First Solo Sail

[March]

The Mac doesn't seem to be so hard to sail. The compromise factor needs to be considered, too. This is neither the best sailboat, nor the best motorboat, but as a hybrid, it kind of takes the slack from the other category.

I find it hardest to dock under power, in a crosswind. Yesterday we had a pretty brisk corosswind and I dickered around with the Mac aiming for those two poles, for what felt like half an hour. It was humiliating. When I managed to get the bow in, the stern seemed to promptly get misaligned. I backed off only to find that the propeller doesn't "drag" the boat the way I expected it to.

I managed pretty tight 360 degree turns, though.

[Idle Time]

I fugure there are a whole bunch of sailboat owners with familes who dont want to spend time on the boat with them because it is "so boring" but look at the number of Mac families that are boating together and having a ball. When the sailing gets boring...throw in the water toys and take off....what more could you want. I think this is the greatest family boat around...and most younger familes can afford it. Not everyone enjoys sailing...and others dont care for the other stuff....but you can have a mix and keep them all happy.

[richandlori]

boy ain't that the truth Aya...I wish my Pearson was a easy to manuever as my Mac was!.....then it would be great....

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I find it hardest to dock under power, in a crosswind. Yesterday we had a pretty brisk corosswind and I dickered around with the Mac aiming for those two poles, for what felt like half an hour. It was humiliating. When I managed to get the bow in, the stern seemed to promptly get misaligned. I backed off only to find that the propeller doesn't "drag" the boat the way I expected it to.
I managed pretty tight 360 degree turns, though.

Maybe you're trying to come in too slow, where you lose your steering.
Come in with all fins down, upwind.
If the wind blows the bow around, let it go, and try backing in. Point the prop where you want it to go. Give it some gas. It's easier to slow the boats momentum when backing in because of the shape of the stern and because you have more power when you put it in forward to stop.

[March]

Ah! So the rudders should be down. That makes sense. It'll probably help with the steering when I am backing up, too? I had her hard starboard, and expected the stern to go that way, dragged by the propeller, even though I anticipated the nose to swing in the opposite direction. Well, that didn't happen.
Thanks!

[Night Sailor]

Control is the name of the game. Fins down is how it's done. One of the mods I made on my X was to put a block on the aft end of the centerboard control wire, then ran a line through it which had one end fastened to the aft end of the cabin top and the other long enough to reach to the helm station when the board was fully up. That way, I can approach a beach or the trailer with both fins down, but not tied fully forward, and the centerboard down about a foot. This gives good directional control, while the motor is idling in gear, but when the bow is about 10-15 ft from the beach or the trailer goal posts, I pull the line from the helm to raise the board fully up. If the rudders drag, they can pop up because they are not tied fully forward, just restrained enough to keep them from floating up to the surface where they are propeller bait.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

If the rudders drag, they can pop up because they are not tied fully forward, just restrained enough to keep them from floating up to the surface where they are propeller bait.

What I would do in a situation like this, and whenever I'm not sure of the depth, I wrap the rudder hold-down lines in a continuous loop (instead of a figure-8). If you hit something they will come up without breaking something.

[windquest]

I highly disagree about the rudders being down when docking or getting on the trailer. Granted it will give you better response but not necessarily better control (control comes from throttle). The problem I see with this is that it is almost too much response, I like to be able to cut the wheel in any direction with out the boat responding until throttle is applied I believe there is better control of the bow this way. Heading into a dock the proper way see here http://www.uspowerboating.com/videos/docking-a.htm you cut the wheel towards the dock and throw it into reverse if you do it right the bow stays where it is and it brings the stern in. This maneuver is essential if you have a 28 foot space between the boat in front of you and the boat behind you (parallel parking). Now if the rudders are down and you are heading into the dock and you attempt this once you cut the wheel towards the dock (for the reverse maneuver) the bow will hit the dock before you can even get it into reverse (too much response). As far as the dagger board partially down, this is a great idea because it helps you track and from being blown around in crosswinds and such (although you cannot pivot as well). Anyways to each their own I guess.