack, your drifting towards danger with no room to build up speed, the trick may save your butt. Practice first though!

Ix