Aloha Chopper - fair winds and following seas!

Thanks for the excellent replies, great suggestion re the ballast tank and silt or added weight.. i'll look into it. There is a carpeted panel that fits back there to protect the steering mechanism and totally enclose the area - maybe yours is lost or it wasn't present on the earlier M's? - Brian. ...

I think both symptoms (heel, delay in turning) might be caused by the same problem: whatever is causing your heel. If the boat is heeled under power going straight, it will screw with the hydrodynamics and make turning weird. If boat turns differently port vs starboard, then it probably is one probl...

I found that I'm not a good enough sailor for the back stay to make a difference. I run the backstay over the mast arch, then keep it tight with two bungee cords. Added benefit: I put a wind vane on the plate the back stay attaches to - now it stays aligned with the boat when the mast rotates.

Mikko53 wrote:I finally got around to activating my account. Here's a video my brother in law put together on my last sail before the water got too low (for me). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8IS-2154yY

Nice post-production.

Mine cost about the same to ship here, and I also used Pasha. Bought my from Arena Yachts, and they drove it down to San Diego for loading on the ship.

Nice! I was out at the sand bar a couple weeks ago. Know anyone that has been able to sail out the channel? Wind always seems to come straight down it, and I'm not good enough to tack back and forth in either narrow channel.

For what it's worth, I got the 150% Genoa with my :macm: . After about 1 year of noticing I was always furling in the Genoa, I bought a jib. Not as good for light winds, but around Oahu, it's generally 10-15 kts with gusts 5kts or so higher. There are more days that I'm happier with the Jib than day...

I also tie my bow and stern lines together. I loosen the winch, but keep it connected, and tie off the dock lines to the trailer next to the winch. Still gotta get my feet wet, but I'm comfortable with this method. Landing with an off-setting wind is still interesting. Haven't embarrassed myself (ye...

... You will notice that the cabin is filled with water in the last 2 images. . . . ... I hope that makes it a bit clearer. It does help clarify your point, and I was thinking of my :macm: when looking at the diagram. What I have learned is that during bad weather, put the companionway cover back i...

For the CB/CG diagram, I think the last two hull diagrams are wrong. CB will be at the center of the displaced underwater shape, which will shift outboard on the "down" side as the boat rolls, as well as "up" as the the side of the boat displaces water. IMHO, CB shown is almost r...

I helped a local :macm: sailor re-install his mast a month back or so. Shouldn't sweat it too much; just need to take your time, and be prepared to raise the mast 1/2 way, see that the shrouds aren't right, and lower back to straighten them out. Definitely a plus with two people - one to raise/lower...

Yeah - the water is great for sailing off Waianae, but the ramp sucks. Surge can get bad, too. I was thinking of slip, but didn't want to paint the bottom with anti-fouling paint. If you get a slip, be sure to do that. They sell at West Marine - expensive.

Hey Chopper Pilot - great video. I have a Canon Powershot HD w/ the waterproof case. Works really good - going to mount it to the arch next time I go out and try to make some vid. Don't think it'll be on par with yours, though. Great Work! Did you get a slip in Waianae? Looks like you pulled out fro...

Waikele has self storage back by the old WWII ammo storage bunkers (same place that had fireworks explosion a couple years ago). Across from golf course. Was about $50/month for a space in the big parking lot. I used to keep my boat there, and it was very convenient location for anywhere from Waiana...