misc. rambling,rants,raves and short stories

[curtis from carlsbad]

Got the new Mac 26m about 4 months ago at the factory.Drove taxicab 90 hours during 5 day workweek as usual.Tried to take it out following Sunday mid morning but struggled rigging sail onto roller furling,had to hire a gentleman from Catalina dealership at launch site in Mission Bay,San Diego($40) to rig both mainsail and genoa. Now 4:30 pm, women & kids waiting,watching (pressure,not good for a newbie).Driving down to launchramp 2-3 mph catch and bust mast on pine tree,game over(Will always look overhead more and not raise mast if trees occlude thoroughfare).Family and friends drive back home 30 miles north,I struggle like a fool for 5 hours to rig bent and busted mast to limp safely home on freeway( pride about as low as can go).Boaters at launch ramp didn't laugh as much as I thought they would.Filed insurance claim same night(Boat Us)They were stellar.Took boat back to factory ,3k insurance claim and 2 weeks later new mast and a new window( scratched original one dragging roller furling across deck during initial struggle.Now I rig bungee cord to slide furling along lifeline as furling travels forward during mast raising.No more scratches on deck or windows).Took a 3 week breather and tried to take boat to Mission Bay on another Sunday to just motor around with just wife and kids.Didn't raise mast. Started motor after boat in water ,thought it was in gear after seeing heavy cavitation when throttling in reverse,decided to unhook strap from bow eye( boat started rapidly drifting towards rocks,no boards down yet or ballast in,family waiting near passenger loading dock), tried to go in reverse and forward to get away from rocks but boat wouldnt go(not in gear)jumped into water,lost raybans,angry jetskier barley was able to be coerced into showing me how to engage into gear.He had to climb aboard twice from neck deep water(I was tired as hull from cab driving so it took me several tries to figure out how to get into gear).He asked me"Do you have any experience in boats?"-I said no,He then asked "where is the owner of this boat?"I replied "Me",He shook his head in disgust.He said "didn't you get some training from the dealer when you bought this boat?"I replied "Only during the test sail".He gave me a few pointers as he was driving away on his jet ski and he was not as furious as before.I was grateful for the advice/help he had given me.I tried to manuever(all boards up)with the motor in the narrow bay and then the motor died.Boat started drifting toward an expensive yacht tied to a dock.I started calling over to a young man with his back turned to me that was cleaning a small powerboat .Luckily my boat changed course and started drifting toward an open space on the dock aft of the yacht.The man I called helped me tie up as I drifted perfectly into the dock.I offered him money to help me get engine started and take us out to test new boat .He discovered that the fuel line connection had inexplicably popped off at the tank(great luck so far- huh?)He took us out on a motoring only test ride and had me practice docking at several locations for @ 2 hours then he showed me how to motor onto trailer(this launch ramp doesn't have any dock at ramp to "walk" boat on/off.I paid him $80 ( he didn't want so much but I dont work too cheap in the cab so I gave him what I would have wanted).During next two months I didnt take boat out,my spirits were broken and I thought about selling boat and losing $. I've kayaked and hydrobiked(look that one up on the internet )in the ocean for 15 years and thought about just going back to that.On my 25th birthday I solo kayaked Mission Bay to Tijuana, 26 miles, no food no water, 17 hours ,wrong two person kayak,in the dark 1/2 the way,no center seating position,dragging stern whole way and sore for a week. My spirits lifted during 2 month hiatus with this boat and my desire to keep and master this boat went back up to 110%. I would get lessons ! I hired an ex mac dealer to teach me and we had a perfect sail from Oceanside harbor to Carlsbad then back(12 miles).We got mac up to 7.5 mph under sail, I only steered ,he handled lines to sails).After this ex-dealer installs some winches and leads the genoa/furling lines aft I will take two more lessons and learn how to anchor and singlehand the boat.Then I will begin taking family and friends out on the boat and hope to make trips to Catalina Island next summer!I thought my 4 years on submarines in the Navy would be enough to be able to self teach on this boat but it wasn't so.I navigated and pushed sticks( helmsman/planesman) for @ 175,000 nautical miles @ 3 years underwater so my confidence level when I bought this boat was high.However what I forgot was that everything we did was under the watchful eye of the senior sailors until we got it down(qualified)each watchstation. We also went to specialty Naval schools for weeks to prepare for some of our duties.So no wonder I need training now, I'm 40 years old and drive cab 90 hours a week.I think the Mac dealership and the instruction manual should encourage newbies to get instruction and not make it sound so easy. I still would have bought the boat.I'm proud I didn't give up and will patiently learn this boat so that my family can safely enjoy many years of sailing/fishing and memories.I'm psyched and spent the rest of the evening exitedly peering out of the windows of the house at the boat.Not discouraged in any way,shape or form.Hope this story was enjoyable for everyone.

[Gazmn]

Welcome & Congratulations Curtis

If you haven't found out already, you'll find this site to be a great support and inspiration with which to follow out your aspirations and dreams. We've all had our time of "being there"

Thanks for sharing. It shows modesty and the ability to learn. And any man who works as hard as you do,

I'm 40 years old and drive cab 90 hours a week.

Deserves to have his dreams realized.

Good luck in your future sailing endeavors and lessons.
Most of all, have fun and make memories - even funny ones

[curtis from carlsbad]

Thanks for the welcome Gazmn,greatly recieved, and for David Mellon's previous welcome many moons ago when I was asking so many questions about the boat-(Safe to Catalina?)post.The boat handled so well.(boards down this time)It's worth the price just for the joy of looking at it(under a tarp ,just making out the shape of it) as I drive by it all week. Curtis Becker.

[Québec 1]

Curtis,
The Mac has a big learning curve for a newbie but it is also a pretty easy boat to learn on. One of the best parts of Mac ownership is this board and the wonderful people , like you, who post their interesting adventures. Don't forget that when you got your first big toy as a boy you had to learn how to use it. Now you own one of the biggest big boy toys you can get and if your like me........ every time you tie up at the dock after an outing you will smile and want to go back out again cause it was such a pleasant challenge!
Q1

[opie]

Curtis,
Welcome to the club!!!! I had never owned a boat and never even had my hand on a tiller or throttle until I bought my Mac. First two months, I left the sail at home. I took my time but had some crazy mishaps just like you. 4 years later, I am happier than a clam with my Mac. You made a fine choice in boats and this forum is full of help for you......

Fair seas........

(Note: I joined this forum in Nov 2004 but bought my Mac in Sept 2005....... I read everything here I could before I bought my boat...... I think that many present Mac-owner's decisions to buy, like ours, were influenced by the straightforward advice and give-and-take discussion offered here.... )

[Doug W]

Congrats on your boat Curtis! Your story stands out to me as I just ordered my mac yesterday! I'll be keeping your first-use 'adventure' in mind and listen with more dilligence when the marina I purchased through takes me on my introductory lessons. I've parked an X into a slip with almost no current but know that I will need practice in many conditions to feel confident! I plan on taking it immediately to some lakes and practice putting her next to a dock and multiple ramps which are usually empty then progressing in the spring to more crowded conditions.

Broken Mast, scratched window, harrowing drift toward other people's pride and joy.... what a nightmare! Glad you are sticking it out! Keep us posted on your adventures.

I plan on keeping a boat log in my boat to chronicle each use and adventure--even if I am the only one who ever reads it.

If you don't mind low budget home movie quality videos, there are speedy rigger DVDs available which are inexpensive but show tips on basic rigging, modifications and sailing of an If I weren't in love with the entire powersailor concept, they'd be hard to watch. That said, I've viewed them many more times than the family is happy about!

Good luck with your boat! Have you named it yet?

[dennisneal]

Curtis,

May I offer a few suggestions??

Practice setting up, and lowering, the mast, boom, and sails with the boat on your trailer, far away from a marina, (like in a large parking lot), in calm air, until you can get all of the steps done, within one hour, without a mistake.

Practice maneuvering your boat and trailer backwards and forwards in a large parking lot until you have, at least a small amount of proficiency.

A second person, (your Admiral??), can be of great help in getting the boat into, and out of the water. My Admiral and I operate as a team and are able to coordinate our efforts. Each of us has a mental list of things to be done, and we always try to confirm that required steps have been accomplished:

Dagger Board up?

Rudders up??

Motor up??

Water Ballast Gate and Pet Cock Open??

Then we can pull the boat onto the trailer.

We question each other regularly, with no hard feelings, much as a pilot and co-pilot do.

Have all of the required tools handy.

It is most advantageous to use a launch ramp that has a floating dock alongside, such as at Dana Point.

Please feel free to contact me. I struggled a bit at first. Perhaps we could meet at Dana Point.

Good luck,

Dennis

[jaguar496]

Hi CURTIS: Welcome aboard mate so sorry for all your misadventures, but happy that no one was harmed. Like you, I spent years on destroyers, conning them all over the world, but found that they did not prepare me for SAILING I knew all the rules and regulations, safety, etc., but not about sails and winds. I repeat others in that the is a simple sailing vessel, that is quite forgiving, and after a feew outings, actually becomes WONDERFUl experiences. I suggest this site, http://www.cruising.sailingcourse.com. Now this does not take the place of sailing lessons, but alot of knowledge can be acquired, which will help with your OJT. Ali and Stew of "THE RESTLESS TWO"

[bubba]

You guy's stories make me cringe. I am sure glad when I was 12 in 1962 my dentest a neighbor taught me how to sail and got me hooked on sailing on a small warm lake ( Lake Junuluska ) in the mountains of North Carolina. When I was 21 in 1971 with my first job money after college I bought a new Hobie cat 16 (pulled by a Pinto) and sailed on Lake Lanier north of Atlanta and got the feel of sailing fast. That boat lasted me untill 1977 when someone stoled it off the trailor in Washington state, after that I got into a lease boat a Catalena 27 for a couple of years with 3 other guys here on the Columbia River. Then a long dry spell of snow skiing and horseback riding and horse packing into the Cascade Mt's untill I got into seakayaking for several years. My wife and I got rearended by a logging truck 4 years ago this December and the Dr's recomended I not paddle my seakayak or ride my horse because of my whiplashed and aching neck, so I gave my horse to my wife which both of us are horse back riding instructors. THEN the settlement day came from our accident and within 3 weeks we bought our 07 M26 and have been happy with our choice.

I should mention about my wifes life with sailboats: Her family of which she is the youngest made her a cradle in the bow of there 20 ft open daysailor and she started sailing still in diappers at 3 months old. Her family would go to a resevour in Ohio to compete in Sunday races in there Highlander. At the age of 16 she bought her own sailboat and started raceing against her father who is a second generation sailor, I should mention she still has her monohogany ply Highlander in our back parking lott in a refurbished state and is for sale now. It took about a year for my wife to not think raceing around bouy's and become a crusing sailor and sail around islands in the San Juan Islands, but all that experence raceing and rigging boats on the Great Lakes in college comes in handy to customise our Mac. She is the spinnaker expert and was more excited about getting the spinnaker sock than me.

We just added 50 lbs of spent lead bullets ( cost $10.00 ) to our daggerboard and a 6 to 1 for pulling it up. I can,t waite for next weekend to try it out in Pudget Sound. The 6 to 1 works great I tryed it on the water yesterday.

[Irafatsar]

you should join the venture club in san diego we are a bunch of mac owners and can help out a lot. I'm in alpine more than happy to sail with you. I will say anybody can sall a mac at full throttle but can you make it around the markers.

[bubba]

I should also add that we have sailed well over 200 days in less than 2 years, I know that is not much but for trailor sailers I think it is.

[Russ]

Oh wow! Great story and thanks for sharing. Lots of reasons to get discouraged in those experiences and I'm happy to see you are still encouraged. I know many people who gave up and missed out on the enjoyment of boating.

Okay, despite the marketing, the Mac is NOT an easy boat to handle. The wind will blow this boat all over the place because of its high freeboard and lack of keel. Rigging isn't as easy as that video shows either, and I have the same deck scratches as you to prove it. My first time out on our Mac I also had the fuel line come undone to find ourselves drifting without power. After two years, I still find it comes off and engine dies.

I salute and appreciate your Navy experience, but this isn't a nuclear powered sub nor is it a kayak. Those are great experiences, but won't help you much here. You are onto the right track, you need some education. I'm going to suggest you take a boating course. This Link to USPS will find local boating courses in your area. I'm somewhat partial to the USPS course because I taught it and it's basically offered for free (except for books etc.). I've seen experienced boaters learn so much from these courses. Check it out.

Once you learn how to operate the boat and it's special features, you and your family will find great pleasure in boating. I grew up on boats, but my wife didn't and she has learned so much and now really enjoys it.

Welcome to the club and hang in there.

--Russ

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Oh wow! Great story and thanks for sharing. Lots of reasons to get discouraged in those experiences and I'm happy to see you are still encouraged. I know many people who gave up and missed out on the enjoyment of boating.


Okay, despite the marketing, the Mac is NOT an easy boat to handle. The wind will blow this boat all over the place because of its high freeboard and lack of keel. Rigging isn't as easy as that video shows either, and I have the same deck scratches as you to prove it.

Welcome to the club and hang in there.
--Russ

Well said I have to admit, it took me at least a year to become reasonably familiar in handling my Mac-X...and after nearly 4 years, I continue to learn. The fun, family enjoyment, and handling get better and better along with experience. We now slip our Mac for the added convenience.

Here's some funzies to avoid (I speak from (did it) experiences)
dont bump another boat when leaving your slip in hi-winds caused by forgetting to drop the CB & Rudders,
dont run out of fuel while returning to your marina after a fine day of motoring and sailing,
dont drop pricey tools, cell phone, and stuff that dont float over board,
dont fail to fill the ballast before sailing,
dont expect a Cigarette Boat to be courteous,
be sure the fuel line is correctly snapped onto the engine,
tighten (torque) trailer lug nuts (loosing a wheel in heavy traffic 'aint fun),
and the list goes on...

Fair winds, and happy sailing to 'ya Curtis. And, Welcome aboard.

[curtis from carlsbad]

Thanks guys for the advice and I will try to use all of it that you have given me.The all boards down probably makes about a 100 percent difference in handling in close quarters.Even though the owners manual suggested this,I didn't remember at game time because of sleep deprivation and trying to cram all the info so quickly.I do believe that I will remember to raise all boards when going over 7mph (motoring) out of fear of "skipping" port or stbd.I slept better the night before my last sail with instructor and this made a big difference.I probably won't sail on Saturdays(just go surfing) because it takes about a day to recover from the killer 90 hour workweek.Sundays will be good and my anxiety about the new boat will get lower and lower so I will begin to sleep better on Saturday nights as time moves forward.(Surfing is easy even if you are dead tired because you dont have to think too much-it is mostly intuitive).Sailing is about 70 percent as much fun as surfing on a perfect day.I like sailing much better than snowskiing.(snowskiing only rates about 40 percent as good).I think I also like fishing more than snowskiing.I am going to try to replace some ski trips this winter with combo sail/fish local Mac trips.I will troll a feather under sail and see if I can get a hookup.Might also try a large( @ 10") Rapala this way.Hit the kelp beds for calico on light line and scampi jigs.thanks to everyone.Curtis Becker

[Russ]

Curtis, I can't imagine how tired you are after 90 hours of work. You definitely need some down time.

This boat without fins down is a cork on the water. Fins down, it's much much better but still not as footed in the water as a traditional keel boat. The wind always wins. Over 7mph you will feel something is wrong with fins down.

Sailing does take a lot of cognitive skills. You must be alert and know what's going on, unlike I suppose the majority of instinct you use for surfing. Sailing can take on several flavors depending on the wind and conditions. It can be totally relaxing or energizing to harness the power of the wind to move your boat along. There is much to know, like rules of the road, safety, emergency readiness, navigation, planning, anchoring and trailering, not to mention the aspects of sailing. You can't learn it from the Mac "manual" although it does a fair job at explaining the very basics.

In your spare time (I know 90 hour workweek), you should read all you can about boating and sailing. The water can be a fun and relaxing place or a terrifying place where your life is in danger if you don't know how to be prepared and react properly. If you read this forum you will see the Mac is a very forgiving and safe boat that allows us much pleasure. The mistakes we make we hope only hurt our wallets and not ourselves or crew.

My brother-in-law had a bad experience on his little sailboat and it scared him out of sailing completely. It's sad because I know he would really enjoy sailing if he could get past that. Curtis, you have managed to do what many first time boaters haven't, you got back on the horse. So many boats come up for sale after their owners use them once and have a bad experience. I hope you educate yourself and build both confidence and knowledge. And don't expect owning a Mac (or any other boat) to be as easy as that sales video.

Looking forward to hearing about your GOOD experiences on your boat.

--Russ