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I can't speak about the ease or lack of it when it comes to moving a center board with substantial wind in the sails, but my M's daggerboard is not going to budge unless I turned into the wind.

Ray

NiceAft wrote:I can't speak about the ease or lack of it when it comes to moving a center board with substantial wind in the sails, but my M's daggerboard is not going to budge unless I turned into the wind.

Ray

I agree Ray, and there are a Zillion other options available to regain control before, I would begin to even think about wrapping the DB line around the winch and begining to try . . . . cracking it up.
We got ourselves into trouble a month ago in some heavy winds and big waves. We were being pushed to shore and unable to turn in such away to gain a safe distance from the shore. Reducing sail would have done nothing really for us . Down went the Merc 50 HP Big Foot ! That big prop and its 50 HP turned us, so we could get past the no sail zone and got us out of trouble and back on our way. A better sailor might have risked a jib in 30+ winds in 4 to 6 footers while being driven to shore . But Not me, call me any name or names you want. Down went my insurance (Merc 50 HP BF) in less than 60 seconds all was well with the world. Well considering the storm we were caught in. Much bigger boats with real keels were having a lot of trouble as well and as they fought to get back in , Our 50 HP Mercury Big Foot was smoking them all like a bad cigar...That storm consumed a 50 foot charter boat farther south, down by the city.

Guys, remember the last line of csmurray1's original post,

I keep telling my wife, "it is fine, we are not going to tip over" and I think to myself, "are we?" A little help please.

He wants to be reassured that the boat can heel prettttttttty farrrrrrrrrrrr. Let's stay focused here

Ray

Ray then I believe, that the answer is........ you wont tip her over. You might experience a knock down in Very Bad Winds or Storms but we wont sail her over. Has anyone on this board ever tipped one over? I believe we have had a couple knock downs. I dont recall any knock down resulting in the lack of a self righting situation.
Everything I have ever read here has said she'll round up, or point off, or spill air, basically self correct, long before she ever flips. Can you make your stomach and heart believe it ??? Go view that You tube clip a dozen times and sail with me a couple times as well . If I have yet to break wreck flip or sink this boat, she's pretty sturdy and very forgiving.

That looks like a fun ride on the youtube video, but I doubt it is anywhere near 45 knots of wind, more like 20-25. It always seems like a lot more until you get that wind meter out. We've had this discussion plenty of times before, when wind speed gets up to 45 knots, not only are there whitecaps everywhere but the spray is coming off the whitecaps making streaks. I tend to doubt that you can sail a stock Mac in 45 knots, you would need tiny little custom made storm sails. Even at 25 knots, sails will flog the crap out of you when you are taking them up or down.

I agree with the other posters though, as long as your ballast is full, you don't have too much to worry about. The boat rounds up past about 40 degrees. I have raised my forestay up about 4 inches to make the mast more vertical and there is still tremendous weather helm once you get up to 20+ knots of wind, it takes a lot of rudder to keep it from rounding. I suppose the M handles a bit better.

speaking of reefing, does anyone have a pic or diagram of how the reefing lines go? Mine were all undone when I bought her. Also where do the front sail lines go? I just run them throught the pulley things all the way back to back cleats. Don't the go through the winch things up that go click,click,click?

csmurray1: You really should edit your profile to reflect your boat type. Year of boat and engine type, HP, etc., can go in the Location field. This will help other folks answer your questions and prevent the tired old question: "What kind of boat do you have".

~Rich

We max out at about 20 degrees. Any more that that and the navigator starts to white-knuckle the hand holds, and I get the, "this is not fun" look.

When sailing by myself, around 25 seems to be the magic number for comfort and speed. I have had her at 40 to she what she does, and there was no problems. Although not much more speed for the amount of extra heel, and extra work to rearrange the cabin afterwards.

Note to self: "items sitting on a flat service will always fall off, when changed to 40 degrees".

Darry

Well I went out today to find out how far is too far....I was able to hold 45 degrees in 16 knots but at 50 degrees it was all over.... I apologize for the video footage but I had my hands full!! You prabably can not make it out but under conpanion way hatch is the inclinometer and it is at 50 degrees before it rounded up.... all was fine and the boat was great this is my second year with the boat and I have to be honest my first year I did not let it go past 20 ... now I am used to it and 45 is fun........ It was a FUN DAY!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b5oCk8Lgsg

Here's a link to my cutter rigged mac19 is this too far for you !!, this is a full genny full jib & main sail no reefing here

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... EW_NEW.flv

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 010013.flv

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 010010.flv

cheers J

Highlander, I have seen your work here. I am a admirer but that is one sail too many for me... You have a nice rig. When I learn to keep it from rounding up then I will consider more sail until then It will do....

Congrats Matt

I wish I could have been there with you on the Delaware.


Ray

I love heeling....
I am rarely out there competeing, instead just having fun.... so this happens all the time...

Buried the needle so to speak.... even the cabin lock is on its ear...lol



Fun with Leon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxmDYpj_lo8

It's all good.....

G

IMHO, if yur mast or mailsail touch the water - - - you have DEFINATELY heeled over too far

Rick

I think it gets a little dicey when you submerge the lower 1/4 of the jib myself.