Tony, how has the Smart Rail affected you sailing performance? Did you run the rail all the way to the stern? Any change in stability? Any recommendations?
Thanks, Bob
Tony---Smart Rail
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Bob and Others,
I unfortunately have not sailed the boat since I put the rails on. I am going out on the fourth to take some pictures of the rails in action along with going for a long sail. Heath said he would put the videos I capture of them in action on the site if I do a write up for him. I bought two sets of the rails so they go to about 4 feet from the transom. I don't think going all the way back would help. As the boat gets up on plane the after portion rises out of the water. In my opinion before I take them sailing I think they will help to bring the boat back up because they will act like another chine. Will see??? I am very satisfied with them as they stand. Hope that halps and get back to me after this weekend. Happy sails, Tont
I unfortunately have not sailed the boat since I put the rails on. I am going out on the fourth to take some pictures of the rails in action along with going for a long sail. Heath said he would put the videos I capture of them in action on the site if I do a write up for him. I bought two sets of the rails so they go to about 4 feet from the transom. I don't think going all the way back would help. As the boat gets up on plane the after portion rises out of the water. In my opinion before I take them sailing I think they will help to bring the boat back up because they will act like another chine. Will see??? I am very satisfied with them as they stand. Hope that halps and get back to me after this weekend. Happy sails, Tont
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Bob and Others,
I will take it out tomorrow and try to decide if there are any benefits or disadvantages to have them on while sailing. They do help a great amount during motoring which I have been doing a lot of lately. I would do it again and recommend it to anyone. Good product. I have the videos I took this weekend if people are in a hurry to see them. Heath has said that he would post them to his site if I do a write up on them for him. Any questions just ask. Happy sails, Tony
P.s. If you want the pictures emailed to you please email me at houk27(at)yahoo.com
I will take it out tomorrow and try to decide if there are any benefits or disadvantages to have them on while sailing. They do help a great amount during motoring which I have been doing a lot of lately. I would do it again and recommend it to anyone. Good product. I have the videos I took this weekend if people are in a hurry to see them. Heath has said that he would post them to his site if I do a write up on them for him. Any questions just ask. Happy sails, Tony
P.s. If you want the pictures emailed to you please email me at houk27(at)yahoo.com
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Okay All,
I took the boat out today and my X sailed great. The winds were about 10-20 mph. I was watching the wind gauge and it was saying that I was sailing at 47 degrees apparent. The wind was at 15mph and I was heeling at 12 degrees. Boat speed about 5.5 mph and full ballast with full main and about 120 genny. Great day. Fasted I hit was 6.5 on a broad reach. I feel the Rails do not have a negative impact and with the great effect when powering they definetly are worth the money. Happy sails to all and the usual if you have any questions just ask. Tony
I took the boat out today and my X sailed great. The winds were about 10-20 mph. I was watching the wind gauge and it was saying that I was sailing at 47 degrees apparent. The wind was at 15mph and I was heeling at 12 degrees. Boat speed about 5.5 mph and full ballast with full main and about 120 genny. Great day. Fasted I hit was 6.5 on a broad reach. I feel the Rails do not have a negative impact and with the great effect when powering they definetly are worth the money. Happy sails to all and the usual if you have any questions just ask. Tony
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Frank C
Well congrats, Tony. Sounds like a successful day. In fact, if you managed to fly a full main and 3/4 Genny in sustained 14-15 kn. that's an excellent day. Experience much heel?
Simple logic implies that the straight-aft rail section (toward stern) should deter leeway, by adding a mini-skeg on the hull side that's heeled underwater. However, my expectation would have been that the forward rail section that curls up toward the bow ... would have increased lee-helm markedly - trying to push the bow off the wind.
I'll look forward to hearing your continuing assessment after a few more days under sail.
Simple logic implies that the straight-aft rail section (toward stern) should deter leeway, by adding a mini-skeg on the hull side that's heeled underwater. However, my expectation would have been that the forward rail section that curls up toward the bow ... would have increased lee-helm markedly - trying to push the bow off the wind.
I'll look forward to hearing your continuing assessment after a few more days under sail.
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Well Frank,
I was able to keep the heel down to about 10 degrees or so until the wind picked up. I actually have a lot of weather helm in my boat. I think that it did not change the sailing characteristics in any way. Since it has been about two months since I last sailed it I may not have a good comparison. But I still like them. Happy sails, Tony
I was able to keep the heel down to about 10 degrees or so until the wind picked up. I actually have a lot of weather helm in my boat. I think that it did not change the sailing characteristics in any way. Since it has been about two months since I last sailed it I may not have a good comparison. But I still like them. Happy sails, Tony
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
Jeff,
Glad you brought that back up.
Smart-Rail
Glad you brought that back up.
Do they significantly cut down on cockpit spray?TonyHouk wrote:Bob and Others,
They do help a great amount during motoring which I have been doing a lot of lately. I would do it again and recommend it to anyone. Good product.
Smart-Rail
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
An Update
Hey All,
Yes they SIGNIFICANTLY cut down on spray. I can go through chop that you would be saoked in and not get wet in my boat. I used two kits which is two lengths on each side. It comes within about four feet from the transom. The last few feet would have very little effect on spray in the cockpit anyways. The sailing perfarmance is not effected at all. I would put them on any boat to help them. I don't believe that they have an effect on planing but there I could be wrong. I have pictures and videos if someone would like to do something with the videos. I will get to the pictures this weekend. I promise. If you have any more questions just ask. For the installation it was fairly easy. It took me about two hours to do one kit. That is two rails. Not a cheap mod but the best for me by far. Happy sails, Tony
Yes they SIGNIFICANTLY cut down on spray. I can go through chop that you would be saoked in and not get wet in my boat. I used two kits which is two lengths on each side. It comes within about four feet from the transom. The last few feet would have very little effect on spray in the cockpit anyways. The sailing perfarmance is not effected at all. I would put them on any boat to help them. I don't believe that they have an effect on planing but there I could be wrong. I have pictures and videos if someone would like to do something with the videos. I will get to the pictures this weekend. I promise. If you have any more questions just ask. For the installation it was fairly easy. It took me about two hours to do one kit. That is two rails. Not a cheap mod but the best for me by far. Happy sails, Tony
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Pictures on the Mods page
Hey Shipmaties,
I posted pictures of the rails installed on the boat. I hope that gives you a better view of the spray deflection. Happy sails,Tony
I posted pictures of the rails installed on the boat. I hope that gives you a better view of the spray deflection. Happy sails,Tony
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
Smart Rails
I looked at your pictures. They are great, very instructional. Please tell how fast you were going in those pictures.
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Have there been other effects than reducing spray? Without smartrails the Mac26X bow is up high during powering so much that the driver usually needs to be standing to see what is ahead. Do the smartrails lower the bow when powering? And is there an effect on your max speed with and without ballast?
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Have there been other effects than reducing spray? Without smartrails the Mac26X bow is up high during powering so much that the driver usually needs to be standing to see what is ahead. Do the smartrails lower the bow when powering? And is there an effect on your max speed with and without ballast?
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Frank C
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Hey Everybody,
Frank I will start with your questions first. Threason I started with the bow is that I go off shore where the waves can get big. I felt that the bow is where the spray originated for the wave that drenched me. That is why I put mine forward. As far as just using one set, they could probably do the job but since I have gone all the way I am not sure on that. Try them you won't be disappointed.
Robert,
I was going 18mph in those photos. The pictures don't make the waves seem as choppy as they felt in those pictures. If anything the rails would raise the bow because they help to lift the hull. I "think" they help to provide a chine when sailing but I have not done "MacGregor" quantitative analysis on them yet. i will pop out my trusty computer to figure that out later. My max speed is still the same. After the boat gets up on "plane" the rails have no effect besides spray elimination.
I hope that helps. happy sails, Tony
Frank I will start with your questions first. Threason I started with the bow is that I go off shore where the waves can get big. I felt that the bow is where the spray originated for the wave that drenched me. That is why I put mine forward. As far as just using one set, they could probably do the job but since I have gone all the way I am not sure on that. Try them you won't be disappointed.
Robert,
I was going 18mph in those photos. The pictures don't make the waves seem as choppy as they felt in those pictures. If anything the rails would raise the bow because they help to lift the hull. I "think" they help to provide a chine when sailing but I have not done "MacGregor" quantitative analysis on them yet. i will pop out my trusty computer to figure that out later. My max speed is still the same. After the boat gets up on "plane" the rails have no effect besides spray elimination.
I hope that helps. happy sails, Tony