Looking for other Mac owners in Australia

[Mac26Mpaul]

As to the daggerboard vs your folding centreboard. I'd rather have your folding centreboard anyday. Being able to sail around not worrying about hitting things like Sandbars is something I miss from my last boat.... I would have got an X over the M for the folding board alone, but it was the missus who made the final decision and that was of course based on asthetics - She reckoned the M was better looking.. ......

Wow, wish I could say I had another house in Fiji Sounds great.

I have not tried to get to Moreton via Amity We stopped at Peel for the night and then went to the Big Sandhills this way. Then onto Tangalooma the next day (which is not too far from the Big Sand Hills)

[kadet]

Just happen to have one on file

[KookaSnook]

Just happen to have one on file

Thanks for the photo so that block helps? We don't have those back seats out the back and ours just has those rope guidelines attached down the back of the bow. You have different shaped rudders to our more rounded more paddle like where as ours are long and narrow things. That's the only thing now that makes it hard for us girls to lift on our own. Will show hubbie your photo when he gets back this weekend to see if it gives him any ideas.

[KookaSnook]

As to the daggerboard vs your folding centreboard. I'd rather have your folding centreboard anyday. Being able to sail around not worrying about hitting things like Sandbars is something I miss from my last boat.... I would have got an X over the M for the folding board alone, but it was the missus who made the final decision and that was of course based on asthetics - She reckoned the M was better looking.. ......

Wow, wish I could say I had another house in Fiji Sounds great.

I have not tried to get to Moreton via Amity We stopped at Peel for the night and then went to the Big Sandhills this way. Then onto Tangalooma the next day (which is not too far from the Big Sand Hills)

Thanks for the map as we thought we would have to go back around the other side of Peel so your little map makes it perfectly clear. We heard from another boatie down at Horizon Shores that there is a marina on the northern side of Amity where you can fuel and get ice? Didn't want to have to go all the way down to Victoria Point.

Yes that's the main reason for the kick back keel but hubbie thinks our waterways have hidden reefs everywhere like Fiji. I try and tell him to relax more but he keeps reminding me that boating is a serious business and freaks out about the rudders getting ripped off the back of the boat on sandbars etc. He ties them down tight but I through the whole idea was that they would kick up as well and therefore when I am in control I leave the ropes loosened up a bit. I hit a sandbar at Slipping Sands the other weekend while he was away wasn't a problem as we could walk it off but we weren't able to get our motor back down. The lifter UP button was fine but DOWN was dead as dead. VMR towed us over to the beach for the night and we were able to sail it all the way home the next day via Millionaires Row and right down to the VMR headquarters so they could give us a tow back to Horizon Shores. Just as they floated us up on to the trailer we hit the button and it worked again. Mechanic has checked it and can't find a thing wrong with it. He thinks it might be a faulty relay and will show us how to swap them over if it happens again. Out of this problem we ended having the most relaxing sail home... and realized that my husband needs to relax more when sailing our Mac. His favourite movie is PERFECT STORM and he has had many experiences hundreds of miles off Fiji trying to get back to safety with cyclones bearing down on them. Maybe I should give him a good stiff bowl of kava before we set sail in future.

Wondering if any of our other local Mac owners have tried going out over the bars and sailing outside on a CALM day? You hear so many stories about the boats not being suitable for outside. I usually am hopeless with sea sickness out in the ocean and usually don't make it even out of Suva Harbour or across the Somosomo Straits I stayed flat out virtually passed out for 3 days going across from Tarawa Island in Kiribati to Banaba Island my husband's other home island in the Central Pacific. AMAZINGLY I haven't been sick once even in the nastiest chop aboard KookaSnook... so can't believe it and wondering now if I could cope off shore. Would like to hear if others have tried it.

[Mac26Mpaul]

You already have the kick up board so you just need kick up rudders now. These should do the trick.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mirror-GP14- ... 27cd064cf1

I use one on my dinghy and they work great. I believe some here may have set their boats up with them (Dave maybe?) They will work fine if you run over sand bars, just dont back into a sand bar like I did Luckily, around here, we are "mostly" dealing with sand and mud so hitting the bottem isnt generally that big a deal (unless you do it at speed in an M in which case you will snap the daggerboard).

What size fuel tanks have you got? If the common 45 litre ones, you will be fine. I only have the two 22 litre ones and then a spare 20 litre container. I havn't actually been to Amity but we may try and get there over the holidays. From what I'v heard its pretty hazardous trying to get from there to Moreton (???) Fuel is a problem on the bay. Theres Manly of course. we almost ran out once near Macleay Island and basically just made it to Redland bay where I went ashore in the dinghy and met a nice elderly gentleman in his front yard, who turned out to be an ex (1950s era) Sydney to Hobart sailor and he got his old car out the garadge and drove me to get fuel somewhere

Now I realise all woman are difference of course, but I still reckon you are doing VERY well to sail the boat back from Slipping Sands! I'm not even sure my wife would know the jib from the main, much less how to raise them or how they work. (to be fair, as she tells me, she is the one who has to deal with two young children while I'm sailing and doesnt have time to learn all that...)

I had the same thing happen with my motor. I heard the relay packing it in is one of the most common reasons but the other is what happened to me. The bottom of the tilt trim motor rusts (sometimes you cant even really notice it) allowing water in which kills the motor. Take a look at the tilt trim motor (especially where the wires go into it) and look for any corrosion. The Mechanic at Horizon Shores told me its very common.

We have been out through the seaway a coupla times, but it has ended up being much rougher than I expected. Last New year, we got into the bar and found ourselfs in easy three, possibly 4 metres, not breaking, but very close together - what a ride. With my young children and wife aboard, I was quite worried about the turning around to get back in once we got through the bar, but the Mac handled it much better than I expected. Having the abilities of a powerboat gives you the edge over other trailer sailers trying to cross bars. Other than that we havn't been out there, but that is only because we dont get down there enough. There are plenty of days whey you could go out for a few hours no problems at all. You can call the Seaway Tower to get an idea of conditions on the seaway. I have never crossed the Pin in any boat and wouldnt do it unless with someone who was very experienced with it, and I'm still not sure I'd do it in my Mac.

How much did that anchor winch setup cost you? Did you install yourselfs?

[kadet]

Thanks for the photo so that block helps?

Yep reduces friction and lets you pull at 90 degrees .

For girlz I would rig a 2:1 or 3:1 purchase with something like Harken AirBlocks blocks if you needed the extra help

Your hubby could easily re-rig with a "block and tackle" arrangement on your no need for back seats to rig this.

Offshore is probably safer than the northern bay. Waves are in deeper water and less likely to break. The boat doesn't know whether it's on a lake bay or ocean. It's the conditions that matter so keep an eye on the weather. Bar crossing in any boat is probably the most dangerous thing you will do.

This is in northern Moreton Bay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_jz708oeVI

[KookaSnook]

Thanks again for all this info some great ideas to make it much easier to lift these blades of ours. Those clips on Ebay look great and not expensive at all. I have been warned that the weather in the Northern Bay is more open and have to admit a few times lately at Peel especially in a southerly has been less than enjoyable felt like we were in a washing machine and hubby isn't keen to beach the boat. Hoping you guys will be able to convince him otherwise.

With regards to our electric winch and the best thing since sliced bread it cost just over A$4,600 and John at KLM Marine at Horizon Shores did it for us. It was a big job and they had to modify the hatch and close the front section to secure the winch and put new chain and plough anchor on it. We still have the back half of the hatch to use and get in under the winch. John did a fantastic pro job and we felt it all justified the expense especially with cutting holes under the hatch and making it all look professional. Also as John said you have to make sure the winch doesn't rip off the front of your boat in heavy seas. He also had to modify the coupling of the furling chain which was actually welded into the anchor guide plate. The new S.S. bracket now is attached to each side of the guide plate so the chain flows nice and freely. He also got a special chain size to suit the winch and drop nicely underneath into hatch. There is no rope involved.

Here is a photo of the finished job. You will see a bit of a brown line behind the winch where they cut the hatch cover and this will wear off as we wash it. Just where the cutter blade went through. They have put non slip edging all around the old hatch openings to cover it over and this also gives a very finished job. You would swear it all came stock standard.

I like your description Kadet that the boat doesn't know if its in a lake, bay or ocean... certainly we are finding that every weekend is a new adventure with all the elements at play. Perfect sailing one minute and a washing machine the next... just love it!

[Mac26Mpaul]

Doesn't like drying out!? Thats half the reason we bought this boat. I was going to name it "The Beachhouse" Exposed places on the bay like Moreton, you need to be very weary of weather, but in the safe confines of the Gold Coast, you can dry out most places (Watch out for the 1 mtr bow waves of giant stink boat gin palaces around the Broadwater though.

Take him somewhere like the pin or the Bedroom (both in photo at low tide) and let the tide go out. Once he gets a taste of the fact that he owns a mobile Beach house , he will never look back


Winch looks great,, but out of the budget right now....

[Boblee]

[quoteI haven't been sick once even in the nastiest chop aboard KookaSnook... so can't believe it and wondering now if I could cope off shore. Would like to hear if others have tried it.][/quote]
While my wife gets very scared once the boat goes past 15 deg and gets seasick very easily on other boats she has never been seasick on the ?
Good to see you are enjoying your boat and experimenting with it, they are so versatile it is unbelievable we have been offshore many times but you need to pay strict attention to the weather forcasts but be warned once you get away from settled areas they are almost worthless if you go to places like eg the Whitsundays be careful of wind againt tides especially round island points where you can get confused seas thrown in for good measure (almost divorce material) but with care and being a good listener who asks questions you will soon get it down pat.
FWIW I have never personally felt threatened on "Trust Me" but have been stressed trying to make it better for the wife and I can't swim (much) and usually forget to put the lifejacket on.
Just remembered where I have seen another with a winch it was called "Blue Angel" and hailed from WA and owned by a really nice couple.

[KookaSnook]

Just to clarify clip downs for Rudders...



I have inserted a page from the MX2002 manual with regards to our rudder and it shows how the rudder ropes are attached on the STERN of the boat...
Do we need to get the same number of Clamcleat CL257's to replace exisitng rope guides?

Also Kadet not sure where the block would be fitted on our backend.

[KookaSnook]

[quoteI haven't been sick once even in the nastiest chop aboard KookaSnook... so can't believe it and wondering now if I could cope off shore. Would like to hear if others have tried it.]

While my wife gets very scared once the boat goes past 15 deg and gets seasick very easily on other boats she has never been seasick on the ?
Good to see you are enjoying your boat and experimenting with it, they are so versatile it is unbelievable we have been offshore many times but you need to pay strict attention to the weather forcasts but be warned once you get away from settled areas they are almost worthless if you go to places like eg the Whitsundays be careful of wind againt tides especially round island points where you can get confused seas thrown in for good measure (almost divorce material) but with care and being a good listener who asks questions you will soon get it down pat.
FWIW I have never personally felt threatened on "Trust Me" but have been stressed trying to make it better for the wife and I can't swim (much) and usually forget to put the lifejacket on.
Just remembered where I have seen another with a winch it was called "Blue Angel" and hailed from WA and owned by a really nice couple.[/quote]

Thanks Boblee for the tips and good to see we are not the only couple judging by comments from others on this board that a 'good bit of yelling is had by all couples' . Good to hear this is just not us... especially when I was at the helm when the wind knocked us right over entering into the Bay in 30-40 knot head winds and hubee told me to turn this way and the wind hit the boat while he was clipping down the sail and took me and the wheel with it... the wrong way of couorse. Threw me up against the bimbini supports. Thinking if I didn't have them there I could have gone over board. So the slight knock on my head was a relief and the yelling from my husband was all taken with a gain of salt once we recovered from the excitement of it all... We sailed to Brisbane some years back on a friends 26foot Ross and we virtually were standing up the whole way in nice steady wind... I think that is what sold me personally on sailing... just fantastic?

On the subject of lifejackets:

I have a business friend on the Gold Coast called Bill who has invented the EVIE RASHIE PDF's and we have been using them for us adults and also for the little ones (our grandchildren) when onboard (thinking of you Boblee and MacPaul's little ones). They are absolutely fantastic and the ones we have also have emergercy rip cords if you fall overboard (gas activated). You can even get fully automated ones when you hit the water but because Ken and the children like to swim in them (you can blow them up for the kids and let them down again). Just perfect and non bulky and for me being so fair a full sunbloke rashie. Ken even likes to wear his when hes drifting around in his duckie or the weather goes real bad... and he is an excellent swimmer.

Bill has now had one of the WIGGLES (Greg) come on board his company and they are launching the new style style Evies into Big W early next year. We lost one of the grandsons Evie overboard at Slipping Sand the other weekend when my daughter forgot to secure it to the boom overnight. So if you are out there you might see a blue thing floating around with Evie written on. You're welcome to it if it will fit....

[kadet]

Use some line to attach the block ends and away you go . Also I don't worry about using release cleats just use 8mm bungee cord for the rudder downhaul line, has enough give so rudders don't get broken off in a grounding. My bungee lasted 3 years before needing replacement. Still use rope for uphaul with the blocks .

[bartmac]

Done the same....ie bungee cord as the haul down but used 2 x 10mm to increase the pressure on the rudders and allow enough elasticity to allow the rudders to come up if we hit anything....has saved us a couple of times.Any low speed manouvering we always use at least one rudder and some swing keel then again all that is tempered by the fact we only have a 15hp motor and always run with ballast in.We also use a autopilot both when motoring and sailing....great to maintain heading...walk away from the helm and it continues on and has clutch built in so if you adjust your heading either by turning the wheel or by electronic means ie left or right button(sorry starboard or port) it will just then hold the new heading

[KookaSnook]

Thanks for all the bungee ideas. Husband is due back in the country Friday and promised we will be out over the weekend so I will sit him down with the laptop while he is relaxed aboard and get him to look at everyone's post. So much good information to absorb and work through. Auto pilot is getting real fancy but sounds a great idea. Will have to get more experienced and YES another add on for us and our future plans for our all girl cruises. I'm sure he will really appreciate the rudder ideas as this has been one of his major concerns and I know for a fact I cannot lift them up in a hurry and flat out even loosening the ropes... they seem to get so tight. Maybe its just my fingernails but really it is just one of the issues that I find a bit hard for me especially if hubbie is yelling at me to lift them up in a hurry. The bungie idea should prevent or assist in that area and Kadets block idea sounds like it would help me with this in a big way as well.

[KookaSnook]

Use some line to attach the block ends and away you go . Also I don't worry about using release cleats just use 8mm bungee cord for the rudder downhaul line, has enough give so rudders don't get broken off in a grounding. My bungee lasted 3 years before needing replacement. Still use rope for uphaul with the blocks .

Done the same....ie bungee cord as the haul down but used 2 x 10mm to increase the pressure on the rudders and allow enough elasticity to allow the rudders to come up if we hit anything....has saved us a couple of times

Just came home tonight after stopping in at BCF and picked up the bungee cord and pulleys but realise Kadet after reviewing your diagram than I need a total of 4 of these not 2. Sorry to sound silly here but husband and I are wondering where do me mount the one on the rudder surely it stays above the water line. Any help on this would be appreciated. I just seemed to think you only needed the block at the top and it just attached to existing up rudder rope. We're keen to try it out over Xmas sailing holiday.