MacGregorSailors.com

Still so new I got hayseeds popping off me but I really want to learn...

I heard somewhere you should unhook the raised engine from steering when sailing. I am hoping someone could give me the proceedure, circumstances and technique....do you always (or should you always)?, how do you keep it from flopping around? should you lock it up as in trailering? are there circumstances when it's acceptable to leave it hooked up? and what is the downside of leaving it hooked up?

Thanks

Well, I'd leave it hooked up all the time. But when the motor is attached to the steering and I turn the wheel all the way over and it's tilted up, the motor flops and yanks the wheel all the way.
The motor is heavy and pulls the steering all the way if tilted.

When I'm out, the motor is tied to center. When docking, I need all the steerage I can get and tie it to the wheel.

Sailing, tilt it up as we need all the rudders and little drag as possible.

Mine is set up to do that. I did it a couple of times but it is a PITA. Never have done it since. I leave it down and in neutral, never noticed much of a difference. Been sailing that way for 5 years.

I see that you have a 26X. It's my understanding that disconnecting the motor is more of an issue for the 26M. I'm not completely sure of the differences, but it may have to do with transom design, and the degree to which the engine can be tilted. Also, many of the M models are equipped with heavier 4 stroke engines. My 26X steers just fine with the engine connected to the steering, but I believe most M owners I know have the steering disconnect feature.

If you are a racer you will raise and disconnect.

I you are a cruiser, you will focus on your beer. On the I've never detected a speed change under sail with motor up/down. Possible exception on beam reach.

I think the transom turbulence on the trumps the engine drag.

When I first saw posts about the motor disconnect, I also wondered why it was needed. Then I read that BWY sells a package for the motor disconnect. When I started reading posts about Mac owners who had to replace their steering systems, I assumed that the motor disconnect relieved the system from a lot of strain. Seeing this post, I was hoping that I would get an educated answer, but now I see that most of you are just as in the dark as I Maybe BWYgirl will chime in Are you out there BWYgirl

Ray

I disconnect most of the time when sailing. I have the factory (I think) disconnect system. Not great...barely good...but it works. I have the BWY disconnect system at home and will install in a few weeks when I get the boat home from the marina. Hopefully this will be a big improvement on ease of disconnect and eliminate the steering bar/engine linkage interference I frequently get.

I do think I get a little more speed but talking 1 or 2 tenths of a knot here. But the big difference is feel. Huge difference in feel with engine disconnected and locked. Just feels nice to be able to turn that wheel with one finger.

Just another opinion...

Cheers,
Jim

There are two pieces to this:

1) Getting the engine off of the steering to reduce the weight on the steering. The motor is not needed when sailing and adds weight and stress to steering. If the motor is tilted up it will tend to want to flop over as stated.

2) Performance - not sure how this works on the 26X but on my 26M it makes quite a difference in how the boat sails and its speed. I clearly get .5 knot and suspect that translates into more given that the boat sails and performs much better in tacks and turns.

I really have now heart burn with the factory system, it's pretty easy and fool proof.

There is no requirement to disconnect the engine from the steering but it sails a whole lot better without dragging that leg in the water.


JIm

coolchange wrote:Still so new I got hayseeds popping off me but I really want to learn...

I heard somewhere you should unhook the raised engine from steering when sailing. I am hoping someone could give me the proceedure, circumstances and technique....do you always (or should you always)?, how do you keep it from flopping around? should you lock it up as in trailering? are there circumstances when it's acceptable to leave it hooked up? and what is the downside of leaving it hooked up?

Thanks

Perfect timing for me... I just installed the BWY engine disconnect on my last night. It is a very simple mod to install. I don't really have any numbers to give you... I did not do it for speed. I added the disconnect for two reasons. Both mentioned by others in the string: steering out of the center causes the engine to tilt and spin the wheel - and I like the lighter touch on the wheel when sailing. Also my Suzuki 50 engine does hit my seat when tilted up and leaned over - the BWY mod holds the engine in the center so this does not happen. I have to say when I was learning to sail,I always just dragged the motor in the water along with me... that way if needed I could always start it and it would be there to get me out of trouble. Disconnecting the engine would make that safety feature impractical. Your mileage may vary.

I have the BWY system on my X, rarely use it and have no issue with flopping motor, or heavy steering. I do raise the motor when sailing and feel that the boat handles better this way. Speed? It's a Mac.

~Rich

Speed? It's a Mac

Confucious say...if you want fast Mac....go to Apple store...

Does anybody that has "factory" disconnect system on an have any issues with steering bar "catching" on the engine disconnect linkages when the motor is disconnected and locked onto the "bolt" that sticks up? When I turn to port the steering arm extends out of the hole in the port side of the engine well...the bolt/pin on this steering arm (the place where the engine linkages connect to when the steering is connected) will "catch" on the engine linkages that are locked in place...most times I can't get full rudder movement to port due to this interference or if I do get past this "catch" then sometimes that same bolt/pin on the steering arm gets stuck behind the linkages and I can turn the wheel back straight. Not all the time but enough to become an irritant...and it seems to be getting worse.

Anyone have any pictures of their "factory" setup...I don't have any good pictures of this (which is astounding since I have 18,528 pics of my boat... )

Thanks.

Cheers,
Jim

im not a highly technical sailor, on my M i leave the motor fully down and always connected,i have found no reason or increase in performance to justify the hassle of disconnecting and raising the motor.others on this board claim you can go like a half a not faster, so in one hour of sailing i can go 3000 extra feet,sorry im in no rush to get there in the first place, if i was i wouldn't be in a 26m in the first place.

Same here, I too leave the motor connected and down at all times.

IMHO, the security to have the motor ready and available at a moments notice outways the marginal gain in speed when raised.

just my $0.02

Obelix

I am reading something I don't understand. It concerns lifting the motor. I have an electric lift to raise the motor when sailing, and also to lower when motoring. Is this not standard?

Ray