About to buy

[David Mellon]

Thanks for all the wonderful posts. I have read nearly every entry on this site! Now that I have sold my twin engine stinkpot (IMP X250) I am ready to get back to sailing. A little bit about me, we sailed a lot when l was a lad, I was a Sea Explorer and crewed the 92' Argus (100 years old this year) and own a 17' Oday Daysailor II. I plan on many overnight Catalina trips and some time on Lakes Mead, Mojave and Powell. After careful consideration I have chosen the following items to be installed by the dealer:

-Jenny with self-furler
-alchohol stove
-shorepower with auto-charging system
-high capacity head with dock pumpout
-slugs on the main
-compass, bimini, ladder, vang, mast raiser
-cushions
-white hull (I can sacrifice the extra speed)

I also plan the following mods inspired by you good folks:

-trailer guide-on extensions
-permanent ballast tank air vent
-the legendary companionway AC mod
-masthead anchor light (should be a stock item imho)
-combo steaming and foredeck light
-bug screens
-solar vent in the head
-LED lighting inside cabin and in cockpit
-CO and fire alarm

and a few mods of my own including:

-swing out box speakers on hinges to face the cockpit or cabin
-boom crutch mounted in a winch
-a solid eyebolt mounted in the anchor locker for the bitter end of my rode. (watching it slip into the deep blue makes me bitter)

I am considering a Merc BigFoot, but I hear a 2-stroke has many advantages. Will the 2-stroke limit my ability to launch in lakes?

So, what have I forgotton? What is your input about the outboard? Is the racing spinnaker availabe yet? Is there a trailor sailor club in the greater Los Angeles area (like the San Diego club)? When can I join the party?

Sorry about the verbosity, thanks for your time, I look forward to your input, Dave

[aya16]

All the mods, you should be ready to sail next year If you get the boat next week.


Engine: my first choice would be a evenrude e-tech 90 or tohatsu 90 second big foot or yamaha 60 e-tech 60 third suz 50.

all are legal in the lakes in calif. even the two strokes mentioned.

small spinnaker is available not the big one yet.

shore power yes, battery charger no, get your own in the 10 amp range more if you plan on more than two batterys. Go to Cabelas .com and see whats available. I have their 30 amp per for a three battery hook up although I only have two batterys.

Large bimini from Inmon works for me.

I take it your from calif. Check Mike Inmon he uses the e-tech 's now and is a good dealer. Plus he knows the boats very well.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

You forgot the "must have" item...a depth/fish finder...absolutely a Must.
Happy Sailing...

[Scott]

Welcome aboard David. Also a lifelong avid sailor of a few more than a few years, I am not disappointed in my Mac purchase 7 or 8 years later.

[Paul S]

check out my site http://26m.seeberg.com for lots of M mods...

Paul

[delevi]

David,

I would suggest running your main halyard, spinnaker halyard and topping lift lines aft to the cockpit secured by rope clutches. The BWY steering linkage is a must have if you plan on disconnecting your engine while sailing. There has been a long thread on this earlier. I got this system recently and absolutely love it. The GPS/depth sounder is also a must-have, as already mentioned.

I also agree with the engine choices recommended, however, if you opt for the larger engines (90 hp) I don't think your boat will be under warranty. I have an E-tec 50 and am very happy with it, except that I wish I got the 60 instead. The 90 wasn't available when I bought my boat and no Mac dealer will install an engine over 70 hp, and most won't go over 50 hp. Just a few things to consider. The modern, 2-strokes, particularly the e-tec and Tohatsu TLDI are EPA compliant and are legal everywhere. They also mix oil electronically. The oil is stored in a chamber inside the engine so you don't have to do any mixing, and the oil consumption is negligible (about 35 hours on 2 quarts on my engine.) They are lighter and generally more powerful than 4-strokes. From reading a number of threads on engines, my E-tec 50 gives better top speed of 21 mph than most 50 hp engines and some 60 hps. It also never requires flushing after salt-water use, a major plus for me. The downside is the 2-strokes are louder and create more smoke.

Also, stern rail seats... way cool! A bit steep for $550, but an excellent addition to the boat (buys you two more seats.) The assymetric (smaller) spinnaker is a versatile sail and probably all you will need. I don't think the big one is available yet, though MacGregor had it on its web site and videos for about 2 years+ Hope this helps.

Leon

[David Clarke]

Welcome aboard David. I'm sure you will find, like I do, that MacGregor equals fun and flexibility at an unbeatable price. I'm just starting my 3rd season and I can't wait to get back in the boat this year. I like your choices of modifications, some of which I'm still wanting myself. I did the companionway AC mod. You can't beat it on a hot summer day. Simple perhaps but very effective. Dave

[jetta01]

You should head down to Marina Del Rey on the weekend and try to catch one of us so you can get a good look at some of the mods, possibly head out for a sail. Aya16 is down there almost every weekend... There will be a bunch of us returning from a Catalina cruise (weather permitting) on Sunday the 26th. It would be a good opportunity to see several of the boats with a wide variety of modifications.

[Catigale]

David - my opinion only, but I am partial to four strokes for the noise and fuel economy advantage. I have a Merc 50 HP Big foot fuel injected 4 stroke - I cruise the canals of NY a lot and like not having smoke.

The Catalina cruise might be a lot nicer with a 4 stroke if kids/family are involved.

My $0.02

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Do not forget to install a depth/fish finder, it will help you save that dagger board
EDIT Add on: I forgot to mention, a pier alum. extendable pole with a hook on the end. They work great when docking and/or retrieving stuff that fall overboard. They're a boaters friend.

[James B]

David,
I know it would be a heck of a road trip, but I just put my S.C. based X in the classifieds.