MacGregor Sailing Accident - Safety Reminder

[pitchpolehobie]

I would not fill my ballast underway in bad conditions. Too much Time for water to slosh around. I would get everyone into the lowest centerpoint in the boat salon to increase meat ballast.

[kurz]

Depends on possibilities...
why not put some buckets of sea water in the vent funel.
Or maybe you could use a pump...

OK my I hase a wooden stick so I do not have to grab down open/close the ballast vent.

Maybe I could open it, and close it when I think water would flow out...

[JotaErre]

I fill ballast early in the season and never empty it until the end.
I just don't see the benefit of running sans ballast.

Oh, I guess if you want to eek out more MPH or fuel economy it makes sense. I own a Mac not a Malibu and spend so much on other things, fuel is the least of my expenses.

Bottom line, I check weather and radar before heading out. Make sure all safety systems are ready.

So do I. If the boat is on the water, the ballast tank is full.

[Gotro]

I have a 1995 x and it has two ballast fill valves one on the stern and one on the bottom of the hull . The one under the hull I never use . But if I did need to fill ballast in rough conditions thats the one to use if the waves are up. Do the later model x and The M boats have an under the hull valve?

[DaveC426913]

... one on the bottom of the hull . The one under the hull ...

You make it sound like you have a thru-hull...

[Jimmyt]

I have a 1995 x and it has two ballast fill valves one on the stern and one on the bottom of the hull . The one under the hull I never use . But if I did need to fill ballast in rough conditions thats the one to use if the waves are up. Do the later model x and The M boats have an under the hull valve?

The M boats do not. They only have a valve on the transom.

[DaveC426913]

The M boats do not. They only have a valve on the transom.

I know. Same with

Which makes me wonder to what Gotro is referring.

[Gotro]

Here’s a diagram from the 95 manual of the Mac x water valve under the hull

[NiceAft]

If I understand the diagram, the valve is under the hull. Give credit where credit is due.

[Be Free]

The 1996 manual has the same diagram. I knew that the vent was in that spot on the early models but this is the first I realized that the fill valve was under the boat instead of on the transom. You learn something new every day. Thanks.

[Maraquita]

that is the ONLY fill valve on the 26D, and I assume on the 26S as well. No way to empty ballast without getting out of the water, or pressurizing the tank. Of course, also no way to get on plane no matter how much HP you hang on the back!

[Russ]

Very interesting. I never knew the earlier 26X filled from the bottom. Roger must have figured out that it's possible to drain the ballast while under power via the transom.

This configuration seems to be how the earlier 26S/D models operated and he kept that system.

Now I wonder if it's possible to modify an older < 1996 26X to drain out the transom by adding the big 'ol waste valve.

[Be Free]

Anything is possible. Back in my "hotrod" days it was a truism that any car could be made to go fast. "All it takes is cubic money."

Glassing in a valve while the boat is under construction is easy. Cutting through the transom, hitting the right spot on the ballast tank, and then getting the whole thing to seal is a whole different problem! It's way beyond my fiberglass skills (or nerve).

[Be Free]

that is the ONLY fill valve on the 26D, and I assume on the 26S as well. No way to empty ballast without getting out of the water, or pressurizing the tank. Of course, also no way to get on plane no matter how much HP you hang on the back!

It seems like a good design for a pure sailboat where the ballast is (almost) always needed. How long does it take to fill? The opening appears to be quite small compared to the later "waste valve" design on the X.

[beechkingd]

Very interesting. I never knew the earlier 26X filled from the bottom. Roger must have figured out that it's possible to drain the ballast while under power via the transom.

This configuration seems to be how the earlier 26S/D models operated and he kept that system.

Now I wonder if it's possible to modify an older < 1996 26X to drain out the transom by adding the big 'ol waste valve.

There is a drain on the back, he figured out he could fill it from there as well and eliminated the fill valve on the newer models. Reduced production costs even more.