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Last weekend, I got to take out my new-to-me 2005 Macgregor 26M for her maiden voyage. She’s my third Macgregor, first a 1985 25’ and then a 1988 26D (For Sale) and we had grand expectations of a nice day of sailing. However it turned into a shakedown cruise using only the motor. The previous owner must have never sailed her, because there were no rudder “haul-down" lines installed on either rudder, in fact the holes in the hull where the lines would go are sealed (I guess he fixed that leak! ) The rudders are Idasailor replacements and they float at a 20 degree angle in the water instead of sinking down like the originals. That and the fact that the 50 HP Honda was very hard to start and wouldn’t idle below 2K, did not deterred us and we were still able to back out of the slip without hitting anyone, although it was close. I had to tape the idle lever up to keep her running. Once out on the river, the boat was very slow to respond to my steering commands, and I was always overcorrecting, so I motored in long S shaped curves into the 10-15mph wind. At one point I thought the Coast Guard would board me for BUI.

Without any ballast, when one of my 200 lb+ boys would moved around on the boat, she would veer radically, so once we were out in some deep water, I stopped and filled the ballast. We motored around for a bit and then we stopped and deployed the anchor. We then fired her up again to see how fast we could get her to go with 850lb of crew and a full ballast, 9.5mph according to the GPS. Wish I had done a speed test before filling the ballast.

Soon I became more comfortable with steering the boat and we made it back to the slip, but not as graceful as we left (docking was normally not a problem in the other two boats.) First thing I’ll be installing is the “haul-down” lines (does anyone have a good diagram of the path and know the best way to thread the lines, once I open the holes?)

One of the reasons I took her out was to try and clean the engine out to get her to idle better. My plan was to use fresh gas and some SeaFoam, but West Marine didn’t carry it so I got some Sta-Bil Gas Stabilizer. I’ll think next I’ll still put in some SeaFoam and see if that helps and get some new plugs, any recommendations? I found these on Amazon; Bosch (4501) FGR8DQI Platinum IR Fusion Spark Plugs. Do the ethanol gasoline treatments help? I’d really like to put off rebuilding the carburetors till next winter if I can.

Frede,

Welcome aboard. I also have a 2005 which I kept at Ft. Belvoir until weekend before last when I moved out to Maryland for sailing on the Chesapeake. I have a 40 HP 2-stroke Mercury and also have issues with low-speed and idle (engine wants to quit). I was told to get Sea Foam and got to WM today but as you said they didn't carry it. So I got some other fuel treatment/cleaner stuff which I will give a try.

There are a couple other Macs at Ft. Belvoir and one up near DC that is on this board (Wallville).

Have fun with your third Mac.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

Hello Frede,

Welcome aboard and I hope you will enjoy your boat.
I was wondering if you might be from Denmark?
Finn

Welcome Aboard : )
Sea Foam is great stuff and I double up on it with no issues.. I....wouldn't do that as my only fuel source however and I would use it in say 3 gallons of fuel..
Sounds like there are definite issues with that Honda.. Among others MIGHT be the prop and its size and pitch..
With my 05 M Loaded.....dragging a 9'9" Inflatable with a 6 hp on the back of that , I can reach higher speeds than your talking.. at least according to my GPS numerous times..
Good Luck stay at it everything is do-able or just about : )

frede wrote:Without any ballast, when one of my 200 lb+ boys would moved around on the boat, she would veer radically, so once we were out in some deep water, I stopped and filled the ballast. We motored around for a bit and then we stopped and deployed the anchor. We then fired her up again to see how fast we could get her to go with 850lb of crew and a full ballast, 9.5mph according to the GPS. Wish I had done a speed test before filling the ballast.

You definitely want ballast in any time you have more than 600 lbs of people onboard in my opinion. A good rule of thumb if you're motoring without ballast is to keep everyone belowdecks or in the cockpit--no going topside at all. If you have to do something on the bow, go up through the forward hatch. If someone 200+ lbs. grabs a stay and leans out, they could potentially capsize the boat.

I've got a 60hp E-TEC that will do about 14 mph under those conditions, so I don't think you're getting your full thrust out of that motor. Check the manual to determine what the RPM for wide-open throttle for that motor should be, then put your boat wide open and see what you get. If you're more that 400 RPM from ideal, you need to change your prop to one with the correct pitch for the boat, motor, and typical load. Google prop pitch and RPM--there's a lot of good advice on the net for how to determine the right pitch. On my boat, I use a 13 13.75 but there are a lot of people here who like 14/11 better.

How were you using the daggerboard? For motoring I would have been board up the entire time. The board should always be up at speeds above 6 MPH (basically down when sailing, up when motoring although when you get good at sailing the boat you'll pull it up when you're running, half-down when you've got beam winds, and full down when you're close hauled).

Have fun! This is a fantastic forum for learning from others!

I buy Seafoam at the local Walmart or NAPA. It is about $9 per can. Good luck with the boat and let us know how the seafoam works. I also have a Honda fifty that is a wee bit rough when idling. Thought it was due to the jetting and high altitude, but was going to try the Seafoam to see if it has any impact.

Divecoz wrote:Welcome Aboard : )
Sea Foam is great stuff and I double up on it with no issues.. I....wouldn't do that as my only fuel source however and I would use it in say 3 gallons of fuel..
Sounds like there are definite issues with that Honda.. Among others MIGHT be the prop and its size and pitch..
With my 05 M Loaded.....dragging a 9'9" Inflatable with a 6 hp on the back of that , I can reach higher speeds than your talking.. at least according to my GPS numerous times..
Good Luck stay at it everything is do-able or just about : )

Hey Divecoz what blade do you have I'm looking at getting a spare and maybe more speed

Welcome and congrats.

As mentioned, Wal-Mart and autoparts stores sell Seafoam. Also Amazon.com

The "haul down" lines on my boat run under the rudder brackets and up through the holes to the top of the deck behind the cleats. It's a single line in a loop. IDA rudders may be different.

Docking, I always put all fins down. The high freeboard of the Mac makes docking in wind a challenge.

--Russ

The Sea Foam is slowly cleaning her out, idle is better but not perfect, I’ve read in one of the post here that the Honda 50 idle speed is 1,700rpm. Seem a little high for idle, I’m would like her to run smooth at 1K. BTW the dagger board was up and ballest full, when I went above 6mph, as where the rudders, which are fully functional now.

As for getting a new prop looks like the Solas Amita 4 Blade 11.8 x 9 is the way to go for the Honda BF50A, hope it doesn’t sing to loud or I have a blade break off. iBoat offers several accessories for the prop, should I pick any of them up? Thrust Washer - $20.00; Spacer - $9.09; Washer - $2.50; Prop Nut - $5.47; Cotter Pin - $1.72; Boat Propeller Lube - $6.79

If you are changing prop, I recommend you replace all those items, and keep the old ones as spares - especially if you cruise away from civilisation at all.

I agree with Cat if it ain't broke ( Beyond EM use ) .. save it .. 80% is always better than 0%
Gator.. I have a 14x10 - 3 and I am getting a 4 blade IIRC 13.5 x 13 (?) - 4 . I will post how well she does , once I get it ... get it on ... and get her back in the water..

Catigale wrote:If you are changing prop, I recommend you replace all those items, and keep the old ones as spares - especially if you cruise away from civilisation at all.

Divecoz wrote:I agree with Cat if it ain't broke ( Beyond EM use ) .. save it .. 80% is always better than 0%
Gator.. I have a 14x10 - 3 and I am getting a 4 blade IIRC 13.5 x 13 (?) - 4 . I will post how well she does , once I get it ... get it on ... and get her back in the water..

Thanks Divcoz
I got my 13x10.75-3 fixed one blade had a good sized ding the guy who fixed it said one blade was 1/4 in shorter than the others and it hadnt been fixed befor so it came from the factory like that
so next weekend I'm taken my out to run wide open throttle and see what rpm's and top speed I get then decide from there where i'm going.

Hi Frede,

Welcome aboard from downunder. Here are some pictures that may help you visualize it.

1: Is this the hole you are talking about that is sealed? not sure what is but it sure aint for the downhaul rope!
2: This is where it comes out of and note it comes through the wider space so it runs over the SS pin across the tube
3: Here is how I have modified the top of the downhaul with an impact quick release camcleat and roller for the downhaul line to protect your blades.
4: The boat comes with one rope for both up and down but i like having two. The smaller one has less drag and makes the mod more effective as the camcleat is small

With Divecoz I also have a etec60 which will give 14 knots in optimal conditions with full ballast and five adults on board. That is with everything up (except the motor ) My motor idles at 850-900 rpm so I imagine that 1700 rpm is a bit over the top. It may need a tune up once you are sure that the fuel system is clean

Happy sailing.

Dave

Berber Boy wrote:Hi Frede,

Welcome aboard from downunder. Here are some pictures that may help you visualize it.

1: Is this the hole you are talking about that is sealed? not sure what is but it sure aint for the downhaul rope!
<snip>
3: Here is how I have modified the top of the downhaul with an impact quick release camcleat and roller for the downhaul line to protect your blades.
<snip>
Dave

Not the hole in Picture #1. It was the hole in Picture #3 where you, and now I, have the downhaul line installed

BTW: I love the roller! How did you install the the quick release camcleat and roller? Just some SS screws in to the fibergalass with some sealent? Not sure how I would get a backing plate under there.

Okay,, I've gota post a stupid question to this.... I haven't heard of SeaFoam. Can you explain the benefits to this?